Zethino

Zethino is a dryad who can be found working at the Circus of the Last Days.

“

The city of stone and steel is an endless scream in nature's womb. I have felt no peace here. Until now.

„

— Zethino on Baldur's Gate

Involvement

Act Three

For a fee, Zethino offers a test to determine if the love between the player character and a romanced party member can 'stand the test of time'. However, the test can be used on all companions, romanced or not - save Minsc and Jaheira. Aside from changes in approval from and dialogue during the test, it otherwise has no impact on relationships.

Zethino serves also as a vendor of alchemical ingredients, but only the first time when she is spoken with by a party member.

She also is one of Orin's possible disguises. The real Zethino can only be encountered if Orin has already been discovered twice.

Zethino's test of love

Picking two or more 'incorrect' answers results in a more negative comment from the party member the love test is done with, while picking two or more 'correct' answers results in a more positive interaction.

Completing Zethino's relationship test earns the following inspirations:

•  A Test of Faithfulness ( Acolyte background)
•  Knowledge of the Heart ( Sage background)

Below are the recorded answers for each applicable companion. Some companions disapprove of certain correct answers. Correct answers have been marked with a ★ symbol.

Astarion

'The heart is fraught, so let us begin with the joyous. When is he happiest?'

1. I don't think he's ever been happy.  -1
2. When he's elbow-deep in gore. ★  +1
3. He's happy right now - look at that smile!  -1

'Many things delight the heart, but only one makes it sing. Tell me, what does he desire more than anything?'

1. Me. ★  +2 (Only if romanced)
2. Freedom. ★  -1
3. Revenge. ★  +1
4. A nice, tasty rat.  -1

'Fear sits in the soul of all - to tame it, we must name it. Astarion - what is his deepest fear?'

1. Sharp wooden sticks.  -1
2. Breaking a nail. ★  +2
3. Forever feeling like a slave to someone else. ★  -1
4. Most things fear him actually.  +1

Gale

'Listen. Think. If the wizard were given the choice, what food would he be?'

1. A lemon meringue - tart and lightweight.  -1
2. A shiny red apple - wholesome as can be. ★  +1
3. A three-day-old pot of tavern stew - muddled and questionable.  -2
4. A roast onion - versatile, with hidden layers. ★  +1

'The heart is fraught, so let us turn to the joyous. When is Gale happiest?'

1. At dusk. The light favours his complexion.  -1
2. While on his balcony in Waterdeep. ★  +2
3. In Mystra's embrace.  -1

'We often gaze through a veil of roses, but love accepts both the petal and the thorn. Gale - what is his greatest flaw?'

1. He's too enraptured by illusions and fantasies, neglecting what's real.  -1
2. He's too eager to please, no matter the cost. -2
3. He thinks that he, and the world, might be better off if he were dead. ★  +2

Halsin

'Listen. Think. When is he most comfortable?'

1. While in the form of a bear, clad in nothing but fur. ★  +1
2. After a supper large enough to induce hibernation.  -1
3. Comfort doesn't come naturally to him - he's restless and roaming. ★  +2
4. At his study in the grove.  -1

'We strive to do our utmost - to prove ourselves worthy. Tell me - of what is Halsin most proud?'

1. His physique. Who can blame him?  -1
2. Saving his friend Thaniel and banishing the shadow curse. ★  +2
3. Protecting his grove from those who threatened it. ★  +1
4. An impressively-notched bedpost.  -1

'Life is full of victory and loss. You cannot have one without the other. Halsin - what is his greatest failure?'

1. Appointing a fanatic second-in-command at the grove. ★  +1
2. Allowing the shadow curse to blight nature for a hundred years. ★  +2
3. That he somehow let some scrawny goblins capture him.  -1
4. Rejecting an amorous she-bear's affections.  -2

Karlach

'Listen. Think. Who does she loathe above all others?'

1. Zariel. ★  +1
2. Gortash. ★  +2
3. Raphael.  -1
4. Me.  -2

'Many things delight the heart, but only one makes it sing. Tell me, what is her idea of a perfect day?'

1. Sitting quietly reading a book.  -2
2. Strolling through town window shopping.  -1
3. Bashing baddies interspersed with victory sex. ★  +2

'A decade from now, what will the mighty Karlach do? Where will she be?'

1. Probably dead. ★  +1
2. Settled down in a quiet village with a nice partner and a few kids. ★  +2
3. Worshipping Selûne.  -1

Lae'zel

'Correct' answers for Lae'zel vary depending on whether Lae'zel has rejected Vlaakith or not.

'Listen. Think. What does she most desire?'

1. To ascend. ★ (Only if Lae'zel has not rejected Vlaakith)  +2
2. To find the truth about Orpheus amidst her queen's lies. ★ (Only if Lae'zel has rejected Vlaakith)  +1
3. Attention.  -1
4. Independence.  -1
5. To annoy Shadowheart.  -1

'Many things delight the heart, but only one makes it sing. Tell me, what is the githyanki's fondest memory?'

1. The closeness of her kin at Crèche K'liir.  -1
2. Our night together.  +2 if partnered,  -1 otherwise
3. Tearing the limbs from the beasts of the Sea of Night. ★  +2
4. Spilling her own cousins' blood. ★  +1

'Life is brief - finite. When the warrior dies, what legacy will she leave behind?'

1. None. Her name will be lost to time.  -2
2. She will live in perpetuity as a kith'rak atop a red dragon. ★* (Only if Lae'zel has not rejected Vlaakith)  -2 if rejected Vlaakith,  +2 otherwise
3. She will be known as a liberator of the githyanki people. ★* (Only if Lae'zel has rejected Vlaakith)  +1 if rejected Vlaakith,  -1 otherwise
4. A vicious monster of legend, feared across the planes. ★  +1
5. She will take Vlaakith's place as Queen of the githyanki.  -2

Minthara

▶ The player character must have an approval of at least 50 with Minthara to take the test with her.

'Listen. Think. What does the drow miss most about the Underdark?'

1. Picking off her siblings one by one.  +2
2. Her pet Spiders.  -1
3. Spending time with her beloved family.  -1
4. Spiced Ulaver wine and thinly sliced rothé steak. ★  +1

'Many pass through our lives, their touch rippling across time. But who does Minthara admire the most?'

1. Legendary drow hero Drizzt Do'urden.  -1
2. Nobody. ★  +1
3. Me. ★  +2
4. The gods.  +2

'Those with an icy façade hide their true selves well - but pain breaks us all in the end. What is the worst thing your love has ever done?'

1. Slaughtering the tieflings at the grove.  -1
2. Let herself be captured by the cult of the Absolute. ★  +2
3. Turn her back on Lolth.  -1
4. Fall for me.  -1

Shadowheart

'Listen. Think. From where does Shadowheart draw comfort on a cold, dark night?'

1. Good company and an even better vintage. ★  +1
2. The knowledge that she can change, just as sure as night will give way to day. ★ (Only if Shadowheart has abandoned Shar worship)  +?
3. The night itself.  +1
4. Judging others.  -1
5. A blanket?  -1

'The heart craves comfort, but needs respect. How does one earn the dark-haired maiden's respect?'

1. Being discreet. ★  +2
2. Showing shrewd judgement.  +1
3. Being kind to animals.  +1
4. Farting on a Selûnite.  -1

'Shame sits in the soul of all - to tame it, we must name it. Shadowheart - what is her deepest shame?'

1. She doesn't know who she is, or where she belongs. ★  +1
2. She can't swim. ★  +1
3. Her hair.  -1
4. Sacrificing an innocent for her own ambitions.  +1
5. Failing her goddess when it counted the most. ★ (Only if Shadowheart has abandoned Shar worship)  +1

Wyll

'Listen. Think. What, on his darkest day, would make him smile?'

1. Memories of our first night getting to know each other. ★  +2
2. A flagon of ale. ★  +1
3. Public adoration.  -1
4. The day he made his pact.  -2

'We cannot live this life without others - others to guide us. To aspire to. Who does the Blade most admire?'

1. Himself.  -2
2. Mizora.  -2
3. His father, Ulder Ravengard. ★  +1
4. Balduran, the great hero of Baldur's Gate. ★  +2

'Life is a difficult and tumultuous thing. with every smile, a tear often follows. What is Wyll's greatest regret?'

1. Killing Karlach. ★  +2 (Only if Karlach is dead)
2. Sparing me and becoming a devil. (As Karlach)  -2
3. Sparing Karlach and becoming a Devil.  -2
4. Making a pact with Mizora.  -1
5. Losing his father.  +1
6. Leaving behind his father - and his city. ★  +1
7. Joining up with me.  -1

Jaheira

Jaheira always refuses the test, although the tone of her reply changes upon reaching very high approval (starting around 69).

Minsc

Minsc always refuses the test.

Gallery

• 
  Zethino's model
• 
  Zethino in-game

Notes

• Zethino refers to Shadowheart as "the dark-haired maiden" even if she has adopted white hair as part of her personal overhaul following her abandonment of  Shar, due to black being Shadowheart's natural hair color.
•  Disguised companions cannot speak and therefore cannot participate in Zethino's love test with the player character.
• If the party defeat the dopplganger disguised as Dribbles prior to meeting Zethino, her greeting lines are different as she comments indirectly on the battle.
• Zethino does not trade after the love test has been completed.