#zethino

Ace of Cups | Zethino 🕊️

Like, there's so many interesting implications there.

Orin does not know your partner (unless it's Minthara lol). So how does she know when Durge answers correctly or incorrectly? Does she assume they know and assume they are right? Does she watch your partner's expression to determine if it was right or not?

Based on what I know about doppelgangers in FR lore (which I'm no expert in, but I've done some diving), they can actually absorb the personality of those they kill and take on the appearance of. This is how they are so convincing. Orin in particular can obviously mimic people who are still alive (i.e., whoever she kidnaps from your party, Durge, etc), which I am unsure how common that is among doppelgangers, but it is notable. But canonically, they can take on the traits of their murdered victims, physical and otherwise. Orin likely cannot take on their personality traits unless she murders them, but she can certainly put on an act based on her observations. (This is particularly potent if she is mimicking Durge and Minthara, since she knows them very well).

Assuming Orin killed Zethino to take her form, does Zethino have some innate empathic ability that Orin obtains while in her form and that's how she knows if you answered correctly?

"Zethino" asks you questions about your partner that are fairly generic. But what if she asked your partner questions about you? What if each question gradually gets more personal, more creepy, more unsettling to the point that Durge knows something is up? By this point (depending on how often you rest) Durge may not yet know Orin is their sister, may not have enough memory to know what Orin/Zethino is asking about.

Even at the end of the love quiz when Orin reveals herself, Durge may not understand how those questions apply to them, or why Orin would ask them. Which just ups the creepy factor. But even if Durge has had their Bhaalspawn reveal dream/vision, this whole encounter would still be very unsettling.

Another part of (mis)adventures of my favorite Chaotic Duo

Zethino's Trial of Love

Over-Achiever Child behavior

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[[ All Croissant Adventures (chronological, desktop) ]]

Round 2 — Match 38 / 38 — Zevlor vs. Zethino

Zevlor is the leader of a group of Tiefling refugees who are traveling to Baldur's Gate after being exiled from their home. He and his fellow tieflings are found hiding within the Emerald Grove.

"He's a guy who's lost everything: his order, his home, his faith. He's had to watch the people in his charge die off one by one. And he's trying so hard to protect everyone, but the whole world seems to work against them. He's just so sad and guilt-ridden and haunted, but he still wants to believe in the inherent goodness of people. Plus in the few chances you get to fight with him, he's an absolute fucking badass.And on top of all of that, he's hot. Need I say more."

vs.

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

"she has this super hot voice and she immediately calls you a nickname she had for her dead girlfriend and that's a bit weird in a way that does it for me"

Thank you so much for tagging me, @aristenfromwarsaw, @anacdoce & @andromedaancunin!!! 🥰💕I loved seeing all of your gal's possible answers and how they'd react 🥺

I also decided to write these as if Astarion is answering them!

Rules: Think of three answers with approval, disapproval, and explanation.

Ofelia

Zethino: The heart is fraught, so let us begin with the joyous. When is your Ofelia happiest?

1- When she's helping others. (+2) "And I'll keep on doing it, even though I know you'll disapprove,"

2- When she's listening to her music or playing it aloud. (Neutral) "As if it's that hard to notice!"

3- When she's climbing ladders or ledges. (-2) "Oh, very funny."

Zethino: Many things delight the heart, but only one makes it sing. Tell me, what does your Ofelia desire most?

1- To finally find "home". (+2) "To finally belong... that's what I want most. With you."

2- To spread her music and voice far and wide to the masses. (Neutral) "The acclaim might be nice, but I'd be happy if you were my only audience forever."

3- To usurp your sister and claim your birthright. (-5) "You must not know me at all."

Zethino: Fear sits in the soul of it all- to tame it, we must name it. What is Ofelia's deepest fear?

1- To lose the one that she loves by her hand. (+2) "I can't ever let it win again- I wouldn't be able to live with myself."

2- To lose all hope and give in to the Urge. (Neutral) "I couldn't imagine anything more horrific. I hope it never happens..."

3- Heights. (-2) "Anyone can figure that out just by watching me- are you really paying attention?"

This was so cool! I would like to think that Astarion would pick the right ones, lol, but some he'd probably choose just to get a rise out of her.😂

the answers are light, and have truth to them, but they are also very guarded, compared to some of the other ones available. it says he likes when the mc plays with him, the give and take of banter. but it also says that astarion needs to trust that you're not going to just spout off his deepest thoughts and feelings to any random who asks. he needs to feel like he's safe, like his secrets are protected with you.

i think this is the most clear with the last two questions.

tell me, what does he desire more than anything? the druid, zethino, asks.

and you can say me, freedom, revenge, or a nice, tasty rat.

we know from astarion's personal quest that his constant scheming and attempts to seize power are all in a bid to secure his freedom from cazador's influence. and if you want to keep him from ascending, you have to point out that power won't give him the freedom he is seeking. i think you could make the arguement that freedom is something he wants even more than revenge on cazador for everything the vampire did to him. but astarion approves of 'revenge', is delighted when you give this answer.

(edit: i had more debate here but i did find a video of this with all responses, and astarion actually says in response to freedom basically 'you're not wrong, but do we have to tell everyone our business?')

clearly there's a focus on the answer that gives astarion the least exposure, rather than the 'right' one.

same goes for the last question.

fear sits in the soul of all—to tame it, we must name it. astarion—what is his deepest fear?

mc can answer sharp wooden sticks, breaking a nail, forever feeling like a slave to someone else, or most things fear him, actually

even though zethino has just said that you HAVE to name your fears or else they'll swallow you whole, answering the most obvious of these ('forever feeling like a slave to someone else') only brings disapproval from astarion. i chose 'most things fear him, actually' and he liked this answer, and i believe he approves of 'breaking a nail' as well. again, more flippant responses that still have truth to them.

and these answers show him that you see him enough to know that actually naming his deepest fear in this setting would be wildly uncomfortable for him at best and traumatizing at worst.