In Act One, when traveling south, you might encounter an old lady being harassed by two men.
Despite what this scene seems to be, BG3 takes place in the Forgotten Realms, where appearances can be deceiving.
While the old lady seeks your assistance, the two men accuse her of wickedness and claim she has abducted their sister.
Are they being truthful? Is the old lady truly malevolent? Should you offer your aid to the old lady in Baldur’s Gate 3? Well, that depends.
Assist Ethel and Condemn the Brothers
If you choose to aid the old lady, you’ll soon discover her delight in witnessing the ensuing events.
The two brothers will mistake you for an ally of the old lady and engage in combat, ultimately fighting to the death.
However, it’s possible to incapacitate them by activating your non-lethal attack mode and concluding the battle with non-lethal melee strikes.
Ethel will confess that their sister was indeed in her custody and promptly vanish.
If this doesn’t suffice to convince you that Ethel isn’t the sweet old lady she appears to be, try locating her tea house. Hopefully, you can rescue the woman she abducted.
Help the Brothers
Opting to aid the brothers will elicit Ethel’s anger, as she insists that you should be assisting her. Nevertheless, this won’t lead to a physical altercation, and she will vanish shortly afterward.
The brothers will depart in search of Ethel on their own, but they’ll never locate their missing sister. Now, it’s your responsibility to locate and rescue Mayrina.
Weirdly, Mayrina will not be very receptive when you finally find her brothers are alive anymore and you make her believe that Ethel did it.
While this quest may not be pivotal to the main storyline, it offers a rich and engaging narrative that adds depth to your adventure.
The outcomes of your choices will shape the fate of the characters involved, providing a unique and memorable experience within the world of Baldur’s Gate 3.
So, as you make your decision, keep in mind that even in side quests, the consequences of your actions can have far-reaching effects in this captivating game.
Ethel’s Dark Ambitions
Ethel, a green hag of the most malevolent kind, thrives on misery and feeds on the suffering of others.
Her actions are driven by a sinister agenda, and she rarely, if ever, offers assistance without expecting a steep price in return.
In this particular case, Ethel’s dark ambitions extend to Mayrina’s baby, a coveted prize among hags of her kind.
The old lady’s seemingly helpless facade conceals a predator’s cunning. Ethel seeks to add Mayrina’s child to her repertoire of victims, savoring the anguish and despair that would inevitably follow.
Her motives are far from benevolent, and her actions are guided by a malevolent hunger that seeks to consume the very essence of those she ensnares.
In the world of Dungeons & Dragons, green hags like Ethel epitomize deception and wickedness, making it imperative for adventurers to tread carefully when dealing with them.
Ethel’s true intentions are shrouded in darkness, and unveiling the depths of her treachery is essential to navigating the perilous path that lies ahead.
Final Thoughts
In Baldur’s Gate 3, the choice of whether to assist the old lady known as Ethel is a captivating side quest that immerses you in the ethically complex world of the Forgotten Realms.
While this quest may not be pivotal to the main storyline, it offers a riveting narrative that delves into the malevolent motives of a green hag.
Your decisions will shape the fate of the characters involved, providing a unique and memorable experience within the world of Baldur’s Gate 3.
On top of all that, this quest might also reveal one more way to enter the underdark without having to go fight a bunch of phase spiders.
As you navigate this quest, always remember that in the presence of creatures like Ethel, appearances are profoundly deceiving, and the consequences of your actions can be far-reaching in this captivating game.
