Necromancy of Thay Quest Items

Item Type

Quest Item

Lore

It. Is. Not. Too. Late.

Description

Necromancy of Thay is a story-related book in Baldur’s Gate 3 that plays a significant role in a quest called “Search the Cellar.” This book contains dark secrets and knowledge related to necromancy, and its choices can influence the course of the game.

Note: The book’s choices can impact companions’ approval and disapproval, leading to different outcomes and abilities for the player character.

Notes / Other Information

Book Interaction:

• Reading the book requires obtaining the Dark Amethyst from the Whispering Depths, guarded by a Phase Spider Matriarch.
• The book has three main paths, each with different outcomes:

1. Give to Gale or Astarion.
2. Destroy the book using Radiant damage.
3. Read the book for its dark secrets.

Read Path:

• Insert the Dark Amethyst into the oval recess to unlock the book.
• Turning each page requires Wisdom Saving Throws with increasing difficulty (DC 10, 15, and 20).
• Failing one Saving Throw curses with Whispers of Madness (Disadvantage on Wisdom Checks) for 50 turns.
• Failing two or more Saving Throws curses with Baleful Knowledge (Disadvantage on Wisdom Ability Checks) until cleansed by Remove Curse.
• Turning one page grants Speak with Dead spell (usable once per Long Rest).
• Sorcerers can learn Speak with Dead as a ritual with successful Charisma saves.
• Turning three pages grants the Forbidden Knowledge tag and passive feature.
• Closing the book before turning three pages leaves the quest uncompleted.
• Once opened by a character, it won’t open for others, and after three pages, it remains closed.-

Chapter Three:

• Mystic Carrion in Philgraves’ Mansion reveals the need for the Tharchiate Codex to unlock the book’s potential.
• The Tharchiate Codex is in Sorcerous Sundries’ basement vault.
• Two ways to access the vault: Tolna Tome-Monger’s office portal or Ramazith’s Tower Weave Button.
• Unlock the Elminster door using levers: Silverhand, Evocation, Wish.
• Reading Tharchiate Codex grants ability to summon ghouls via Danse Macabre once per Short Rest and temporary Hit Points after Long Rest.

Location / Where to Find

The book can be found in the Apothecary’s Cellar beneath the Blighted Village. To access the hidden part of the cellar containing the book, players must move a wardrobe by pulling a lever behind a box. Then, they need to interact with a magic mirror and either intimidate it or answer its questions correctly. The correct answers are:

• Szass Tam: “Szass Tam is a foul, wretched creature.”
• Balsam ointment: “To clean a wound.”
• Seeing anything in you: “I’d look for whatever spell will rid me of this worm in my head.”