Search the Cellar

A strange book is deep within the apothecary's cellar.

Search the Cellar is a quest in Act One of Baldur's Gate 3. It is initiated by finding a ledger in the apothecary within the Blighted Village that mentions rare plants stored in the cellar.

Objectives

Objectives and journal entries may vary pending player decisions and outcomes.

Find the cellar.

• We found a journal that mentioned a cellar - along with some powerful items. This sounds promising and, more importantly, valuable.
• We found an apothecary's ledger. It mentions some rare plants stored in a cellar - could be worth finding.

Investigate the cellar.

• We found the cellar mentioned by the journal. Time to have a look around.

Find the necromancer's book.

• The owner of the cellar was more than a doctor - he was a necromancer. And he was obsessed with a particular book.

Decide what to do with the book of necromancy.

• We found a strange and powerful tome, 'The Necromancy of Thay'. What should we do with it?
• Books like these contain manifold secrets - though they've been known to drive people mad.

Quest Complete

• We deciphered the final page of 'The Necromancy of Thay', and finished the book.
• The book was destroyed, along with any secrets it had.
• The book was lost, along with its secrets.
• The 'Tharchiate Codex', key to finishing 'The Necromancy of Thay', was destroyed.

Walkthrough

Book within the Apothecary's House

The Apothecary's house is immediately south of the Blighted Village waypoint. The quest can be started by reading the Apothecary's Ledger on the counter (X:34, Y:382). The wooden hatch is right behind the counter (X:33, Y:378). There are a number of useful items on the cellar's shelves, including a number of healing potions, but the most important element is a hidden passage.

The Apothecary's Cellar

The lever behind the crates.

On the Northern wall of the cellar, hidden by a number of crates, is a lever (X:-703, Y:-353). The lever opens a secret passage to an underground cemetery. Of the many coffins strewn about, several contain skeletons that spring to life if their rest is disturbed. Open the Mouldering Casket north of the table with the journal (X:-663, Y:-314). It contains a Dark Journal that reveals the owner of the apothecary was a Red Wizard pursued by zulkirs.

Passing the Ornate Mirror

The ornate mirror.

Use this knowledge to approach the Ornate Mirror X: -654 Y: -346 on the southern end of the cemetery. The mirror comes to life and seeks to know if the party is an ally of Ilyn Toth or not. The party can answer the mirror's questions, or bypass it.

There are multiple ways to bypass the Ornate Mirror via skill checks:

• [INTIMIDATION] Open or I'll mash you to pieces - bad luck be damned. (DC 15)
• [BARD] [INTIMIDATION] I th-think I could get you shipped off to him as an antique if you don't open. (DC 15) - during the first question, if picking the second dialog choice to begin the quiz.
• [STRENGTH] Pick up a rock to smash the mirror. (DC 15)

If the player has read the Dark Journal, the party can try to trick the mirror into thinking they are Ilyn Toth through a DC 15 Persuasion check.

The mirror can also be destroyed; however, its medium toughness means that only a hit that deals at least 22 damage can damage it.

Mirror puzzle

Otherwise, the party must answer a series of questions in the following way to avoid a dangerous trap and gain entry. Reading the books located in the shop above and throughout the cellar gives clues to get pass the mirror.

What th-ink you of the zulkir know as Szass Tam?

• Szass Tam is a foul, wretched creature.
• A foul lich. May he die a thousand more deaths. (correct)
• [INTIMIDATION] I think seven years' bad luck sounds like a fair trade for smashing you. (DC 15)
• [WIZARD] Actually, Szass Tam isn't a zulkir - he rules as High Regent now.

T-tell me, why might one use balsam ointment? (any of the wound-cleaning options are correct)

• I spoke to the quasit. It told me it's good for burns.
• I read a doctor's journal - he used balsam to clean a wound.
• [NEUTRAL CLERIC] [GOOD CLERIC] Balsam is a common disinfectant.
• To clean a wound?
• [GALE] Balsam disinfects wounds. Surely everyone knows that?
• [RANGER] I use it to clean wounds out in the wilds.

...if you could see an-ything in me, what w-ould it be?

• [DARK URGE] I'd look for whatever spell will rid me of this worm in my head.
• I'd look for whatever spell will rid me of this worm in my head.
• [BARD] Nothing good tends to come of ambition in stories like this. I would see you freed.
• [SORCERER] Nothing - you're a thing of magic. I can shatter this prison for you, if you wish.
• [ASTARION] I'd see how to safely keep the powers this mind flayer's worm has given me.
• [GALE] I'd see myself in my next incarnation: a living manifestation of Netherese magic. A mythal in my own right.
• [KARLACH] I'd see myself whole again. My heart beating away in my chest. And Zariel's head on a pike for good measure.
• [LAE'ZEL] I'd see myself as a kith'rak: ghaik head in one hand, silver sword in the other.
• [SHADOWHEART] I'd see myself as Shar's Chosen, with all her power at my disposal.
• [WYLL] I'd see Mizora, cowering before me and begging my mercy.

Successfully intimidating or answering its questions correctly will earn Mirror Master Inspiration for the Charlatan, along with gaining entry into the lab.

If failing the mirror's questions, it will unleash a flaming sphere that will began to float around, leaving a small trail of fire and unleashing a burst of flames, dealing 2d6Fire with a DC 12  Dexterity saving throw to halve the damage. It will take a route throughout the cavern and partly into the tunnel leading in before losing power and returning into the mirror. It is possible to repeat the quiz as many times as needed, with the sphere lacking the power to attack again.

Once the mirror opens the way, Ilyn Toth's lecturing hall is revealed. Of note is the Moonhaven Logbook (X:-668, Y:-355) which contains Toth's observations of the comings and goings of various individuals. Additionally, on the eastern side of the room is a heavily trapped area. Disarm the pressure plate (DC 15), the Gargoyles (DC 15), and the book's pressure plate (DC 10) to avoid brutal traps, or simply escape the room before being set on fire. This heavily guarded tome is the Necromancy of Thay book and acquiring it initiates both Unlock the Ancient Tome and Destroy the Ancient Tome.

Quest rewards

• Necromancy of Thay, which requires a Dark Amethyst to fully unlock.