The Wizard of Waterdeep: Difference between revisions

After the third artefact, Gale notices something is seriously wrong. The artefact is not having much effect of sating his need. He decides to finally tell the party the nature of his condition.

Gale reveals that he was a magical prodigy, able to not only control the Weave at a young age, but compose it like a musician. He gained the attention of [[Mystra]], the goddess of magic, who became his teacher, muse, and eventually his lover. However, Gale witnessed magic that was beyond mere mortals while he was with Mystra. Seeing the powers he was denied, he begged Mystra for more, but she told him to be content with what he had.

Looking to gain Mystra’s favor, Gale found a magical tome from the Netherese empire. It contained a fragment of Weave that was lost after the fall of Netheril. Gale believed that returning the fragment to Mystra would earn her favor and she would grant him the powers he desperately wanted. However, once he opened the tome, the power within the object merged within him, a Netherese orb that hungers for magic. Locked away in his tower in Waterdeep, Gale could manage the condition, but in the wilds, it risked becoming unmanaged. If the orb is not sated, it will detonate with the power to level a city the size of Waterdeep.

After the third artefact, Gale begins looking for alternative solutions for his condition. He no longer needs to be fed more items and the item tag showing Gale can consume an item no longer shows.

A Weary Traveler {{Coords|-132|-161}} is on the Rosymorn Monastery Trail which leads to the Shadow-Cursed Lands. If the party skips the Mountain Pass, he instead appears within the Shadow-Cursed Lands near the elevator leading down to [[Grymforge]]. If the player avoids the Weary Traveler at the earlier two locations, he will appear on the stone bridge in front of [[Moonrise Towers]], close to the [[Waypoint]]. The old man asks to see Gale and, if Gale is in the party, he is identified as the great wizard [[Elminster Aumar]]. Elminster is an emissary of Mystra, seeking Gale to relay a message to him and a special charm. He asks if he can rest at camp first and get a proper meal, and then can be met at camp immediately or later.

At camp, Elminster states that Mystra has been watching the Cult of the Absolute and believes it is a threat to the Weave and the fabric of reality itself. Gale is the one person who can stop it, by detonating his Netherese Orb in the heart of the Absolute. If Gale sacrifices himself, he will be redeemed in the eyes of Mystra. Elminster also casts a charm on Gale, granting him control over the Orb. He is able to detonate it at will. With the message imparted, Elminster wishes Gale and the party the best of luck in defeating the Absolute and departs.

If the latter is chosen, Gale responds with “One last gust of Weave. One last gale to end them all” and detonates the Orb. The Netherbrain, the party, and the Chosen Three are destroyed as a result, leading to an early game ending. Unfortunately, this course of action does not remove the tadpoles already implanted in the various True Souls around Faerun, causing a mass transformation of illithids. Narration reveals that the new illithids are mobilizing, turning or killing all they encounter, causing a mass takeover of the land.

Gale suggests the party visit a magic shop, [[Sorcerous Sundries]] – the finest book collection this side of Candlekeep. He believes the crown holds powerful Netherese magic, much more so than the scraps of magic typically left in Netherese artefacts. Sorcerous Sundries may have books on Netheril and Karsus’ Folly that can illuminate what the crown is.

Sorcerous Sundries {{Coords|-15|-68}} is in the [[Lower City]], southwest of the Baldur’s Mouth building and southeast of the Lower City Central Wall Waypoint. On the ground floor in the eastern area of the shop is bookseller [[Tolna Tome-Monger]]. Ask her if she has a book on a Netherese Crown. She insists that the party whisper – yelling causes the books around Tolna to explode and she refuses to speak to the party. If the party whispers the request, she’ll mention [[The Annals of Karsus|The Annals of Karsus: A Netherese Folly]]. Tolna states that the book is locked in the vaults and cannot be read or bought, as the subject is too sensitive for most people. She can be persuaded, deceived, or intimidated into revealing that the key to the basement is in her office. Additionally, she has a pamphlet in a shelf under her desk called "Path to Elminster" which provides a clue on how to access the path to Elminster's vault.

Interact with the Clasped Book on the bookcase to open a portal. This is the Sorcerous Sundries Basement. Inside, open the door to enter a hallway with a locked door, which leads to the vaults. The inner door can be opened with a {{Ability Check|Sleight of Hand|15}}. Be warned that the vault is heavily trapped with pressure plates (all DC 10) which cause deadly explosive traps to trigger if the party isn’t careful.

Once the party leaves Sorcerous Sundries, Elminster reappears at camp. He tells Gale that both he and Mystra know he read the book. Mystra wants to speak with Gale to discuss what he’s learned, and to ask why he didn’t sacrifice himself in the Mind Flayer Colony.

Mystra is waiting at the [[Stormshore Tabernacle]] {{Coords|102|-19}}, just west of the Basilisk Gate Waypoint. A statue of Mystra has been magically charged with a teleportation link. Gale only has to will it, and he’ll be face to face with Mystra. Before departing, Gale asks for some words of wisdom, to which the party can encourage reconciliation with Mystra, tell him he owes her nothing, or simply tell him to keep his cards close to his chest.

Mystra informs Gale that the piece of Weave he sought to return to her was actually a part of the Karsite Weave and it carries with it Karsus’ relentless desire for ambition. It will never be sated. Mystra has kept it from killing Gale by temporarily allowing it to feed on the true Weave. Mystra implores Gale to return the Crown of Karsus to her as it is an incredibly dangerous artefact, and says she will cure him of his condition if he complies. Returning the Crown to her would mean becoming her Chosen again. Gale leaves the conversation unsure, saying he has much to think about.