The Wizard of Waterdeep (Origin)

The Wizard of Waterdeep is a personal quest for Gale's origin, immediately starting in the Prologue. It is titled the same as his Companion quest and has two sub-quests:  In Case of Death... and  Balthazar's Experiment.

“

Well met, stranger. You find yourself in the presence of the renowned wizarding prodigy, Gale of Waterdeep - please, no need to be intimidated. My virtuosic talents once caught the eye of the goddess of magic herself, Mystra, who named me her Chosen, and her lover.
Thanks to a slight miscalculation on my part, that relationship eventually soured, as did the greatest of my powers. Now I'm merely a humble wizard on the road to redemption. Unless I can find the path to something greater...

„

— Gale, introducing himself in the Character Creation Menu

Objectives

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

Escape the nautiloid.

• "I was an archmage - powerful, proud, full of potential - until my failed attempt to impress my lover, the goddess Mystra, left me with a volatile 'orb' of Netherese-corrupted Weave in my chest. Keeping it stable is difficult at the best of times... and these are far from the best of times. I've been abducted by mind flayers, infected with one of their tadpoles. So far the orb appears unaffected, but I can't count on that for long. I need to get back to Faerûnian soil before it begins to hunger."

Stabilise the orb by consuming magical items.

• "The orb of corrupted Weave within my chest is beginning to hunger. I need to find and consume an item of sufficient magical power to satisfy it, before it destabilises any further."
• "The item I consumed was enough to satisfy the orb's hunger. However, it will not be long before its cravings return. If I find any more magical items, I'll want to keep them close at hand."
• "The orb hungers once more. I'll need to consume a potent magical item as soon as I can, or risk its detonation."
• "I consumed the magic from a powerful item, but somehow the orb remains... dissatisfied. I suspect it won't be too much longer before it demands more Weave to consume. I'd better make sure I have something ready when the time comes."
• "The orb's cravings have returned, more powerful than ever. I need to consume a powerful dose of Weave from a magic item, and soon."

Continue your adventure.

• "It seems my treatment is no longer effective - the last item I consumed was barely enough to quell the orb's tumult. For now, I'll continue my journey, and keep a close eye out for anything that promises a more permanent solution."

Talk to Elminster

• "I encountered Elminster while travelling on the road. He sought me out on a matter of great importance, and is waiting to speak with me in camp."

Find the Heart of the Absolute

• "My mentor, the great wizard Elminster, sought me out in order to deliver a message from Mystra herself. She instructs me to find the 'Heart of the Absolute', and when I find it, to blow it up by detonating the orb. Elminster granted me a powerful spell in order to do this, and has stabilised the orb to grant me enough time to find it. I need to learn more about this 'Heart', and how else it might be defeated."

Seek another means of defeating the Elder Brain.

• "My companions discovered the Heart of the Absolute in the bowels of Moonrise Towers: a powerful elder brain, controlled by a Netherese crown of incredible power. I missed my opportunity to detonate the orb - I'll need to defeat the elder brain another way."

Speak with the bookseller at Sorcerous Sundries.

• "I need to learn more about the Netherese crown controlling the elder brain. In Baldur's Gate, there is a renowned magical emporium, Sorcerous Sundries, known for its collections of rare and valuable magical tomes. I should speak with their bookseller and find out if they have anything on Netherese magic."
• "I found a book in Sorcerous Sundries referring to an ancient tome called 'The Annals of Karsus', a book on Netherese magic. The book is apparently hidden within the Sorcerous Sundries vault. I should speak with the bookseller and see if she will grant us access."
• "I spoke with the devil Raphael, who told me that he seeks a legendary Netherese artefact - the Crown of Karsus. Could this be the crown worn by the elder brain?"

Search the Sorcerous Sundries vault

• "Tolna told me about a book called 'The Annals of Karsus', which is locked away in the vaults of Sorcerous Sundries. I need to find a way to access the vaults and learn what this book has to say about the crown."
• "Tolna the bookseller mentioned that 'The Annals of Karsus' are kept in the Sorcerous Sundries vault, which is not accessible to customers. We'll need to find another way inside."
• "Tolna refused to tell me where the Sorcerous Sundries vault can be accessed. I need to find a way in for myself."
• "The bookseller in Sorcerous Sundries is in no position to help me scour their shelves. I'll need to track down any Netherese tomes here for myself."

Search Tolna's office.

• "I persuaded Tolna to tell me how the Sorcerous Sundries vault can be accessed. The entrance is via her office, though she refused to grant me access. I need to find a way into her office."
• "I gained access to Tolna's office. The entrance to the vault is somewhere inside, if I can only figure out where..."

Search the Sorcerous Sundries vault

• "I found a note in Tolna's office regarding the Sorcerous Sundries vault. It sounds like the vault is protected by some invisible means. I should tread carefully."
• "I gained access to the Sorcerous Sundries vault via the secret portal in Tolna's office. I need to look around the vaults, and find out where the magical tomes she mentioned are stored."
• "I was teleported to the Sorcerous Sundries vaults via a magical button in Ramazith's Tower. I need to find the Annals of Karsus within the vault, and see what it can tell me about the crown."
• "I was teleported to the Sorcerous Sundries vaults via a magical button in Ramazith's Tower. Perhaps there's something down here that could shed light on that strange Netherese crown controlling the Elder Brain."

Find 'The Annals of Karsus' in the Sorcerous Sundries vaults.

• "I found a note in Tolna's office regarding the Sorcerous Sundries vault. It sounds like the vault is protected by some invisible means. I should tread carefully."
• "I found a strange note in the vaults of Sorcerous Sundries, purportedly written by the great wizard Ramazith himself. It seems to refer to the names of the doors guarding each vault."

Read 'The Annals of Karsus'

• "I found a note in Tolna's office regarding the Sorcerous Sundries vault. It sounds like the vault is protected by some invisible means. I should tread carefully."
• "I recovered The Annals of Karsus from the vaults in Sorcerous Sundries. I need to read it, and see what I can learn about the crown."

Face the Elder Brain.^{[Needs Verification]}

• "I read 'The Annals of Karsus' and discovered that they were no mere diary - they contained the original designs for the Crown of Karsus. Using this new knowledge, I could attempt to reforge the true crown, restoring it to its former powers. First, I need to bring the three Netherstones together."

Speak with Mystra.

• "Elminster knew I'd discovered the secret to forging the Crown of Karsus, and came to deliver a final message from Mystra. I need to go to her shrine in the Stormshore Tabernacle, where she will at last grant me an audience."

Claim the Crown of Karsus.

• "I met with Mystra in the outer planes. She told me of the true nature of the orb - that it is the Karsite Weave, a half-formed magic created by Karsus when he sought to become the god of magic."
• "Mystra asked that I seize the crown and then return it to her, in exchange for which she will rid me of the orb."
• "If I give the Crown the Mystra, I might be cured, forgiven even. But keep it, and the possibility of godhood awaits."
• "I promised to return the crown to Mystra, and in doing so I will finally be able to rid myself of the orb."
• "I told Mystra I would claim the Crown of Karsus and wield it myself."
• "I decided not to obey Mystra's summons, and did not go to speak with her in the Stormshore Tabernacle. Whatever she might have said to me, it will go unspoken. For now, my focus is on defeating the Elder Brain."
• "I'm not the only one with designs on the Crown of Karsus. I met with the devil Raphael, who tried to convince me to sign a contract promising the Crown to him. Naturally, I refused."
• "I signed a contract with Raphael, promising to give him the Crown of Karsus once the Elder Brain is defeated. If I want to give the Crown to Mystra, I should destroy that contract."
• "I signed a contract with Raphael, promising to give him the Crown of Karsus once the Elder Brain is defeated. If I want to claim the Crown's powers for myself, I should destroy that contract."
• "I signed a contract with Raphael, promising to give him the Crown of Karsus once the Elder Brain is defeated. If I want to decide the Crown's fate for myself, I should destroy that contract."
• "For now, my contract with Raphael demands I hand the Crown of Karsus over to him. I should destroy that contract, or risk the devil interfering."
• "My contract with Raphael has been destroyed. Once the Elder Brain is defeated, he will not be able to take the Crown of Karsus from me."

Face the Elder Brain.^{[Needs Verification]}

• "I didn't manage to learn the secrets of the Netherese crown worn by the Elder Brain. Should I be willing, the option of the orb is still mine to take. In detonating it, I might yet save the city, though I would not live to see it."
• "My first attempt to defeat the Elder Brain was unsuccessful - it had transformed into a Netherbrain, and was no longer held under the Netherstones' sway. I need to speak with the Emperor and reassess my approach."
• "Our first attempt to defeat the Elder Brain was unsuccessful - it had transformed into a Netherbrain, and was no longer held under the Netherstones' sway. We need to speak with the Emperor and reassess our approach."
• "Karlach became an illithid after the Emperor told us this was required in order to dominate the Netherbrain. We kept hold of the Netherstones I need to reforge the Crown of Karsus. Now that she's transformed, we're ready to take on the Netherbrain."
• "I gave the Netherstones to the Emperor after it told us only an illithid could wield them to dominate the Netherbrain. Once the Netherbrain is defeated, I'll need to take them back in order to forge the Crown."
• "I gave the Netherstones to Orpheus after he transformed into an illithid. Once the Netherbrain is defeated, I'll need to take them back in order to forge the Crown."
• "I became an illithid after the Emperor told us this was required in order to dominate the Netherbrain. In doing this, I retained control of the Netherstones I need to reforge the Crown of Karsus. Now that I've transformed, we're ready to take on the Netherbrain."

Quest Complete

• "I tried to use the Crown of Karsus without learning enough about it first. It didn't go well."
• "I tried to use the Crown of Karsus to kill Mystra and become the God of Magic. It didn't go well."
• "I relinquished the Crown of Karsus to Mystra on one condition - she relinquished any claim held over me. She accepted."
• "I relinquished control of the Crown of Karsus to Mystra, and became her Chosen once more."
• "I relinquished the Crown of Karsus to Mystra and joined her on the plane of Elysium."
• "I placed the Crown of Karsus upon my head, becoming the God of Ambition."
• "I saved the world by sacrificing myself - a worthy price to pay."