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Unlock the Ancient Tome is a sub-quest of in Act One of Baldur's Gate 3. It is initiated upon finding the book Necromancy of Thay in the Blighted Village.
Objectives
Objectives and journal entries may vary pending story decisions and outcomes.
Walkthrough
Unlocking the book
The Necromancy of Thay is obtained during Search the Cellar within the apothecary's secret laboratory past the ornate mirror. Removing the book from its trapped room starts a quest to either unlock the Necromancy of Thay's secrets or destroy it forever. Retrieving the tome from the apothecary's cellar is only one part of unlocking it - it also requires a key to open.
There are two ways to find the Dark Amethyst needed to unlock the book. One way is to enter the blacksmith's basement north of the Blighted Village waypoint (this is also the same basement where is completed). One of the northern walls is cracked and can be destroyed with force damage, which leads to the Whispering Depths. The other way is to investigate the well X: 23 Y: 400 north of the waypoint. Choose "[INVESTIGATION] Peer into the well" and then climb the bucket rope ladder down into the well to arrive at the cave. Inside the cave is an Apprentice's Pack X: -494 Y: -364 which has more information on the stone's whereabouts. It's deeper within the cave. The Dark Amethyst is in the western area of the cave X: -563 Y: -353 below a Spider Matriarch's webs. Either sneak past the horde of spiders, or defeat them all. Defeating the matriarch grants the
Poisoner's Robe.
Reading the book
With both the Dark Amethyst and the Necromancy of Thay in the party's inventory, interacting with the Necromancy of Thay starts a dialogue with the interacting party member inspecting the tome. Selecting Place the amethyst in the slot on the book's cover will unlock it.
From here, there are several options:
Once the book is opened and read, the reading party member must pass three Wisdom saving throws to avoid being cursed. See the Necromancy of Thay for full details on this interaction. Turning at least one page of the book grants the spell and the Forbidden Knowledge buff. Once all three saving throws are passed, the book snaps shut.
Choosing to give the book to Astarion grants approval points from him and a special cutscene at camp.
Fully unlocking the book's secrets
To fully unlock the secrets of the Necromany of Thay, it's neccessary to get and read Tharchiate Codex.
There are several hints about the Necromany of Thay and the Tharchiate Codex that can be found throughout Act Two and Act Three:
- A book on necromantic tomes on the rooftop of Moonrise Towers also makes reference to the Tharchiate Codex.
- Mystic Carrion in the Lower City of Baldur's Gate can be paid to reveal that Sorcerous Sundries holds the Codex in the Sorcerous Vault.
- Gale and Tolna Tome-Monger will also reveal that Sorcerous Sundries holds the Codex in the Sorcerous Vault.
The Tharchiate Codex is in the Elminster section of the Vault, which can be unlocked by opening doors in this order: Silverhand -> Evocation -> Wish. If the Necromancy of Thay was given to Astarion or Gale, they must be the controlled character and also hold The Tharchiate Codex in order to fully comprehend the text and unlock its secrets.
Reading The Tharchiate Codex curses the reading party member with Tharchiate Withering (see the Codex's page for full details).
If reading the Necromancy of Thay once more the reading party member receives which completes the quest. Passing the last DC 20 Wisdom saving throw is not required, however not doing so will curse the reading party member with Baleful Knowledge.
Rewards
- 80xp
Companion approval
Notes
- Gale can technically consume the Necromancy of Thay book, which destroys it without granting any of the abilities or knowledge. He can also read it like normal, if the item is sent to his inventory and he reads it while being the controlled character.