Necromancy of Thay is a Story-related Book related to the quests 
, , and .
It. Is. Not. Too. Late.
Properties
Rarity: Story Item
Weight: 0.5 kg / 1 lb
Price: 14 gp
Where to find
- In the Apothecary's Cellar beneath the Blighted Village behind a locked gate, on an altar
Usage
Obtaining the book
To access the hidden portion of the cellar containing the book, the party must reveal a secret area by pulling a lever hidden behind a box, then speak to the magic mirror and either pass an 
check or correctly answer its questions:
- Question: What think you of the Zulkir known as Szass Tam? Right answer: Szass Tam is a foul, wretched creature.
- Question: Why might one use balsam ointment? Right answer: To clean a wound.
- Rangers have a special response that is also regarded as correct.
- Question: If you could see anything in me, what would it be? Right answer: I'd look for whatever spell will rid me of this worm in my head.
- Barbarians have a unique dialogue option, smashing the mirror with a rock to gain entry.
The locked gate in front of the book can be 
. The 
Rusted Key found on a shelf in the next room, near the lever that opens a shortcut back to the cellar entrance, can also be used to open the door. Alternatively, spells like 
or 
can be used to bypass the gate.
Taking the book triggers a trap. To avoid this an item of similar weight (like another book) can be placed on the pedestal, or the trap can be disarmed after passing a 
check to reveal it, or by disarming the two nearby statues.
To read the book, the 
Dark Amethyst must be obtained from the Whispering Depths at X: -550 Y: -350, which can be accessed from the well or the blacksmith's basement in the Blighted Village. The Amethyst is guarded by a Phase Spider Matriarch.
Using the book
Act One
There are several ways to deal with the Necromancy of Thay. Each of them has a different outcome:
- Giving the book to Astarion. Giving it to him grants approval from him. Once he has obtained the book, it cannot be transferred to another Companion or the player character.
- Destroying the book. The book can be destroyed only by
damage. Destroying it grants disapproval from Astarion, but approval from Karlach, Lae'zel, and Wyll. Destroying the book spawns three hostile Shadows. - Using Knock. Using the
spell on the book summons one Shadow. - Reading the book for its dark secrets. The book must be unlocked by attaching the Dark Amethyst on it. After placing the Dark Amethyst in the book's cover, the item quote changes from It. Is. Not. Too. Late. to Look. Away. If unlocked, in total, three pages of the book can be turned. Each page which is turned prompts a progressively harder
Saving throw (DC 10, 15, and 20). The following possible events can occur:
- Failing one Saving throw curses the reader with
(
Disadvantage on checks until cleansed by 
). - Failing two or more Saving throws curses the reader with ( Disadvantage on checks until cleansed by ).
- Some classes and some party members have special options to modify or lower these DCs; all these special options result in the same outcome.
- Bards may make
DC 5,10,15 Performance checks. - Sorcerers may make DC 5,10,15 Charisma checks.
- Warlocks may make the first save using DC 5 Charisma check. The other pages use the default saves.
- Wizards may make the first save using DC 5 Intelligence check. The other pages use the default saves.
- Clerics of dark / evil aligned gods like
, 
, or 
get a DC 10 Wisdom check for the third page, instead of a DC 20 Wisdom saving throw. This includes Shadowheart, as a Cleric of Shar. - Astarion has a special option: Drink in the darkness, embracing it, and turn the page for turning the third page, offering a DC 15 Wisdom check in contrast to the DC 20 Wisdom saving throw.
- Bards may make
- Some classes and some party members have special options to modify or lower these DCs; all these special options result in the same outcome.
- Turning at least one page permanently grants the reader
. This can be cast as a 
and does not consume a 
Spell slot. - Turning three pages, regardless of success, grants the Forbidden Knowledge tag and the
passive feature. - Closing the book before turning three pages leaves the quest incomplete and allows the character to reopen the book again later.
- Failing one
Once opened by any one party member, it cannot be opened by any other. Once all three pages are turned, the book refuses to open again for anyone until more knowledge is gained later in Act Three. It is then impossible to remove the book from the inventory of the reader.
Act Three
With the help of Gale and Tolna Tome-Monger at Sorcerous Sundries in the Lower City, it can be revealed that in order to unlock the full potential of the book, the 
The Tharchiate Codex somewhere in the vault of Sorcerous Sundries needs to be obtained. The help of Mystic Carrion in Philgrave's Mansion - for a 1500 gp fee - reveals the same.
The Tharchiate Codex is stored in the basement vault of Sorcerous Sundries. The vault can be reached in different ways:
- Interacting with the Clasped Book in the bookshelf of Tolna Tome-Monger's office upstairs and going through the portal.
- Using the Weave Button labelled 'Vault' on the middle level of Ramazith's Tower.
Within the vault, the Codex is located in the Elminster section. To unlock the Elminster door, the party must first find the lever at the end of the Silverhand section by opening doors in this order: Silverhand, Evocation, Wish.
After reading the Tharchiate Codex, the Necromancy of Thay can be re-read. After passing a DC 20 Wisdom saving throw the reader gains the permanent ability to summon four ghouls via the 
spell once per Long Rest. Failing this saving throw has the same effect as before: the reader is cursed with , but still gains the spell.
Reading the Codex also grants the reader 
passive feature, which lets the reader gain 20 temporary Hit Points after each Long Rest.
Reading the Necromancy of Thay fully does not break Oath of the Ancients, nor does using .
Having the feature allows the reader to safely obtain another permanent bonus from the Mirror of Loss in the House of Grief; see Permanent Bonuses for more details.
If Yurgir has not been killed for Raphael, but Astarion has successfully read the Necromancy of Thay as well as the Tharchiate Codex, then he can find out the meaning of his scars without the help of Raphael.
