Arcane Tower

The Arcane Tower overlooking the Ebonlake.

Underdark
Decrepit Village
↑
		Arcane Tower	→	Selûnite Outpost

The Arcane Tower is a Location within the Underdark in Act One of Baldur's Gate 3. The tower overlooks the Ebonlake, and belongs to Lenore De Hurst, however, she has not returned home in over a decade.

Overview

Access

The Arcane Tower is in the south-west corner of the Underdark map. This area is recognizable by its neatly built stone entryway that opens to a front garden featuring two Arcane Turrets. It can be reached through the Torchstalk Gulch, recognisable by its dark brown paths paved with deep red mushroom clusters and spots of Torchstalk that cast floating embers into the air.

The area is divided roughly into the entry area, each floor of the tower, and the garden outside the ground floor. Upon initial approach, the doors are shut and the central elevator is disabled, and the floors must be accessed through other means.

The party can use the fungus platforms growing on the southern wall of the tower to  Jump their way down to the ground floor. It is a good idea to cast  Feather Fall to prevent unnecessary fall damage. Alternatively, using  Fly or teleporting (via  Misty Step) also gets the party down without issues.

Dealing with the Arcane Turrets

An active Arcane Cannon.

The Arcane Tower is guarded by automated Arcane Turrets. They are automatically hostile and shoot at the party members whenever they are in the line of sight and in range; there is a targeting indicator which can show this. Anything that breaks this line of sight, e.g. solid obstacles or  Fog Cloud, effectively stops the attacks.

The turrets shoot and attack in real-time exploration mode as well as in turn-based mode. However, it is recommended to turn on turn-based mode to make movement and controlling the party more manageable.

In general, there are a few approaches to dealing with these the Arcane Cannons:

• Attacking - the cannons can be directly damaged and rendered inoperable. They have some resistances, and vulnerability to Lightning and Cold.
• Override - the cannons can be shut down once restoring power on the generator on the ground floor.
• Running by / Stealth - this is best done in turn-based mode as it allows the party members to move cover-to-cover between turns.
• Anti-Magic - as the Arcane Cannons are magical constructs, they can be shut down by placing a Sussur Bloom near them, because of its  Sussur Antimagic Field.
  • Sussur Blooms can be found in the garden at the bottom of the Arcane Tower, or at the Sussur Tree in Dread Hollow.
  • Attacking a Cannon while it is shut-down by the Anti-Magic field destroys it, as opposed to "knocking it out".
  • Cannons which have previously been rendered inoperable but not destroyed can actually be revived by the Sussur Antimagic Field, by first placing and then taking back a Sussur Bloom near them.

Ground floor (generator room)

To restore power to the generator of the Arcane Tower - which activates the elevator and deactivates the automated defences - the party must bring a Sussur Bloom to the power generator. Sussur Blooms can be found at the Garden just outside the door, or on the sussur tree in the Dread Hollow.

The party must interact with the Power Generator to bring up the crafting menu and use it to combine the machine with a Sussur Bloom. The Arcane tower comes to life, granting 25 xp and the inspiration  Regeneration for party members with the  Guild Artisan background. Once the generator is powered, the Arcane Turrets power down, the Arcane Braziers become lit, and the elevator can be used to ascend and descend between the floors.

First floor (greenhouse)

This floor can only be accessed by the restored elevator, by flying, or by using the platforms on the exterior fungus on the south side of the tower. This is a level that contains all the mushrooms required for the quest  Help Omeluum Investigate the Parasite.

The other notable item on this floor is the Threadbare Book containing the phrase: "How can I trust? How should I know? How can I show myself, my darkest me?", which provides an additional option for interacting with Bernard on the roof.

Second floor (main entrance)

The main floor can be accessed directly through the front door of the tower, or via the elevator after it is powered. Opening the Main Door requires succeeding on a DC 15 Sleight of Hand check, or it can be broken down - it has  Medium Toughness and 36 hit points. Alternatively, there is a broken window to the left of the door that can be entered. Opening this door prior to the restoration of power leads to a confrontation with two Arcane Turrets.

A dusty book can be found on this floor. If read it changes its name to Evil's Ascent.

On the northern balcony is the Chest of the Mundane, which is revealed as magical with a successful Arcana check. Taking the clutter from the chest in the inventory, or placing a Sussur Bloom near the chest, dispels the illusion to reveal some scrolls and Mystra's Grace. The latter can provide the party an additional casting of  Feather Fall which can help them avoid some damage trying to access the ground floor.

The southern balcony does not contain any notable items, but lets the party access the exterior fungus platforms to the lower levels.

Third floor (bedroom)

The Roads to Darkness book on Lenore's desk.

This floor can only be accessed by the restored elevator or by flying. This floor contains documents that the party should inspect prior to ascending to the fourth floor (roof), in order to have a peaceful interaction with Bernard.

The book The Roads to Darkness can be found on the desk at the South-Eastern corner at X: -25 Y: -297 and a Torn-Out Paper on the table close to the elevator at X: -35 Y: -286.

The Orpheus, Prince of the Comet, Part One: Betrayal can be found on top of a bookshelf in the South-Eastern corner X: -31 Y: -296 and be read by Lae'zel to start the quest  Discover the History of Prince Orpheus. If she is not available, it can be read after picking up The Careful Art of Tir'su Ciphers from the table near the elevator at X: -32 Y: -292 and using it to read the disc (or after succeeding on a DC 20 Intelligence check.

Aside from the books and notes, the magical ring Mage's Friend can also be looted on this floor in a wooden chest by the bed, at X: -29 Y: -273.

Lastly, there is an interactable button at the north-eastern corner of the tower that appears to do nothing when pressed. To make it work, the party must retrieve and equip the Dog Collar from the grave at the Dread Hollow at X: -41 Y: -212, prior to interacting with it. Doing so reveals that the button served as a food dispenser for Lenore's pet, Myrna, as a piece of Raw Steak appears. The party can only do this once.

The fourth floor (roof)

This floor can only be accessed by the restored elevator or by flying. Upon arriving at the floor, a dialogue is triggered with Bernard, who is standing guard by the elevator along with a group of Animated Armours.

Bernard speaks only in poetry, with the scattered lines found throughout the Arcane Tower serving as various command phrases for him. In the first meeting, if the party read The Roads to Darkness they can respond with "Or art though friend, a rescue from my lonely wake?" which prevents Bernard from becoming hostile and attacking. Successfully doing this grants the party 50 XP.

Afterwards, there are several dialogue options / commands the party can use with Bernard, depending on what they have read (see #Bernard's commands).

The Guiding Light ring can be obtained by reciting "How can I trust? How will I ever know? / How can I show myself, my darkest me?" from the Threadbare Book on the first floor, or by destroying Bernard in combat. It cannot be pick-pocketed. Destroying Bernard (or commanding them to drop their weapon) also grants the party the Light of Creation.

There is also a lever next to a bookshelf on this roof, that can be noticed with a DC 18 Perception check. This is an alternate way to open the wall on the first floor that leads to the basement.

Lastly, there is the File:Stool of Hill Giant Strength Unfaded Icon.pngStool of Hill Giant Strength in the northeastern corner, behind the Animated Armour, that party members can sit on and notice its magical effect. If they break the stool and pass the subsequent perception check, they can obtain the Club of Hill Giant Strength from its debris.

The basement (secret room)

Flying down to the secret basement room.

There are several ways to access the basement:

• Using the elevator with Guiding Light equipped (an additional "Basement" button appears at the controls)
• Using  Fly or  Misty Step to go through a gap from the first floor
• Using  Mage Hand or a ranged attack to activate a lever under the staircase to open the wall
• Activating the lever on the fourth floor hidden next to a bookshelf.

In the basement, aside from more Tongue of Madness and Timmask Spores, the party can also find the Staff of Arcane Blessing leaning against a table, The Sparkswall in a gilded chest, and an assortment of scrolls in the chest and various rows of books.

Layout

Arcane Tower layout

Level	How to access	Notable elements
Ground floor (Generator)	The exterior Garden can be access by flight, jumping or teleporting on outside the tower. The locked ground floor itself can be accessed by the Back Door or through a Hole in the wall.	Contains the generator that allows you to restore power to the tower. The elevator itself is located on a mezzanine, with the rest of the basement beneath it.
1st Floor (Greenhouse)	Can be reached by the elevator, flight, or by jumping or teleporting on the mushrooms on the tower exterior.	Contains the quest related items Tongue of Madness, Timmask Spores). If the party don't want to explore the rest of the tower, they only have to visit this one floor.
2nd Floor (Main Entrance)	Can be accessed by the Main Door. Or flight and elevator if approaching from another level.	Contains the Chest of Mundane with Mystra's Grace + two Scrolls) and 2x Arcane Cannons.
3rd Floor (Bedroom)	Can be reached by the elevator and/or flight.	Contains key elements that allows the party to converse with Bernard and other constructs peacefully.
4th Floor (Roof)	Can be reached by the elevator and/or flight.	This level contains Bernard, and the Guiding Light ring which is one method to visit the basement.
Basement (Secret Room)	Can be reached by the elevator with the Guiding Light ring equipped, by flying or using  Misty Step through a gap from the 1st level, by using  Mage Hand to activate a lever under the staircase, by using a bow to activate the lever under the staircase through the staircase, or by activating the lever on the 4th floor hidden next to a bookshelf.	Contains treasures - including the Staff of Arcane Blessing, The Sparkswall, and another set of the quest items Tongue of Madness, Timmask Spores).

Bernard's commands

Line	Action	Required book
"How can I trust? How will I ever know? / How can I show myself, my darkest me?"	Bernard gives Guiding Light to the player character.	Threadbare Book (first floor / greenhouse)
"These empty sheets are all that's left of you. / The last of all the thoughtless gifts you gave."	Bernard gives the player character a Potion of Greater Healing.	Patched Parchment (table next to Bernard, fourth floor)
"The silence stretches on - I'm all alone. / Please, can I hold your hands, for just a while?"	Bernard hugs the player character and reassure them. It speaks as if the player character is Lenore.	Torn-Out Paper (third floor / bedroom)
"Or art thou friend, a rescue from my lonely wake?"	Bernard acknowledges the player character as their master, and remains passive.	The Roads to Darkness (third floor / bedroom)
"There is a light in every living thing. / It's crawling t'wards the surface to survive."	Bernard and the nearby Animated Armours become hostile and attack.	Evil's Ascent (second floor / main entrance, marked as Dusty Book before reading it)

Characters

• Bernard

Creatures

• Arcane Turret
• Animated Armour

Related quests

•  Discover the History of Prince Orpheus
•  Help Omeluum Investigate the Parasite

Nearby locations

View from the South

Torchstalk Gulch

To the east of the tower, this unnamed area of the Underdark has deep red mushroom clusters and spots of Torchstalk that cast floating embers into the air. The corpse of an unfortunate Drow can be found, having been killed by an unexpected fall.

The party can climb mushrooms along the wall to reach an upper level. Some of these mushrooms will be illusions that will de-materialise when stepped on or discovered with a DC 10 Investigation check. There are also some mushroom circles, one behind an illusory wall, on the upper level and below. These connect to each other, until the circle in the Overgrown Tunnel is used. Then they can be used to travel to the Overgrown Tunnel near the the Riverside Teahouse and back.

Festering Cove

Main article: The Festering Cove

The Festering Cove is a partially hidden location on a separate Underdark map, containing the Kuo-toa worshipping their god, BOOOAL. It can be reached by climbing down the cragged rock in Torchstalk Gulch X: 80 Y: -241.

Loot

Notable items obtained in this location, whether looted, purchased, or obtained as a quest reward:

• Skybreaker inside a locked chest in-front of the tower X: 27 Y: -298

Fourth floor (roof)

• Club of Hill Giant Strength break the Stool of Hill Giant Strength on the 4th floor of the tower
• Guiding Light looted or gifted from Bernard after using the appropriate play line
• Light of Creation looted from Bernard (can also use  Command: Drop)

Third floor (bedroom)

• Mage's Friend in a chest at the foot of the bed on the 3rd floor

Second floor (main entrance)

• Chest of the Mundane, found on the northern balcony on the second floor (main entrance). It appears to contain worthless mundane items. If they are removed, or are in proximity to a Sussur Bloom, the enchantment fails, and instead the items can be seen to be Mystra's Grace and some randomised loot, including two scrolls.

First Floor

• Uncovered Mysteries

Basement (secret room)

• Staff of Arcane Blessing
• The Sparkswall
• Level 3 Spell Scroll (randomised)

External links

• Arcane Tower on the Forgotten Realms Wiki