Necromancy of Thay

Necromancy of Thay is a Story-related Book related to the quests ⁠Search the Cellar, ⁠Unlock the Ancient Tome, and ⁠Destroy the Ancient Tome.

It. Is. Not. Too. Late.

Properties

•  Books
•  Rarity: Story Item
•  Weight: 0.5 kg (1 lb)
•  Price: 14 gp
•  
  UID

  S_FOR_DangerousBook_Tome
  
  UUID

  73ea8888-ed82-4ca5-b9f9-0c9119873507
  
•  
  UID

  UNI_FOR_ThayanTome_Unsocketed
  
  UUID

  feecea9b-c091-46fd-9795-738e9c0e3019
  
•  
  UID

  UNI_FOR_ThayanTome_Socketed
  
  UUID

  215dc202-2b77-4825-b6d1-c72954f6394a
  

Where to find

• In the Necromancer's Lab beneath the Blighted Village, on a trapped altar, at X: -648 Y: -362, behind a locked gate
  • See ⁠Unlock the Ancient Tome for access

Usage

• Giving the book to Astarion:  +5  -5
  • Once he has obtained the book, it cannot be transferred to another companion or the player character.
• Destroying the book:  +1  +1  +1  -5  -5
  • The book can only be destroyed by Radiant damage, which spawns three hostile  Shadows.
• Using Knock: Using the  Knock spell on the book summons one  Shadow.
• Reading the book for its dark secrets:  -5  -1  -1
  • The book must be unlocked by placing the  Dark Amethyst in its cover, after which up to three pages of the book can be turned, prompting progressively harder  Wisdom Saving Throws (DCs 10, 15, and 20).
  • Failing one saving throw curses the reader with  Whispers of Madness, failing a second curses the reader with  Baleful Knowledge. Both apply  Disadvantage to Wisdom checks, but while the former can be cleared by long resting, the latter can only be cleansed by  Remove Curse.
  • Some classes and some party members have special options to modify or lower these DCs; using any of these options results in the same outcome.
    • Bards may make  DC 5,10, and 15 Performance Checks.
    • Sorcerers may make  DC 5,10, and 15 Charisma Checks.
    • Warlocks may make a  DC 5 Charisma Check for the first page. The other pages use the default Wisdom saves.
    • Wizards may make a  DC 5 Intelligence Check for the first page. The other pages use the default Wisdom saves.
    • Clerics of evil-aligned gods get a  DC 10 Wisdom Check for the third page. 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, requiring a  DC 15 Wisdom Check.
  • Turning at least one page permanently grants the reader  Speak with Dead. This spell can be cast as a ritual and does not consume a spell slot.
  • Turning three pages, regardless of success, grants the Forbidden Knowledge tag and the  Forbidden Knowledge passive feature.
  • Closing the book before turning three pages leaves the quest Search the Cellar incomplete and allows the reader to reopen the book again later.

Notes

• 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 Perception check to reveal it, or the two nearby statues can be disarmed. The character taking the book can also enter turn-based mode to avoid the trap, ensuring that the party is out of its range before leaving turn-based mode.
• 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.
• Reading the Necromancy of Thay:
  • does not break the Oath of the Ancients
  • permanently locks it to the inventory of the reader
  • changes the item quote from "It. Is. Not. Too. Late." to "Look. Away."
  • prevents anyone else from trying to read it
• Once all three pages are turned, the book refuses to open again for anyone until more knowledge is gained later in Act Three. See:  The Tharchiate Codex.
• The  Forbidden Knowledge passive can be sacrificed to allow the reader to safely obtain a permanent bonus from the Mirror of Loss in the House of Grief; see Permanent Bonuses.

External links

• ⁠The Necromancy of Thay on the Forgotten Realms Wiki