Unlock the Ancient Tome: Difference between revisions

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 [[Finish the Masterwork Weapon]] 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 {{Coords|23|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 {{Coords|-494|-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 {{Coords|-563|-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]].

With both the Dark Amethyst and the ''Necromancy of Thay'' in the party's inventory, click on the ''Necromancy of Thay''. This starts a dialogue with the party inspecting the tome. Select 'Place the amethyst in the slot on the book's cover' to unlock it.

* Open the book and read it

* Give the book to [[Astarion]] or [[Gale]]

* Drop the book and proceed with [[Destroy the Ancient Tome]]

 

More hints - not mandatory to unlock the book - about the ''Necromancy of Thay'' 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 its lower vaults.

From the Lower City, proceed to 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.

Note: 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 player with [[Tharchiate Withering (Condition)|Tharchiate Withering]] (see the [[The Tharchiate Codex|Codex]]'s page for full details). Finally, read the ''Necromancy of Thay'' once more to receive [[Danse Macabre]] and complete the quest. Passing the last {{SavingThrow|WIS|dc=20}} is not required, however not doing so will curse the player with [[Baleful Knowledge (Condition)|Baleful Knowledge]].