Unlock the Ancient Tome: Difference between revisions

{{ up to date | 2023-09-09 }} <!-- Date format is YEAR-MONTH-DAY, like 2023-08-07. -->

'''Unlock the Ancient Tome''' is a sub-[[quest]] of [[Search the Cellar]] in [[Act One]] of Baldur's Gate 3. It is initiated upon finding the book [[Necromancy of Thay|"The Necromancy of Thay"]] in the [[Blighted Village]].

=== 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 [[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 or spiders, or defeat them all. Defeating the matriarch grants the {{RarityItem|Poisoner's Robe}}.

=== Reading the Book ===

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.

Once the book is opened and read, the player must pass three Wisdom saving throws to avoid being cursed. See the [[Necromancy of Thay]] page for full details on this interaction. Turning at least one page of the book grants the [[Speak with Dead]] spell and the [[Forbidden Knowledge]] buff. Once all three saving throws are passed, the book snaps shut. It has one more secret to reveal, but the [[Lower City]] must first be reached in [[Act Three]] to unlock its full potential.

=== Fully Unlocking the Book's Secrets ===

More hints - not mandatory to unlock the book - about the Necromancy of Thay can be found throughout [[Act Two]] and Act Three:

From the Lower City, proceed to the [[Sorcerous Vault]]. {{RarityItem|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 {{Cond|Tharchiate Withering}} (see the [[The Tharchiate Codex|Codex]]'s page for full details). Finally, read the Necromancy of Thay once more to receive {{SAI|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 {{Cond|Baleful Knowledge}}.