Baldurs Gate 3: Search the Cellar walkthrough

Search the Cellar is a task in the first act of Baldur's Gate 3. Depending on your decisions, this task can either end immediately or open a storyline that can only be concluded at the end of the game. On this page of the guide, we have described how to access the apothecary's cellar, how to recruit Shovel, and what to do with the book of necromancy.

• How to access the apothecary's cellar?
• What to do with the book of necromancy?

How to access the apothecary's cellar?

The apothecary is one of the main buildings in the Blighted Village. You will recognize it by a shop counter and many alchemical ingredients lying around. Behind the counter, there is a hatch leading to the cellar. There, you need to find a lever hidden behind three wooden crates to open a secret passage leading further.

There are many coffins in the next room. Most of them contain undead that will attack you upon opening. However, the coffin right by the entrance contains a scroll for summoning a quasit. Cast the spell to summon a quasit named Shovel. During the conversation, do not change its name when it offers, and then speak to it as a Wizard, Sorcerer, or Warlock (Wyll or Gale can also do this). Shovel will then teach you the ability to summon it - from now on, it is a permanent familiar that you can summon daily for free.

Talk to the magic mirror found in the same room. To proceed, you must introduce yourself and intimidate it (DC 15) or correctly answer its three questions. The correct answers are:

1. "A foul lich. May he die a thousand more deaths."
2. "To clean a woun."
3. "I'd look for whatever spell will rid me of that worm in my head."

Go through the open mirror to enter the secret workshop. There, in a small room, you can find a book of necromancy. It is locked behind a grate, which can be opened with a key (you'll find it on a shelf at the other end of the workshop). Additionally, there are pressure plates in front of the grate and under the book, which will trigger a trap filling the room with fire. Disarm the traps or leave the room immediately after picking up the book.

What to do with the book of necromancy?

Opening the book of necromancy requires a Dark Amethyst. This item is guarded by an optional boss, which can be found in the Blighted Village - the Phase Spider Matriarch. After opening the book, you have three options to complete the task - you can read it, give it to Astarion, or destroy it.

1. Reading the book of necromancy will require passing three Wisdom skill checks. If you fail any throw, you will be cursed with a disadvantage on Wisdom checks. This curse lasts until someone casts a remove curse spell on you (Clerics learn it at level five). By reading the book, you will receive two permanent bonuses - knowledge of the Speak with Dead spell and a +1 to skill checks and Wisdom saving throws.
2. Giving the book to Astarion will grant you a significant approval bonus from him, which may be essential if you plan to romance him. Astarion is now the only character who can read the book and benefit from it.
3. To destroy the book, you must deal radiant damage to it, for example, with a Cleric's Guiding Bolt spell. Destroying the book will summon three hostile shadows that you will have to defeat. Destroying it will not grant you any benefits and will prematurely end the quest.

If you have read the book or given it to Astarion, you will only gain part of its knowledge. The remaining secrets can be unlocked only in the third act. For now, however, the quest will come to an end.

Baldur's Gate 3

August 3, 2023

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