#tolna tome

[algrenion]

i thought she was fucking around!!!

[veilkeeper]

[When asking about the rare book "The Tharchiate Codex") Tolna Tome-Monger: (Interesting choice. If I didn't know better, I'd think you might have 'The Necromancy of Thay' in your possession. I'd advise tremendous care with the 'Tharchiate Codex'. The cost of unlocking its mysteries is onerous.)

*laughs nervous* hahahaha what um. what makes you think i would have a book like that? i dont know anything about a necromancy of thay.

......... so where might one find this codex?

[blackjackkent]

Tolna Tome-Monger of Sorcerous Sundries, I hope you are prepared for the absolute juggernaut of combined nerdery that is Hector and Gale coming to talk to you about magical history.

"Literature department. Can I help you?"

She's whispering, which Hector immediately finds charming. Reminds him of the head librarian in the monastery, a wizened little old woman who happily listened to Hector chatter away about his latest discoveries in the ancient tomes he read through every day. He lowers his own voice accordingly.

"I'd be interested in any especially rare tomes you might have," he whispers back.

"Bold!" she says softly with a bright grin. "You might've heard that our library has a collection other shops would lack the skill to curate. Between us - even Master Lorroakan was reluctant to house them in his tower. The pen is mightier than the magic wand, apparently." She gestures around her dramatically. "They're locked away here for their and our customers' safety. Our finest reserve includes the 'Tharchiate Codex,' 'The Annals of Karsus: A Netherese Folly', 'Sights of the Seelie', and 'The Curriculum of Strategy.' Do any of those interest you?"

Ultimately the one they're interested in is The Annals of Karsus, but Hector's curiosity about the others is immediately roused as well. He is definitely bouncing excitedly on the balls of his feet as he asks about each - rather in the way Karlach did when she found out they could go to the circus. (She is standing watching this unfold with affectionate bemusement - but loving seeing him so excited about something.)

"The Tharchiate Codex," he says politely.

Her eyes widen and she leans forward slightly. "Interesting choice..." she whispers. "If I didn't know better, I'd think you might have 'The Necromancy of Thay' in your possession... I'd advise tremendous care with the 'Tharchiate Codex.' The cost of unlocking its mysteries is... onerous."

(A/N: Oho! Hector does NOT have The Necromancy of Thay, as he smashed that book into tiny pieces back when we found it in the Blighted Village. (Gale was NOT happy, and even less so when a bunch of shadows emerged from the smashed book and one-shot him.) But I will have to keep this in mind for my other playthroughs where I kept it.)

Hector decides to let that pass for now, and asks next about 'Sights of the Seelie.'

"Its author was a spectacularly talented halfling," the bookseller says soberly. "She was, allegedly, able to establish contact with members of the Seelie Court. Can you even imagine what wonders the fey pantheon might've revealed? Incredible!"

What about 'The Curriculum of Strategy'?

"You've heard about the Red Knight, I trust?" she mutters intensely. "Devout strategist, made exarch of Tempus. This treaty is a compilation of her own design, kept here on the Material Plane for the benefit of us mortals. Quite rare."

Hector is listening to all of this with rapt attention, his eyes very wide. Finally he comes to the main point of their visit. 'The Annals of Karsus: A Netherese Folly.'

"It is said," the woman intones softly, "to be written by Lord Karsus himself, the Netherese arcanist who attempted to replace the goddess Mystra, failed, and was banished for the attempt. Great magical knowledge lies within those pages - but not many can withstand it."

"That's it," Gale hisses excitedly. "That's what I need."

Narrator: The Annals of Karsus would no doubt have much to say about the crown's true nature - if only you could read them.

Well, Hector probably can't, but Gale certainly can.

"Sounds perfect," he whispers. "How much for me to buy it from you?"

She lifts her eyebrows, visibly startled. "Buy?" she says warily. "Books as temperamental as these are not on sale. They are secured in our vault, where none can harm them, nor can they do any harm. Consider yourself lucky to have learned of such a book's existence. And then forget about it - the Annals of Karsus are best left unread."

She's probably right, in the grand scheme of things - but they do need that book, which Hector is mildly glad of, because it means the correct thing to do here is to indulge his suddenly desperate curiosity to see that vault, which would be a thoroughly ill-advised choice in any other circumstance.

[PERSUASION] "Isn't it your job to share knowledge, not keep it locked away?" he asks earnestly. "At least tell me where the vault is..."

She tips her head to one side, studying him. Perhaps she sees a kindred spirit in him, the side of him that has been so buried under violence and pain of late, the boy from Silverlight Monastery who eagerly devoured every historical tome in the place and always hungered for more. But if she does - it is not enough to sway her from her implacable certainty that the books are not to be troubled. "Customers like you are why I prefer the company of books," she says wearily. "The only way to gain access to the vault is through my office. And before you ask - no, you are not allowed in there either."

Well, Hector and company have long since learned that locks are only a temporary annoyance if they really need to be somewhere. But as Hector prefers an honest solution if one can be found, he asks, "Surely there's some amount of gold that could convince you to part with the book?"

She narrows her eyes at him. "Psht. I already told you," she whispers fiercely. "It is locked in our vault. And with good reason. Imagine if a tome so dangerous were sold to someone with such poor comprehension."

Behind him, he hears Karlach swallow a snickering laugh, and resists the urge to grin himself.

"Thank you. I've learned more than enough," he says politely and turns away.

"You certainly has," the bookseller hisses at his back. "Even simple knowledge of these tomes is enough to stimulate most."

------

"That was cute, Hec," Karlach says with a wide grin as they walk away from the counter. "I don't think I've ever seen you that excited before."

"The collection of wisdom and knowledge that woman clearly has in her possession," Hector says. He's still visibly energized, his fingers twitching excitedly. "You were right, Gale. This place is incredible."

"I told you," Gale says with a soft chuckle. "A collection of magical lore with no equal on this plane of existence, I dare say - and certainly well worth our time to explore even in less dire circumstances. But... we will still be pursuing the Netherese book, yes? In spite of her objections."

"We will." Hector nods. "One way or another, I'll see to it that we find what you need."

"I might have to pick up a few books too," Karlach puts in.

Hector raises an eyebrow at her. "Sudden interest in magical lore?" he asks mildly.

She smiles playfully. "No, but I've got a very vested interest in anything that gets you excited. Or stimulated, as that woman put it."

Jaheira snorts. "Yes - it is well known that such books are tremendously romantic, is it not?" she says dryly. "Then again..." She shoots Hector a sideways look and then laughs. "I forgot who I was speaking of."

[goldshadows]

dnd based / bg3 verses

JAMI: a sneaky, pick-pockety street kid / urchin (+some outlander vibes) in baldur's gate bc mari never bothers to watch her so she's always out and about getting into all sorts of trouble. wouldn't necessarily have a class yet bc of her age but def rogue vibes. wood half-elf bc of her lifespan.

JESS: doctor/medic in baldurs gate, cleric vibes with a definite sage background. dedicated to helping people. huge book nerd so she frequents the library in the city and visits tolna tome-monger every now and then for new books.

HARLEY: guild artisan background. helped build the steel watch which he regretted immediately when he saw what they were used for and has been trying to manipulate/destroy them now. (artificer class?)

DAISY: works as sex worker at sharess' caress. some light criminal background bc she got into trouble a lot.

SAVANNAH: noble background. more tba.

JILL: huge huge paladin vibes with folk hero background. very powerful and has been travelling the lands, helping and healing anyone who needs it. visits family in baldur's gate, waterdeep and other bigger cities every now and then. def could be allied with harpers and similar.

ZOE: total ranger vibes with an outlander background. prefers nature over cities. probably hung around the emerald grove for a bit to pick up things here and there from the druids. went with the tieflings to help them get to baldurs gate. felt incredibly guilty when they were captured and brought to moonrise towers, helped free them though and when they finally get to bg decided to stay for a bit to relax.

[deathbind]

Let's say that Serot is reborn in Baldur's Gate. It should've been Meket, but because Meresankh was tugging on him and their token (a cameo with Serot's face) was in the city, Serot ends up there. With the amount of wealth on his person, the Counting House is happy to assist Serot in opening a safe in the vaults to contain it. Selling it might be more to his benefit, but he can recognize they're gravegoods. Technically, he can do whatever he pleases with them because they're his. However, the gaps in his memory after being reborn make him uncertain of that, so he doesn't risk it.

He doesn't intend to remain in Baldur's Gate, though. He needs money: to continue renting the safe and to fund his travels. He can only think to make his way toward Meket, and that is a long journey. He finds work at Sorcerous Sunderies under Tolna Tome-Monger. (He hardly sees or interacts with Lorroakan, and frankly? He likes it that way.) He begins a side hustle consulting people on matters pertaining to necromancy and spirits. He is discreet. Many outside Meket find such topics taboo; also he suspects Lorroakan would take umbrage. Even weakened by being reborn, he makes a tidy profit. Drawing directly from the Plane of Death rather than the Weave alongside his extensive knowledge allows him to accomplish things others can't.

With that income, he keeps his safe open, keeps a roof over his head, puts food on the table, and prepares for a long journey. The ensemble he wears at the start of BG3 as well as the camping supplies he carries are bought with this money. We'll say he was working maybe a year and a half in the city before being tadpoled.

[veilkeeper]

Tolna Tome-Monger: (It is said to be written by Lord Karsus himself, the Netherese arcanist who attempted to replace the goddess Mystra, failed, and was banished for the attempt. Great magical knowledge lies within those pages, but not many can withstand it.) Gale: (That's it. That's what I need.)

its so cute that he goes along with the whispering. we'll get you the book, gale, hold onto your wizard pantaloons.