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The Wizard of Waterdeep is the companion quest for Gale in Baldur’s Gate III. You’ll receive this quest automatically after allowing this intriguing wizard to join your party shortly after escaping from the Nautiloid.
How to Recruit Gale
Gale can be found at the Roadside Cliffs Ancient Sigil Circle on the north side of the Nautiloid wreckage.
Interact with it to trigger an event then touch the sigil to cause a hand to shoot out of the hole. You can help or leave. If you chose to leave, then you will miss out on Gale. You’ll need to pass a strength skill check to pull him out if you wish to save him. There are other class options as well. For example, the bard can attune to the sigils magic helping the portal quiet down a bit. Passing the skill check will cause Gale to emerge from the magical hole starting up a conversation with him. You’ll then be free to have him join the party or give him das boot! The coordinates for this area are X:223 Y:324.
Continue traveling with Gale
Once you first get his quest, there isn’t much you can do with it yet. You’ll need to travel with him until you raise his approval rating about halfway which can be done by doing things Gale approves of.
Prepare for Gale to request a magic item
Once you get Gale’s approval rating about halfway, he’ll want to speak with you about an important matter. Gale will tell you that he needs to consume the Weave from magic items or something terrible will happen. To prevent this, he’ll ask you to help him procure magic items for when the time comes. Make sure to agree. Magic items tend to be green or blue quality and will now indicate that they can be absorbed by Gale near the bottom when scrolling over them. It’s best to have on ready before he asks by keeping it on your main character.
Treat Gale’s Condition
Eventually, Gale will say he needs to speak with you then say it’s time and ask for a magical item to consume. Hand one over to him and enjoy the show. He’ll then give you a little more info about his condition. You’ll then need to do this a couple more times before Gale will finally tell you the truth behind his condition. Basically, if he doesn’t absorb the weave from magical items, he will explode with enough force to destroy a large town. He’ll then say if you wish he will leave the party. To continue on with the quest, tell him you’ll tackle it together.
Find Out What Elminster Wants with Gale
Once you reach the Mountain Path in Act I, you’ll want to travel west of the Trielta Crags fast travel point. Between two wooden bridges, you’ll come across a weary traveler.
Approach him with Gale in the party to trigger a conversation. Send Elminster back to your camp and when you’re ready, meet him there. Talk with the old timer to learn he was sent to us by Mystra who has a task for Gale to redeem himself. She also gave the wizard a way to stabilize Gale’s condition. You’ll then need to speak with Gale afterward.
Destroy the Heart of the Absolute
To complete this objective, you’ll need to be on the Defeat Ketheric Thorm main quest towards the end of Act II. Your party will follow Ketheric below Moonrise Tower and learn more about everything that’s going on. After defeating him, the objective will be completed and you’ll get a new one.
Seek Another Means of Defeating the Elder Brain
In Act III, you’ll come across Raphael again in a room on the upper level of Sharess’ Caress at Wyrm’s Crossing. He’ll tell you about this crown on the Elder Brain’s head. After the conversation, speak with Gale at camp who will suggest a trip to the Sorcerous Sundries bookstore in the Lower City of Baldur’s Gate.
Speak with the Bookseller at Sorcerous Sundries
For the next stop, travel to the Sorcerous Sundries in the Lower City of Baldur’s Gate. Make your way there then head to Tolna Tome-Monger in the back of the store and speak with her. Quietly choose the option “I’m trying to find out about a particular Netherese crown. Have you anything on that subject?”. When she asks you which book you’re interested in, select “The Annals of Karsus”. She’ll then tell you a bit about the book but refuse to sell it to you. If you pass a persuasion, intimidation or deception skill check, she’ll tell you that the only way to the vault is through her office, which you are not allowed to go into.
Head up to the second floor and take a left. Follow the walkway to the end to find the door to her office. In order to get inside, you’ll need to lock pick it! Make sure to have someone with high stealth and cast an invisibility spell to make sure you’re completely concealed when lock picking the door.
Once inside, loot the Basement Chest Key on the table along the left side of the room.
Next, head to the bookshelf in the corner and interact with the clasped book to open a portal.
Jump inside to reach the Sorcerous Vault. Head through the wooden door in front of you. The next door is locked and you’ll need to smash through it. This will bring you to a circular room filled with multiple doors and armed with traps. Go through the door on the south side of the room labeled “Silverhand”. In the next room, head through the door labeled “Abjuration”. Lastly, head through the door labeled “Silver”.
In this room, activate the lever then return to the previous room and head through the “Demon” door. Now, pass through the door labeled “Karsus” where you’ll find the Karsus vault. Collect the tome inside then give it to Gale. This will trigger a cutscene where Gale will try to convince your character to reconstruct the crown correctly, granting the wearer God-like power! You’ll then have the choice whether you’ll allow him to proceed or convince him to stop. If you try to dissuade him, he’ll disapprove but you can promise to think about it.
After exiting the Sorcerous Sundries, Elminister will show up saying that Mystra wants an audience with Gale.
Meet with Mystra in the Stormshore Tabernacle
Travel to the Stormshore Tabernacle on the east side of the Lower City near the Basilisk Gate Barracks waypoint. Inside interact with the glowing Statue of Mystra. This will trigger a cutscene between Gale and the goddess. When he returns, speak with him.
Claim the Crown of Karsus
In order to begin this task, you’ll need to complete the Get Gortash’s Netherstone, Get Orin’s Netherstone and Confront the Elder Brain main quests…
