Baldur’s Gate 3 is full of interesting, world-building stories, many of them conveyed through character interaction and player exploration. But for more direct and longer lore dumps, the game includes a ton of books and tomes that appear in various places around the world. While there are many notes, diaries, and documents that provide story-specific information, other texts are simply in-universe novels or historical recordings which serve to make Faerun feel more alive.
Even so, many players will fail to read all of these different books of knowledge. Stopping mid-adventure to read several pages about an unrelated event can interrupt the flow of the game, and large walls of text in general can prevent many players from committing to reading a book. But of all the books in Baldur’s Gate 3there are at least ten that players should read thoroughly if they get the chance, because they provide great foreshadowing and supplementary exposition to the events of the story.
10
The Unclaimed perfectly foreshadows Shadowheart’s journey
Lessons about the lady of loss
At first glance, this book may not seem that related to the story of Baldur’s Gate 3. It is a fable tale about a cleric of Shar who, after dying, it is forgotten and unclaimed by its goddess. The other gods take pity on the forgotten soul, but can do nothing to help her, and she is left alone in the city of judgment. It’s a sad story about unrequited devotion and Shar’s nature as a goddess who cares little for her own followers.
Once players get a little further into the story, they will realize that this book actually foreshadows Shadowheart’s journey with Shar. She has devoted herself entirely to this goddess, abandoning even her memories and identity, and yet she receives nothing in return other than harsh judgments and orders. If Shadowheart continues on the path he started the game on, she will end up like the unclaimed cleric in the story. Although short and vague, this book presents the arc of the party cleric and the choices he will have to make very well.
9
The Realm Segundo Bumpo offers a humorous look at some invisible races
Species of Faerun not present in Baldur’s Gate 3
Although the player can become and encounter many different species from the world of Dungeons and Dragons, such as Elves and Gnomes, there are many species from the TTRPG that are absent from the video game. Fortunately, players can take a quick look at some of these races in a fictional story about a traveler named Bumpowhich catalogs interactions with some during their travels.
The book mentions tabaxi, aarakocra, tortles and genasi all ignoring Bumpo as he tries to question them. It’s a fun detail that hints at the greater expanse of this world that the player himself never directly sees, and makes the Sword Coast feel even larger. And now that the game officially supports modding on console and PC, perhaps some of these species will appear in Baldur’s Gate brief.
8
Notes on the Mind Flayer’s anatomy put some abstract threats into perspective
A very detailed description of the Illithids
“Notes on Mind Flayer Anatomy” is a useful book to have when someone is going through ceremorphosis. It details some of the information collected by researchers about the bodies of illithids, although, as one would expect when dealing with such an elusive species, the information is quite sparse. But there are some interesting facts this book provides about how mind flayers work.
Apparently, the mucus on the skin is the result of bodily secretions after eating brains, and one can tell how long ago a mind flayer has been eating based on the viscosity of the mucus. Additionally, some theorize that they store their tadpoles in the places where their own brains used to be, before releasing them into central tanks. Finally, there are notes about the existence of mind flayer genitalia, something player characters can confirm after a certain romance option.
7
Sword Coast Secret Societies: Exposed introduces some important factions
A more in-depth analysis of some family groups
This non-fiction book contains information about four secret groups in Faerun, all of which have some relevance to the main story. The book includes information about the Harpers, Shadow Druids, Dark Judges, and something called the order of Klurd. Shadow druids play a small role in the first act during Kagha’s storyline, and this text provides their plant-centered motivations. Harpers are very important in acts two and three of the game, with one potential member of the group even being a harpist.
And while the book is extremely concise in its writing about the dark judges, simply saying that they “worship Shar,” mentioning them here is a fun foreshadowing of their importance in the game’s later acts. Finally, Klurd’s own order may never appear, but the description given about it is strangely reminiscent of the Dead Three. The order is apparently made up of “assassins, maimers, and tyrants,” which aligns with the domains of Bhaal, Myrkul, and Bane, and suggests their later importance.
6
Eyewitness accounts of the Bhaalspawn Crisis describe the events of the previous game
An especially important text for Dark Urge players
Once players reach the end of the game’s second act, they will realize that the Dead Three are behind the resurgence of the mind flayers and plan to take over the world. Bane, Bhaal, and Myrkul become central antagonists at the end of the game, and players from the previous game Baldur’s Gate titles may be having a sense of déjà vu. Because Bhaal, god of murder, appeared as an antagonist in Baldur’s Gate 1 and 2.
For those who haven’t played these games yet, giving “The Mortal View: Eyewitness Accounts of the Bhaalspawn Crisis” a read might be a good idea. This text succinctly describes the basic events of these previous adventures, from the perspective of random people in Baldur’s Gate. Mention Gorion and Gorion’s ward, as well as Sarevok, Irenicusand other important figures in these previous games. While the accounts do not present a complete picture, they do show the terror that the Bhaalspawn inflicted on the city and how they nearly toppled it.
It’s a good setup for how threatening Bhaal’s influence can be, and it’s especially pertinent for players who are playing as Dark Urge. The Urge is a Bhaalspawn and spends most of the game giving in to or resisting its violent desires. This book may provide a little information about other Bhaalspawn and how people reacted to them, and explain some of this character’s lost identity.
5
The Fall of Netheril Concisely Explains a Very Important Historical Event
Story that informs much of the main plot
The ancient civilization of Netheril, although already gone by the time of the main story, is super important to everything that happens to the Absolute. That’s because the main source of the Absolute’s power, the Crown of Karsus, is a Netherese artifact of immense strength. It is thanks to the crown that the player’s tadpoles do not immediately consume their minds and that the chosen of the Dead Three are able to keep the Absolute under their control.
Although Gale can explain the fall of Netheril to the player if he is a party member, players either play as Gale (or who never rescued it from their portal) You can turn to this book for some important information. He describes how Karsus, in trying to create this crown that would give him divine power, brought down his entire civilization. Interestingly, it was written by Raphael, the demon who continually interacts with the player in an attempt to get his hands on the crown. This addresses Raphael’s desire for the crown, shedding some more light on his motivations.
4
The Dukes Of Baldur’s Gate Simplifies A Complex Government Structure
Understanding Gortash’s Plot
The third act of the game begins with Gortash, Bane’s chosen one, Taking on the role of Archduke in Baldur’s Gate. Players may realize this is bad, as it gives Gortash a lot of power, but they may not understand how bad it is without understanding a little about the politics of Baldur’s Gate. Talking to the nobles and patriarchs in Wyrm’s Crossing can shed some light on this system, as can reading this book.
It describes how the parliament of patriarchs constitutes the ruling class of the cities, a group of extremely wealthy nobles. They themselves are overseen by four of their ranks, elected as dukes to form an executive council. And among these four, a grand duke is chosen to lead the entire system. Gortash in this case is taking on the role of archduke a role not normally played in Baldur’s Gatethis gives him even more power than a Grand Duke would have.
3
Blood War Provides Some Much-Needed Exposition to a Party Member’s Story
Explaining Karlach’s Connections to Hell
Something that is mentioned a lot in relation to a certain character in the game, but is never fully explained, is the blood war. Simply put, The blood war is an endless battle between the demons of the nine hells and the demons of the abyss. Demons embody the cooler side of evil moralities and stop chaotic demons from invading planes and destroying everything they find. Although demons like Zariel are no good, they are the only line of defense between Faerun and an endless horde of demonic entities.
The book that bears the name of this war addresses this in fairly simple and short terms, but explains the nature of the fight and who the different sides are. It’s something that veteran D&D players may already be familiar, but it can catch others off guard when Karlach’s story keeps cropping up. This tiefling was, after all, recruited into the blood war by a deal her former boss, Gortash, made with Zariel. Understanding the scope and depravity of the bloody war is important to understanding why Karlach is so desperate to escape it.
2
Soul Coins: A treatise explains a mysterious item in the game
The currency of hell
Another hellish part of worldbuilding covered in book form is the nature of soul coins, iron currency used by demons in hell. Players will be familiar with soul coins like rare consumables to fuel Karlach’s engine to new heightsbut as Karlach explains, they actually contain the souls of the dead. There are a few points throughout the story, especially if the player is Karlach, that the morality of using these coins is questioned; particularly, when a cambion gives three to Karlach.
The book “Soul Coins: A Treatise” is a study of currency conducted in hell by Candlekeep scholars. It covers not only what coins are, but also how demons treat them, which sheds some light on some oft-simplified characters from the world of BG3. Some demons apparently keep certain coins because of their sentimental value.while others trade them lightly. There’s even a part about an interview with a sorcerer whose soul was attached to a coin, showing how this process works on the side of the living.
1
Death and Divinity: A Pious Guide Enters the Tradition of the Ancient God of Death
Jhergal and his successors
The Dead Three are vital to the game’s story, and in some ways, they are as well. Jhergal: the ancient god of death who held power over the process before Bhaal, Bane and Myrkul. However, little is directly conveyed about the ancient god, with most of the information about him subtly hinted at in the tomb found at the beginning of the first act. This book, which can be found in the nearby druid grove, provides somewhat more direct information about the relationship between Jhergal and his successors.
The book explains how, after millennia, Jhergal grew tired of his duty as sole god over death and sought a reprieve. When the Dead Three came to claim his power, he essentially let them take it, shifting the responsibility to the three of them to share. The book almost seems to have been written by Jhergal himself, as the last few sentences seem almost a warning to his heirs: “After all, even gods can die.”
If the author was Jhergal, it’s important to note how close the book’s writing seems to how Withers speaks, lending even more credence to the theory that Jhergal and Withers are the same person. Either way, it’s the book everyone should read next time. Baldur’s Gate 3 playthrough if they lost the first time.
Source: Baldur’s Gate 3/YouTube