I found the Ornate Mirror in the Blighted Village apothecary cellar and wrote this for players who want a clear, practical walk‑through. In my experience, many players get stuck because they either rush the place or assume they can blast the mirror and move on. That won’t always work the way you expect.
🪞 Where the mirror is
The mirror sits in the apothecary’s cellar in the Blighted Village, northwest of the Druid Grove. Look for the building with a faded mortar‑and‑pestle sign. You reach the cellar through a hatch behind crates by the fireplace or by a well outside. If you can’t find the hatch, try moving the crates (Perception checks can reveal it).
Quick note: prepare for combat before you go down. Honestly, failing the mirror’s test can hurt your party (necrotic backlash is real).
📜 What the mirror asks — and why
The mirror speaks and asks three things: your name, an opinion about a Thayan figure mentioned in nearby notes (Szass Tam appears in some versions), and why you’re there. I’ve noticed those questions pull from books and notes scattered around the room. Read the writing; the mirror’s logic ties to the creator’s notes. That’s why searching matters.
“Read the cellar before you speak. The answers are in plain sight.”
Why read first? Because the mirror checks for intent and allegiance — it’s set up to reject intruders who look like thieves or enemies. If you answer with appropriate context, the mirror lets you pass. If not, expect damage.
✅ Answers that worked for me
| Question | Answer (example) |
|---|---|
| “Speak your name” | Say your character’s name (honest answer) |
| “What think you of the zulkir known as Szass Tam?” | Call him foul — the mirror’s creator opposed Thayan necromancy |
| “Why have you come?” | Say you seek knowledge and power (not thievery) |
These responses match documents found in the lab (we found notes referencing Thayan necromancy). There are exceptions depending on your party’s background and game updates (this doesn’t always work if you’ve modified quest flags or mods are installed).
// Example dialogue
Mirror: "Speak your name."
Player: "[Character Name]"
Mirror: "What think you of Szass Tam?"
Player: "Szass Tam is a foul, wretched creature."
Mirror: "Why have you come?"
Player: "I seek wisdom and power."
Mirror: "You may pass."💎 Loot and consequences
Behind the mirror is a small lab with rare books and alchemical bits. You can usually find a powerful necromancy tome (often called the Necromancy of Thay), spell scrolls like Speak with Dead, ingredients, and about 100–200 gp in valuables. Opening certain books without safeguards can have consequences; you may need an amethyst or a protective ritual first (depends on your choices).
To be fair, the loot varies by patch. Updated: June 01, 2025 — players on 2025 builds still report the Necromancy of Thay appearing in that cellar in most standard playthroughs.
⚔️ Alternate ways through
- Destroy the mirror with attacks — it has HP, but it shocks nearby characters with necrotic backlash. Some players call this “efficient,” others call it lazy and role‑breaking (controversial!).
- Teleport past it (Misty Step or similar) — you skip dialogue and avoid damage.
- Sneak or find a switch — sometimes a hidden mechanism disables the enchantment (Investigation DC ~15; Sleight of Hand to tinker, DC ~18 — results vary by table and patch).
Why choose one method over another? Because you might want the lore, not just the loot. If you break it, you lose dialogue and some story beats. Also, some NPCs react later if they learn you smashed the mirror (and they may hold grudges).
🎭 Class and background options
Wizards (necromancy specialists), Sages, and some race backgrounds get extra dialogue choices. Those can reduce the number of questions or outright bypass a check. Drow or those with Underdark familiarity sometimes recognize unique enchantments. Warlocks may gain clues from their patron (yes, really — I’ve seen that happen). But: these special paths don’t guarantee success every time.
| Type | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Wizard (Necromancy) | Identify enchantment; skip a question |
| Sage | Recognize Szass Tam/Thayan notes |
| Drow | Know similar Underdark magics |
Tips from my runs (short & honest)
- Read every book in the cellar before you answer.
- Save before you speak — there are consequences!
- If you prefer avoiding combat, teleport or sneak past.
Here’s the funny part: sometimes the “obvious” aggressive choice makes the game easier short‑term but ruins later roleplay opportunities. Want to be subtle or blunt? That choice shapes later reactions.
One counterintuitive insight: answering honestly is often safer than trying to trick the mirror. Why? The mirror cross‑references items in the room; lies trigger its defenses. Surprising, but true.
So — ask yourself: do you want the lore or just the chest? If you want both, read, prepare, and answer with context. Between us, that extra minute saved me from a nasty party‑wipe once.
Final caveat: patches and mods change mechanics. I’m writing from tests up to June 01, 2025. Your mileage may vary. Sometimes the game stumbles (yes, I’m stumbling here), and the mirror behaves oddly — that’s part of the charm.
— written by an experienced player who’s been in that cellar more than once.
