Completing every Baldur’s Gate 3 sidequest is an awfully tall order, but don’t let the Ornate Mirror and its tricky Balsam Ointment question throw you off. You’ll need to pass its test or risk losing access to the Necromancy of Thay questline. It’s not a hard conversation to navigate, but the fancy furniture is kind of a jerk, so here’s a quick list of all Ornate Mirror answers for those worried about passing its vibe check.
Where is the Ornate Mirror?
Upon reaching Act 1’s Blighted Village, enter the building next to the glowing Waypoint and search for a wooden hatch behind the bar. Climb down into the cellar, proceed to the back northernmost wall, and flip the lever hidden behind a few crates.
Follow the tunnel, hugging along the wall curving right, and you’ll encounter the Ornate Mirror. It’s not too hard to find, and the space is small, so take a moment to snoop around, picking up more items and assorted junk—no shame in collecting a little NPC gold fodder.
Interacting with the Ornate Mirror triggers the usual Skill Checks, so save before proceeding. It’ll lock you out of the secrets it guards if you answer wrong.
Every BG3 Ornate Mirror Answer
The BG3 Ornate Mirror is no normal mirror; it’s a spooky spectral gateway blocking your path forward. For my own playthrough, I chose a half-drow, half-elf warlock, and some prompts here reflected as much. She’s also a bit of a smarty pants, so history checks come in handy. Anyway, to spare folks who didn’t go with the same setup, this guide will focus on using answers not locked to the same path.
Your conversation begins with unfriendly introductions, but to get by, answer:
- 1. Tell it your name.
- 1. Yes, an ally! I’m an ally of your master’s.
The Mirror gets a little testy, asking more questions, but we’ve got all Ornate Mirror answers at the ready—including the one about what Balsam Ointment is for. Hint: it’s for cleaning wounds. Here are all of the Ornate Mirror answers in BG3:
- Question: What do you of the zulkir known as Szass Tam?
- 2. Szass Tam is a foul, wretched creature OR A foul lich. May he die a thousand more deaths.
- Note: Passing an Intelligence (History) Check here revealed Szass Tam was a “powerful lich in Thay who made deals with dark gods.” The check determines which answer you see, but it’s always the second one.
- Question: Tell me, why might one use Balsam Ointment?
- 2. To clean a wound?
- Question: If you could see anything in me, what would it be?
- 2. I’d look for whatever spell will rid me of this worm in my head.
With that, the Ornate Mirror is done with its Q&A session; congratulations on passing the test. You’re free to proceed into the laboratory it once guarded and discover the room’s biggest secret, the Necromancy of Thay. When you’re done here, maybe consider heading northwest for another quest, Rescue the Trapped Man.
How to discover the Ornate Mirror answers
In BG3, you can read various books around the Apothecary’s home and cellar if you’re interested in learning more about Szass Tam, Balsam Ointment, and other miscellaneous lore pieces. While many of these books have flavor text, a few reveal some important details, including the answers to the Ornate Mirror questions:
- The Apothecary’s Ledger inside the house reveals the existence of the cellar.
- The Healer’s Log in the cellar that Balsam Ointment was used to clean a splinter wound before bandaging it.
- The Dark Journal in the casket at coordinates (X-667, Y: -316) tells the story of someone being chased by the Zulkirs, implying distaste for them.
Alongside notes and books, you can find multiple alchemical ingredients and potions throughout the Apothecary’s house. The cellar, in particular, has items such as a Potion of Healing recipe book, Elixir of Poison Resistance, and several other items to help you create alchemy mixtures.
