Key takeaways
- The Chromatic Scale is upstairs, not a separate building The ground floor is The Glitter Gala.
- Thomas C Quirkilious sells five named instruments, all mechanically equivalent to common instruments but more expensive.
- A Bard dialogue option can improve the party’s buying and selling prices with Thomas and can produce companion approval.
- The shared basement contains tripwires, Cloudkill vents, hidden storage and a piano-based secret.
- Thomas carries both his own stockroom key and a key that opens the Glitter Gala’s basement hatch.
- Several books and notes provide minor lore about music, performers and the shop’s owner, but there is no major quest centred on the Chromatic Scale.
About this guide
Spoiler warning: This guide covers Act Three locations, shop inventory, locked containers, hidden storage, traps and minor story details in the Lower City of Baldur’s Gate 3. It does not cover the wider Lower City in full.
Overview
The Chromatic Scale is a small but unusually detailed music shop in Baldur’s Gate’s Lower City, encountered during Act Three. It occupies the upper floor of a shared building whose ground floor is The Glitter Gala, a jewellery shop. The building stands in the Steeps district, beside the Facemaker’s Boutique and near the route towards the Baldur’s Gate checkpoint and the Upper City.
The shop is run by Thomas C. Quirkilious, a red dragonborn bard and trader. Its main purpose is to sell named musical instruments that function like the ordinary flute, lute, lyre and drum equivalents already available elsewhere. The instruments are collectible variants rather than upgrades, but the shop also contains hidden storage, books, a trapped shared basement and a small musical secret for characters who can perform well.
Although the Chromatic Scale is easy to overlook, it is worth visiting for bards, completionists, players collecting named instruments and anyone interested in the environmental storytelling scattered through Baldur’s Gate.
---
Where the Chromatic Scale is
The shop is in the Steeps district of the Lower City. It is positioned close to:
The Chromatic Scale itself consists primarily of the upstairs music shop. Its associated storage space is in the basement of the shared building. The ground floor is not part of the music shop’s salesroom, although it is physically connected and contains a hatch into the shared basement.
Scope boundary
---
The upstairs shop is arranged around Thomas’s counter and instrument displays. Most display cases are decorative and do not contain special merchandise. Several travelling chests near the windows can contain minor random loot, while the important fixed containers are concentrated around Thomas’s counter and the concealed storage area.
---
Scope boundary: For this guide, “Chromatic Scale” includes
- 01The upstairs music shop.
- 02Its immediate shared basement storage area.
- 03The connected building’s shared access points where they directly affect the Chromatic Scale.
- 04The nearby named NPCs and background figures explicitly associated with the building.
Scope boundary: The building has three meaningful levels
| Level | Area | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Ground floor | The Glitter Gala | Jewellery and gem shop run by Omotola |
| Upper floor | Chromatic Scale | Musical-instrument shop run by Thomas |
| Basement | Shared storage area | Stockrooms for both businesses, traps and hidden loot |
Reaching the shop
The Chromatic Scale is available once the party is exploring the Lower City in Act Three. From the nearby Lower City streets:
The shop is not presented as a major quest destination, so the party can usually visit it while exploring the surrounding streets rather than being directed there by a main quest.
Reaching the shop: steps
- 01Look for the shared building near the Facemaker’s Boutique and the route towards the Baldur’s Gate checkpoint.
- 02Enter the building through the ground-floor entrance.
- 03Pass through or around The Glitter Gala.
- 04Use the stairs to reach the upper floor.
- 05Speak to Thomas at the counter to open the shop’s trading dialogue.
Accessing the basement
There are multiple practical ways to reach the basement storage area:
Thomas carries Omotola’s stockroom key, which opens the hatch behind the Glitter Gala’s counter. Omotola can also carry a key to the same area.
Recommended approach
If the party intends to inspect both businesses, visit Thomas first. A character with good Sleight of Hand can obtain keys without starting a fight, but stealing from either shopkeeper may count as a crime if witnessed. Turn-based mode, invisibility, line-of-sight management and a nearby escape route are useful if pickpocketing.
---
Thomas C. Quirkilious
Thomas is a red dragonborn bard and the owner of the Chromatic Scale. He is a trader rather than a quest-giver, and his principal role is to sell instruments and a small selection of associated reading material. His shop inventory contains uniquely named versions of ordinary musical instruments.
Thomas’s name is a joke built around two meanings of “chromatic” and “scale”: the musical term and his dragonborn scales. The shop’s title therefore refers both to music and to its proprietor’s appearance.
Bard-specific dialogue
A character with the Bard class can discuss the manufacture of musical instruments with Thomas. This dialogue can provide a useful discount when buying from or selling to him. Continuing the conversation can also grant approval from companions who are present and eligible to react.
This is one of the better reasons to bring a Bard into the conversation. The shop’s instruments are already expensive compared with ordinary instruments, so the discount is more valuable if you intend to buy several.
Inventory: named instruments
The confirmed named instruments sold by Thomas are:
These are not stronger versions of their ordinary counterparts. They retain the same functional instrument type and allow the character to use the Perform action, but the distinctive names, descriptions and appearances make them attractive to collectors and bards.
The named instruments do not generally provide combat bonuses or unique spell effects. Their value is primarily cosmetic, role-playing and collectible.
Musical instruments directory
Chromatic Scale, sold by Thomas C. Quirkilious
The shop’s inventory is a trader inventory, so prices and availability can be affected by normal trading factors such as attitude, Charisma and the party member conducting the conversation. The Bard discount is a dialogue-based advantage rather than a property of the instruments themselves.
---
The most useful containers upstairs are associated with Thomas’s counter.
Inventory: named instruments
| Shop item | Functional equivalent | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Dostrealt’s Piccolo | Flute | Performance |
| Falataeric Cli Lyre | Lyre | Performance |
| Glimmergad’s Selgaunt Fiddle | Violin | Performance |
| Kiam Goda’s Kilat Drum | Hand Drum | Performance |
| Stolyarof’s Table Lute | Lute | Performance |
Quirkilious’ stockroom chest
A locked wooden chest sits in a small cubby behind Thomas’s counter. Thomas carries the Quirkilious’ Stockroom Key, although the chest can also be opened by lockpicking. The reported lock difficulty is DC 15 Sleight of Hand.
The chest contains gold and alchemical ingredients. It is a modest reward, but it is easy to miss because it is behind the counter rather than in the main display area.
Gilded chest on the counter
A locked gilded chest on Thomas’s counter requires DC 10 Sleight of Hand to lockpick. It contains:
The scroll and gem are randomised elements, so the precise result may differ between playthroughs.
Travelling chests
Several travelling chests near the windows contain minor random loot. They are not a major source of unique equipment, but completionists should check them if they are already searching the shop.
Display cases
The display cases around the room are mainly scenery. They should not be confused with Thomas’s actual trade inventory, which is accessed through the trader dialogue.
Upstairs loot checklist
---
The basement is shared by the Chromatic Scale and The Glitter Gala. It is not merely a decorative cellar. It contains traps, stockrooms, containers and a hidden musical interaction.
Traps and hazards
The basement corridor contains several tripwires and vents armed with Cloudkill. Cloudkill is particularly dangerous to characters who blunder into it, especially in confined areas where the party cannot easily spread out.
The traps are independent environmental hazards rather than an encounter with a named enemy. No boss fight is associated with the Chromatic Scale itself.
Chromatic Scale storage room
The first western room is used as storage for the music shop. On entering, a DC 15 Perception check can reveal a piano.
Interacting with the piano requires a DC 18 Performance check. If the performance succeeds, a movable wall across the corridor opens, revealing a chest containing common musical instruments.
This is a compact environmental puzzle rather than a formal quest. It is easy to miss if the party does not search the room or if the party lacks a character capable of making the Performance check.
Piano secret walkthrough
The chest’s contents are not presented as a unique legendary reward. The value is in the discovery, the musical theme and the extra instruments.
Piano secret walkthrough
- 01Enter the Chromatic Scale’s basement.
- 02Proceed carefully through the trapped corridor.
- 03Search the western storage room.
- 04Pass the DC 15 Perception check to identify the piano.
- 05Interact with the piano.
- 06Pass the DC 18 Performance check.
- 07Cross the corridor and inspect the newly accessible chest.
- 08Collect the common musical instruments.
Shared storage and access
The basement also serves The Glitter Gala. Do not treat every container as Chromatic Scale property. The far end of the storage area belongs to the jewellery business, and the two shops’ stockrooms are distinct even though they share the same underground space. The Glitter Gala’s storage area has additional locked and trapped chests, but those belong to that neighbouring business and are outside the narrow Chromatic Scale scope.
---
Quirkilious’ Stockroom Key
| Name | Details |
|---|---|
| Held by | Thomas C. Quirkilious |
| Associated area | Locked wooden chest in the Chromatic Scale |
| Alternative | Lockpick the chest with Sleight of Hand |
| Purpose | Opens Thomas’s stockroom chest |
Omotola’s stockroom key
The second key is easy to overlook because it is carried by the upstairs shopkeeper even though it belongs to the downstairs jewellery shop.
---
Omotola’s stockroom key
| Name | Details |
|---|---|
| Held by | Thomas C. Quirkilious |
| Associated area | Hatch behind the Glitter Gala’s counter |
| Purpose | Opens the ground-floor hatch into the shared basement |
| Alternative | Obtain the corresponding key from Omotola or pick the hatch lock |
Residents and shopkeepers
Thomas C. Quirkilious
Thomas is the only confirmed permanent resident or shopkeeper directly associated with the Chromatic Scale. His daughter, Cate, is listed as family in character information, but she is not presented as a regular shopkeeper in the Chromatic Scale itself.
Omotola
Omotola runs the ground-floor Glitter Gala. She is not a Chromatic Scale employee, but she is relevant because her shop shares the building, basement and access routes. She carries the Glitter Gala’s stockroom key and a key connected with Counting House Vault No. 6.
Nearby visitors and background figures
Lord and Lady Whitburn can be found near the building discussing their clothes and jewellery acquisitions. They are not residents of the Chromatic Scale and do not operate the shop. Their conversation changes after Enver Gortash is dead, when they discuss expecting an official invitation to his funeral.
Character directory
Directly associated
Associated through the shared building
Nearby visitors or background figures
Mentioned family connection
---
The shop contains several pieces of minor literature. These do not form a major quest, but they add context to the musical trade and the wider cultural life of Baldur’s Gate.
You need to hear this
A letter from Eryk to Thomas can be found in the shared mailbox of the Glitter Gala and Chromatic Scale. It describes a rare material called pyrohydram, obtained from a Janni trader, and suggests using it to make an unusual flute.
The letter helps establish that Thomas is more than a generic shopkeeper. He is interested in unusual materials and experimental instrument-making.
Lute String Tests
Lute String Tests can be found on a table in a private room of the Chromatic Scale. It is an example of the shop’s practical, craft-oriented background material and reinforces the idea that the establishment makes or tests instruments rather than merely reselling them.
Other listed literature
The Chromatic Scale’s location directory associates the following texts with the shop:
Some may be found in the shop, while others are associated with Thomas’s trader inventory or the location’s item records. The exact availability of books can depend on whether they are placed in the environment, sold by the trader or generated through the game’s item distribution.
Lore directory
---
Gortash’s death
The Whitburns’ nearby conversation changes if Enver Gortash is dead. This is a background dialogue change rather than a Chromatic Scale quest state. It does not turn the shop into a new mission location, but it is an example of the Lower City reacting to major Act Three progression.
Stop the Presses
Thomas’s attitude towards the party can change depending on the outcome of Stop the Presses. The shop itself remains available, but the trader’s attitude may be different. If you are trying to maximise prices or companion interactions, consider visiting Thomas after resolving that situation rather than assuming his initial attitude will remain fixed.
Missable interactions
There is no confirmed major quest reward that requires visiting the Chromatic Scale, and the shop is not known to gate a companion recruitment, major boss or principal ending route.
---
For a clean first visit, use this order:
---
Missable interactions: steps
- 01Approach from the Lower City streets near the Facemaker’s Boutique.
- 02Read the building’s exterior and nearby conversations before entering.
- 03Visit The Glitter Gala briefly if you want to understand the building layout.
- 04Go upstairs and speak to Thomas with a Bard if one is available.
- 05Compare his named instruments with the party’s existing collection.
- 06Search the counter and rear cubby for locked containers.
- 07Check the shop’s books and private areas.
- 08Obtain or pick the basement hatch.
- 09Enter the basement in turn-based mode.
- 10Reveal and disarm the tripwires and Cloudkill vents.
- 11Search the western storage room.
- 12Pass the Perception check to find the piano.
- 13Pass the Performance check to open the hidden wall.
- 14Collect the instruments from the concealed chest.
- 15Return to the surface before continuing deeper into the Lower City.
Basement
---
Is the Chromatic Scale a separate building?
No. It is the upper floor of the same building that houses The Glitter Gala on the ground floor. The two businesses share a basement storage area.
Where is the shop in Baldur’s Gate?
It is in the Lower City’s Steeps district, close to the Facemaker’s Boutique and the route towards the Baldur’s Gate checkpoint.
Does Thomas sell powerful equipment?
No. His main inventory consists of named instruments that are functionally equivalent to ordinary musical instruments. They are primarily cosmetic and collectible.
Is the Bard discount worth using?
Yes, especially if you want several instruments or plan to sell valuable equipment to Thomas. The Bard dialogue can improve the party’s trading terms and may also provide companion approval.
Can I get into the basement without stealing?
Usually yes. The building provides connected access through the Glitter Gala, and the basement hatch can be opened with the appropriate key or by lockpicking. Thomas carries Omotola’s stockroom key.
What does the piano do?
After the piano is revealed with a Perception check, a successful Performance check opens a movable wall leading to a chest containing common musical instruments.
Is there a boss or quest here?
No major boss is associated with the Chromatic Scale. It is primarily a shop, exploration site and small environmental puzzle location.
Are the instruments from the shop mechanically unique?
No. They are named variants of standard instruments. For example, Dostrealt’s Piccolo functions as a flute, while Kiam Goda’s Kilat Drum functions as a hand drum.
---
---
Sources
- Chromatic Scale - bg3.wiki — bg3.wiki
- Omotola's stockroom key - bg3.wiki — bg3.wiki
- Thomas C. Quirkilious - bg3.wiki — bg3.wiki
- The Glitter Gala - bg3.wiki — bg3.wiki
- You need to hear this - bg3.wiki — bg3.wiki
- Lute String Tests - bg3.wiki — old.bg3.wiki
- Dostrealt's Piccolo - bg3.wiki — bg3.wiki