Is Astarion hoping to get something out of the book other than Speak with Dead?
I ask because I had him read the whole book, pass his checks, then he got Speak with Dead, and later I still got a cut scene of him trying to read the book. I wasn't sure if the cut scene was implying that there's going to be something more to do with the book after EA, or if the cut scene just didn't realize (take into account) that Astarion had already finished reading the book.
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Regarding the reward for reading the book, I like Speak with Dead, but it doesn't feel like enough after the built-up hype. Having Animate Dead on top of Speak with Dead would be perfect.
This is an issue I've noticed consistently. The story has a way of hyping everything up, but the results are often lackluster. Phalar Aluve, for instance. A sword that levitates out of a rock after a blood ritual... and it's a +1. The Adamantine Forge that will rock the power balance of the realms... gives a conditional -1 to hit. And the book of necromancy, revealing secrets mortals were never meant to know, protected by vicious spirits that fight you as you read and obtain forbidden knowledge... gives you the ability you got from the amulet.
The rewards have got to get into the ballpark of the story. Otherwise, it gets ridiculous.
