oen thing, we assume gale's talking are the truth for the dark shard -- it will explode if the dark shard doesn't eat regularly.
This one is confirmed at least - If you leave him dead for three days, it explodes and gives you an automatic game over.
I'd be interested in forcing the lament configuration into Gale's possession (Pick up only Shadow and Gale, kill your character, kill shadow, then have gale search her body - the configuration will bind itself to Gale. I've not actually done this specifically with him yet), just to see. I suspect they'll not interact, sadly, but it would be interesting.
Regarding Necromancy of Thay - the way the text is written for your examining of it strongly implies that it has much more powerful magic to bestow, if you were of a higher level and greater spellcasting capability... but that because you are not, it all slips through your fingers and is lost. My plan, for one file at least, is to keep the book and not let anyone have or examine it, until I have access to 5th level spells (where a lot of our strong necromancy spells come in) at least.
