What are the locations of the Act I lore books needed for the achievements A Quick Study, Taking Notes and Historian of Tristram?
Diablo III Achievements – Act 1 Lore Books Locations
achievementsdiablo-3
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This forum post includes details on how to find most but not all of the lore books for "Primary Sources", "History of Arreat" and "Espionage".
Primary Sources
Bloodstained Letter - The Keep (Needs confirmation)
Ghom's Log - The Larder
Journal of Hansan Haile, Captain - Bastion's Keep Stronghold, near Vidar
Leah's Journal (13-16) - The Armory, below Leah
Morgan's Journal (1-3) - Morgan's Satchel, Skycrown Battlements/Stonefort
Espionage
Battlefield Reports - Battlefields (walk backwards from Bridge of Korsikk, fallen soldier has blue exclamation point above head)
Orders from Azmodan (1-6) - Messenger of Azmodan (Skycrown Battlements, Stonefort, The Keep, The Battlefields, Fields of Slaughter, Arreat Crater)
Historian of Arreat
Fall of the Barbarians (1-5) - Misplaced Packs, The Keep
The History of Bastion's Keep - Librarian's Scrolls, The Keep
For the beast lore, I believe it is fairly straightforward to obtain by killing all the new monsters in Act 3, but I will look for a good source. It is difficult to describe their locations since many are randomly generated.
According to this forum post and my own experience, they are located as follows:
Judge of Character
- Fuad's Journal - In the random location Fuad's Cellar in Howling Plateau, kill the Unique enemy Fuad and he drops this.
- Zoltun Kulle - In the Hidden Camp, once you begin Betrayer of the Horadrim, it will be on the ground beside Adria.
- The Musings of Sardar - In the random location Tomb of Sardar in the Dahlgur Oasis.
- The Promises of Fezuul al-Kazaar - Kill the unique Grotesque Fezuul that spawns at a randomly occurring puddle of water with a number of bones in the Dahlgur Oasis. It spawns after you kill the skeletons that will spawn upon investigating the bones.
- Eirena's Journal - Eirena, after the conversation Eirena's Journey available throughout Act II so long as Eirena has been out of the party at least once.
- Iron Wolf Captain's Journal - On the northern part of Alcarnus, you will find the Iron Wolf's Captain's Corpse which will drop this journal.
- The Legend of Zei the Trickster - Shen, after his conversation A Case of Mistaken Identity which is available from the start of Act II.
- Kala's Poem - Kala (North side of Hidden Camp), after her conversation Noble Dreams from the end of Betrayer of the Horadrim and during the quest Blood and Sand.
- The Last Will of Khan Dakab - In the random location Tomb of Khan Dakab in the Dahlgur Oasis.
- Larra's Diary - In a random Deserted Cellar with the merchant Larra in Black Canyon Mines after you talk to the merchant Larra who appears there. (seems to be always the northern cellar)
- Kulle's Journal Part 1 - At the End of Vault of the Assassin.
- Kulle's Journal Part 2 - At the start of Cave of the Betrayer Level 1.
- Kulle's Journal Part 3 - At the end of Cave of the Betrayer Level 2.
- Kulle's Journal Part 4 - Drops from the defeated Zoltun Kulle in Archives of Zoltun Kulle.
- Leah's Journal (8-12) - Right side of the Hidden Camp during major missions. Certain ones are available during certain quests..
- Part 8. During Shadows in the Desert.
- Part 9. During The Road to Alcarnus (from Find the Khasim Outpost) & City of Blood.
- Part 10. During Unexpected Allies & Betrayer of the Horadrim.
- Part 11. During Blood and Sand & The Black Soulstone.
- Part 12. During The Scouring of Caldeum until the end of Act II.
- The Seven Lords of Hell, Belial the Lord of Lies, Azmodan the Lord of Sin, Diablo the Lord of Terror, Andarial the Maiden of Angish, Duriel the Lord of Pain, Mephisto the Lord of Hatred, and Baal the Lord of Destruction - Cain's Lost Satchels throughout the act. The books are sequenced and it doesn't matter where you pick them up.
- I just did a playthrough of Act II and I've seen them in:
- near the ceremonial circle in Secret Altar (Howling Plateau),
- south of the Khasim Outpost waypoint,
- the random dungeon The Ruins Levels 1 and 2 (Stinging Winds),
- The Crumbling Vault (and Vault Treasure Room)(Stinging Winds),
- south of the Road to Alcarnus waypoint,
- north west of the merchant in Flooded Causeway,
- Ruined Cistern,
- east of Path to the Oasis waypoint,
- The Forgotten Ruins,
- Vault of The Assassin.
- I also recall finding them in some of the non-cave (in appearance) dungeons during previous playthroughs such as:
- Chamber of the Lost Idol(Stinging Winds),
- Tomb of Sardar(Dahlgur Oasis),
- the Tomb of Khan Dakab(Dahlgur Oasis).
- I just did a playthrough of Act II and I've seen them in:
- A Love Letter - Dahlgur Oasis, Keepsake Box
- Necromancer's Log - Stinging Winds in a random event location, after you complete the event The Restless Sands, Mehtan the Necromancer will drop this.
- The Imperial Guard's Orders - From an encounter in Dahlgur Oasis or one of its cellars.
- Crumbling Journal - You collect this from Skeletal Remains in Desolate Sands.
- Poltahr's Notes - In the random location Chamber of the Lost Idol in Stinging Winds.
- The Ancient Portal Device - Beside the Ancient Device that can randomly be found in Desolate Sands.
- Blackened Journal - From a Charred Iron Wolf Corpse on the west side of the Caldeum Bazaar that can be found during The Scouring of Caldeum.
- A Servant's Journal - From a Crumpled Corpse on the north side of the Caldeum Bazaar until the quest Unexpected Allies.
Historian of Caldeum
- The Desert Aqueducts Part 1 and Part 2 - In Western Channel and Eastern Channel of the Hidden Aqueducts. These are sequenced so it doesn't matter which satchel you find first or if you find the same one twice.
- An Abridged History of Caldeum (6) - Searing Sands Inn in the Caldeum Bazaar. These books become available as you complete the main quests. If you miss any, they will all be included with the drop of the next one you collect.
- Part 1: From the start of Act II onwards.
- Part 2: From The Road to Alcarnus objective Find Khasim Outpost onwards.
- Part 3: From A Royal Audience onwards.
- Part 4: From Unexpected Allies onwards.
- Part 5: From Betrayer of the Horadrim onwards.
- Part 6: From The Black Soulstone onwards.
- The Dahlgur Oasis - Dahlgur Oasis, Keepsake Box.
- On the Desolate Sands(3) - Desolate Sands, Traveler's Pouches. These are sequenced so you will always get these in order.
- The Chamber of Faces - Dahlgur Oasis, right outside the random location Tomb of Khan Dakab.
Eavesdropper
- Guard's Orders - Imperial Guard Supplies in Khasim Outpost.
- Proclamation from the Imperial Guard - In the south of the Caldeum Bazaar, just outside of the Hidden Camp entrance during A Royal Audience.
- Missive to Maghda Part 1 - Tortured Cultist Courier at the back of The Secret Conclave in Howling Plateau and/or Sandy Cellar in Alcarnus.
- Missive to Maghda Part 2 - Tortured Coven Minion Alcarnus, just south of Maghda's Lair.
- Deciever's Orders Part 1 - Envoy of Belial found in The Sewers of Caldeum.
- Deciever's Orders Part 2 - Envoy of Belial found in Dahlgur Oasis.
- Deciever's Orders Part 3 - Envoy of Belial found in Desolate Sands.
- The Feared Hero - Stinging Winds, random spawn of a cultist camp after the Khasim Outpost.
- Hunter's Journal Part 1 - At the start of The Forgotten Ruins.
- Hunter's Journal Part 2 - Hidden Aqueducts (Western and/or Eastern Channel)
- Hunter's Journal Part 3 - Beside the entrance to Archives of Zoltun Kulle in Desolate Sands.
- Hunter's Journal Part 4 - Beside the Shadow Lock in The Storm Halls in Archives of Zoltun Kulle.
- Hunter's Journal Part 5 - Beside the Shadow Lock in The Unknown Depths in Archives of Zoltun Kulle.
- Hunter's Journal Part 6 - Drops from the guardian in The Forgotten Ruins that spawns after recovering the head of Zoltun Kulle.
Best Answer
I'm drawing a lot of this from diablowiki and a fantastic compilation thread; the rest from personal experience.
A Quick Study
Adria's Journal: Leah will drop this after you fight Captain Dalton in Adria's Cellar.
Lachdanan's Scroll (all parts): These drop from scribe's lecterns found throughout the cathedral.
Leah's Journal (all parts): All pages can be found in Leah's room on her desk. New pages are activated as you progress through the quests.
Leoric's Journal (all parts): These can be found on pedestals in the Royal Crypts, Leoric's Manor, or the Hall's of Agony.
Farmer's Journal: In a satchel that spawns on the north end of the Fields of Misery (up a short flight of stairs - shares a spawn with Tinker's Hovel & Pillaged Home).
Scabbard of Talic the Defender: Spawns when doing the event on level 2 of the Watch Tower (Northern Highlands) - look for Vendel the Armorsmith.
Deckard Cain's Journal (all parts): Found in Deckard's home on his desk; the second part shows up after you start Sword of the Stranger.
Adenah's Jottings: Found in the House of Curios (Fields of Misery) near the bed.
Hermit's Ravings: Drops in a satchel that spawns somewhere in the Caverns of Araneae.
A Prisoner's Journal: Drops after you free Merhan in a random event found at the very end of the Halls of Agony (the large area just below the door to the Highlands).
Queen Asylla's Journal: In her cell, as you enter The Cursed Hold.
Scoundrel's Journal: In a satchel in the Fields of Misery near the trail to the Old Mill.
Kingsport Bill: Drops when you talk to the scoundrel about his origins.
Skeleton King: Drops when you kill him.
Wandering Tinker's Diary: Inside the Tinker's Hovel in the Fields of Misery.
Notes of Urik the Seer (all parts): Satchels found inside the Cave of the Moon Clan.
Priest's Contemplations: A satchel along the lower fork at the start of Wortham. Both parts drop from the same spot, so you need to do the quest twice (or leave your game and resume).
Mira's Letter to Haedrig: Drops in a box near Haedrig's smithy.
The remaining books are all found in an Old Keepsake Box that spawns along Old Tristram Road or in The Old Ruins. You will need to come back several times to get all the books:
Taking Notes
Report from Wortham: On a corpse in the courtyard that connects the Northern Highlands to Leoric's Hunting Grounds.
Command from Cultist Grand Inquisitor: On a Musty Lectern in the Halls of Agony.
Reply from Cultist Grand Inquisitor: Same as the command; you will probably need to come back to find the reply.
A Page From Lazarus's Grimoire: At the bottom of the Halls of Agony level 3, watch the cutscene about Queen Asylla.
Orders from Maghda: Drops from the horde of mobs just inside Leoric's Manor.
Villager's Journal: In the keepsake box in the ruins of Old Tristram (Patch 1.0.3).
A Summoner's Journal: In the Southern Highlands, to the right of the map, there will be a small set of stairs to a cultist chanting. (Random spawn)
Historian of Tristram
The Hanging Tree: Drops after you trigger an event at a tree w/ people being hung (random spawn in the Weeping Hollow, and random chance to get the event, even if you find the tree). A horde of skeletons will spawn after breaking the coffin if you have the correct spawn.
Gravedigger's Log: On a skeleton in the Cemetery of the Forsaken.
Tristram Fields: In the Fields of Misery, near the entrance.
Khazra Heads Wanted: In the Northern or Southern Highlands, on a corpse.
Researching the Khazra: In the Northern or Southern Highlands, on a corpse.
The Khazra Massacre: In the Northern or Southern Highlands, on a corpse.
The Highlands: In the Southern Highlands (in a lost chest)
Torn Letter: In the Caverns of Araneae in a satchel.
Torn Letter's Response: In the Caverns of Araneae in a satchel.
New Tristram: On the table just inside the The Slaughtered Calf Inn.
Traveler's Journal: Off of an adventurer's corpse along Old Tristram Road
Warriv's Journal: Off of Warriv's corpse along Old Tristram Road
Tomb Robber's Journal: On a corpse just inside the Crypt of the Ancients (in the Festering Woods)
The Last Stand of the Ancients: In the Festering Woods after completing this event.
The Drowned Temple: On a dead body just inside the temple.
Warrior's Rest: Just inside Warrior's Rest in the Festering Woods.
Old Tristram Journal: In an Old Keepsake Box (same one mentioned for A Quick Study above)