Find the Explosives

Key takeaways

The safest approach is to treat this as an urgent retrieval quest rather than a leisurely exploration objective.

• Search Grymforge for leads Speak with the deep gnomes or Elder Brithvar to establish why explosives are needed and to identify the relevant search area.
• Look near the docks Philomeen is hidden in a secret chamber behind a locked door near the docks, rather than standing openly at the cave-in.
• Resolve Philomeen's confrontation carefully Persuasion or intimidation can secure the Runepowder Vial without turning the encounter into a more dangerous fight.
• Do not delay with long rests The trapped Nere's situation is time-sensitive, and excessive long rests can result in his death before the rubble is cleared.
• Use the explosive to progress other quests Clearing the cave-in moves forward both Free True Soul Nere and Save the Grymforge Gnomes.

Find the Explosives

Find the Explosives is an Act 1 quest in Baldur's Gate 3 set in Grymforge, where a cave-in has trapped True Soul Nere.

The quest begins in the Grymforge area of the Underdark after the party learns that True Soul Nere is trapped behind rubble. Deep gnomes including Lunkbug and Laridda, as well as Elder Brithvar, can point the party toward the urgent need for explosives. The immediate problem is practical: ordinary efforts cannot clear the obstruction, so the party must locate a suitable explosive supply before the situation becomes fatal for those inside.

The main route leads to Philomeen, a deep gnome hiding in a secret chamber behind a locked door near the docks. Philomeen is protecting Runepowder and reacts aggressively when approached, so the encounter is handled through conversation, positioning, and player choice rather than a required conventional boss fight. Successful persuasion or intimidation can result in a Runepowder Vial, while other approaches can change how safely the party obtains the explosive.

The quest is tied closely to the wider Grymforge crisis. The cave-in is time-sensitive, and excessive long rests can cause the trapped Nere to die before the party returns with a way to clear the rubble. Once explosives are placed and the obstruction is removed, the result advances the Free True Soul Nere and Save the Grymforge Gnomes questlines, making this a preparation objective with consequences beyond the item itself.

Where this sits

Requirements

Reach Grymforge, investigate the cave-in, and obtain a usable explosive source before the trapped Nere's situation expires.

• RequiredAccess to GrymforgeThe quest is located in Grymforge within the Underdark, so the party must be able to explore that area.
• RecommendedA lead from Grymforge residentsSpeaking with Lunkbug, Laridda, or Elder Brithvar can establish the need for explosives and direct the party toward the objective.
• RequiredA way through the locked chamberPhilomeen is hiding behind a locked door near the docks. The party must reach that secret chamber to pursue the primary explosive route.
• RequiredAn explosive supplyThe party needs Runepowder or another suitable smokepowder supply to clear the cave-in.
• RequiredPrompt progressAvoid excessive long rests while Nere remains trapped, because the situation can resolve badly before the party returns.

Objectives

1. Investigate the Grymforge cave-inDetermine why explosives are needed and identify the people affected by the obstruction.
2. Find PhilomeenSearch the area near the docks and locate the secret chamber behind the locked door.
3. Acquire explosivesObtain a Runepowder Vial from Philomeen or use another smokepowder supply found elsewhere.
4. Clear the rubbleUse the explosive supply at the cave-in to open the way and advance the connected quests.
5. Protect the outcome for the trapped gnomesMove quickly enough that the delay does not cause Nere or the Grymforge gnomes to be lost.

WalkthroughSpoilers

1. 01

   Investigate the cave-in

   Reach the cave-in in Grymforge

   Explore Grymforge until you find the rubble trapping True Soul Nere. The blocked passage establishes the central objective, and nearby deep gnomes make it clear that the obstruction requires explosives rather than ordinary interaction.

   Location: Grymforge

   TipTreat the discovery as the start of an urgent objective and plan to continue without unnecessary long rests.

   Watch outThe situation is time-sensitive; excessive long rests can lead to Nere's death before you obtain the explosives.

   Checkpoint
2. 02

   Learn how to clear the rubble

   Speak with a local Grymforge contact

   Talk to Lunkbug or Laridda among the deep gnomes, or speak with Elder Brithvar, to learn more about the trapped group and the need for explosive material. These conversations provide a route into the quest even if you did not first interact with every part of the cave-in.

   Location: Grymforge

   TipIf one contact does not start the objective, check the other named deep gnome contacts or Elder Brithvar.

3. 03

   Find Philomeen

   Search for the hidden chamber near the docks

   Travel toward the Grymforge docks and look for the locked door leading to Philomeen's hiding place. The chamber is secret rather than openly marked as the source of the explosives, so investigate the nearby dockside structure and deal with the locked entrance using your available access method.

   Location: Near the Grymforge docks

   TipThe docks are the important landmark; do not assume the explosive source is inside the main cave-in area.

   Watch outApproaching the chamber without preparing for a hostile reaction can make the conversation more dangerous.

4. 04

   Convince Philomeen to surrender the explosive

   Confront Philomeen

   Inside the secret chamber, speak with Philomeen and respond to her threat. She is guarding Runepowder, and the encounter can be resolved through dialogue such as persuasion or intimidation instead of immediately attacking her.

   Location: Philomeen's secret chamber near the docks

   TipSave before initiating the conversation if you want to test different dialogue outcomes.

   Watch outPhilomeen may react aggressively if the party approaches in the wrong way or fails to de-escalate the encounter.

5. 05

   Secure a usable explosive

   Take the Runepowder Vial

   If the conversation is resolved successfully, acquire the Runepowder Vial and keep it available for the cave-in. The vial is a powerful grenade with a force-damage blast and knockback, so avoid treating it as an ordinary utility item during later placement.

   Location: Philomeen's secret chamber

   TipKeep the explosive separate from allies and other vulnerable objects until you are ready to use it.

   Watch outIts blast can affect creatures in the radius, including party members if they remain too close.

   Checkpoint
6. 06

   Obtain another explosive source

   Use an alternative smokepowder supply if necessary

   If Philomeen's route does not provide the vial, other smokepowder supplies can be found elsewhere, including bags associated with the windmill or the docks. These alternatives still serve the broader goal of obtaining material capable of clearing the obstruction.

   Location: Elsewhere in the game, including the windmill or areas near the docks

   TipSearch previously visited storage areas and dockside locations before abandoning the objective.

7. 07

   Clear the rubble

   Return to the Grymforge cave-in

   Bring the explosive supply back to the rubble trapping True Soul Nere. Position the party so that the blast can clear the obstruction without leaving allies in the affected area, then interact with the cave-in using the explosive.

   Location: The Grymforge cave-in

   TipMove party members away from the blast radius before triggering the explosive.

   Watch outClearing the rubble changes the situation around Nere and the gnomes, so finish any immediate preparation before committing to the blast.

   Checkpoint
8. 08

   Advance the related questlines

   Continue the connected Grymforge quests

   Once the rubble has been removed, follow the newly opened situation rather than treating the explosive objective as isolated. The result advances Free True Soul Nere and Save the Grymforge Gnomes, with the next decisions occurring in the aftermath of the rescue attempt.

   Location: Grymforge

   TipReview your party's health, resources, and intended allegiances before proceeding into the next conversation.

Mission mechanics

Find the Explosives is primarily an exploration and dialogue objective. The game does not require the party to win a dedicated boss encounter to complete the retrieval; instead, the central challenge is reaching Philomeen's concealed location and managing her reaction when the party enters the chamber. Persuasion or intimidation provides a noncombat route to the Runepowder Vial.

The quest also permits substitution. If the party does not obtain the vial from Philomeen, smokepowder supplies found elsewhere, including bags linked with the windmill or the docks, can serve the same practical purpose. This makes the objective less dependent on a single dialogue result, although the party still needs to locate and preserve an explosive before returning to the cave-in.

The Runepowder Vial is not merely a quest key. It is a rare grenade with a force-damage blast that can knock creatures backward, so placement matters when it is used near the trapped group. The party should clear its own members from the blast area and regard the demolition as a transition into the next Grymforge sequence rather than a harmless environmental interaction.

What works and what does not

Choices and consequencesSpoilers

• Persuade Philomeen

  A successful conversation can allow the party to acquire the Runepowder Vial without turning the encounter into a required fight.

• Intimidate Philomeen

  An intimidation-based resolution can also provide access to the Runepowder Vial, depending on the party's dialogue outcome.

• Attack or fail to de-escalate with Philomeen

  The confrontation can become hostile, changing the circumstances under which the party can obtain the explosive and potentially making the retrieval more dangerous.

  Spoiler
• Use an alternative smokepowder supply

  The party can continue toward the cave-in using supplies found elsewhere, including bags near the windmill or docks, rather than relying solely on Philomeen.

• Take excessive long rests before clearing the cave-in

  The trapped Nere can die before the party returns, altering the outcome of the connected Grymforge questlines.

  Spoiler
• Clear the rubble

  Removing the obstruction advances Free True Soul Nere and Save the Grymforge Gnomes and opens the next stage of the Grymforge situation.

  Spoiler

Quest checklist

• Reach Grymforge in the UnderdarkThe quest takes place in this Act 1 area.
• Inspect the cave-in trapping True Soul NereThis establishes why an explosive is required.
• Speak with Lunkbug, Laridda, or Elder BrithvarAny of these contacts can provide a lead into the objective.Optional
• Locate the locked door near the docksPhilomeen's chamber is hidden behind this entrance.
• Find PhilomeenSearch the secret chamber rather than only the main dock area.
• Resolve Philomeen's confrontationPersuasion or intimidation can avoid a required combat approach.Optional
• Secure the Runepowder VialUse this as the primary explosive route if the encounter permits it.Optional
• Search for alternative smokepowder suppliesThe windmill and areas near the docks are cited alternatives.Optional
• Avoid excessive long restsDelay can cause Nere to die before the obstruction is cleared.
• Use explosives at the cave-inMove party members away from the blast before triggering it.
• Check the related Grymforge questlinesClearing the rubble advances Free True Soul Nere and Save the Grymforge Gnomes.

Relevant items and supplies

• 01
  Runepowder Vial

  Where: Philomeen's secret chamber near the Grymforge docks

  A rare grenade obtained when the confrontation with Philomeen is resolved successfully. It produces a powerful force-damage blast and knocks creatures back.

  Missable
• 02
  Smokepowder supplies

  Where: Elsewhere in the game, including the windmill or near the docks

  Alternative explosive supplies that can be used when the party does not obtain Philomeen's vial.

Failure conditionsSpoilers

• Allow the time-sensitive situation to expireExcessive long rests while Nere remains trapped can result in his death before the party obtains explosives and clears the cave-in.
• Approach Philomeen without controlling the confrontationHer reaction can turn hostile, making the explosive retrieval more dangerous and changing the outcome of the encounter.
• Use the explosive while allies remain in the blast areaThe Runepowder Vial can deal force damage and knock creatures back, so poor positioning can harm or displace party members.
• Return without any explosive supplyThe cave-in cannot be resolved until the party secures the Runepowder Vial or an alternative smokepowder source.

Rewards and drops

• Runepowder Vial
  Philomeen can provide this rare grenade when the confrontation is successfully resolved through dialogue.
• Access to the next Grymforge sequence
  Clearing the cave-in advances the situation involving True Soul Nere and the deep gnomes.
• Progress in Free True Soul Nere
  The rubble-clearing action advances this connected questline.
• Progress in Save the Grymforge Gnomes
  The same demolition also advances the deep gnome rescue questline.

AftermathSpoilers

Trivia

• The quest's title describes its practical objective rather than naming Philomeen or the cave-in directly.
• Runepowder serves both as a quest solution and as a powerful grenade, giving the retrieved item a use beyond opening the blocked passage.
• The primary explosive route is hidden near Grymforge's docks, away from the visible cave-in that first establishes the objective.

Relationships