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QuestsupportingSide mission

Avenge the Ironhand Gnomes

Avenge the Ironhand Gnomes is an Act 3 side quest about the conflict between Wulbren's Ironhand Gnomes and the Gondians, tied to the Steel Watch Foundry and the fate of the Steel Watchers.

RoleSide quest concerning the Ironhand Gnomes, the Gondians, and the disabling or destruction of the Steel Watch Foundry.
Statusactive
Importancesupporting
  • ActAct 3
  • Mission typeSide quest
  • Primary conflictIronhand Gnomes and Gondians
  • Key locationSteel Watch Foundry
  • Quest dependencyWulbren Bongle must remain alive
  • Major outcomeSteel Watch Foundry and possible final allies

The source pack does not provide a reliable estimated time, mission number, combat difficulty, or fixed reward list.

Key takeaways

Keep the faction conflict and the quest's dependency on Wulbren in mind before committing to the Foundry sequence.

  • Act 3 side quest The quest belongs to Act 3 and is connected to the Ironhand Gnomes' base near Rivington.
  • Wulbren drives the conflict Wulbren Bongle pushes for the destruction of the Gondians, making him the main advocate for the Ironhand Gnomes' violent approach.
  • Barcus offers an alternative Barcus Wroot presents a different view of how the Gondians should be treated, creating the quest's principal moral and factional choice.
  • The Foundry is central Progress is tied to sabotaging or destroying the Steel Watch Foundry and disabling the city's Steel Watchers.
  • The quest can be lost If Wulbren is not kept alive throughout the game, Avenge the Ironhand Gnomes can become inaccessible or effectively softlocked.

Avenge the Ironhand Gnomes overview

Avenge the Ironhand Gnomes is an Act 3 side quest that brings the Ironhand Gnomes and the Gondians into direct conflict over the Steel Watch Foundry.

Avenge the Ironhand Gnomes is a side quest in Act 3 of Baldur's Gate 3. Its central conflict is between the Ironhand Gnomes, led by Wulbren Bongle, and the Gondians, whose situation is tied to the operation of the Steel Watch Foundry. The quest is first associated with the Ironhand Gnomes' base, a cave near Rivington, and then expands into the wider problem posed by the city's Steel Watchers.

The quest is not simply a matter of choosing a destination and defeating a group of enemies. Wulbren Bongle presses for the destruction of the Gondians, while Barcus Wroot offers a different perspective on how the conflict should be handled. The player must decide whether to support the Ironhand Gnomes' violent approach or seek an outcome that saves the Gondians while still addressing the Steel Watch Foundry.

The Foundry is the practical focus of the quest because disabling or destroying it is connected to stopping the city's Steel Watchers. The result also has consequences beyond the immediate confrontation: the resolution affects which groups may be available as allies during the final stages of the game. Because Wulbren's survival is important to the quest's availability, this is a mission where earlier events can determine whether the later content can be completed.

Where this sits

Act 3The quest takes place during the game's third act.
Ironhand GnomesThe quest begins with the gnomes' conflict and their base near Rivington.
Foundry resolutionThe Steel Watch Foundry becomes the operational focus.
Final-stage alliancesThe outcome affects which groups can be recruited later.
  1. 1Find the Ironhand GnomeslocationTheir base is in a cave near Rivington.
  2. 2Hear Wulbren Bongle's positionchoiceWulbren advocates destroying the Gondians.
  3. 3Consider Barcus Wroot's perspectivechoiceBarcus offers a different approach to the Gondian conflict.
  4. 4Address the Steel Watch FoundryobjectiveThe Foundry must be sabotaged or destroyed as part of the quest's resolution.
  5. ●Resolve the faction outcomeaftermathThe decision affects later ally availability.

The quest moves from the Ironhand Gnomes' base near Rivington to the Steel Watch Foundry and then into the game's final-stage alliance structure.

Requirements

The most important requirement is preserving access to Wulbren Bongle before attempting to resolve the Foundry conflict.

  • RequiredReach Act 3Avenge the Ironhand Gnomes is an Act 3 side quest.
  • RequiredKeep Wulbren Bongle aliveWulbren's survival throughout the game is necessary to prevent the quest from becoming inaccessible or softlocked.
  • RecommendedReach the Ironhand Gnomes' baseThe gnomes are typically encountered in a cave near Rivington, which serves as the quest's early staging point.
  • RequiredBe prepared for a faction decisionThe quest requires a decision between supporting Wulbren's violent approach and seeking a way to save the Gondians.
  • RequiredReach the Steel Watch FoundryThe quest is linked to the Foundry's sabotage or destruction and the goal of disabling the city's Steel Watchers.

Objectives

  1. Locate the Ironhand Gnomes near RivingtonTheir base is in a cave and provides the initial context for the conflict.
  2. Understand Wulbren Bongle's demandWulbren pushes for the destruction of the Gondians.
  3. Consider Barcus Wroot's alternativeBarcus argues for a different way to handle the Gondians.
  4. Sabotage or destroy the Steel Watch FoundryThe Foundry is tied to the objective of disabling the city's Steel Watchers.
  5. Choose how to resolve the Ironhand-Gondian conflictThe quest supports a violent Ironhand approach or an outcome that saves the Gondians.
  6. Preserve access to later alliesThe resolution affects which groups can be recruited for the final stages of the game.

WalkthroughSpoilers

  1. 01

    Preserve access to the quest

    Confirm that Wulbren Bongle is still alive

    Before committing to this quest, verify that Wulbren Bongle survived the earlier events that involve him. His death can make Avenge the Ironhand Gnomes inaccessible or leave it effectively softlocked, so do not treat his survival as a minor side detail.

    Location: Earlier Act 3 progression

    Watch outIf Wulbren is dead, the quest may no longer be completable in its normal form.

  2. 02

    Find the Ironhand Gnomes

    Travel to the Ironhand Gnomes' base

    Go to the cave near Rivington where the Ironhand Gnomes are typically encountered. Speak with the gnomes there before moving on, because this is the clearest point at which the quest's conflict and the group's position are established.

    Location: Cave near Rivington

    TipUse the gnomes' base as the starting point for understanding the Foundry-related objective rather than approaching the later conflict without context.

  3. 03

    Learn Wulbren's plan

    Speak with Wulbren Bongle

    Wulbren Bongle is the central advocate for the Ironhand Gnomes' response. Listen to his position carefully: he pushes for the destruction of the Gondians, framing the conflict around a direct and violent solution.

    Location: Ironhand Gnomes' base

  4. 04

    Identify the alternative resolution

    Find and consider Barcus Wroot's perspective

    Barcus Wroot provides a contrasting view of the situation. His involvement matters because the quest is structured around whether the player accepts Wulbren's demand or looks for a way to save the Gondians while still dealing with the Steel Watch threat.

    Location: Ironhand Gnomes' quest context

    TipTreat Barcus's position as a meaningful quest branch, not as optional flavour dialogue.

  5. 05

    Address the Steel Watch threat

    Proceed to the Steel Watch Foundry

    The Foundry is the operational centre of the quest's larger problem. Reach it after establishing the faction context, then prepare to resolve the threat connected to the city's Steel Watchers rather than treating the gnome dispute as an isolated conversation.

    Location: Steel Watch Foundry

  6. 06

    Disable the city's Steel Watchers

    Sabotage or destroy the Foundry

    Complete the Foundry sequence by pursuing its sabotage or destruction. The source material does not establish a single universal room-by-room route, so follow the available in-game objectives and avoid assuming that every party will use the same approach.

    Location: Steel Watch Foundry

    Watch outThe Foundry outcome is tied to the fate of the Gondians and the Ironhand Gnomes, so choices made during this sequence can change the quest's final result.

  7. 07

    Resolve the faction conflict

    Choose whether to support Wulbren or save the Gondians

    At the resolution point, decide between the Ironhand Gnomes' violent approach and an outcome that preserves the Gondians. This is the quest's defining choice and should be made with the later ally consequences in mind.

    Location: Steel Watch Foundry and its resolution

  8. 08

    Understand the alliance consequences

    Review the aftermath before the final stages

    After resolving the Foundry conflict, account for which groups remain available to support the final stages of the game. The result of Avenge the Ironhand Gnomes affects recruitment possibilities, so the quest's impact extends beyond the immediate Foundry objective.

    Location: Post-Foundry progression

    Checkpoint

Mission mechanics

Avenge the Ironhand Gnomes is built around a linked faction decision rather than a standalone combat encounter. The Ironhand Gnomes, represented chiefly by Wulbren Bongle, want the Gondians destroyed, while Barcus Wroot presents a different way to view the conflict. The player therefore has to weigh the immediate demand against the possibility of protecting the Gondians.

The Steel Watch Foundry gives the quest its practical structure. Sabotaging or destroying the Foundry is connected to disabling the city's Steel Watchers, so the Foundry sequence is where the political choice becomes an actionable objective. The exact route and encounter details can vary with party choices and prior progression; the reliable through-line is the need to deal with the Foundry and its consequences.

Quest access itself is also a mechanic to watch. Wulbren Bongle's survival is not merely a narrative detail: losing him earlier can prevent the quest from functioning normally. Save management and checking the state of the Ironhand Gnomes before entering the final sequence are therefore sensible precautions.

What works and what does not

Strengths

  • The quest connects a local faction dispute to the larger Steel Watch Foundry problem.
  • Wulbren Bongle and Barcus Wroot provide clearly contrasting perspectives on the Gondians.
  • The resolution has consequences for possible allies during the final stages of the game.
  • The quest rewards players who consider the survival of important characters before entering the Foundry sequence.

Weaknesses

  • The quest can become inaccessible or softlocked if Wulbren Bongle is not kept alive.
  • Its outcome depends on a morally charged faction choice rather than a single universally beneficial resolution.
  • The Foundry sequence can be difficult to plan around if the player has not first understood the competing Ironhand and Gondian objectives.

Best uses

  • Complete it as part of an Act 3 route focused on resolving the Steel Watch threat.
  • Decide on the desired Gondian and Ironhand outcome before committing to the Foundry's final sequence.
  • Check the quest state after major Act 3 events so Wulbren's survival and access remain clear.

Choices and consequencesSpoilers

  • Support Wulbren Bongle's demand to destroy the Gondians

    This follows the violent approach advocated by Wulbren and resolves the conflict in favour of the Ironhand Gnomes' stated position.

    Spoiler
  • Seek a way to save the Gondians

    This follows the alternative perspective associated with Barcus Wroot and changes the outcome of the Ironhand-Gondian conflict.

    Spoiler
  • Resolve the Steel Watch Foundry through sabotage or destruction

    This addresses the Foundry and is tied to disabling the city's Steel Watchers.

    Spoiler
  • Keep Wulbren Bongle alive throughout the game

    Maintaining Wulbren's survival preserves access to Avenge the Ironhand Gnomes; losing him can make the quest inaccessible or softlocked.

    Spoiler
  • Complete the quest with a particular faction outcome

    The result affects which groups can be recruited as allies for the final stages of the game.

    Spoiler

Quest checklist

  • Reach Act 3Avenge the Ironhand Gnomes is an Act 3 side quest.
  • Confirm that Wulbren Bongle is aliveHis survival can determine whether the quest remains accessible.
  • Visit the Ironhand Gnomes' cave near RivingtonThis is the group's typical base and the quest's early point of contact.
  • Speak with Wulbren BongleRecord his position on the Gondians before choosing a resolution.
  • Consider Barcus Wroot's perspectiveBarcus offers an alternative to Wulbren's approach.
  • Reach the Steel Watch FoundryThe Foundry is central to the quest's objective.
  • Disable the city's Steel WatchersThis is linked to sabotaging or destroying the Foundry.
  • Choose whether to support the Ironhand Gnomes or save the GondiansThis is the main quest decision.
  • Check which groups remain available as final-stage alliesThe quest outcome affects later recruitment possibilities.

Failure conditionsSpoilers

  • Wulbren Bongle dies before the quest is resolvedThe quest can become inaccessible or effectively softlocked if Wulbren is not kept alive throughout the game.
  • The Foundry sequence is resolved without accounting for the GondiansThe quest's central choice concerns whether to follow Wulbren's violent approach or find a way to save the Gondians, so the Foundry outcome can determine the faction result.
  • The player ignores the alliance consequencesThe quest outcome affects which groups can be recruited as allies for the final stages of the game.

On failure

The source pack does not specify individual combat fail states, timers, named NPC survival checks beyond Wulbren, or a complete room-by-room failure sequence.

RewardsSpoilers

  • Steel Watch Foundry resolution
    Completing the quest involves the sabotage or destruction of the Foundry and the disabling of the city's Steel Watchers.
  • Faction outcome
    The resolution determines whether the player supports the Ironhand Gnomes' approach or finds a way to save the Gondians.
  • Potential final-stage allies
    The outcome affects which groups can be recruited as allies during the final stages of the game.

AftermathSpoilers

The decision carries into the endgame

Avenge the Ironhand Gnomes does not end with the Foundry alone. Its resolution affects which groups can be recruited as allies for the final stages of Baldur's Gate 3, so the choice between Wulbren Bongle's approach and saving the Gondians has strategic consequences beyond Act 3's immediate conflict.

Sources

Relationships

characters

  • Wulbren BongleQuest leaderWulbren Bongle leads the Ironhand Gnomes and advocates destroying the Gondians.
  • Barcus WrootContrasting voiceBarcus Wroot offers a different perspective on how to handle the Gondians.

factions

  • Ironhand GnomesPrimary factionThe Ironhand Gnomes are at the centre of the quest's conflict.
  • GondiansOpposing factionThe fate of the Gondians is the main subject of the quest's central choice.

locations

  • Steel Watch FoundryPrimary locationThe Foundry is linked to the quest's sabotage or destruction objective.
  • RivingtonStarting areaThe Ironhand Gnomes' base is in a cave near Rivington.