eXputer

QuestmajorSide mission

Avenge the Ironhands

An Act 3 side quest in Baldur's Gate 3 about the Ironhand Gnomes, the Steel Watch Foundry, and the conflict between Wulbren Bongle's revenge and the Gondian workers' survival.

RoleSide quest involving the Ironhand Gnomes and the destruction of the Steel Watch Foundry.
Statusavailable in Act 3
Importancemajor
RewardPotential Ironhand support for Gather Your Allies.
  • ActAct 3
  • Mission typeSide quest
  • Primary factionsIronhand Gnomes and Gondians
  • Primary locationSteel Watch Foundry
  • Quest hubAngleiron's Cellar
  • Key decision-makerBarcus Wroot or Wulbren Bongle

The quest is part of the Rivington and Steel Watch storyline; no fixed completion time or numerical difficulty is established in the supplied material.

Key takeaways

The important decisions in this quest concern faction leadership, the Steel Watch Foundry, and the safety of the Gondians.

  • Find the Ironhand hideout Angleiron's Cellar lies east of the South Span checkpoint in Rivington and serves as the Ironhands' hideout.
  • Expect a faction conflict Avenge the Ironhands intersects with Save the Gondians, so the Ironhands' preferred solution can conflict with the workers' interests.
  • Keep Barcus Wroot alive Barcus Wroot can argue for a less violent resolution and may lead the Ironhands if he survives the quest's events.
  • The Foundry is the central objective Wulbren Bongle insists that the Steel Watch Foundry be destroyed with a Runepowder Bomb.
  • Consider the endgame consequence A successful resolution can provide Ironhand support for Gather Your Allies.

Avenge the Ironhands

Avenge the Ironhands is an Act 3 side quest that brings the Ironhand Gnomes into direct conflict with the Steel Watch Foundry and the Gondian workers inside it.

The quest usually begins after the party encounters the Ironhand Gnomes near the South Span checkpoint in Rivington. Their hidden base is in Angleiron's Cellar, a small cave east of the checkpoint, where the party can learn more about the Ironhands' plans and their opposition to the Steel Watch.

Wulbren Bongle argues that the Steel Watch Foundry must be destroyed and insists that the Ironhands' powerful Runepowder Bomb should be used. This objective overlaps with Save the Gondians, creating a faction conflict: destroying the Foundry serves the Ironhands' cause, but the Gondian workers are also tied to the situation and can be endangered by the way the operation is handled.

Barcus Wroot offers an alternative to Wulbren's violent approach if he remains alive. The quest can therefore develop into more than a straightforward sabotage mission. Keeping the faction dispute from becoming irreversible may allow a peaceful resolution in which Barcus leads the Ironhands, while completing the broader objective can also earn Ironhand support for Gather Your Allies.

Where this sits

StartMeet the Ironhand Gnomes near the South Span checkpoint
InvestigateReach Angleiron's Cellar and learn the Ironhands' position
ResolveAddress the Foundry objective and the Gondian conflict
AftermathDetermine Ironhand leadership and possible endgame support
  1. 1Meet the Ironhand GnomesstartThe quest is typically triggered near the South Span checkpoint in Rivington.
  2. 2Visit Angleiron's CellarinvestigationThe hideout is in a small cave east of the checkpoint.
  3. 3Confront the Foundry dilemmadecisionThe Ironhands' destruction plan overlaps with Save the Gondians.
  4. 4Secure the aftermathoutcomeThe result may affect Ironhand support for Gather Your Allies.

Avenge the Ironhands moves from an encounter in Rivington to a faction decision centered on the Steel Watch Foundry.

Requirements

The supplied sources identify a typical starting point rather than a complete mandatory prerequisite list.

  • RequiredReach Act 3Avenge the Ironhands is an Act 3 side quest.
  • RequiredReach RivingtonPlayers typically trigger the quest after meeting the Ironhand Gnomes near the South Span checkpoint.
  • RecommendedInvestigate Angleiron's CellarThe Ironhand hideout can be found in a small cave east of the South Span checkpoint.
  • RecommendedPreserve Barcus WrootKeeping Barcus alive is important if the party wants access to his more peaceful alternative and possible leadership outcome.

Objectives

  1. Meet the Ironhand Gnomes near the South Span checkpointThis encounter in Rivington is the usual point at which the quest becomes active.
  2. Find the Ironhand hideoutTravel east of the South Span checkpoint to reach Angleiron's Cellar and learn about the Ironhands' plans.
  3. Destroy the Steel Watch FoundryWulbren Bongle identifies destruction of the Foundry as the primary objective and wants the Runepowder Bomb used.
  4. Account for the Gondian workersThe Foundry objective overlaps with Save the Gondians, so the party must consider the consequences for the Gondians.
  5. Determine who leads the IronhandsIf Barcus Wroot remains alive, the faction can potentially move toward a more peaceful resolution under his leadership.
  6. Gain possible Ironhand supportCompleting the quest can contribute Ironhand support to Gather Your Allies.

WalkthroughSpoilers

  1. 01

    Trigger Avenge the Ironhands

    Meet the Ironhand Gnomes at the South Span checkpoint

    Travel through Rivington to the South Span checkpoint and speak with the Ironhand Gnomes encountered there. This meeting is the usual trigger for Avenge the Ironhands, so do not assume that the Foundry objective is active before speaking with them.

    Location: South Span checkpoint, Rivington

    TipIf the quest does not appear immediately, check that the party has actually spoken with the Ironhand Gnomes rather than merely passing the checkpoint.

  2. 02

    Find the Ironhand hideout

    Locate Angleiron's Cellar

    From the South Span checkpoint, search eastward for the small cave identified as Angleiron's Cellar. The location functions as the Ironhand hideout and is the clearest place to follow up on the faction's request after the initial checkpoint encounter.

    Location: Angleiron's Cellar

    TipUse the checkpoint as your navigation reference; the hideout is east of it rather than inside the checkpoint itself.

  3. 03

    Understand Wulbren Bongle's plan

    Speak with the Ironhand leadership

    Inside Angleiron's Cellar, investigate the Ironhands' position and learn what Wulbren Bongle wants done to the Steel Watch. The central demand is not simply to oppose the Watch but to destroy the Steel Watch Foundry with the Ironhands' Runepowder Bomb.

    Location: Angleiron's Cellar

    Watch outDo not treat Wulbren Bongle's proposal as the only faction outcome; Barcus Wroot may offer a different path if he is still alive.

  4. 04

    Resolve the Ironhand and Gondian conflict

    Assess the connection to Save the Gondians

    Before committing to the Ironhands' method, account for the Gondian workers connected to the Foundry. Avenge the Ironhands and Save the Gondians overlap, making the choice of approach consequential for both factions rather than an isolated Ironhand task.

    Location: Steel Watch Foundry storyline

    Watch outThe Foundry decision can place the Ironhand Gnomes' goals against the survival of the Gondian workers.

  5. 05

    Destroy the Steel Watch Foundry

    Choose how to handle the Foundry objective

    The quest's primary objective is to destroy the Steel Watch Foundry, and Wulbren Bongle insists that the Runepowder Bomb be used for that purpose. The precise resolution depends on the party's handling of the faction conflict and should be considered alongside the Gondians' fate.

    Location: Steel Watch Foundry

    Watch outThis is the quest's major spoiler point: the destructive solution can affect the Gondians and the future of the Ironhand Gnomes.

    Missable
  6. 06

    Determine the Ironhands' future

    Preserve or resolve the leadership dispute

    If Barcus Wroot remains alive, he can advocate a more peaceful alternative to Wulbren Bongle's revenge-focused plan. Managing the conflicting goals successfully can lead to Barcus taking leadership of the Ironhands instead of leaving the faction defined solely by Wulbren's approach.

    Location: Ironhand Gnomes' storyline

    Watch outBarcus Wroot's availability is conditional, so a peaceful leadership outcome cannot be assumed in every playthrough.

    Missable
  7. 07

    Secure possible Ironhand support

    Check the endgame consequence

    After the faction conflict and Foundry objective have been resolved, review the resulting support available for Gather Your Allies. Completing Avenge the Ironhands can earn the party the support of the Ironhands for that endgame objective.

    Location: Act 3 aftermath

    CheckpointMissable

Mission mechanics

Avenge the Ironhands is structured around overlapping faction objectives rather than a single independent errand. The Ironhand Gnomes want the Steel Watch Foundry destroyed, while Save the Gondians places the Gondian workers at the center of the same situation. As a result, progress should be evaluated by both the immediate Foundry objective and the people affected by the chosen method.

The Runepowder Bomb is the symbolic and practical focus of Wulbren Bongle's plan. His position represents violent retribution against the Steel Watch, whereas Barcus Wroot can introduce a more peaceful alternative if he remains alive. The quest therefore supports a leadership outcome as well as a destruction outcome, with the party's handling of the dispute determining which future the Ironhands receive.

The most important preparation is informational: identify the Ironhands' hideout, understand Wulbren Bongle's demand, and account for the Gondian connection before finalizing the Foundry resolution. The supplied material does not establish a complete combat route, enemy roster, or item-by-item infiltration sequence, so those details should not be treated as universal steps for this quest.

What works and what does not

Strengths

  • The quest gives the Ironhand Gnomes a meaningful role in the Act 3 Steel Watch storyline.
  • Its objective connects directly to Save the Gondians, making faction priorities matter.
  • Barcus Wroot provides a possible peaceful alternative to Wulbren Bongle's revenge-driven solution.
  • The outcome can have value beyond the immediate quest through Ironhand support for Gather Your Allies.

Weaknesses

  • The Ironhands' preferred method can conflict with the safety of the Gondian workers.
  • The peaceful leadership outcome depends on Barcus Wroot remaining alive.
  • The quest's consequences are easy to evaluate incorrectly if the party treats the Foundry as unrelated to Save the Gondians.

Best uses

  • Resolve it as part of the wider Steel Watch and Gondian storyline rather than as an isolated side quest.
  • Keep Barcus Wroot alive when pursuing a less violent Ironhand outcome.
  • Use the final result to strengthen the party's Gather Your Allies preparation.

Choices and consequencesSpoilers

  • Follow Wulbren Bongle's demand to destroy the Steel Watch Foundry with the Runepowder Bomb.

    This advances the Ironhands' stated goal, but the Foundry operation is linked to the fate of the Gondian workers through Save the Gondians.

    Spoiler
  • Keep Barcus Wroot alive and support his alternative.

    Barcus can offer a more peaceful resolution and may lead the Ironhands if the faction conflict is managed successfully.

    Spoiler
  • Treat Avenge the Ironhands and Save the Gondians as separate objectives.

    This risks overlooking the central faction conflict, because the Ironhands' method and the Gondian workers' interests are connected through the Foundry.

    Spoiler

Quest checklist

  • Meet the Ironhand Gnomes near the South Span checkpointThis is the typical quest trigger in Rivington.
  • Travel east to Angleiron's CellarThe hideout is in a small cave east of the checkpoint.
  • Speak with Wulbren BongleLearn why he insists on destroying the Steel Watch Foundry.
  • Find out whether Barcus Wroot is still aliveHis survival affects the peaceful leadership possibility.Optional
  • Review the connection to Save the GondiansThe Foundry decision affects both faction storylines.
  • Resolve the Steel Watch Foundry objectiveWulbren's preferred tool is the Runepowder Bomb.
  • Check the Ironhands' resulting leadershipA peaceful resolution may place Barcus in charge.Optional
  • Confirm whether Ironhand support is available for Gather Your AlliesThis is the principal broader benefit identified for completing the quest.Optional

Failure conditions and risksSpoilers

  • Barcus Wroot is not alive when his alternative is neededThe peaceful resolution and possible leadership outcome associated with Barcus require him to remain alive.
  • The Steel Watch Foundry objective is handled without considering the GondiansThe quest overlaps with Save the Gondians, so the selected method can endanger or undermine the Gondian workers' interests.
  • The party commits to the faction conflict without resolving its consequencesWulbren Bongle seeks violent retribution, while Barcus Wroot can support a more peaceful direction; the eventual Ironhand outcome depends on how this dispute is managed.

On failure

The supplied material does not specify exact reload checkpoints, combat failure triggers, or a complete list of fail states.

Rewards and outcomesSpoilers

  • Ironhand support
    Completing the quest can earn the Ironhands as support for the Gather Your Allies endgame objective.
  • Peaceful Ironhand resolution
    If Barcus Wroot remains alive and the faction conflict is managed successfully, the Ironhands can reach a peaceful resolution with Barcus as their leader.
  • Steel Watch Foundry outcome
    The central quest outcome is the destruction of the Steel Watch Foundry, pursued through the Ironhands' Runepowder Bomb plan.

AftermathSpoilers

The Ironhands can become endgame allies

The quest's consequences extend beyond the Steel Watch Foundry. If the faction conflict is successfully managed, Barcus Wroot can lead the Ironhands in a peaceful resolution, and completing the quest can make Ironhand support available for Gather Your Allies.

Trivia

  • The quest title frames the Ironhands' objective as an act of revenge against the Steel Watch.
  • Angleiron's Cellar is described as a small cave rather than a prominent public building, making it easy to overlook while moving through Rivington.
  • The quest is notable for making two gnome-related storylines intersect: the Ironhand Gnomes' revenge campaign and the Gondian workers' struggle in the Foundry.

Sources

Relationships

factions

  • Ironhand GnomesFactionThe faction seeking revenge against the Steel Watch.

locations

  • Steel Watch FoundryPrimary locationThe Foundry is the central target of the quest.

characters

  • Wulbren BongleFaction leaderWulbren demands the Foundry's destruction with the Runepowder Bomb.
  • Barcus WrootAlternative leaderBarcus can support a peaceful resolution if he remains alive.