eXputer

QuestmajorSide missionModerate

Free the Grymforge Gnomes

An Act One rescue quest in Baldur's Gate 3 in which the party must free enslaved deep gnomes from a cave-in and navigate a confrontation involving duergar captors and True Soul Nere.

RoleRescue enslaved deep gnomes and help the Ironhand Gnomes escape Grymforge.
StatusAvailable in Act One
Importancemajor
RewardExperience and rewards associated with the rescue and duergar confrontation.
TimeVariable; the quest is time-sensitive and long rests can affect its outcome.
  • ActAct One
  • Mission typeSide mission
  • DifficultyModerate
  • Primary settingGrymforge
  • Core objectiveRescue enslaved deep gnomes
  • Time pressureLong rests can endanger the gnomes
  • Key obstacleCave-in
  • Key itemRunepowder Vial

The quest has no fixed completion time stated here; its important timing rule is that excessive long rests can cause the trapped gnomes to die.

Key takeaways

Keep the rescue moving and prepare for both an environmental obstacle and a factional confrontation.

  • Start from either side of the quest Thulla at the Myconid Colony and the gnomes at the Grymforge dig site provide different entry points into the same rescue effort.
  • Secure explosives The cave-in cannot simply be cleared by reaching the trapped workers. Finding Philomeen and obtaining a Runepowder Vial is one documented route to freeing them.
  • Treat long rests as a risk The quest has a time-sensitive outcome, and too many long rests can leave the gnomes dead before the party completes the rescue.
  • Expect a confrontation The rescue takes place amid conflict between enslaved gnomes, duergar captors, and cultists of the Absolute, with True Soul Nere adding further pressure.
  • Look beyond the immediate rescue Saving the gnomes allows the Ironhand Gnomes to escape, but Wulbren's later location at Moonrise Towers connects this quest to future objectives.

Free the Grymforge Gnomes

Free the Grymforge Gnomes is an Act One rescue quest centered on enslaved deep gnomes trapped behind a cave-in in Grymforge.

The quest can begin in more than one way. Speaking with Thulla at the Myconid Colony introduces the plight of the deep gnomes, while interacting with Barcus Wroot and Lunkbug at the Grymforge dig site connects the party directly to the trapped workers. These entry points lead toward the same urgent problem: the gnomes are imprisoned behind a cave-in while duergar captors and cultists of the Absolute control the area.

The rescue requires a way through the obstruction rather than a conventional battle alone. Explosives are central to the solution, and locating Philomeen can provide access to a Runepowder Vial capable of clearing the cave-in. The party must also manage the dangerous political situation around True Soul Nere, whose presence makes the gnomes' predicament more urgent and complicates any attempt to resolve the crisis peacefully.

This is a time-sensitive quest. Taking too many long rests can cause the trapped gnomes to die before the party completes the rescue, so exploration and preparation should be balanced against the need to act. A successful outcome allows the Ironhand Gnomes to escape, while the fate of their leader, Wulbren, links this Act One rescue to later objectives at Moonrise Towers.

entity_links([{"name":"Thulla","type_key":"character","note":"A possible starting contact at the Myconid Colony."},{"name":"Myconid Colony","type_key":"location","note":"One location where the quest can be initiated."},{"name":"Barcus Wroot","type_key":"character","note":"A gnome connected to the Grymforge rescue."},{"name":"Lunkbug","type_key":"character","note":"A deep gnome at the Grymforge dig site."},{"name":"Philomeen","type_key":"character","note":"The gnome associated with the Runepowder Vial."},{"name":"True Soul Nere","type_key":"character","note":"A central figure in the Grymforge confrontation."},{"name":"Moonrise Towers","type_key":"location","note":"A later destination connected to Wulbren."}])

entity_links_actual_fix_note_should_not_exist_in_output_do_not_include_string_marker

Where this sits

Quest discoveryLearn about the endangered deep gnomes
PreparationFind a way to clear the cave-in
RescueFree the gnomes from the trapped worksite
AftermathFollow the Ironhand Gnomes and Wulbren's story
  1. 1Reach the Myconid Colony or Grymforgeentry
  2. 2Speak with the relevant gnome contactsinvestigation
  3. 3Locate explosivespreparation
  4. ●Clear the cave-inobjective
  5. 5Resolve the duergar confrontationencounter
  6. 6Track the gnomes' escape and later objectivesaftermath

The quest moves from discovery and preparation into a time-sensitive rescue, followed by consequences that continue beyond Grymforge.

Requirements

Reach the relevant Grymforge or Myconid Colony area, identify the trapped gnomes' situation, and prepare a way to break through the cave-in before repeated long rests put the rescue at risk.

  • RequiredAccess to the Myconid Colony or GrymforgeThe quest can be initiated by speaking with Thulla at the Myconid Colony or by interacting with Barcus Wroot and Lunkbug at the Grymforge dig site.
  • RequiredA method of clearing the cave-inThe trapped gnomes require explosives. A Runepowder Vial associated with Philomeen is one known solution.
  • RequiredTime-conscious planningAvoid unnecessary long rests after discovering the emergency, because the gnomes may die if the party delays too long.
  • RecommendedPreparation for a faction confrontationThe rescue takes place among duergar captors and cultists of the Absolute, so the party should be ready for conflict as well as dialogue.

Objectives

  1. Learn that deep gnomes are trapped behind the Grymforge cave-in.The party can receive this information from Thulla or from the gnomes working at the Grymforge dig site.
  2. Find explosives capable of clearing the obstruction.Locating Philomeen can lead to a Runepowder Vial, which is identified as a way to break through the cave-in.
  3. Free the enslaved gnomes.The rescue must be completed before the quest's time pressure turns against the prisoners.
  4. Navigate the confrontation surrounding True Soul Nere.The duergar, the gnomes, and the cultists of the Absolute are competing interests in the rescue area.
  5. Enable the Ironhand Gnomes to escape.A successful rescue moves the surviving gnomes out of immediate danger and sets up later objectives involving Wulbren.

WalkthroughSpoilers

  1. 01

    Learn about the endangered gnomes

    Begin the rescue at the Myconid Colony

    Speak with Thulla at the Myconid Colony to learn that deep gnomes are in danger at Grymforge. This route establishes the rescue before the party reaches the cave-in and gives the situation a clear urgency.

    Location: Myconid Colony

    TipIf you already know the Grymforge situation, this conversation is not the only way to enter the quest.

  2. 02

    Identify the trapped workers

    Begin the rescue at the Grymforge dig site

    Alternatively, reach the Grymforge dig site and interact with Barcus Wroot and Lunkbug. Their presence places the party beside the excavation and makes the cave-in the immediate problem to solve.

    Location: Grymforge dig site

    TipThe Grymforge route is useful when the party wants to investigate the obstruction directly.

  3. 03

    Preserve the rescue opportunity

    Assess the cave-in before resting

    Once the party understands that the gnomes are trapped, treat the situation as an emergency rather than a normal exploration stop. Too many long rests can result in the gnomes meeting their demise before the rescue is complete.

    Location: Grymforge

    Watch outUnnecessary long rests are the central failure risk identified for this quest.

  4. 04

    Acquire explosives

    Search for a way through the obstruction

    The cave-in requires explosives, so ordinary travel through the dig site is not enough to reach the prisoners. Organize the party's next move around finding a suitable explosive source instead of repeatedly returning to camp.

    Location: Grymforge cave-in

  5. 05

    Find the source of the Runepowder Vial

    Locate Philomeen

    Search for Philomeen as part of the effort to obtain a Runepowder Vial. Her connection to the explosive provides the party with a documented route toward clearing the cave-in.

    Location: Grymforge

    TipKeep the party focused on the rescue while searching; the quest's time pressure makes prolonged detours hazardous.

    Missable
  6. 06

    Prepare the means of rescue

    Secure the Runepowder Vial

    Obtain the Runepowder Vial associated with Philomeen and preserve it for the cave-in. The important function of the item here is to provide the explosive force needed to free the gnomes.

    Location: Grymforge

    Missable
  7. 07

    Open a route to the prisoners

    Return to the trapped gnomes

    Bring the explosive solution back to the cave-in where the deep gnomes are imprisoned. Confirm that the party is ready for the consequences of opening the area, because clearing the obstruction exposes the wider conflict rather than ending it immediately.

    Location: Grymforge cave-in

    Checkpoint
  8. 08

    Free the gnomes

    Clear the cave-in

    Use the available explosives to break through the obstruction and create access to the trapped gnomes. The blast is the turning point of the rescue, so avoid treating the area as safe until the duergar and cultist situation has been resolved.

    Location: Grymforge cave-in

  9. 09

    Resolve the immediate threat

    Confront the duergar captors and cultists

    The freed workers remain surrounded by the forces that controlled Grymforge, including duergar captors and cultists of the Absolute. Choose whether to manage the confrontation through dialogue, direct conflict, or a combination, while keeping the rescue's objective in view.

    Location: Grymforge

    Watch outThe confrontation can determine whether the gnomes are able to leave safely.

  10. 10

    Navigate the Nere conflict

    Deal with True Soul Nere's presence

    True Soul Nere is part of the crisis surrounding the rescue and complicates the party's decisions after the cave-in opens. Treat his involvement as a major story confrontation rather than an unrelated encounter in the dig site.

    Location: Grymforge

    Missable
  11. 11

    Secure the Ironhand Gnomes' escape

    Confirm the gnomes' escape

    After the obstruction and confrontation are handled, verify that the surviving Ironhand Gnomes can leave the immediate danger of Grymforge. The rescue is not complete merely because the cave-in has been opened; the gnomes must be allowed to get away.

    Location: Grymforge

    Checkpoint
  12. 12

    Continue the linked gnome storyline

    Follow the Wulbren lead

    The successful rescue connects to Wulbren, the Ironhand Gnomes' leader, who is often taken to Moonrise Towers. Record this outcome as a later objective rather than assuming the Grymforge rescue resolves the entire gnome storyline.

    Location: Aftermath of Grymforge

    Watch outThe later consequences depend on who survives the rescue and how the confrontation is handled.

Mission mechanics

The quest combines an environmental problem with a social and combat crisis. The cave-in is the visible gate: the party needs explosives to reach the trapped deep gnomes, and the Runepowder Vial connected to Philomeen is a known solution. This makes preparation more important than simply defeating the nearest enemies.

Timing is the quest's defining mechanical pressure. Long rests are normally a useful way to restore the party, but repeated rests after the emergency has been established can cause the prisoners to die. A careful party should therefore separate essential preparation from optional delays and keep the rescue moving once the cave-in becomes the focus.

The area also contains several competing groups. The enslaved gnomes want freedom, the duergar control the worksite, and the cultists of the Absolute are involved in the surrounding power struggle. True Soul Nere's presence turns the rescue into a broader confrontation in which the party must consider both immediate survival and the consequences for the escaping Ironhand Gnomes.

What works and what does not

Strengths

  • The quest offers multiple discovery points, allowing the party to begin through the Myconid Colony or by investigating Grymforge directly.
  • The cave-in gives the rescue a clear practical objective: secure explosives and use them to open the trapped area.
  • The factional conflict creates room for both social decision-making and direct confrontation rather than reducing the mission to a single fight.
  • The outcome has continuing relevance through the Ironhand Gnomes and Wulbren's connection to Moonrise Towers.

Weaknesses

  • The time pressure is easy to underestimate because long rests are otherwise a routine part of party management.
  • The gnomes' survival depends on completing the rescue before excessive delays, so broad exploration can carry a real cost.
  • The cave-in is only one part of the problem; opening it places the party into a confrontation involving several hostile or competing groups.

Best uses

  • Prioritize this quest after discovering the emergency instead of leaving it unresolved while taking repeated long rests.
  • Use the alternate starting points to fit the quest into either a Myconid Colony-focused or Grymforge-focused route.
  • Treat the rescue and its aftermath as one connected gnome storyline rather than an isolated cave-in objective.

Encounter phasesSpoilers

  1. 1

    The trapped-worksite phase

    Starts: The party reaches the Grymforge dig site and learns that the deep gnomes are behind a cave-in.

    The immediate challenge is access. The party must identify the obstruction and find explosives before the time-sensitive rescue fails.

    • Do not spend unnecessary long rests after learning about the trapped gnomes.
    • Search for the Runepowder Vial route through Philomeen rather than assuming the cave-in can be opened without preparation.
  2. 2

    The explosive breach phase

    Starts: The party brings an explosive solution to the cave-in.

    Clearing the obstruction opens the route to the imprisoned gnomes, but it also exposes the party to the surrounding Grymforge crisis.

    • Prepare the party before opening the route because the area beyond is not described as secure.
    • Keep the rescue objective separate from optional exploration.
  3. 3

    The faction confrontation phase

    Starts: The cave-in is opened and the duergar, gnomes, and cultist interests collide.

    The party must navigate the duergar captors and cultists of the Absolute while True Soul Nere's presence complicates the resolution.

    • Dialogue and combat are both relevant approaches to the wider confrontation.
    • Keep the gnomes' ability to escape in mind when choosing how to resolve the crisis.

Choices and consequencesSpoilers

  • Initiate the quest through Thulla at the Myconid Colony or through Barcus Wroot and Lunkbug at Grymforge.

    The starting conversation differs, but both routes lead toward rescuing the deep gnomes trapped behind the Grymforge cave-in.

  • Search for Philomeen and obtain the Runepowder Vial.

    This provides a documented explosive route for clearing the cave-in and reaching the prisoners.

  • Take repeated long rests after the rescue becomes urgent.

    The time-sensitive quest can fail for the gnomes, who may die before the party frees them.

    Spoiler
  • Resolve the duergar and cultist confrontation through dialogue, combat, or a mixture of both.

    The immediate outcome depends on how the party navigates the competing factions, but the rescue requires the gnomes to be able to escape safely.

  • Complete the rescue successfully.

    The Ironhand Gnomes can escape, while Wulbren's connection to Moonrise Towers carries the story into later objectives.

    Spoiler

Rescue checklist

  • Speak with Thulla at the Myconid Colony or investigate Barcus Wroot and Lunkbug at Grymforge.Either route can establish the quest.
  • Identify the deep gnomes' cave-in as an urgent rescue problem.Once identified, avoid treating the quest as safe to postpone.
  • Locate Philomeen.She is associated with the Runepowder Vial route.
  • Secure explosives for the cave-in.A Runepowder Vial is one documented solution.
  • Limit unnecessary long rests.The gnomes may die if the party delays too long.
  • Prepare for the duergar and cultist confrontation.The rescue is embedded in a wider Grymforge conflict.
  • Account for True Soul Nere.His presence complicates the situation after the cave-in is opened.
  • Confirm that the Ironhand Gnomes escape.Opening the cave-in alone is not the complete rescue.
  • Record the Wulbren and Moonrise Towers lead.The quest can connect to later objectives.

Failure conditionsSpoilers

  • Take too many long rests after the emergency is activeThe quest has a time limit in practical terms, and excessive long rests can result in the trapped gnomes dying.
  • Delay the rescue while pursuing unrelated explorationThe longer the party postpones the cave-in, the greater the risk that the gnomes will not survive until help arrives.
  • Fail to prepare explosivesWithout a way to clear the cave-in, the party cannot reach the prisoners and complete the central rescue objective.
  • Lose control of the confrontation around the cave-inThe duergar captors, cultists of the Absolute, and True Soul Nere all complicate the escape, so the gnomes' safety must remain part of the party's plan.

On failure

The available facts do not establish a detailed checkpoint-by-checkpoint recovery structure. Save before the cave-in and before the wider confrontation if possible.

Rewards and drops

  • Experience
    Completing the rescue and successfully navigating the duergar confrontation can provide experience.
  • Quest rewards
    The rescue can provide various rewards, though the exact items and amounts depend on the resolution and are not specified in the supplied facts.
  • Ironhand Gnome escape
    The surviving Ironhand Gnomes can leave Grymforge, creating an important story outcome.
  • Later Wulbren objective
    The outcome links the quest to Wulbren and future objectives at Moonrise Towers.

AftermathSpoilers

The rescue continues beyond Grymforge

Saving the trapped gnomes allows the Ironhand Gnomes to escape, but it does not close every thread surrounding them. Wulbren is often taken to Moonrise Towers, so the outcome of this rescue can become a foundation for later objectives.

Trivia

  • The quest can be discovered from either the Myconid Colony or the Grymforge dig site.
  • Its central obstacle is a cave-in rather than a locked door or a conventional enemy stronghold.
  • The Runepowder Vial associated with Philomeen gives the rescue a distinct explosive-preparation step.
  • The mission brings together enslaved deep gnomes, duergar captors, and cultists of the Absolute in one contested location.
  • The rescue is connected to the Ironhand Gnomes' later story at Moonrise Towers.

Relationships

characters

  • ThullaQuest contactCan initiate the rescue from the Myconid Colony.
  • PhilomeenExplosive sourceAssociated with the Runepowder Vial route for clearing the cave-in.
  • True Soul NereComplicating figureHis presence intensifies the confrontation surrounding the trapped gnomes.
  • WulbrenContinuing storylineThe Ironhand Gnome leader whose later location links the rescue to Moonrise Towers.

locations

  • GrymforgeQuest locationThe Grymforge dig site contains the cave-in and the central rescue conflict.
  • Moonrise TowersLater objectiveA future destination associated with Wulbren after the Grymforge rescue.