Rescue the Gnomes from the Underdark

Key takeaways

Keep the following points in mind before committing to the Grymforge sequence.

• Start from either gnome community Thulla can direct you toward the rescue from the Myconid Colony, while Lunkbug or Barcus Wroot can introduce the situation once you are in Grymforge.
• Treat the cave-in as time-sensitive The gnomes are forced to clear the rubble around the trapped True Soul Nere. Too many long rests after arriving at Grymforge can resolve the situation without your intervention.
• Prepare for a divided confrontation The quest can lead to combat, persuasion, or cooperation with the Duergar. Decide whether your priority is protecting the gnomes, supporting the Duergar, or using the conflict to pursue another objective.
• Explosives can change the approach Locating an explosive solution, including runepowder, can provide a way to clear the cave-in rather than leaving the gnomes to continue working under Duergar control.
• The rescue has future value Freeing the gnomes can preserve later opportunities to recruit or aid them in their wider storyline.

Overview

Rescue the Gnomes from the Underdark is an Act One rescue quest centered on the enslaved deep gnomes of Grymforge.

The quest begins through the deep gnome community in the Underdark. You can start it by speaking with Thulla in the Myconid Colony, or by interacting with enslaved gnomes such as Lunkbug or Barcus Wroot after reaching Grymforge. These conversations establish that the gnomes are being held by Duergar and are being forced to clear rubble from a cave-in.

The central crisis is the blocked passage containing the True Soul Nere. The enslaved gnomes are made to work on the rubble while the Duergar supervise them, leaving the rescue tied to a dangerous political and supernatural confrontation. Reaching a resolution requires finding a way to clear the cave-in, with explosives such as runepowder among the possible solutions, and then deciding how to handle the people on the other side.

The outcome depends heavily on timing and allegiance. You can oppose the Duergar, attempt to persuade or negotiate during the confrontation, or support the Duergar instead. Taking too many long rests after arriving at Grymforge can cause Nere to die before the crisis is resolved, altering the quest and causing the Duergar to leave. A successful rescue liberates the gnomes and can preserve opportunities to aid them later in their storyline.

Where this sits

Requirements

Reach the Underdark and investigate the deep gnomes' situation in the Myconid Colony or Grymforge.

• RequiredAccess to the UnderdarkThe quest is an Act One Underdark storyline and cannot be pursued before reaching that region.
• RequiredA route to GrymforgeThe main rescue crisis occurs in Grymforge, where the Duergar are forcing gnomes to clear the cave-in.
• RecommendedA conversation with the gnomesSpeak with Thulla, Lunkbug, or Barcus Wroot to learn about the enslavement and connect the rescue to the broader quest.
• RecommendedA plan for the cave-inBe ready to locate explosives such as runepowder, or to resolve the obstruction through another available approach.
• RecommendedA decision about the DuergarThe quest supports opposing the Duergar, attempting persuasion, or siding with them, so consider your intended outcome before the confrontation.

Objectives

1. Find the enslaved deep gnomesUse the lead from Thulla, Lunkbug, or Barcus Wroot to locate the gnomes and understand their situation.
2. Deal with the Grymforge cave-inThe gnomes are being forced to clear rubble blocking access to the True Soul Nere. Find explosives or another way to resolve the obstruction.
3. Resolve the Duergar confrontationChoose whether to fight the Duergar, use persuasion, or cooperate with them while keeping the consequences for the gnomes in mind.
4. Liberate the gnomesComplete the crisis in a way that frees the enslaved deep gnomes rather than leaving them under their captors' control.
5. Preserve future assistance where possibleA successful rescue can affect later opportunities to recruit or aid the gnomes in their wider storyline.

WalkthroughSpoilers

1. 01

   Reach the region where the gnome lead is available.

   Reach the Underdark

   Enter the Underdark during Act One and make your way toward the areas connected with the deep gnome community. The rescue is not a surface quest, so do not expect its main objectives to appear until you have reached the relevant region.

   Location: Underdark

   TipExplore and speak with inhabitants before moving on; the quest can be introduced from more than one starting point.

2. 02

   Learn that deep gnomes are being held by the Duergar.

   Speak with Thulla or investigate Grymforge

   Speak with Thulla in the Myconid Colony, or travel to Grymforge and interact with enslaved gnomes such as Lunkbug or Barcus Wroot. These routes point toward the same crisis, but the information you receive depends on which location you visit first.

   Location: Myconid Colony or Grymforge

   Checkpoint
3. 03

   Confirm the gnomes' location and condition.

   Locate the enslaved gnomes

   In Grymforge, find the gnomes who are being forced to work for the Duergar. Their labor is focused on clearing rubble from the cave-in, and their dialogue makes clear that the situation is not voluntary.

   Location: Grymforge

   Watch outDo not treat the gnome workers as ordinary camp scenery; their situation is the central rescue objective.

4. 04

   Determine how to reach the trapped True Soul Nere.

   Inspect the cave-in

   Observe the blocked passage and learn that the True Soul Nere is trapped behind it. The obstruction is also the source of the time pressure, because waiting too long can cause the crisis to resolve without your party present.

   Location: Grymforge

   TipFinish important preparation and exploration before committing to repeated long rests in Grymforge.

5. 05

   Obtain a usable solution for the cave-in.

   Find a way to clear the rubble

   Search for explosives or another solution that can remove the cave-in. Runepowder is one possible explosive lead, and the search can involve the deep gnome Philomeen rather than simply relying on the workers to continue clearing the passage.

   Location: Grymforge

   Watch outThe precise availability of an explosive approach depends on what you discover and which interactions you pursue.

6. 06

   Choose an approach to the Duergar-controlled camp.

   Decide how to approach the Duergar

   Before the obstruction is resolved, consider whether you intend to oppose the Duergar, attempt to persuade them, or cooperate with them. This decision affects how the confrontation unfolds and whether the rescue remains your priority.

   Location: Grymforge

   TipSave before the confrontation if you want to compare dialogue and combat outcomes without losing progress.

7. 07

   Open access to the trapped area.

   Clear the cave-in

   Use the solution you found to open the blocked passage and advance the situation surrounding True Soul Nere. Keep the enslaved gnomes in mind while setting up the action, since the rescue and the confrontation are connected.

   Location: Grymforge

   Missable
8. 08

   Complete the crisis around True Soul Nere and the Duergar.

   Resolve the confrontation

   Once the passage is opened, handle the resulting conflict through combat, persuasion, or the alliance you selected. The Duergar, Sergeant Thrinn, and True Soul Nere are central to this stage, and your response determines whether the gnomes remain under Duergar control.

   Location: Grymforge

   Watch outThis is the point where a choice to side with the Duergar can produce a different result from fighting to free the gnomes.

9. 09

   Ensure the deep gnomes have been freed.

   Confirm the gnomes' freedom

   After the confrontation, speak with the surviving gnomes and verify that they are no longer being held as enslaved workers. Do not assume that clearing the rubble alone completes the rescue; the aftermath establishes whether the gnomes were actually liberated.

   Location: Grymforge

   Checkpoint
10. 10

    Preserve the quest's longer-term consequences.

    Follow up on the rescued gnomes

    Once the immediate Grymforge crisis is over, keep track of the gnomes and any surviving named characters connected to them. The successful rescue can preserve later opportunities to recruit or aid them in their storyline, although the exact follow-up depends on the choices made here.

    Location: Grymforge and later gnome storyline

    Missable

Mission mechanics

This quest is structured around a live crisis rather than a simple destination marker. The enslaved gnomes are actively clearing rubble while the Duergar control the site, and the blocked passage contains the True Soul Nere. Your investigation therefore combines conversation, exploration, resource gathering, and a final decision about how to treat the camp's power structure.

Explosives are important because they offer a practical answer to the cave-in. Runepowder is specifically identified as one possible resource, with Philomeen among the named characters tied to the gnome side of the situation. If you do not pursue that lead, the quest can still be approached through the broader conflict and its available combat or persuasion resolutions.

The quest also uses delayed progression as a danger. Taking too many long rests after arriving at Grymforge can cause Nere to die and can change the camp before you resolve the rescue. This makes Grymforge a poor place to postpone the central objective indefinitely, particularly if you are trying to preserve the gnomes and keep later assistance available.

What works and what does not

PhasesSpoilers

1. 1

   The labor camp

   Starts: Approaching the enslaved gnomes in Grymforge

   Not applicable

   The first phase is an investigation and positioning stage. The gnomes are clearing rubble under Duergar supervision, and conversations reveal that the cave-in is blocking access to True Soul Nere.

   • Speak with the gnomes before escalating if you want to understand the rescue context.
   • Note the time-sensitive nature of the area before taking repeated long rests.
2. 2

   The explosive solution

   Starts: Locating a way to remove the cave-in

   Not applicable

   The party searches for explosives or another method to open the blocked passage. Runepowder is one identified possibility, and Philomeen is a relevant lead for this part of the quest.

   • Explore the gnome-related leads rather than assuming the workers can solve the obstruction safely.
   • Keep the intended rescue outcome in mind when choosing how to clear the rubble.
3. 3

   The Grymforge confrontation

   Starts: Opening the passage to True Soul Nere

   Varies by encounter resolution

   The crisis turns into a confrontation involving the Duergar, Sergeant Thrinn, and True Soul Nere. Combat, persuasion, and siding with the Duergar are all possible broad approaches.

   • Use a save before opening the passage if you want to preserve flexibility.
   • Resolve the confrontation promptly once it begins so the gnomes are not left in danger.
4. 4

   The rescue outcome

   Starts: The confrontation ends

   Not applicable

   The final phase is determined by who survives and which side you supported. Confirm the gnomes' status and speak with them before leaving the area, since the rescue can affect later assistance.

   • Do not leave immediately after the fight without checking on the gnomes.
   • Record which named characters survived if you intend to follow their later storyline.

Choices and consequencesSpoilers

• Fight the Duergar to free the gnomes

  This approach prioritizes the rescue and can liberate the deep gnomes from their captors. The confrontation is resolved through combat rather than accepting Duergar control.

  Spoiler
• Attempt to persuade the Duergar

  Dialogue can be used as part of the resolution instead of immediately treating every participant as an enemy. The resulting outcome depends on the conversation and the broader choices made in Grymforge.

  Spoiler
• Side with the Duergar

  Supporting the Duergar can produce an outcome different from rescuing the enslaved gnomes and may prevent the full liberation route.

  Spoiler
• Take too many long rests after reaching Grymforge

  True Soul Nere can die before you resolve the cave-in, after which the quest changes and the Duergar leave the area.

  Spoiler

Checklist

• Reach the UnderdarkThe quest takes place in the Act One Underdark sequence.
• Speak with Thulla, Lunkbug, or Barcus WrootAny of these named gnome contacts can provide the relevant lead.
• Find the enslaved gnomes in GrymforgeConfirm where the Duergar are forcing them to work.
• Inspect the cave-inThe rubble blocks access to True Soul Nere.
• Search for runepowder or another way to clear the rubblePhilomeen is connected with the runepowder lead.
• Choose how to handle the DuergarCombat, persuasion, and cooperation are broad options.
• Avoid unnecessary long rests in GrymforgeDelay can cause the crisis to resolve without your intervention.
• Confirm that the gnomes are freeCheck the aftermath rather than leaving as soon as the obstruction is cleared.
• Speak with surviving gnome charactersThis can preserve later opportunities to aid or recruit them.Optional

Failure conditionsSpoilers

• Take too many long rests after arriving at GrymforgeTrue Soul Nere can die before you address the cave-in, changing the quest state and causing the Duergar to leave.
• Side with the DuergarThis can prevent the outcome in which the enslaved deep gnomes are fully liberated.
• Leave without checking the gnomes' aftermathClearing or resolving the central crisis does not by itself communicate the final rescue outcome; confirm the gnomes' status before departing.

Rewards

• Liberated deep gnomes
  The principal reward is the rescue of the enslaved gnomes from Duergar control.
• Future gnome assistance
  Successfully completing the quest can preserve later opportunities to recruit or aid the gnomes in their storyline.
• Quest progression
  Resolving the Grymforge cave-in advances the connected storyline involving the gnomes, the Duergar, and True Soul Nere.

AftermathSpoilers

Trivia

• The quest can be initiated from two distinct kinds of location: the Myconid Colony through Thulla, or Grymforge through enslaved gnomes such as Lunkbug and Barcus Wroot.
• The quest title is associated with the shorter wording “Save the Grymforge Gnomes” in the supplied source material.
• The gnome rescue is tied to a cave-in rather than a conventional prison escape, because the enslaved workers are forced to clear access to True Soul Nere.
• Runepowder is presented as an explosive option for resolving the cave-in, linking the rescue to Philomeen.

Sources

• Baldur's Gate 3 quest reference: Save the Grymforge Gnomes — bg3.wiki

Relationships