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QuestmajorMain storyHard

Save the Gondians

An Act 3 quest in Baldur's Gate 3 focused on rescuing Gondian prisoners from the Iron Throne and helping break Lord Gortash's control over the city.

RoleRescue mission and major step toward disabling the Steel Watch
StatusAvailable in Act 3; outcomes depend on actions taken during the Iron Throne rescue
Importancemajor
RewardInformation or allies for the final stages of the game
TimeVariable; depends on exploration, combat and the number of prisoners rescued
  • ActAct 3
  • Mission typeMain story
  • Primary locationIron Throne
  • Access routeFlymm Cargo and Redhammer's submersible
  • Primary objectiveRescue the Gondian prisoners
  • Time pressureLimited turnsThe prison can be destroyed before the rescue is complete
  • DifficultyHardThe time limit makes routing and preparation important

The quest has no fixed mission number or universal completion time.

Key takeaways

The quest rewards preparation and route planning more than prolonged fighting.

  • Start at the foundry Speak with Zanner Toobin at the Steel Watch Foundry to establish the Gondians' situation and the connection between their enslavement and the Steel Watch.
  • Reach the prison by submersible The route runs through Flymm Cargo and Redhammer's submersible. The Iron Throne cannot be treated like an ordinary dungeon because the extraction window is limited.
  • Plan the rescue before entering Prisoners are spread through the underwater facility, so movement, cell access and the return route matter more than clearing every enemy.
  • Treat survival as the main objective The mission is successful only to the extent that the party gets people out before the prison is destroyed. Duke Ravengard and Omeluum are especially important possible rescues.

Save the Gondians overview

Save the Gondians is a major Act 3 quest about freeing gnomish worshippers of Gond who are enslaved by Banites and forced to support Lord Gortash's Steel Watch.

The quest begins at the Steel Watch Foundry, where Zanner Toobin can explain the Gondians' situation. Their captivity is part of the wider system that allows Lord Gortash to maintain control over the city, so the rescue is connected to the campaign's effort to disable the Steel Watch rather than being an isolated prison break.

The central operation takes the party through Flymm Cargo and onto Redhammer's submersible. The vessel provides access to the Iron Throne, an underwater prison controlled by Lord Gortash. Once the party enters, the objective changes from investigation to evacuation: prisoners must be reached, released and escorted toward the submersible before the facility is destroyed.

The Iron Throne is deliberately structured as a pressure test. The party has limited turns to move through separated areas, open prison cells and return to the extraction point. Duke Ravengard and Omeluum are also notable rescue targets, and their survival can change the information and support available later in the game.

Where this sits

Find the GondiansSpeak with Zanner Toobin
Find a route to the prisonInvestigate Flymm Cargo
Enter the Iron ThroneUse Redhammer's submersible
Rescue the prisonersWork under a limited-turn timer
Continue the Steel Watch objectiveUse the outcome to oppose Lord Gortash
  1. 1Zanner ToobincharacterQuest beginning at the Steel Watch Foundry
  2. 2Steel Watch FoundrylocationThe quest's central surface location
  3. 3Flymm CargolocationRoute to the submersible
  4. ●Iron ThronelocationTimed underwater rescue area

Save the Gondians links the foundry investigation to the Iron Throne rescue and the broader effort to disable the Steel Watch.

Requirements and preparation

The quest requires access to Act 3's Steel Watch storyline and a route to the Iron Throne. Preparation is strongly recommended because the prison's rescue window is limited.

  • RequiredReach Act 3The quest takes place in Act 3 of Baldur's Gate 3 and is not available during the earlier acts.
  • RequiredSpeak with Zanner ToobinBegin the quest by speaking with Zanner Toobin at the Steel Watch Foundry.
  • RequiredFind Flymm CargoThe party must navigate through Flymm Cargo to reach the submersible route.
  • RequiredUse Redhammer's submersibleThe submersible is the means of reaching the Iron Throne underwater prison.
  • RecommendedPrepare for a timed rescueBring a party capable of moving quickly and opening cells while under pressure. The mission is not a good place to spend turns on unnecessary exploration or prolonged combat.
  • RecommendedPlan the return routeThe party must bring rescued prisoners back toward the submersible, so identify the extraction direction as soon as the rescue begins.

Objectives

  1. Speak with Zanner Toobin at the Steel Watch FoundryLearn about the Gondians' enslavement and the foundry's connection to Lord Gortash.
  2. Reach the Iron ThroneTravel through Flymm Cargo and use Redhammer's submersible to access the underwater prison.
  3. Rescue the Gondian prisonersOpen the prison cells and help the hostages reach the extraction point before the facility is destroyed.
  4. Rescue Duke Ravengard if possibleDuke Ravengard is among the notable characters who may be rescued from the Iron Throne.Optional
  5. Rescue Omeluum if possibleOmeluum is another notable possible rescue target in the underwater facility.Optional
  6. Continue the effort to disable the Steel WatchThe rescue is closely tied to removing the machinery that supports Lord Gortash's control of the city.

WalkthroughSpoilers

  1. 01

    Begin Save the Gondians

    Speak with Zanner Toobin

    Go to the Steel Watch Foundry and speak with Zanner Toobin. He explains that Gondian worshippers of Gond are enslaved by Banites and that the foundry is central to their plight.

    Location: Steel Watch Foundry

    TipRead the situation as part of the Steel Watch storyline rather than treating the foundry as unrelated side content.

  2. 02

    Find access to the submersible

    Investigate the route through Flymm Cargo

    Make your way through Flymm Cargo to find the route used to reach the underwater prison. The important progression is locating the submersible access, not defeating every enemy or searching every room.

    Location: Flymm Cargo

    Watch outDo not assume that reaching the surface building completes the rescue; the prisoners are still inside the Iron Throne.

  3. 03

    Reach the Iron Throne

    Board Redhammer's submersible

    Use Redhammer's submersible to leave the surface and travel to the Iron Throne. Confirm that the party is ready before committing to the journey because the next section uses a limited number of turns.

    Location: Redhammer's submersible

    TipUse this transition as the final opportunity to organize the party for rapid movement and rescue work.

  4. 04

    Locate the hostages

    Enter the Iron Throne and split the rescue effort

    Once inside the Iron Throne, identify the prison cells and the routes between them. The prisoners are not gathered in one convenient group, so divide movement across the available paths while keeping the return journey in mind.

    Location: Iron Throne

    Watch outThe prison's destruction timer means that unnecessary detours can cost lives even when the party wins its fights.

  5. 05

    Rescue the Gondian prisoners

    Open cells and escort the Gondians

    Move to the imprisoned Gondians, open their cells and help them travel toward the submersible. Prioritize actions that directly release or move prisoners instead of spending turns on optional encounters.

    Location: Iron Throne

    TipA fast route and early cell access are more valuable here than a slow, complete clear of the area.

  6. 06

    Rescue additional allies if possible

    Look for Duke Ravengard and Omeluum

    Check the prison for Duke Ravengard and Omeluum while the rescue is underway. They are additional possible rescues, but attempting to reach them must be balanced against the time needed to return everyone to safety.

    Location: Iron Throne

    Watch outThe limited-turn structure means that not every target can be safely reached on an improvised route.

    Missable
  7. 07

    Complete the evacuation

    Return to the submersible before the facility is destroyed

    After releasing as many prisoners and notable allies as the route allows, move back toward the submersible. Characters left behind when the prison is destroyed cannot be recovered through the normal extraction sequence.

    Location: Iron Throne

    Watch outThe mission can fail or produce a reduced rescue if the party does not evacuate before the timer expires.

    Checkpoint
  8. 08

    Continue the campaign against the Steel Watch

    Follow up on the Steel Watch

    After the Iron Throne sequence, return to the wider Steel Watch objective and use the information or surviving allies gained from the rescue. The quest's broader significance is the weakening of Lord Gortash's control over the city.

    Location: Steel Watch Foundry

    TipRecord which prisoners and named characters survived, because the rescue outcome affects later support and information.

Mission mechanics

The Iron Throne sequence is governed by a limited-turn rescue window. This changes the usual priorities of Baldur's Gate 3: movement, opening cells and helping hostages advance toward extraction are generally more important than searching containers or pursuing enemies that do not block the route.

The facility's layout encourages the party to work along more than one path. A character who can move independently can save turns by reaching a distant cell while another party member handles a different group, but spreading too far apart can make the return trip dangerous. Keep the submersible's location in mind whenever choosing between a nearby rescue and a distant optional target.

The quest also combines two kinds of stakes. Gondian survival determines the immediate rescue outcome, while the information and allies gained from the operation feed into the larger campaign against the Steel Watch and Lord Gortash. That is why this mission can matter even after the party leaves the underwater prison.

What works and what does not

Strengths

  • The mission gives the Gondians' enslavement a concrete rescue objective rather than leaving their situation as background information.
  • The limited-turn structure creates meaningful route planning and makes movement choices matter.
  • The possibility of rescuing Duke Ravengard and Omeluum adds optional urgency beyond the main prisoner objective.
  • The quest connects personal rescues to the larger goal of dismantling the Steel Watch and weakening Lord Gortash.

Weaknesses

  • The timer leaves little room for learning the prison's layout during the first attempt.
  • Trying to fight every hostile creature can consume turns that are needed for opening cells and reaching the extraction point.
  • The party may need to choose between distant rescue targets when there is not enough time to reach everyone safely.
  • The consequences of the operation are not limited to the prison, so a rushed or incomplete rescue can affect later support and information.

Best uses

  • Approach the prison as an evacuation puzzle first and a combat encounter second.
  • Use the party's movement and utility options to reach cells quickly.
  • Decide before entering whether the priority is maximizing Gondian rescues or attempting additional named-character rescues.

Failure conditionsSpoilers

  • The prison is destroyed before the evacuation is completeThe Iron Throne rescue is time-sensitive. Remaining in the facility after the available turns are exhausted can end the rescue and leave prisoners behind.
  • A prisoner is left without a viable route to extractionOpening a cell is not the same as completing the rescue; the prisoner must still reach the submersible before the facility is destroyed.
  • The party spends too many turns on nonessential combat or explorationEnemies and optional searches can consume the movement window needed for the hostages and named rescue targets.
  • A named rescue target is not reached in timeDuke Ravengard and Omeluum are possible additional rescues, but their survival depends on the party reaching and evacuating them before the deadline.

On failure

The exact point at which the game records progress can vary with the sequence of actions. Treat the submersible departure as the practical completion point and consider saving before beginning the Iron Throne section.

Rewards

  • Information for the endgame
    A successful rescue provides information that can aid the final stages of the game.
  • Potential allies
    Surviving rescued characters can provide support or become relevant to later events.
  • Progress toward disabling the Steel Watch
    The quest advances the broader objective of removing the system that helps Lord Gortash control the city.

AftermathSpoilers

The rescue changes the endgame landscape

Save the Gondians is part of the campaign's effort to break Lord Gortash's hold over the city. The people rescued from the Iron Throne can provide information or become allies during the final stages, while an incomplete evacuation reduces the help and knowledge available later.

Checklist

  • Speak with Zanner Toobin at the Steel Watch FoundryThis establishes the quest and its connection to the Gondians.
  • Identify the route through Flymm CargoThe route leads to the submersible access.
  • Prepare the party before boarding Redhammer's submersibleThe Iron Throne section is time-sensitive.
  • Locate the Gondian prison cellsRescue progress depends on opening cells and moving hostages toward extraction.
  • Keep the submersible route in mindEvery rescue path must account for the return journey.
  • Attempt Duke Ravengard's rescueOptional and potentially missable because of the limited-turn structure.Optional
  • Attempt Omeluum's rescueOptional and potentially missable because of the limited-turn structure.Optional
  • Evacuate before the Iron Throne is destroyedRemaining behind after the time limit can end the rescue.
  • Continue the Steel Watch objective after the prison sequenceThe quest feeds into the broader confrontation with Lord Gortash.

Trivia

  • The quest title names the Gondians, the gnomish worshippers of Gond whose enslavement is revealed at the Steel Watch Foundry.
  • The Iron Throne is presented as an underwater prison rather than a conventional surface dungeon.
  • The rescue combines a foundry storyline with a prison evacuation and a broader political objective involving Lord Gortash.
  • Duke Ravengard and Omeluum are both notable characters who can be encountered as possible rescue targets during the prison operation.

Sources

Relationships

Characters

  • Zanner ToobinQuest giverBegins Save the Gondians at the Steel Watch Foundry.
  • Lord GortashOpposing powerControls the prison operation and benefits from the Steel Watch.
  • Duke RavengardPossible rescueA notable character who can be rescued from the Iron Throne.
  • OmeluumPossible rescueA notable character who can be rescued from the Iron Throne.
  • RedhammerSubmersible operatorProvides access to the underwater prison.

Locations

  • Iron ThronePrimary locationUnderwater prison where the rescue takes place.
  • Steel Watch FoundryStarting locationFoundry where the Gondians' situation is introduced.