Save the Gondians

Save the Gondians is a quest in Act Three of Baldur's Gate 3. It can be started by speaking with Zanner Toobin in the Steel Watch Foundry.

Objectives

Find the prison.

We met Zanner Toobin, leader of the Gondians constructing Steel Watchers. We agreed to free their families, kept hostage by Gortash, in exchange for the Steel Watch's destruction. The hostages' location is kept secret, but Zanner thinks there may be clues in the Foundry's lower levels. We must be careful not to be seen - or risk disaster.

Go to the prison.

It seems the Banites are using a type of submersible to transport people to an underwater prison. We should leave and search the warehouse by the docks.
We found a warehouse occupied by worgs - they must be guarding something.
We discovered a secret dock beneath the warehouse - and a submersible. This must be the way to the underwater prison.
On our way to the Iron Throne, Gortash warned us to turn back, or he would destroy the prison. However, if we leave, then we will abandon the Iron Throne prisoners to their fate.

Save as many hostages as possible.

We entered the Iron Throne - the underwater prison. We don't have much time before the entire thing blows. We need to save as many people as possible.
We entered a collapsing Iron Throne, and an escaping hostage boarded our submersible. We should find the others and get them on board quickly - there's not much time before the Iron Throne sinks.

Escape the Iron Throne.

The hostages, those who survived, have made it to the submersible. We need to leave as soon as we can.

Check on the survivors.

We saved all the prisoners and fled using the submersible. We should speak to the survivors.
We saved everyone we could, and fled using the submersible. We should speak to the survivors.
The Iron Throne hostages we saved asked us to go to the Steel Watch Foundry and liberate their families.
The prisoners in the Iron Throne are dead. We should let Zanner Toobin know what happened.

Protect the Gondians.

We returned to the Steel Watch Foundry in the nick of time. We need to protect the Gondians.

Talk to Zanner Toobin.

We should speak to Zanner Toobin.

Explore the Steel Watch Foundry's depths.

We need to go to the Foundry's depths in order to destroy it. Along the way, we can liberate any Gondians we meet. They know we're coming and will help us.
We lied to Zanner Toobin about saving his daughter - he believed us. He can help us destroy the Steel Watch Foundry.

Save the rest of the Gondians.

Zanner Toobin is dead, but we cannot stop. We need to go to the Foundry's depths, save the Gondians we meet along the way, and destroy the Steel Watch Foundry - for good.

Defeat the Steel Watcher Titan in the Control Centre.

Zanner Toobin warned us of a Steel Watcher Titan guarding the Foundry's Control Centre. We should prepare ourselves for a fight.

Destroy the Steel Watch Foundry.

Free of their Banite oppressors, the surviving Gondians asked us to destroy the Steel Watch Foundry. We need to head to the Control Centre in the Foundry's depths to do so.

Bring Zanner Toobin to the Control Centre.

We destroyed the Steel Watcher Titan and cleared the path to the Control Centre for Zanner Toobin. We should tell him - then the Foundry's destruction can begin.

Talk to Zanner Toobin.

The Steel Watcher Titan lies destroyed at our feet - we just need Zanner to begin the Foundry's destruction.

Quest Complete

Zanner Toobin is dead, and the other Gondians will not rise against their oppressors.
We sided with Wulbren Bongle and condemned all the surviving Gondians to death.
We came to blows with Wulbren Bongle to protect the surviving Gondians.
We brokered a shaky peace between the Gondian and Ironhand gnomes.
There is nothing left of the Gondian workers to save.
Zanner Toobin and the surviving Gondians turned on us when they learned of the Iron Throne hostages' demise.
All the Iron Throne hostages are dead.
A Banite contingency measure incinerated all the Gondian workers. There's nothing but ash left to save.
We saved the Gondians from the Steel Watch Foundry - striking a blow at the heart of Gortash's metal militia.
We saved the Gondians without bloodshed by deposing the Ironhand's bloodthirsty leader, Wulbren.
We left the quarrels of gnomes behind us to face our final foe.
With Gortash dead, the Steel Watch destroyed the Foundry that created them - covering up the atrocities committed there.

Walkthrough

Investigating the Steel Watch Foundry

The Steel Watch Roof has an entrance.

The Foundry is in the southwestern corner of the Lower City, near the Grey Harbour waypoint. There are multiple ways into the Foundry - including lockpicking (DC 20) the iron gates (X:-234, Y:-181), entering a vent in Wild Shape form (X:-246, Y:-126), or flying onto the roof and jumping down from an open hatch (X:-295, Y:-135).

There are two Steel Watchers guarding the front entrance - one which patrols the front and western side of the building, and another which stays on the western side near the loading dock. The Steel Watcher patrolling the front can easily be avoided by lockpicking the front gate and enter the front door while the Watcher is on the western side.

The Gondian's plight

Prinski's Motivation Sequence and the Motivators allow the Banites to control the Gondians.

Once the Foundry has been entered, a cutscene plays, revealing that the Gondians are being forced to work by Banite cultists, under threat of explosive collars and their families being murdered. If the party approaches, the Banites move to attack the party and bid the Gondians to aid them. It is possible to convince the Gondians to help fight back:

[DECEPTION] Forgive the interruption Dread Sister. I've just arrived for duty. (DC 15) (If a Religion check was passed)
[INTIMIDATION] I wish to bathe in the blood of these worthless Banites. You can help Gondians - or you can die. (DC 15 ) (If a religion check was passed)
[INTIMIDATION] Gondians! Fight back! Do not let these people torment you. (DC 18)
[PERSUASION] I am here to help, Gondians. Together, we can free you all. (DC 18)
[PALADIN] [PERSUASION] I am here to help, Gondians. Together, we can free you all. (DC 18 )
[BERSERKER] [INTIMIDATION] Cowardly Gondians - do not let these people torment you! Fight. (DC 18 )
[BARBARIAN] [INTIMIDATION] COWARDLY GONDIANS - FIGHT BACK! FIGHT WITH ME! (DC 18 )
[ROGUE] [PERSUASION] A proposal, Gondians. You hold these arseholes, and I stab them all to death? (DC 18 )
[BARD] [PERSUASION] I've heard many a tale of Gondian genius and courage. Let us write another today - and take down your captors. (DC 18 )
Touch these people, and I'll kill you.

If the Deception option was chosen, Tamia Holzt will give the party the Motivator and will not become hostile.

If either the Intimidation of Persuasion options are chosen and passed, the Gondians help the party. Otherwise, they are too scared to fight against the Banites and remain hostile until Black Gauntlet Tamia Holzt is defeated. Upon her death, the Motivator she carries begins to activate and can be deactivated with an Intellect roll (DC 5). After the battle, the Gondians begin to panic and state that their families are being kept hostage.

In order to gain more information, the party must go into the Security Office. The key can be looted off of Tamia Holzt's body, or lockpicked (DC 15). Only one Gondian is inside - Zanner Toobin, who immediately recognizes the party as intruders. He explains more about the Gondian's families being held hostage and beg the party to rescue his daughter. If the party agrees, he will help shut the place down. Unfortunately, Zanner is not sure where the family members are being held and suggests going deeper into the Foundry to find more information.

If the party rescued the Iron Throne prisoners before visiting the Foundry, Zanner Toobin is present for the cutscene and the Gondians automatically help the party, skipping the dialogue check.

Location of the note with the prison's location.

The party can find more information via a note about vessels (X:-1966, Y:459). This area is heavily guarded and Banites and Gondians alike become hostile to any intruders. However, finding the note isn't necessary to find the prison. This information can also be found by undertaking Avenge the Drowned, making a deal with Mizora to gain the location, or simply by stumbling upon the location. Regardless, the prisoners are being held in an underwater prison which is accessed via a submersible under Flymm Cargo.

Flymm Cargo

The secret hatch in Flymm Cargo.

Flymm Cargo is further along the docks. The double metal doors (X:-169, Y:-150) can be lockpicked (DC 20), and cause several Worgs within to attack. After defeating them, there is little else in the building to indicate what is going on there. However, there is a basement entrance (X:-164, Y:-141). The entrance is covered by various trunks and crates.

Dealing with Redhammer

Deep within the basement of Flymm Cargo and past the machine parts storage room, there is an area with a single Dwarf, near a submersible. This man is Redhammer, the man in charge of transporting prisoners. If he is approached, he asks the party what they are doing there.

Passing an ability check reveals that the submersible is used to ship off prisoners to the Iron Throne. After this, the party can implore him to take them to the throne through a number of options, but will get the following option if they are aware of the Iron Throne:

You're going to take me to the Iron Throne - I'm getting the prisoners out.

He can also be killed and the submersible piloted by the party.

You're as guilty as the people who imprisoned the Gondians.

Once the party has piloted the submersible, Enver Gortash appears on a screen to warn the party that he will blow up the whole place if they proceed. He gives them one chance to turn back, otherwise he goes through with his threat, flooding the prison and filling it with Sahuagin. This will end the party's alliance with Gortash.

The Iron Throne

There are thirteen Gondian hostages in the Iron Throne, who must be allowed to run to the submersible, by opening their cells and protecting them from the Sahuagin. Not all of them must actually be saved in order to ally with the Gondians. Ulder Ravengard and Omeluum may also be found here as part of their respective quests.

Liberating the Gondian workers

If she survived, then Obelia Toobin thanks the party for saving her and the other Gondians. She urges the party to go and save the workers at the Steel Watch Foundry. If the party did not visit the Foundry before saving the Gondians at the Iron Throne, then the Gondians on the ground floor immediately begin attacking the Banite cultists who are keeping them subjugated. The party needs to be mindful of the Motivators, which kill the collared Gondians if they aren't deactivated.

After defeating the Banites on the production floor, the party can talk to Zanner. He asks the party if his daughter is alright, which the party can either tell him she is alive or lie about it if she died during the escape. If he believes Obelia is alive and well, then he volunteers to help take the Foundry down and destroy the Steel Watch. The party can agree, to which he becomes a controllable companion, or state that they already have a Runepowder Bomb, if they were given the bomb by Wulbren as part of Avenge the Ironhands.

On the lab floor, the Gondians aid the party in taking down their oppressors. There is a Hellfire Watcher, several Black Gauntlet wardens, and other Banite cultists surrounding the Gondians. The ultimate goal is to get Zanner to the Control Centre Antechamber on the western side of the floor, although liberating the Gondians can provide valuable potential allies. If all of the Gondians perish, then Zanner can lose his will and need to be persuaded or intimidated into continuing onward. If that fails, he simply tells the party the control code needed to destroy the Foundry.

The titan

In order to get to the console to disable the Steel Watch and destroy the Foundry, the party must defeat the Steel Watch Titan, a level 12 enemy, and three level 11 Hellfire Watchers. If Zanner is with the party, then he warns them after entering the Control Centre Antechamber that something horrible is ahead. He recommends that when the Titan raises its shields, to hit it with every scrap of magic and might available. With that advice, he remains in the antechamber during the battle and reappears once the Titan is dealt with.

After the battle, Zanner appears and asks if the party is ready to proceed. If Zanner was left behind or was not asked to join the party, then the console at the west end of the room can be approached and either the Runepowder Bomb placed or the code used.

Alternatively, the party can skip the fight with the titan by using the console without being detected.

The Ironhands arrive

Wulbren and the Ironhands arrive to take down the Gondians.

The Ironhand Gnomes appear once the Foundry explodes to confront any surviving Gondians and congratulate the party. Wulbren states that any Gondians must be killed, as they are a threat to Baldur's Gate. If Barcus is alive, he interjects that the Gondians are no threat and that Wulbren has been a negative influence on the Ironhands.

Choosing these options causes Barcus to step up as the new leader of the Ironhand Gnomes, and both the Gondians and the Ironhand Gnomes to become allies to the party:

[GOOD CLERIC] [PERSUASION] You carry the light and love of all that is good, Barcus. I think you would make an excellent leader of the Ironhands, don't you? (DC 10)
[DEEP GNOME] [PERSUASION] By all that glitters, perhaps the Ironhand Gnomes need a new leader. What say you, Barcus? (DC 10)
[ROGUE] [PERSUASION] There's no honour among thieves, Barcus - and same goes for the Ironhands. Take Wulbren's place, lead them yourself! (DC 10)
[BARD] [PERSUASION] If this was an epic of old, Barcus here would summon his courage - and lead the Ironhand Gnomes. (DC 10)
[PERSUASION] Perhaps the Ironhand Gnomes need a new leader. What say you, Barcus? (DC 15)

Threatening Wulbren causes him to walk away if successful, promising death on both the party and the Gondians:

[BERSERKER] [BARBARIAN] [INTIMIDATION] Leave, Wulbren - or I'll cleave that thick skull of yours in two. (DC 18)
[BARBARIAN] [INTIMIDATION] LEAVE, LITTLE WULBREN. OR DIE. (DC 18)
[ROGUE] [INTIMIDATION] I know a hundred ways to kill you, Wulbren. So I'm only going to say this once - walk away (DC 18)
[FIGHTER] [INTIMIDATION] You are outnumbered and outmatched, Wulbren. Retreat - now. (DC 18)
[INTIMIDATION] Walk away Wulbren - I won't ask twice. (DC 18)
[WILD MAGIC] [SORCERER] [INTIMIDATION] Wulbren, I could burn you alive - and possibly myself. But that's a chance I'm willing to take - walk away. (DC 18)
[SORCERER] [INTIMIDATION] Wulbren, don't make me burn you to a crisp. Walk away. (DC 18)
[OATH OF VENGEANCE] [INTIMIDATION] Leave now, little Wulbren, or I'll split you from head to navel - and that's a promise. (DC 18)

Otherwise, the party can choose to side with the Gondians and a fight ensues:

I won't let you hurt the Gondians.
Toobin has suffered enough - I won't let you hurt him.

...or the Ironhand Gnomes:

Wulbren makes a good point - you must die for the city, Gondians.
Sorry Toobin - I guess this is it for you.

If none of the hostages were saved from the Iron Throne, or if Obelia did not survive - even if some other Godians survived, Wulbren points out the dead bodies floating in the harbor. If the party had previously told Zanner that they survived, he and the Gondians become hostile and attack the party automatically.

Quest rewards

Gontr Mael - a legendary weapon dropped by the Steel Watch Titan
A new ally for Gather Your Allies - potentially both the Ironhand Gnomes and the Gondians, or one or the other.

Related literature

Kill Switch Protocol

Notes

Once the Iron Throne is reached, Consider Gortash's Bargain will automatically complete, and Gortash becomes hostile to the party.
It is technically possible to complete this quest before attending Gortash's coronation. If this happens, then Duke Ravengard does not appear in the Iron Throne and is in the audience chamber with Gortash. If that happens, he becomes hostile to the party, even after Gortash is defeated.
If the Runepowder Bomb is in the inventory of a different character than the one interacting with the control console, it is not actually removed even when the "place the bomb" option is chosen and the Foundry is destroyed.
If Gortash is killed before completing the quests Save the Gondians and Avenge the Ironhands, then those quests will fail and the Foundry will be destroyed and can no longer be accessed.

Bugs

If Iron Consul Chadd and Fist of Bane Gasper Throaks (who are located in the entrance room of the Steel Watcher Foundry) are killed before the Gondians are saved from the Iron Throne and also Tamia Holzt and her Banites have not been attacked, then when returning from Iron Throne after saving the Gondians, the two aforementioned Banites will be located where the confrontation between Black Gauntlet Ifran and Toobin is taking place, but will remain as corpses.

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