Barcus Wroot

Barcus

In-game
Model
Portrait

Occupation

Alchemist, Tinkerer, Adventurer

Stats

Size

Small

Type

Medium

Race

Deep gnome

Balanced Difficulty Stats

Level

1

HP

20

AC

10

Initiative

0

Proficiency

+2

Movement

6 m (20 ft)

Weight

35 kg (70 lb)

Ability scores
STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
10 (0)	10 (0)	10 (0)	10 (0)	10 (0)	10 (0)

Saving throws
STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
0	0	0	0	0	0

Features

Gnome Cunning
You have Advantage on Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma Saving Throws.
Superior Darkvision
Can see in the dark up to 24 m / 80 ft.
Stone Camouflage
You have Advantage on Stealth checks.

Explorer Difficulty Stats

Level

1

HP

14

AC

10

Initiative

0

Proficiency

+4

Movement

6 m (20 ft)

Weight

35 kg (70 lb)

Ability scores
STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
10 (0)	10 (0)	10 (0)	10 (0)	10 (0)	10 (0)

Saving throws
STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
0	0	0	0	0	0

Features

Gnome Cunning
You have Advantage on Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma Saving Throws.
Superior Darkvision
Can see in the dark up to 24 m / 80 ft.
Stone Camouflage
You have Advantage on Stealth checks.

Tactician Difficulty Stats

Level

1

HP

26

AC

10

Initiative

0

Proficiency

+2

Movement

6 m (20 ft)

Weight

35 kg (70 lb)

Ability scores
STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
10 (0)	10 (0)	10 (0)	10 (0)	10 (0)	10 (0)

Saving throws
STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
0	0	0	0	0	0

Features

Gnome Cunning
You have Advantage on Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma Saving Throws.
Superior Darkvision
Can see in the dark up to 24 m / 80 ft.
Stone Camouflage
You have Advantage on Stealth checks.

Barcus Wroot is a somewhat unfortunate Deep Gnome who is searching for his friend,

Wulbren Bongle. He can be first found stuck to a windmill in the Blighted Village and can later become a Camp Follower.

“

Farewell. If we will meet again... well, then we will have met again.

„

— Barcus Wroot bidding farewell to the party

Overview

Barcus Wroot is a deep gnome who lived in the Underdark with his good friend Wulbren Bongle. Wulbren, and eventually Barcus, both left, Wulbren to places unknown and Barcus to the city of Baldur's Gate. While in the city, Barcus found a bloodied amulet that he had given to Wulbren before he left, compelling him to travel back home to the Underdark in search of him.

Involvement

Act One

The consequences of pulling the wrong lever. Barcus is the figure in the sky.

The party will encounter Barcus tied to a windmill being harassed by a group of Goblins led by Fezzerk. If the Goblins are defeated or convinced to leave, Barcus will demand to be untied. To rescue Barcus, the party must pull the Brake lever inside the windmill. Pulling the Release lever causes Barcus to be shot through the sky due to inertia and die.

If rescued, depending on the Race of the party member talking to him, Barcus will either surrender himself as a slave or ask the party what he can give them as a reward. He will explain he is looking for a friend who has gone missing and then take his leave.

If the party leaves the Wilderness map before resolving the situation at the windmill, Barcus can be found dead in the Blighted Village, as if the party used the Release lever.

If Barcus survives his predicament at the windmill, he will be found again at Grymforge, where he has been enslaved by Duergar led by Nere. If freed again, he will tell the party the person he is looking for is his friend Wulbren, who was taken to Moonrise Towers. Barcus can then be convinced to join the Camp on the way to Moonrise Towers, and become a Camp Follower.

If Barcus is in the camp for the celebration after the liberation of the Emerald Grove (i.e., if the three Goblin leaders are killed after rescuing Barcus from both the windmill and Grymforge) he can be persuaded to, with some reluctance, set off fireworks for the party.

Act Two

If Barcus is saved in Grymforge, whether or not he joined as a camp follower, he can be found in the Last Light Inn. He behaves as a trader and will sell the following items:

He will also gift the party the Brilliant Retort if they complete the quest Rescue Wulbren.

Act Three

Barcus can be found with the rest of the Ironhand Gnomes in Angleiron's Cellar. He will ask the party to not help Wulbren and to spare the Gondians.

Later, if Zanner Toobin and any other surviving Gondians are successfully freed from the Steel Watch Foundry, Barcus can be persuaded into leading the Ironhand Gnomes instead of Wulbren. If the Persuasion check is passed, he grants all companions the action Ironhand Grenadiers during combat against the the Netherbrain. (WARNING: If the party attempts to stealthily kill Wulbren or any other gnome within his range of vision, Barcus will always become hostile despite having exiled Wulbren in his first action as a leader, removing the Ironhand Gnomes and their action from Gather Your Allies. A way to bypass this and keep Barcus as an ally is to follow Wulbren in Turn-Based Mode for at least 5 turns and then use Fog Cloud or Darkness before attacking him.)

Speak with Dead

Barcus can be spoken to through the use of Speak with Dead.

Party member: Who are you?

Barcus Wroot: Barcus... he... called... me... Barcus...

Party member: What happened to you?

Barcus Wroot: Caught... by... goblins... killed... in... fray...

Party member: Tell me about any valuables you have.

Barcus Wroot: My... pack... everything... I needed... to find him...

Party member: How did you come here?

Barcus Wroot: Left... the... Underdark... way home... nearby...

Party member: What were you doing here?

Barcus Wroot: Find... him...
- Party member: Who are you looking for?
  - Barcus Wroot: Wulbren... my... Wulbren...
    - Party member: Why do you need to find this Wulbren?
      - Barcus Wroot: Flame... in... the... dark... his amulet... found... bloodied...

Notable loot

Related Literature

Related Quests

Notes

The Feather Fall effect will not prevent him from being killed when flung off the windmill.
One of the possible deaths for Barcus was shown in the Baldur's Gate 3 Video Game Awards trailer due to its popularity.
In Act One, Barcus beeing killed / knocked out after being rescued can reward 20xp.

External links

Barcus Wroot on the Forgotten Realms Wiki

Spotted an issue with this page? Leave a comment! Note that your IP address will be publicly logged unless you create an account. You can also edit the page to fix the issue. See How to Contribute to get started, and maybe join our Discord so we can coordinate our efforts.