Rescue the Gnome

Rescue the Gnome is a Quest in Act One of Baldur's Gate 3. It is initiated by discovering a group of goblins in the Blighted Village laughing at having tied Barcus Wroot to the blade of a windmill.

Barcus is tormented by goblins.

Objectives

Objectives and journal entries may vary pending story decisions and outcomes.

Approach the goblins.

• We spotted a deep gnome tied to the blades of a windmill. He's being tormented by a group of goblins.

Defeat the goblins.

• The goblins attacked us.

Stop the windmill.

• We've defeated the goblins. If we want to help the gnome, we'll have to stop the windmill.
• It took some convincing, but the goblins left. If we want to help the gnome, we'll have to stop the windmill. (70 XP Rewarded)

Untie the gnome.

• Now that the windmill has stopped spinning, we should be able to untie the gnome. (15 XP Rewarded)

Quest Complete

• After rescuing Barcus Wroot, we parted ways with him.
• We invited Barcus Wroot to our camp.
• The deep gnome was killed.
• We left without helping the deep gnome.

Walkthrough

The only objective of this quest is to free Barcus Wroot. Approaching the windmill at X: 13 Y: 418 automatically initiates a conversation with the goblin leader Fezzerk. There are several options to resolve the situation.

Solving the encounter peacefully

If demanding to free the gnome, there are the following choices:

• [BRANDED] [DECEPTION] We're allies - I have the Absolute's Brand. Leave the gnome to me. (DC 5)
• [DECEPTION] We're allies, you and I. Servants of the Absolute. (DC 15)
• [LAE'ZEL] [INTIMIDATION] You dare refuse a githyanki warrior? (DC 15)
• [INTIMIDATION] I won't let you harm a defenseless being - not without a fight. (DC 15)
• [WISDOM] Read the goblin's mind.
  • You don't have the stomach for a fight.
• [INTIMIDATION] Negotiations are over. Either leave or die. (DC 15)
• [BERSERKER] [INTIMIDATION] ROAR. (DC 15 )
• [BARBARIAN] [INTIMIDATION] Mine. (DC 15 )
• [PALADIN] [INTIMIDATION] I'm not bargaining with you. Free him, or I swear on my oath, you will die. (DC 15 )
• [PERSUASION] All of you lot against one deep gnome? You should go find a better target. (DC 15)
• [PERSUASION] You've had your fun - it's high time you found someone else to torment. (DC 15)
• [HALF-ORC] [INTIMIDATION] Don't utter a word. Just stare down the goblin. (DC 10)
• [PALADIN] [INTIMIDATION] I consider the gnome under my protection. You don't want to fight me for him. (DC 15 )
• [BRANDED] [DECEPTION] Show him your brand and say you're taking the gnome. The Absolute wills it. (DC 5)
• [BARBARIAN] Your skull will make a fine chalice one I plug those beady eye sockets.
• [FIGHTER] You're making a mistake. You can think it over in the Fugue Plane.

If using the tadpole:

• [TRUE SOUL] [ILLITHID] [WISDOM] You will release the gnome. That's an order. (DC 2)
• [TRUE SOUL] [ILLITHID] [WISDOM] I am a True Soul. Now once again - release the gnome. (DC 2)

If convincing the goblins to walk away, the party is rewarded experience as if they defeated the whole group.

If the party try to pass, Fezzerk claims that this is also what Barcus wanted, and demands 1000 gold, leading to several options:

• Pay the goblin.
• [PERSUASION] I might be willing to part with a more reasonable sum. (100) (DC 15)
• [PERSUASION] Here's my counter-offer: a far more reasonable sum. (500) (DC 10)
• [PERSUASION] That's a ridiculous amount. I'll make you a realistic offer. (250) (DC 10)
• [PERSUASION] Haggle with the goblin, though you lack even a modest sum of gold. (DC 15)
• [WISDOM] Read the goblin's mind.
  • Your price is absurd and you know it.
• [DECEPTION] I can pay twice that much. I just have to go and fetch it. (DC 15)
• [PERSUASION] Here's my counter-offer: you can all live so long as you leave right now. (DC 15)
• [MONK] This will lead only to pain, not fulfillment.
• [ROGUE] Provide directions to a non-existant cache of gold.
• [BERSERKER] [INTIMIDATION] OR YOU CAN LEAVE. ALIVE. (DC 15 )
• [BARBARIAN] [INTIMIDATION] Leave. Or die. (DC 15 )

No matter which of the above checks succeed, Fezzerk lowers the price to 5 because he can't count. Passing the Illithid Persuasion check can force his group to leave without payment. If paid, the party are allowed to leave, but if approaching again, a fight breaks out.

• [BARD] Not an orator, eh? I could teach you how to talk gold out of any purse, for free passage.
  • [PERFORMANCE] Wait! Just let me go...please. (DC 5)
• [ILLITHID] [WISDOM] I'm going to pay nothing and you and your cronies are going to leave. (DC 5)

This causes Fezzerk and his group to leave, rewarding experience as if the party defeated them all.

Attacking the goblins

If attacking the goblins without attempting to convince them to stop or let the party pass (it is possible to ask what and why he is doing this first) nets  +5  +1  -1.

If a fight breaks out, he surrenders when nearly killed, causing the rest of his group flee. It is possible to interrogate him, demand his possessions, and/or kill him. Experience is not granted for the goblins that run away, so to obtain the most experience while engaging in Fezzerk's surrender requires the party to kill all other goblins first.

Barbarians have a unique dialogue path:

• [WISDOM] Ignore the rage. Listen to your head. There is nothing to gain from being rash. (DC 10 )
• [BERSERKER] Give in. KILL THE MAGGOT.
• Leave reason to the reasonable. Kill the runt.

Otherwise, the party can interrogate him:

• I want the gold you took. Now.
• Give me my gold back - and anything else you have, too.
• Talk and you might live. If it's worth my while.
• Your valuables - now.
• I want everything of value you have.
• Your valuables are mine now. Hand them over.

... or just kill or release him:

• No mercy. Kill the goblin.  +1  +1  +1  +5  -1
• Run along, goblin. Before I change my mind.  -1  -1  -5

Freeing Barcus

The brake lever that will safely stop the windmill.

Once the goblins are dealt with, the party need to enter the interior of the windmill to pull the brake, allowing them to free Barcus. There are two levers inside the windmill. The "Brake" lever must be chosen to safely stop the windmill. The "Release Brake" lever causes the windmill machinery to spin faster, which launches Barcus into the sky by inertia, subsequently killing him. His body can be found on the western road leading out of the Blighted Village.

If the windmill is stopped properly, the party can free Barcus by interacting with him. Barcus offers the party his luggage in the windmill basement, which contains various goods, including a Smokepowder Satchel. He reasons that lugging the extra weight resulted in the goblins capturing him. Saving Barcus is not required to obtain his possessions, as his luggage is in the basement regardless.

Quest rewards

• Smokepowder Bomb carried by Fezzerk
• Smokepowder Satchel
• The Speedy Lightfeet in the heavy chest next to Barcus' heavy backpack
• Very Heavy Greataxe carried by Fezzerk
• 75 XP for saving Barcus Wroot

Consequences

Saving Barcus has far reaching consequences for many quests, including  Save the Grymforge Gnomes,  Rescue Wulbren, and  Avenge the Ironhands. If rescued, he can be encountered again throughout Acts Two and Three.