Wulbren Bongle

Wulbren Bongle is a deep gnome who leads the Ironhand Gnomes. Wulbren despises the Gondians and the Steel Watch, and is working to destroy the Steel Watch Foundry in Baldur's Gate and rid the city of Gondians.

“

Fine. You want to try flapping your gums in the belly of the beast, be my guest

„

— Wulbren Bongle

Overview

Background

Wulbren is an old friend of Barcus Wroot and leader of the Ironhand Gnomes. He and the Ironhands were stationed in the Decrepit Village in the Underdark, which was raided by Duergar slavers sometime before the events of Baldur's Gate 3. Wulbren has since gone missing, leaving Barcus searching tirelessly to try and find him.

History

Wulbren Bongle is a descendent of Wolverforce Bongle, a member of clan Ironhand who, it is claimed, was spoken to directly by Gaerdal Ironhand. Gaerdal implored Wolverforce to speak out against the Gondians who had falsely taken credit for the Ironhand's creations. Wulbren himself became obsessed with destroying the Gondians and restoring the name of clan Ironhand, possibly fuelled by his relation to Wolverforce.

Wulbren and the Ironhands were stationed at the Decrepit Village in the Underdark, surveying the area in search of Gaerdal Ironhand's formula for runepowder. While they were there, the village was ambushed by duergar slavers in collaboration with the Cult of the Absolute, who caught most of the gnomes and moved them over to the Grymforge.

Wulbren managed to find the formula in a small cache, but was captured as well. Recognised as their leader, and now possibly the only surviving person with the knowledge of how to make runepowder, Wulbren was taken to Moonrise Towers.

Involvement

Act Two

Main article: Rescue Wulbren

Wulbren can be found in a cell in Moonrise Towers Prison, together with Nickels and Nimble. If he successfully escapes, he can be directed or escorted to Last Light Inn. At the Inn, Wulbren will be absorbed in planning. Barcus can be informed of his arrival, but their reunion is icy. If the party asks for a reward, Wulbren will direct them to Barcus for a reward, if he is present, or give them an amount of gold otherwise.

He can later be found in the first room of Moonrise Towers after Ketheric Thorm is defeated, where he will attempt to butter up the party to have them assist him in Baldur's Gate.

If he was not freed from Moonrise Towers before the party deals with the Nightsong, his corpse can be found in the Oubliette, together with the corpses of all the other prisoners.

Act Three

Main article: Avenge the Ironhands

If he was rescued from Moonrise Towers in Act 2, Wulbren can be found in Angleiron's Cellar in Rivington. He will ask the party to help blow up the Steel Watch Foundry, using a Runepowder Bomb. Once the Foundry is destroyed, he will meet the party outside to kill any remaining Gondians. The party can either side with Wulbren or against him by defending the Gondians, either peacefully, through intimidating him, or forcefully, by starting a fight. Alternatively, if Barcus survived up until this point, he can be pursuaded to stand up against Wulbren and talk down the other Ironhands, resulting in him taking up leadership and casting Wulbren out.

The Ironhands will assist in the final battle (see  Gather Your Allies) if the party either sides with Wulbren, in which case he will lead them, or convinces Barcus to oust him as leader.

If Gortash is killed without disabling the Steel Watch first, then The Elder Brain will take control of the remaining Steel Watch, destroy the Foundry, and kill all the Gondians before the party can even meet them. If travelling to the ruins of the Foundry after this, then Wulbren will be there outside. He will act as if the party just sided with him against the Gondians and promise to assist in the final battle.

Loot

• Wulbren's Hammer - found upstairs in the Warden's room in Moonrise Towers Prison X: 575 Y: -647, and can be returned to Wulbren during his prison rescue quest.

Related literature

• Barcus' Log
• Deed of Ownership
• Spattered Diary

Related quests

•  Avenge the Ironhands
•  Deal with the Gnomes
•  Gather Your Allies
•  Rescue the Tieflings
•  Rescue Wulbren

External Links

• Wulbren Bongle on the Forgotten Realms Wiki