Find Explosives

Philomeen gives the party a vial of runepowder.

Find Explosives is a quest in Act One of Baldur's Gate 3. It can be started by talking to Brithvar in Grymforge or by speaking to Lunkbug near the cave-in.

Objectives

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

Find smokepowder.

• Brithvar mentioned that a deep gnome fled with some smokepowder. Her crew should know more.

Go to the deep gnome's hiding spot.

• We learned that the deep gnomes have a hiding spot in Grymforge. Philomeen might be there - with explosives.
• We have some smokepowder. If it's not enough to blow the cave-in, Philomeen might have more. She fled to a hiding spot deep within Grymforge.

Find the smokepowder reserve.

• Philomeen left behind a reserve of smokepowder. It should clear the cave-in.

Try to clear the cave-in.

• We met Philomeen and managed to talk her down. She gave us a small vial of runepowder - a gnomish explosive of legend.

Quest Complete

• The cave-in was cleared.
• We used all the explosives we found - but we didn't clear the cave-in.
• We dealt with other matters instead.

Walkthrough

Brithvar can be found near the room with the cave-in at X: -626 Y: 354, having a conversation with Kur. They are discussing the fact that the gnomes are not able to clear out the cave-in without explosives. One of the gnomes had recently run away with a barrel of explosives, which someone needs to track down to get Nere out.

Upon speaking to Brithvar, he is instantly suspicious of the party. He can smell the True Soul 'stink' on them. If the party admit to being a True Souls, the pair become hostile. Otherwise, if the party deny being True Souls, there is a chance to make a deal with the duergar of Clan Flameshade:

• [DECEPTION] You're imagining things. I would never bow to the Absolute (DC 10)
• [DECEPTION] I was a True Soul. That cult lied to me - now I want revenge. (DC 10)
• [DEEP GNOME] [DECEPTION] Use your head - can you imagine a deep gnome being picked as a True Soul? (DC 10 )
• [GITHYANKI] [DUERGAR] That 'stench' is just psionic resonance - a remnant of our ancestors' enslavement by illithids.
• [OATH OF VENGEANCE] [PERSUASION] What I am matters not. You seek retribution - I want to help. (DC 10)
• [WISDOM] Cast Detect Thoughts. (DC 11)
• That's not me you smell. You must still be catching Nere's scent. (if mind read)

Convincing Brithvar that the party members are not True Souls results in him offering an opportunity for gold: Freeing Nere, then taking him down and stealing his gold. The party would get a cut of the spoils. Passing a DC 10 Intimidation check with "Sounds good. I expect half the spoils." gains an extra payout. The party can ask him for leads on getting Nere out, to which he refers them to the gnomes at the cave-in. He believes they have an idea of where the runaway gnome with the explosives went.

The party can speak to Lunkbug, who is arguing with Laridda. Passing a DC 10 Perception check reveals that Philomeen has run off with some smokepowder.

• [INTIMIDATION] You mentioned smokepowder. Details - now. (DC 5)
• [BARBARIAN] [INTIMIDATION] Smokepowder. Information. NOW. (DC 5 )
• [PERSUASION] Listen - I can help you. Act frightened, or you'll draw suspicion. (DC 5)
• [GNOME] [HISTORY] Recite a gnomish call to action. 'Carpa bal' - 'Together, mighty.' (DC 5 )
• [GNOME] [PERSUASION] You can trust me - I'm friendly. (DC 5)

If the gnomes are successfully persuaded that the party can help them, Lunkbug explains that a gnome named Philomeen took off with explosive powder. He begs the party to find her and marks her most likely hiding spot on the map.

The hidden button needed to proceed to Philomeen's hiding spot.

To get to Philomeen's hiding spot, the party must venture to the  Underdark - Grymforge. From there, the party must move east across the bridge and then move north until a pair of duergar throwing dead gnomes into the water are encountered at X: -608 Y: 407. In this area, behind a locked door, remains of a Nightfall feast can be found. Moving close to the northern wall triggers a Perception check - which reveals a button at X: -584 Y: 416, which opens up a hidden passage. The party must continue along the passage and defeat the three Ochre Jellies which ambush the party.

After climbing to the top of the stairs and continuing to move east, there are some rocks that can be jumped across to move forward at X: -562 Y: 427. The door to Philomeen's hiding spot can be lockpicked ( DC 10 Sleight of Hand check), or the party can move along the western wall to find a large gap in the structure.

When Philomeen spots the party, she accuses them of working with Nere as servants of The Absolute:

• [PERSUASION] Laridda sent me. The gnomes need your help. (DC 10)
• [INTIMIDATION] If I was a True Soul, you'd be dead. Stand down before you hurt yourself. (DC 15)
• [BERSERKER] [INTIMIDATION] KILL THE FIRE. OR DIE. PAINFULLY. (DC 15 )
• [PERSUASION] Smile sincerely and hold out your hand. (DC 15)
• [PERSUASION] Are you sure about this? Once you're dead, that's it. It's over. (DC 15)
• [WISDOM] Cast Detect Thoughts.
• You will not serve Ironhand in death. But you might still serve him in life. (if mind was read)

If baiting Philomeen by saying "You wouldn't dare - you don't have the courage" and "I don't care. Go on, blow us up" then Philomeen actually ignites the barrel. The explosion kills Philomeen and does significant damage to the party. Similarly, if the party fail to persuade Philomeen in the initial dialogue, she blows up the barrel. It is possible to bypass the checks by sneaking and stealing the barrel before Philomeen can ignite it.

Talking down Philomeen results in her saying she will make the cult suffer at Moonrise. The party can tell her that they just want to help with the cave-in that has trapped some gnomes, in which case she explains that the whole barrel is not necessary. It is not a Smokepowder Barrel, but a legendary explosive Runepowder Barrel. She needs to take the barrel back to Baldur's Gate to help her clan, but she is willing to give the party a Runepowder Vial that is plenty powerful enough to destroy the cave-in. If the party accept the deal, she provides the vial and runs off. Otherwise, she turns hostile.

In addition to the Runepowder Vial, Philomeen leaves behind a hidden reserve of Smokepowder. In the room where Philomeen was found, near the campfire, there is a backpack with a hand-drawn map at X: -539 Y: 464. Reading it automatically adds a marker to the map at the place of the reserve. To find it, the party must return to the room near the docks with the gnome corpses. After opening the metal door the Party can enter the room, where a perception check reveals a button X: -585 Y: 388, which opens a hidden room. Within this room are two Smokepowder Satchels and a heavy chest.

Alternative sources of explosives

Securing the runepowder is not the only way to clear the cave-in.

• It takes roughly two smokepowder satchels to clear the rubble. One can be found from  Rescue the Gnome in Barcus' backpack. Two can be obtained in Philomeen's reserve.
• Placing a Smokepowder Barrel on the cave-in to destroy it.
• Foregoing explosives entirely and using spells that cause force damage, as mentioned in  Free True Soul Nere.

If clearing the rubble before speaking to Philomeen, then she is longer be present in Grymforge, and it is not possible anymore to obtain the Runepowder from her.

Consequences

If Philomeen is not killed during this quest, she appears again in Act Three in the Ironhand Gnomes hideout during  Avenge the Ironhands.

Quest rewards

• Runepowder Vial if Philomeen's deal is accepted
• Runepowder Barrel if stolen from Philomeen
• Smokepowder Satchel - 2x - in Philomeen's reserves

Companion Reactions

• Agreeing to find Philomeen for Lunkbug and Laridda -  -1  +1  +1