Barcus Wroot

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:

• Acrobat Shoes
• Gloves of the Automaton
• Ring of Geniality

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

• Barcus' Log
• Bloody Amulet

Related Literature

• Barcus' Log
• Letter from Barcus
• Spattered Diary
• Writings of a Wroot

Related Quests

•  Avenge the Ironhands
•  Deliver Nere's Head
•  Find the Explosives
•  Free True Soul Nere
•  Rescue the Gnome
•  Rescue Wulbren
•  Save the Grymforge Gnomes

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