Gnome Rescue is an additional quest that becomes available in the Grymforge area. It is associated with the quest with True Soul Nere, in which you can either kill the drow or agree to cooperate with them.

How to Start the Gnome Rescue Quest

The quest will start automatically after you enter the Grymforge location. You will come across rubble where deep gnomes are stuck. These poor gnomes are working for duergar who have captured them and forced them into labor. Your task is to free the gnome slaves and decide their fate.

How to Clear the Rubble and Save the Gnomes

Find and Use Explosives

You can talk to several gnomes before the rubble. You can free the other slaves using explosives. To create explosives, you'll need smoky or runic powder. The quickest and most effective option is to find runic powder in Philomina's Cache. You can find it using the following path:

1. In the same location, head to the double iron doors;
2. Proceed through the dining hall;
3. Find the hidden button and pass a perception check;
4. Go through the door opened by the button;
5. Go upstairs and pass through the Patterned Door. Philomina will be waiting for you behind it.

To obtain the powder, try to negotiate with Philomina and do not kill her. If you decide to deal with the gnome, there's a high chance she'll blow up, leaving you without resources. One flask of powder should be enough.

Use the explosives near the rubble to free the gnomes. But the quest doesn't end there, and you can even fail it.

Talk to Elder Brithvar

Elder Brithvar is the leader of the duergar responsible for imprisoning the deep gnomes. You can talk to him and negotiate Nere's death. Teaming up with Brithvar will make dealing with the drow much easier.

Deal with Nere

We have discussed this choice in detail in the guide on meeting True Soul Nere. The opponent is quite strong, but if you don't kill him, you won't be able to save the gnomes. Killing Nere is a choice most companions will approve of. Cooperating with Nere is a conditional evil path that will only please Astarion. But again, the gnomes will be dead.

Negotiate with Brithvar About the Gnomes

After killing Nere, you can talk to Brithvar again and persuade him to release the gnomes. If you pass the checks successfully, the elder will agree to your proposal; otherwise, he will engage in combat, and you'll have to kill him.

In any case, the gnomes will be free and relocate to the Myconid colony. You won't receive any special rewards specifically for freeing the gnomes—only for completing the quest in one of the chosen ways.