ThroughoutBaldur’s Gate 3, players will run intotwo prominent gnomish clans: the Ironhands and the Gondians.Both are factions of inventors and engineers, whose creativity fuels them to make increasingly impressive technological advances. But they are at odds with one another, and it’s more than a simple rivalry. These groups are out for blood.
Or at least, the Ironhand gnomes are. The Ironhand gnomes can first be met in the Grymforge working as slaves under the Flameshade Duergar, and are by far the more promiment group.Two important NPCs, Wulbren Bongle and Barcus Wroot, are among their ranks, and have multiple quests for the player throughout the game. The rivalry between these groups is mostly seen from the Ironhand’s perspective, which makes it hard to tell what the full story really is. Luckily, in-game info can shed some light on this feud.
Gnomish Clans Favor Creativity Above All Else
Natural Competitors, But Not Usually To This Degree
The spirit of competition between the groups has not always been violent, and it seems like some level of competition between gnomish inventors in general is an expected part of their trade. Barcus Wroot says as much, and he is not a violent character at all, acting as a voice for peace between the groups. While the conflict between the Gondians and Ironhands may have started as simple competition for greater prestige and wealth, it has become something much worse.
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Part of the conflict might stem from the factions' worship of different deities that inspire their creations. TheGondians follow Gond, god of craft and smithing.Gond is a morally neutral god,whose followers may invent for good or evil. The Gondians seem to pursue technological progress without much consideration of its potential consequences.
The Ironhands, meanwhile, follow Gaerdal Ironhand.Gaerdal is considered lawful good, but is not inherently a god of inventors.Instead, his domain is that of gnomish communities and the warriors who defend them. His worship is described as more militaristic and hierarchical, which could explain his follower’s animosity towards the less-restrained Gondians.
One more dividing factor could be around the existence of runepowder. While the Gondians are traditionally thought of as its inventors,the Ironhands inBaldur’s Gate 3claim their ancestors made the substance and the Gondians stole it.
The Downfall Of The Ironhands
A Mistake That Cost The Gnomes Their Reputation
Despite their supposed moral superiority, it seemsthe Ironhand gnomes came under scrutiny decades ago when they decided to ally themselves with Sarevok Anchev. The Bhaalspawn murder lord inflicted pain across the city with his plans for death and domination, and according to Wulbren Bongle, theIronhands at the time helped him gain power. It’s possible they aided in the construction of his Iron Throne, which sunk in the bay around when he was defeated.
Sarevok appeared in previousBaldur’s Gatetitles as a main antagonist, though in those games, the Ironhand gnomes were not mentioned. It’s possible their involvement had already ended, or that they were retconned into this world’s history.
After Sarevok “died,” the Ironhand gnomes were exiled from the city, and the Gondians quickly gained power. Their House of Wonders in the upper city is regarded as an immensely powerful seat of creativity at the time of the story, and the Ironhand’s absence likely allowed the Gondians to form a monopoly over engineering jobs in Baldur’s Gate. Meanwhile,the Ironhands fled into the Underdark,struggling to survive in that hostile place, and building up resentment towards the gnomes that now held their old power.
How The Gondians Rose To Prominence
These Gnomes Flew Too Close To The Sun
While the Ironhands were hiding away underground,the Gondians seized power up above. They began making marvels of engineering that advanced Faerun’s technological state immensely. The influence of the Gondians can be seen all across the game, from the cranes building up the city docks tomany of the metal ingotsin circulation, which are inscribed with their sigil.
While the Gondians and Ironhands shown in-game seem relatively divided in terms of different gnome types, with the Ironhands being largely deep gnomes and the Gondians largely rock gnomes, the factions don’t seem to be divided staunchly on these grounds. And player gnome subspecies choice has no effect on conversational interactions with either group.
Over time, the Gondians got more and more ambitious, and eventually set their sights on creating machines to act as constructed guards and mechanical suits of armor.They were to be called the Auto-guards,and resembled large metal warriors operated from inside by a gnomish pilot. They were intended to help guard Baldur’s Gate, but when aBanite named Gortashdiscovered the Gondian plans, he took over and changed the project entirely.
The Current State Of This Bloody Feud
Players Can Choose Which Faction Comes Out On Top
The Gondians may still appear to be in power withinBaldur’s Gate, but at the point when the story takes place, they are nothing more than hostages of Enver Gortash. He kidnapped many members of their guild and is holding them prisoner, forcing the others to wear “kill collars” and work for him in his lower city foundry.They are forced to construct Steel Watchers,twisted versions of the Auto-guards that are filled with a zombie corpse and controlled remotely by a tadpoled brain.
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The current Gondian leader, Zanner Toobin, has been blinded and is unable to search for a way to free his people. However, back in the Underdark, the Ironhands are unaware of all of this. Now led by Wulbren Bongle,they plot to rediscover runepowder and use it to blow up the Gondians and their Steel Watchers. They see the Gondians as hypocrites for supporting Gortash, who they see as just as bad as Sarevok, and want to wipe them out entirely.
How To Disable The Steel Watch In Baldur’s Gate 3
Large automaton warriors called the Steel Watch are enemies you’re able to disable in Baldur’s Gate 3, robbing Gortash of allies during the game’s final Act.
That is where the player comes in. From freeing the Ironhand captives in the Grymforge, toblowing up the Steel Watch Foundry, it’s up to the player to decide which faction comes out on top. They can side with the vengeful Wulbren, help the tortured Zanner Toobin, or perhaps find another way forward all together. There are those among the gnomes who still wish for peace, and listening to their voices may lead to the most positive outcome inBaldur’s Gate 3.
