How to Stop the Windmill in Baldur’s Gate 3

During your Baldur’s Gate 3 adventure, it’s possible to stumble on some optional events. One of these involves a group of goblins, a windmill, and an unfortunate gnome. This event opens the brief quest “Rescue the Gnome” which allows you to unlock interactions with a unique NPC by stopping a windmill in Baldur’s Gate 3.

Where is the “Rescue the Gnome” quest in Baldur’s Gate 3 ?

The most likely time to encounter the “Rescue the Gnome” quest in Baldur’s Gate 3 is while you’re on your way to the Goblin Camp to find the druid Halsin. Heading directly west of the Emerald Grove, you’ll cross a bridge and find yourself in the Blighted Village. This unfortunate location has been ransacked by goblins, and they’re still hanging around causing trouble.

Head to the north of the village and you will find a set of stairs leading up to a windmill. There’s a gang of goblins hanging out around here, laughing at the dark gnome they’ve tied to the blades of the windmill itself. This triggers the quest, which requires you to get rid of the goblins and free the gnome from his torment.

How Do You Get Rid of the Goblins?

There are multiple ways to get rid of the goblins, but they all mostly have the same outcome. The goblins are not the bravest of characters, so there are many ways to convince them to scatter. The first is to attack them, and they’ll soon discover you’re too strong for them and retreat. In my experience, a single Hellish Rebuke from my Tiefling avatar caused Fezzerk, the leader, to instantly back off.

There are other methods though. During the conversation with Fezzerk, asking him to release the gnome offers you a couple of useful choices. A successful Persuasion roll will cause him to order his gang to leave. You can also use the powers of your mind flayer parasite to order him to stand down, scaring him into leaving.

How Do You Stop the Windmill in Baldur’s Gate 3?

Now all you need to do is stop the windmill, which is simple. The entrance to the building can be found near the cliff edge, and inside there are two levers next to the mechanism. To stop the windmill, simply pull the lever marked as “Brake”. You’ll then be treated to a scene where the gnome is able to get down and introduce himself as Barcus Wroot. He’ll run off, ready for you to encounter him later when you visit the Underdark.

However, be careful not to touch the lever marked as “Release Brake”. This will speed up the windmill and cause Barcus to be thrown off to his death. While the scene is admittedly funny, it does mean that none of his future quests will be available.

Baldur’s Gate 3 is available now for PCs. A PS5 version will be released on September 6, 2023.