Grymforge

Walkthrough

The area in the order you play it. Tick things off as you go: they tick off in the checklists below too.

1. 1

   Docks Confrontation

   When you steer the duergar skiff into the Underdark – Grymforge docks, pay Morghal 100 gold, intimidate her, or simply refuse to pay to avoid an immediate dockside brawl. Speak with Corsair Greymon if he survived the crossing to browse his wares, then watch Brathwen and Viss tossing dead gnomes into the water. Before they kick the next body in, pass a DC 10 Perception check followed by a DC 10 Deception or DC 20 Sleight of Hand check to loot it for pocketed valuables.

   Tip: Trading with Corsair Greymon now is wise because subsequent faction choices can make him permanently hostile or turn the entire dock area into a war zone.

   Watch out: Refusing to pay Morghal without passing an Intimidation check will turn the dock guards hostile before you explore the fortress.

2. 2

   The Rebel Pact & Scavenging

   Head southwest into the main lower chamber to meet Stonemason Kith examining the masonry, passing three consecutive DC 10 checks (History, Investigation, Perception) to gain lore and free Infernal Alloy. Turn up the adjacent stairs to find Elder Brithvar and Stone Guard Kur plotting mutiny over unpaid wages; hear them out and agree to betray True Soul Nere for a cut of his gold. Before moving toward the dig site, climb down the cragged rock west of Kith to defeat three disguised Mimics and reveal a Harper stash.

   A hidden smokepowder reserve containing two Smokepowder Satchels can be uncovered by passing a Perception check to locate a hidden wall button in a room near the docks (X: -585, Y: 388).Infernal Alloy: from the Underdark – Grymforge waypoint, head southwest up the low ramp to Stonemason Kith at X: -660, Y: 375How: talk to Kith and pass three consecutive DC 10 checks in History, Investigation, and PerceptionMissable because: Kith will not offer it if he turns hostile or dies during the rebel uprising Don't miss New

   Tip: Getting the Infernal Alloy from Kith gives Dammon vital smithing material for Karlach's quest without needing to purchase or steal it.

   Watch out: Attacking Brithvar or declining the mutiny pact forces you to fight all duergar factions simultaneously during the later cave-in encounter.

3. 3

   Inspecting the Cave-In

   Walk south into the excavation site where Sergeant Thrinn is driving enslaved deep gnomes—including Barcus Wroot, Lunkbug, and Laridda—to clear collapsed rubble. Approach the blocked passage to establish a telepathic link with True Soul Nere, learning that lethal poison gas is filling his sealed chamber. Speak with the gnomes and Thrinn to learn you need explosives to crack the rockfall, and ask Lunkbug to hear about Philomeen slipping away with runepowder.

   Tip: Do not Long Rest or fast-travel away once you initiate the telepathic contact with Nere, as a hidden timer will trigger his death and the massacre of all gnomes.

   Watch out: Taking two Long Rests after contacting Nere causes him to suffocate, failing Barcus Wroot's rescue and locking you out of all deep gnome quest rewards.

4. 4

   Hunting for Runepowder

   Head north past the kitchen where Skickpit offers to poison the guards, and unlock the heavy iron doors into the flooded Sharran corridors. Fight through the Ochre Jelly ambush in the flooded hallway, climb the upper stairs, and circle around the Sharran doors into Philomeen's hideout. Talk her down from detonating her stash by mentioning Laridda or passing a DC 10/15 Persuasion check to secure a Runepowder Vial, or use turn-based stealth to steal the entire Runepowder Barrel behind her before she flees.

   Runepowder Barrel: from the northern flooded Sharran iron doors, follow the hallway past the Ochre Jellies into Philomeen's hideout at X: -538, Y: 468 to the large barrel resting beside herHow: enter Turn-Based Mode and pick up the barrel from behind her before finishing dialogueMissable because: Philomeen flees with the barrel if you complete her dialogue peacefully without taking it, or detonates it if combat starts Don't miss New

   Tip: Splitting a rogue off in Turn-Based Mode allows you to pickpocket or grab the massive Runepowder Barrel from the floor while another character occupies Philomeen in dialogue.

   Watch out: Aggacking Philomeen or failing dialogue checks without de-escalating will cause her to ignite the barrel, triggering a lethal blast that wipes out your party and destroys the powder.

5. 5

   Freeing and Executing Nere

   Return to the dig site, toss your Runepowder Vial against the cave-in debris, wait for the working gnomes to clear away, and detonate it with a fire bolt or arrow. When True Soul Nere emerges and attempts to execute the slaves, side with Elder Brithvar's rebels and strike Nere down alongside Thrinn and her loyalist cultists. Once Nere falls, pass a DC 10 Intimidation or Persuasion check against Brithvar so he abandons the gnomes, invite Barcus Wroot to your camp, and sever Nere's head for Sovereign Spaw's bounty.

   Key fight: True Soul Nere
   Disintegrating Night Walkers: from the dig site rubble at the south end of the main hall, on True Soul Nere's bodyHow: loot Nere's corpse after defeating himMissable because: shoving or blasting Nere into the lava chasm makes his corpse unlootable Don't miss NewTrue Soul Nere's Head: from the dig site rubble at the south end of the main hall, on True Soul Nere's bodyHow: interact with Nere's fresh corpse with an active bounty from Sovereign Spaw and choose to sever the headMissable because: burning the corpse with heavy fire/acid or dropping Nere into lava prevents harvesting the head Don't miss New

   Tip: Position ranged characters up on the wooden scaffolding above the dig site before detonating the rubble to gain high ground and avoid the lethal lava pits below.

   Watch out: Pushing or blasting Nere into the surrounding lava destroys his head and submerges the Disintegrating Night Walkers, making both crucial quest items unlootable.

6. 6

   The Upper Catwalks & Hellfire Ruin

   Climb the iron staircases behind the dig site to access the high catwalks running suspended above the molten fortress. Use the two hanging platform levers to ferry your party across the yawning central chasm toward the ancient Sharran dormitories. Leap or disarm your way across the fire-trap bridge, pick the far iron gate to hit the master disarm lever, and clear out the side dormitory containing a Merregon Legionnaire and his Hellboars.

   Idol of Shar: from the catwalk fire-trap bridge, follow the path to the wrought-iron gate and gargoyle at the far western end at X: -644, Y: 366How: lockpick the gate or bypass it using Misty Step/Flight to loot the idol off the pedestalMissable because: if you leave Act 1 without picking it up Don't miss New

   Tip: Collecting the six forge moulds (Longsword, Shield, Scale Mail, Splint, Scimitar, Mace) scattered across these catwalks and tables gives you the full suite of Adamantine crafting options.

   Watch out: Rushing across the fire-trap bridge without disarming the pressure plates or gargoyles will trigger repeating flame jets that can knock companions off the narrow ledge into the abyss.

7. 7

   The Ancient Forge & Grym

   Descend to the Underdark – Ancient Forge waypoint by jumping or using the catwalk, smash the two glowing blue Mithral Ore deposits, and jump out to the lava-locked island to open the Adamantine Chest for the Sentient Amulet. Place a mould in the mould chamber and a Mithral Ore into the crucible, pull the forge lever to drop the central platform into the magma chamber, and turn the lava valve to summon the adamantine golem Grym. Keep Grym wading through the lava to maintain its Superheated debuff, lure it onto the central anvil, and pull the Forge Hammer lever to crush it with massive bludgeoning damage before claiming your forged gear.

   Sentient Amulet: Found inside a locked chest on a lava-surrounded island in the forge area Don't missMithral Ore (Cliffside): from the Underdark – Ancient Forge waypoint, take the western cliff path down toward the lava river at X: -644, Y: 257 to the glowing blue veinHow: break the vein using bludgeoning or force damage and loot the dropped oreMissable because: only two exist in the game, capping Adamantine Forge crafting at two items Don't miss NewMithral Ore (Lava Path): from the Underdark – Ancient Forge waypoint, head down the eastern rocky path past the floating platforms to the glowing blue seam across the lava at X: -557, Y: 278How: strike the seam with bludgeoning or force attacks and pick up the oreMissable because: only two exist in the game, capping Adamantine Forge crafting at two items Don't miss New

   Tip: Using blunt weapons like warhammers or mauls deals double damage to Grym while it is Superheated, allowing you to bypass relying solely on the environmental forge hammer.

   Watch out: Stepping into the flowing lava without fire resistance or flight deals catastrophic damage, and letting the lava drain makes Grym completely immune to all attacks until you open the valve again.

What you decide here and what it leads to.