Get Past the Rubble

Get Past the Rubble is a sub-quest of  The Adamantine Forge in Act One of Baldur's Gate 3. It can be started by speaking with Herdmaster Skarjall at Grymforge or using  Speak with Animals to speak to the deep rothé.

The deep rothé are tired of being abused.

Objectives

Objectives and journal entries may vary pending story decisions and outcomes.

Clear the rubble.

• We found a passage buried in rubble that leads to the Adamantine Forge. We should clear it.

Quest Complete

• If the party destroy the rubble: We destroyed the rubble.
• If the deep rothé destroy the rubble: We got past the rubble.
• If the party fail to reach the Adamantine Forge: We left Grymforge without reaching the Adamantine Forge.

Walkthrough

After entering Grymforge, the party can climb the stairs and travel north to encounter Herdmaster Skarjall at X: -668 Y: 442. Skarjall orders the party to whip the Deep Rothé that are clearing out rubble. If asked why, passing a DC 15 Persuasion check causes Skarjall to show the party a piece of Adamantine Slag, revealing the presence of nearby adamantine. He offers to pay the party in gold if they clear the rubble, but asserts that the Adamantine Forge is clan property.

The party's interaction with the deep rothé can impact how the rubble is cleared:

• If telling Skarjall that the rothé deserve the whip and asking why he cannot crack his whip one more time, then both Skarjall and the rothé become hostile.
• The rothé can be convinced to either continue working or turn on their duergar masters.
• The party can whip the rothé themselves, which turns the rothé hostile.

With Speak with Animals

• Hit the rothé.
• [PERSUASION] Breathe. Focus. If you strike, your masters will destroy the herd. (DC 10)
• [PERSUASION] You were made to serve. This is your meaning. Remove the rubble, as you were told. (DC 15)
• [PERSUASION] Give in to your rage and avenge your pain. Don't strike us all, just your masters (DC 10)

Without Speak with Animals

• Hit the rothé.
• [ANIMAL HANDLING] Display your palms and murmur soft, low reassurances. (DC 15)
• [ANIMAL HANDLING] Meet its eyes. Show it how calm you are - all is well. (DC 15)

If the rothé are convinced to continue working, Skarjall turns on the party, saying he wants all the spoils for himself. Then the rothé aid the party in defeating him. If the party convince the rothé to turn on their masters, then they can be asked to clear out the rubble afterwards. The rubble can also be destroyed using bludgeoning or force damage (i.e. spells like  Eldritch Blast or Smokepowder Bombs.

In combat, Skarjall is joined by Grundril and Morgya. The rest of the fortress remains neutral to the party during and after the battle.

The party can earn 80 XP at the start of the fight if the rothé are convinced to turn on their masters. Each duergar rewards 75 XP. Finally, asking the rothé to destroy the rubble rewards another 80 XP.

Companion approval

• Convince the deep rothé to clear the path.
  • [PERSUASION] Breathe. Focus...  -1
• Convince the deep rothé to attack the duergar.
  • [PERSUASION] Give in to your rage...  +1  +1  +1  +1  +1

Related quests

•  The Adamantine Forge

Notes

• This quest is entirely optional - the Adamantine Forge can be accessed in other ways, such as using  Misty Step or  Fly. See  The Adamantine Forge for more details.