I still remember stumbling upon that rickety windmill in the Blighted Village during my first playthrough – what seemed like a simple goblin nuisance turned into one of Baldur's Gate 3's most sprawling narrative adventures. That frantic gnome spinning helplessly on the blades became my unexpected gateway into a subterranean world of deep gnome politics, rebellion, and friendships tested by fire. Little did I know that choosing whether to pull the brake lever or watch him fly would echo through all three acts of my journey.

The Accidental Encounter

my-unexpected-journey-rescuing-barcus-wroot-in-baldur-s-gate-3-image-0

Wandering northeast from Emerald Grove, the Blighted Village reeked of decay and goblin mischief. Past crumbling cottages and suspiciously quiet wells, that looming windmill called like a beacon. Fezzerk's grating voice pierced the air first – 'Oi! This ain't no sightseein' spot!' His gang of chuckleheaded goblins were having too much fun torturing poor Barcus. My options?

  • Sweet-talking: Tried appealing to their Absolute devotion (worked wonders after getting branded!)

  • Bribery: Laughed when Fezzerk's '1000 gold' demand became '5 shiny coins' after failing basic arithmetic

  • Tadpole tricks: Easiest DC 2 mind-push I've ever done 😉

  • Violence: Almost drew steel before remembering loot scarcity early-game

Honestly? That illithid whisper felt deliciously wicked. Watching Fezzerk shuffle away muttering about 'nice voices' never gets old.

Windmill Dilemmas

my-unexpected-journey-rescuing-barcus-wroot-in-baldur-s-gate-3-image-1

Barcus' shrieky gratitude was immediate – 'UNBIND ME, YOU LUMPS!' Inside the creaky mill, two levers taunted me:

Lever Choice Consequence Irony Level
Release Brake Barcus becomes airborne projectile 🤯 Darkly hilarious
Brake Rescue mission success Morally satisfying

I'll admit – saving him felt anticlimactic after imagining that gnome-shaped comet arc. But his trembling hands passing me a basement key? That hinted at deeper stories. His bag contained:

  • 3 smokepowder bombs 💣

  • Blueprints for 'Bongle's Brilliance' (who?!)

  • A locket with dwarf engravings

Barcus muttered about 'foolhardy Wulbren' before vanishing. For days I wondered – did I just enable some gnome terrorist?

The Ripple Effect

my-unexpected-journey-rescuing-barcus-wroot-in-baldur-s-gate-3-image-2

Months later in-game, spotting Barcus chained in Grymforge shocked me. Rescuing him again unlocked his Last Light Inn shop – finally! That Ring of Geniality (+1 Persuasion/Deception) made dialogue cheesing absurdly easy. But his 'Rescue Wulbren' quest? Moonrise Towers became a gnome extraction nightmare:

  • Stealth-killing Ketheric's guards

  • Disguising as drow to access prisons

  • Wulbren's grating ingratitude ('Took you long enough!')

Rewards? Oh yes:

  • Brilliant Retort bomb (wiped out Raphael's minions spectacularly)

  • Ironhand gnome reinforcements for final battle

  • Barcus becoming Underdark faction leader

Yet Act Three's reunion in Angleiron's Cellar twisted everything. Barcus now called Wulbren a 'tyrannical fool' – their explosive falling out over gnome sovereignty left me reeling. Saving one gnome truly felt like redirecting Baldur's Gate history.

That first windmill encounter? Microcosm of Larian's genius. Tiny choices spiderwebbing into epic consequences. Barcus' survival birthed merchant access, faction wars, and explosive gadgets – death would've yielded only rotten turnips in his pockets. Still... watching his ragdoll physics flight on YouTube haunts me. Sometimes chaotic evil tempts.

What seemingly minor choices have irrevocably reshaped your Forgotten Realms journey? 🤔