The Free True Soul Nere side quest in Baldur’s Gate 3 is a thrilling ride and quite an urgent mission. But fret not, we are here to guide you through it. Whether you’re looking to free or rescue Nere in the blink of an eye or are just curious about the ripple effects of your decisions, this walkthrough has got your back.
Baldur’s Gate 3 (BG3) Free True Soul Nere Walkthrough
As you’re wandering around, you’ll find yourself in Grymforge, a scary place in the Underdark (quite the scenic route, if you ask me, minus the dangers). As soon as you set foot there, you’ll get to know about another True Soul trapped there behind a cave-in and this quest will start right away. This Nere’s side quest is very important if you want to get Moonlantern, no matter whether you side with this character or kill him.
Go to the Cave-In
From Grymforge, set your sights on the southern part at the end of the place and you will reach the cave-in. As the quest journal also mentions, keep in mind to free these guys as soon as possible without wasting too much time. There is an explosive gas where the Nere is stuck and it will let all of them die with poison if you take long rests.
On your way, you’ll encounter a duo of Duergar with one named, Elder Brithvar. A word of caution: these guys have a bone to pick. Right after you meet with them, they will tell you some kind of debt that Nere owes them and try to corner you by taking you as his companion. With some quick wit, choose the dialogue options wisely to convince them you’re neither a fan of Nere nor a part of his True Soul gang, Absolute.
If you play your cards right, they will be friendly towards you and put you in another task to kill Nere. Whether you decide to side with them or not, just entertaining this deal might give you a leg up when things heat up later on. Because in the unpredictable world of Baldur’s Gate 3, having a few extra allies in a tight spot is always a great thing. Keep those feet moving and let’s see where this path leads.
Gather Intel and Prepare to Rescue Nere True Soul
Going further into this quest, you’re about to meet a cast of characters that’ll make your head spin. You will meet the Duergar’s Commander, Thrinn, who will tell about the Nere alongside some gnomes trapped on the other side of cave-in. All of them are a bunch of talkative gnomes; these fellas will fill you with a goldmine of information and you will find out a lot about the exploitation.
If your path hasn’t crossed with them yet, the gnomes will spill the beans on where to get some explosive runepowder from Philomeen. If you want to free Nere from cave-in, the only way is by blasting the area. So, the main thing on our to-do list is that explosive runepowder.
Find the Explosives
Head south around the dock in Grymforge, and you will come across the place where there are corpses of gnomes on the ground and a couple of duergar are throwing these dead bodies into the water. Talk to them and convince them to let you do this work so they can leave. After that, open the double large doors and go inside.
Once there, head towards the left corner of the room where the rocks are placed on the ground; there is a sneaky button on the wall just left of the big statue. Give it a push, and you will come across a hidden door. As you waltz in, you’ll see a set of stairs and some suspicious acid puddles. Head up the stairs where a few enemies are waiting for you, so keep those weapons handy. At the top of the stairs, hang a left, do a bit of cliff hopping, and you’ll find another set of doors. They might look high-security, but again you can open them by lock-pick.
Inside, there is Philomeen gnome and her stash of explosive runepowder. She’s a bit on edge, threatening to light the whole place up. But with a bit of charm (and maybe some smooth talking), you can get a Runepowder Vial of that coveted powder and that’s exactly what you require to complete this rescue mission. Word to the wise: handle with care. Deciding Philomeen’s fate and nabbing the runepowder might just be the most explosive part of your day.
Rescue the Nere
Make your way back to that massive pile of rocks trapping Nere. By interacting with the rubble, you can actually mind-link with Nere, seeing what he’s up to on the other side. Remember, it might not be the heartwarming reunion you’re expecting.
Place the runepowder near the rubble and then, it’s time to light it up. You can go traditional with a fiery cantrip or get fancy with a flaming arrow. You can also use Fire Bolt if you have it in your inventory. With a bang and a burst, Nere is free. But don’t expect him to be grateful. Without spoiling too much, let’s just say he has a peculiar way of showing appreciation to his fellow cave-mates. As soon as after gets out of there, he will kill one of the two gnomes that you have rescued alongside him.
You have to make a choice when talking with him: do you let Nere go on his merry, sinister way, or do you decide he’s better off… well, not breathing? The choices you make here ripple through the rest of your adventure with the end consequences. Actually, there are three different possibilities here:
- Side with Nere and help him to fight against the gnomes’ rebellion.
- Kill Nere and Sergeant Thrinn by fighting alongside Brithvar.
- Help neither of the parties and kill all of them to get the final loot.
Should You Side With Nere or Kill Him in Baldur’s Gate 3 (BG3)?
Side with Nere and True Soul
If you’re feeling merciful or see some sort of upside to letting Nere strut around, you could choose to side with him. But remember that deal you might’ve made with Brithvar? Yes, that could come back to haunt you. First off, you’re looking at a throwdown with Brithvar and his crew. But, don’t sweat it too much, because Nere’s got your back, and you might have a few duergars on your side if they’re under the command of Thrinn. After you’ve sorted that mess out, Nere gets a little… well, nasty. He has got a mean streak for those gnomes. You can try your mind tricks on him to spare them, but if it backfires, he will get angry with you and see you as a trailer which results in a battle with him and his group.
On the flip side, if you skipped the chat with Brithvar or just turned him down, things look different. Nere’s the only companion you’ve got, and you’re up against all the duergar force. Sure, Nere has got something up his sleeves, but those enemies aren’t pushovers and that’s gonna be one uphill battle. Once you’ve sorted all that drama out and the fight ends, Nere will send you off to meet General Thorm over at Moonrise Towers and that’s all in this side quest – you’ve got yourself an illithid parasite as a final reward.
Side with Brithvar and Kill Nere
Maybe you’ve decided the world’s better off without Nere in Baldur’s Gate 3. If you’ve accepted Brithvar’s deal to kill Nere, now’s the time to cash in. Of course, he is not an easy opponent, so be ready for a tussle. By killing him, not only does the Free True Soul Nere quest wrap up in BG3, but you will be able to get all the loot from the bodies of Nere, Thrinn, and their fellow duergar. The most important thing, don’t miss out on the illithid parasite from Nere’s body, it’s great to boost your abilities.
You must talk with Brithvar and accept his killing offer. Otherwise, he and all of this party will not jump into the fight with you against Nere and you will be on your own and of course, what you have in your inventory.
I won’t spill all the beans here but remember: every choice has its end effect. Side quests, alliances, and even your wallet could feel the impact of this decision. So, take a deep breath, weigh your options, and make the call. Whichever path you choose, keep the wits sharp and that armor polished.
Related:
