How to free True Soul Nere in Baldur’s Gate 3

During the end of Act One in Baldur’s Gate 3, you have the choice to save True Soul Nere. He’s a True Soul who’s trapped in a room filled with poisonous gas. Rubble blocks the entrance, and it’s not as simple as just using a weapon to break through. If this puzzle stumps you, let me explain how to free True Soul Nere in Baldur’s Gate 3.

Baldur’s Gate 3: How to clear the rubble and save True Soul Nere

The solution to this problem lies somewhere in Grymforge, but you have to talk to the right people for answers. How you can free True Soul Nere in Baldur’s Gate 3 is by finding Runepowder to blast the rubble. But how can you find this Runepowder?

If you talk to some of the gnome slaves working to clear the rubble, they’ll clue you in on someone who has the Runepowder; Philomeen. This gnome is hiding somewhere in the vicinity, so let’s go over where to find her.

Where to find Philomeen in Baldur’s Gate 3

Screenshot by PC Invasion

Head to the area marked on the map above. You’ll find some gnome corpses, and two guards throwing them in the water. You’ll need to unlock the large set of doors behind them, and the best way to do that is to stay out of sight, or to get the guards out of the way.

Chat up the guards, and wait until you see a chance to make a Perception check to inspect the corpses. It’s only a DC 10 to beat this role. While looking at the bodies, you spot a trinket, which you can use a Sleight of Hand check to nab. You can also do a Deception check to make the guards think they’re wanted elsewhere. If you grab the trinket, you receive a ring called ‘Fetish Callarduran Smoothhands’, which has the spell Invisibility.

Screenshot by PC Invasion

You have two options here. Either be invisible and open the doors, or if you succeeded that Deception check, the guards should be gone by now. Inside the room you entered, look to the left of a large statue. There, you should see a button on the wall. That is, if you make a successful Perception check.

The entrance will open once pressed, and you can continue through. On your way, you’ll have to fight a small group of Ochre Jellies, which are large slime monsters. They shouldn’t be too difficult to take down. Keep heading up the stairs, jump over the gap, and to your right you’ll see another large set of doors. Unlock it with the Knock spell, or a Lockpick.

Screenshot by PC Invasion

Philomeen is at the end of the room. Unfortunately, she’s one bad dialogue choice away from causing an explosion. Either do a Persuasion or Intimidation check to get her to calm down. I decided to intimidate her into thinking I wasn’t a True Soul, and then I asked her to give me a small vial of Runepowder.

How to clear the rubble with Runepowder in Baldur’s Gate 3

Now, you can head back to the rubble to save Nere, and the few other gnomes that still may be alive inside. One thing to note is that the fight ahead is going to be a tough one, depending on who you side with. Nere, as a follower of the Absolute, will resort to killing the gnome slaves.

Screenshot by PC Invasion

If you wish to side against him after saving him, make sure to talk with Elder Brithvar first. Otherwise, you’ll end up fighting against everyone in the room, and you’ll be heavily outnumbered. But if you chat with Brithvar beforehand, you can side with him and you’ll only have to fight against Nere and Thrinn. Of course, you can always just stand with Nere and then fight everyone else, but that’s also a tough fight.

Now, to clear the rubble, go into your inventory, right-click the Runepowder, and select ‘Throw’. Place it on top of the rubble, then wait until everyone has cleared out of the way. All you have to do now is shoot it with a ranged weapon, and it’ll explode.

Baldur’s Gate 3 is available on Steam.