Navigating the complex narrative paths of Baldur's Gate 3 eventually leads players to one of the most intense tactical challenges in Act 3. The Iron Throne serves as a high-security underwater prison where Lord Gortash holds valuable hostages, including the families of the Gondian workers and the enigmatic Mind Flayer, Omeluum. Reaching this hidden facility requires completing specific investigative steps and preparing your party for a strict turn-based escape sequence.
Finding the Secret Submersible
To initiate the journey to the underwater facility, you must first locate Flymm Cargo, a heavily guarded warehouse situated near the docks of the Lower City. Inside the building, players can discover a hidden basement hatch that leads directly to a secret aquatic bay. Within this subterranean chamber, you will encounter Redhammer the Deviser, a gnome tinkerer who commands a fully functional mechanical submarine.
Interacting with Redhammer presents several dialogue paths that can either persuade or coerce him into taking your party down into the deep sea. Be aware that choosing to board the vessel will immediately trigger a hostile warning from Lord Enver Gortash, who threatens to detonate the entire structure. Proceeding past this point locks you into the rescue mission, making it vital to finish your preparations before stepping inside.
Surviving the High Stakes Lockdown
As soon as the submarine docks at the prison, a rigorous turn-based countdown sequence begins, demanding maximum efficiency from every companion. On standard difficulty, players are given a mere six turns to navigate the flooding corridors, release the prisoners, and return safely to the extraction vehicle. Every single action matters during this phase, and a single mistake can result in the permanent loss of valuable allies.
To optimize your chances, players should heavily utilize mobility-enhancing spells like Misty Step, Haste, and Dimension Door across their entire roster. Splitting your party into three distinct directions allows you to cover multiple prison wings simultaneously before the water levels rise too high. Deploying fast characters to the southern and eastern sectors ensures that you can reach the furthest cells without wasting precious time.
Releasing the Captives Effectively
Securing the freedom of the hostages requires interacting with the manual levers placed directly next to each secure cell door. Once released, the Gondian NPCs will automatically sprint toward the central ladder to board the waiting submersible. However, Sahuagin enemies will continuously spawn from the watery depths to attack both your party and the fleeing innocents.
Positioning a crowd-control specialist or a high-defense martial character near the spawning pools can help intercept these aquatic monsters before they injure the survivors. Specialized targets like Duke Ravengard require extra care, as external intervention from Mizora may complicate his escape path. Once all reachable prisoners have climbed the central ladder, ensure your own party members return to the submarine sub-deck before the final turn expires.
