You'll encounter a variety of strange characters and creatures in Baldur's Gate 3, including the gnome Barcus Wroot, who is tied to a windmill when you first encounter him. After encountering him in the Blighted Village, the quest "Rescue the Gnome" begins, and you must find a way to stop the windmill and free him.

As you approach the Blighted Village, a goblin will attempt to stop you, but you will have the chance to roll Persuasion, Deception, Intimidation, or Illithid to escape without having to fight.

I recommend using a character like Astarion, who has a high Charisma stat, to sweet-talk your way into the village without fighting. By the time I reached the village, my party was in a bit of a worse state. All of their hitpoints were halved after a few fights, so I tried to avoid fighting as much as possible. Luckily, I passed the Persuasion check with Astarion and convinced the goblin to let me through without a fuss.

Once you enter the village, you will need to find the gnome. There is a large staircase leading to the northwest side of the village. Follow this staircase to find a horde of goblins cheering in front of a windmill. If you are still having trouble finding the exact location, the coordinates are (X:-13, Y:435), or you can consult the map below.