Travel through the Underdark: Difference between revisions

If the party meets with Halsin as part of [[Rescue the Druid Halsin]], he explains that he cannot heal the party, but that he's been studying the Absolute cult's activities and knows they are sending people en-masse to [[Moonrise Towers]]. He suggests that the party head there to seek answers. During Save the Refugees, if the [[Druid Grove]] was protected, Halsin speaks with the party after a night of celebration. He explains that there are two paths to Moonrise Towers - one through the [[Underdark]] and one overland through the [[Mountain Pass]]. The area around Moonrise Towers is known as the [[Shadow-Cursed Lands]], and has a dangerous curse that can drive people mad. Halsin recommends the Underdark route, as it means traveling over less of the areas infected by the shadow curse.

If the party allies with [[Minthara]], she tells them only about the Mountain Pass, providing a [[Spider's Lyre]] so that the party can summon one of her minions to cross the Shadow-Cursed Lands overland. She states that the party must go to Moonrise Towers to find their pace in the Absolute's Grand Design. However, the party is still free to go to the Underdark instead.

One path to the Underdark is through the [[Shattered Sanctum]] in the [[Goblin Camp]]. The entrance can be accessed through Priestess [[Gut]]'s chambers, but is guarded by her ogre servant [[Polma]]. An easy way to avoid the need to sneak past the guard is by speaking to Gut (X:297, Y:-18) as part of [[Ask the Goblin Priestess for Help]]. Use a non-Elf/Half-Elf character to follow her to her chambers and take the potion and do not attempt to escape. A cutscene plays which results in both Gut and the ogre being killed.

There are two ways to enter the [[Whispering Depths]]. One way is to enter the blacksmith's basement north of the Blighted Village Waypoint (this is also the same basement where [[Finish the Masterwork Weapon]] is completed). One of the northern walls is cracked and can be destroyed with force damage, which leads to the Whispering Depths. The other way is to investigate the well (X:23, Y:400) north of the Waypoint. Choose "[INVESTIGATION] Peer into the well" and then climb the bucket rope ladder down into the well to arrive at the cave.

The chasm to the Underdark is by the [[Spider Matriarch|Spider Matriarch's]] nest (X:-558, Y:-360). In order to jump safely from the chasm, the party must use [[Featherfall]] or a similar spell. Otherwise, the party's bodies are shattered upon impact from the massive height.  

To use the Zhentarim's entrance, their hideout must first be located. It's in a barn west of [[Waukeen's Rest]], at the shabby door (X:-113, Y:613). The party will automatically be aware of the [[Zhentarim Hideout]] depending on if [[Rugan]] and [[Olly]] were encountered as part of [[Find the Missing Shipment]] - either by speaking with Rugan or by asking his corpse questions with [[Speak with Dead]]. If the party spares Rugan's life, he shares the location of the hideout along with the password need to enter. With a successful perception check, the party notices a man, [[Salazon]], crouching behind some shelves. Reciting the password 'Little serpent, long shadow' has him stand down immediately and provide the key to a wardrobe that leads into the hideout. If the party does not have the password, there are a myriad of other options to get past Salazon:

Succeeding to make the man stand down allows the Zhentarim to be dealt with peacefully. Follow his instructions to go down the hatch and through the wardrobe to enter the [[Zhentarim Basement]]. Once inside, follow the path forward and climb up the ladders to where [[Zarys]] is. Move north and cross the bridge. A man named [[Karad]] has a mechanical key and guards the way further. At this point, if the party goes onto the bridge, the Zhentarim become hostile if they are spotted. Either use stealth skills to pickpocket Karad's key and move past him, or kill the Zhentarim and loot the key. Slightly north of Karad is an illusory wall (X:268, Y:-189) that can be detected with a Perception check. Move through the wall and use the key on the Elevator Winch, then use the elevator platform.

The party must enter [[Auntie Ethel|Auntie Ethel's]] teahouse in the [[Sunlit Wetlands]] (X:-47, Y:266) and use Ethel's illusory fireplace to enter into the [[Overgrown Tunnel]]. The first hurdle is a door of vines. Attempting to use it causes it to telepathically share its story with the party to warn them from proceeding further. An Arcana check reveals that the door is an illusion and can simply be walked through. Otherwise, persuading the door (DC 10) causes it to share its secrets.

Through the door are four servants of Ethel's - [[Mask of Terror]], [[Mask of Vengeance]], [[Mask of Regret]], and [[Mask of Servitude]]. The become hostile upon detecting the party. On the table next to the door are [[Whispering Mask|Whispering Masks]]. If one party member wears it, they can all pass through the door. It also prevents the Hag Servants from becoming hostile. The mask is needed to enter the door to the Underdark.

Once the party arrives in the Underdark, they must make their way forward to try to find a way up into the Shadow-Cursed Lands. There are many helpful quests in the Underdark, including a main quest to attempt to remove the tadpole - [[Help Omeluum Investigate the Parasite]] - but only two quests in particular directly assist in moving further into the Underdark. See the [[Quest#Underdark|Underdark Quests]] for more information on optional quests the party can complete.

The first of these quests is [[Defeat the Duergar Intruders]], which allows the party to kill the duergar at the Decrepit Village (X:11, Y:-195) and steal their boat to get into [[Grymforge]]. The second quest is [[Find the Missing Boots]], which involves working with the duergar to track down a missing gnome who stole some boots, and then being charged to deliver the boots to Grymforge. The party can also attempt to sneak past the duergar and sneakily access the boat without doing either quest.

Once in Grymforge, the party is tasked with many different objectives, including freeing a [[True Soul]] drow named [[Nere]] as part of [[Free True Soul Nere]]. See the [[Quest#Grymforge|Grymforge Quests]] for information on optional quests. However, the party can almost immediately ascend to the Shaadow-Cursed Lands upon entering Grymforge. East of the Grymforge Waypoint is an elevator (X:-603, Y:382). Interact with the Wrought-Iron Gate to the elevator and the party is stopped by a duergar named Ward [[Magmar]]. Magmar asks the party if they have one of Nere's [[Moonlantern|Moonlanterns]] and explains that they risk succumbing to the shadow curse without one. Tell him the party isn't concerned about the curse and proceed forward to use the elevator. If the duergar are gone or dead, then a gnome named [[Skickpit]] initiates the same conversation.