The Alien Underdark

Adventures
A Brief Tour of the Realms The Cursed Farmer The Mad Wizard Beast Intentions Terror in the Dark Unearthed Evil Escort to Waterdeep Waterdeep Detours Underdeep Cartography The Silken Swamp Supply Run The Mists of Ravenloft Family Entanglements Tower on the Lake Seeds of Deceit Flies on the Wall Backtracking Through Barovia Excavating History Towering Expectations Who Lurks in Lurkwood Orcs Are Wild The Sunless Citadel Meepo's Quest Lost in the Goblin Halls The Twilight Grove Into the Unknown The Prison of Velkynvelve Lost in the Underdark Leemooggoogoon Rises Neutral No More Encroaching Madness The Dark Heart The Alien Underdark The Oozing Hunger The Madness of Zuggtmoy The Cult of Lolth The Demon Lords of the Abyss Vecna Lives! Vecna Loots! Return to the Tomb Heatwave The Dread Domain of Tovag The Castle of a Thousand Vecnas The Sanctum of the Sword Get Back In The Castle Checkmate Vecna Out!
Campaigns
A Grand Tour of the Sword Coast‎ Tomb of Annihilation‎ Waterdeep: Dragon Heist‎ Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus‎ Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden The Wild Beyond the Witchlight Light of Xaryxis Turn of Fortune's Wheel Vecna: Eve of Ruin
Others
Split The Party Tales of the Champions Time Gates Trials of Mount Tiamat

The Alien Underdark is one of the adventures in the campaign A Grand Tour of the Sword Coast.

	Assault a mind flayer colony that may have a demon lord hiding out within it. What could go wrong?
Requirement(s)	Must have completed "The Dark Heart"
Objective(s)	Complete Area 400
Restriction(s)	No restrictions
Rewards(?)	×800 ×???	Formation

Variants

Thoughts on the Menu

	Assault a mind flayer colony with a hungry friend.
Requirement(s)	Must have completed "The Alien Underdark"
Objective(s)	Complete Area 425
Restriction(s)	A mind flayer joins the formation to help you defeat this rogue colony. To avoid being lunch, only Champions with INT score of 12 or lower can be used.
Rewards(?)	×850 ×???	Formation
Patron: Mirt	Complete Area 525	×1.50e06 ×7,050
Patron: Vajra	Complete Area 550	×2.38e06 ×8,650
Patron: Zariel	Complete Area 600	×5.96e06 ×12,900

Brains on Ice

	Assault a mind flayer colony with a brainy friend.
Requirement(s)	Must have completed "The Alien Underdark" Must have completed 47 Grand Tour adventures or variants.
Objective(s)	Complete Area 450
Restriction(s)	An Intellect Devourer riding a Snow Golem joins the formation. Champions next to the Intellect Devourer have their base attack cooldown increased by 5 seconds. 1-3 Mind Flayer Zombies spawn randomly with each wave. They don't drop gold, nor do they count toward quest progress.
Rewards(?)	×900 ×???	Formation
Patron: Mirt	Complete Area 550	×2.38e06 ×8,650
Patron: Vajra	Complete Area 575	×3.76e06 ×10,500
Patron: Strahd	Complete Area 600	×5.96e06 ×12,900
Patron: Zariel	Complete Area 625	×9.42e06 ×15,800

Waves

Type	Waves	Bosses	Favored By
aberration	25	4	Imoen, Lae'zel, Zorbu
armor-based	25	1	Binwin, Ezmerelda, Gazrick, Grimm, Hew Maan, Lucius, Selise, Windfall, Wulfgar
bandit	0	1
cultist	3	0
demon	6	1
drow	3	1
elf	0	1
fiend	6	1	Brother Uriah, Ezmerelda, Farideh, Havilar, Jaheira, Reya, Turiel, Wyll
hit-based	1	4	Binwin, Ezmerelda, Grimm, Hew Maan, Windfall
humanoid	19	1	Dynaheir, Ezmerelda, Jaheira, Kalix, Minsc, Zorbu
monstrosity	1	0	Ezmerelda, Imoen, Minsc
quaggoth	8	0
ranged	5	1
spawner	0	2
undead	19	3	Brother Uriah, Ezmerelda, Jaheira, Minsc, Nerys, Volo, Wyll, Zorbu

Please add all the missing waves definition (with "0 & 0" or no values in case you don’t know them…) based on in-game’s "ENEMY TYPES" data mentionned on adventure’s starting/choice screen, place them between the header & the footer lines (which should remain untouched), and keep the monster-type lines sorted alphabetically. Thanks! (click this link for more info)

Wave	Tags	Monsters	Monster Tags	Image
1	Underground	Drow Cultist	drow humanoid cultist melee
2	Underground	Abyssal Chicken	demon fiend melee
3	Underground	Abyssal Chicken	demon fiend melee
4	Underground	Abyssal Chicken, Drow Cultist	demon drow fiend humanoid cultist melee
5	Underground	Drow Cultist x10	drow humanoid cultist melee
Boss	Underground	Bandit Rogue	boss drow elf humanoid bandit melee
6	Underground	Abyssal Chicken, Quaggoth	demon fiend humanoid quaggoth melee
7	Underground	Quaggoth	humanoid quaggoth melee
8	Underground	Quaggoth	humanoid quaggoth melee
9	Underground	Mind Flayer Guard, Quaggoth	aberration humanoid quaggoth armor-based melee
10	Underground	Mind Flayer Guard x10	aberration armor-based melee
Boss	Underground	Mind Flayer Arcanist	boss aberration ranged
11	Underground	Grimlock, Mind Flayer Guard	aberration humanoid armor-based melee
12	Underground	Grimlock, Mind Flayer Guard	aberration humanoid armor-based melee
13	Underground	Mind Flayer Guard	aberration armor-based melee
14	Underground	Grimlock, Mind Flayer Guard	aberration humanoid armor-based melee
15	Underground	Grimlock x7, Mind Flayer Guard x3	aberration humanoid armor-based melee
Boss	Underground	Girallon Zombie	boss undead melee
16	Underground	Skeleton	undead melee
17	Underground	Skeleton Archer	undead ranged
18	Underground	Undead Mind Flayer	undead armor-based melee
19	Underground	Undead Mind Flayer	undead armor-based melee
20	Underground	Undead Mind Flayer x10	undead armor-based melee
Boss	Underground	Ogre Zombie	boss undead hit-based melee
21	Underground	Skeleton, Undead Mind Flayer	undead armor-based melee
22	Underground	Babau, Skeleton	demon fiend undead melee
23	Underground	Babau, Skeleton	demon fiend undead melee
24	Underground	Skeleton, Undead Mind Flayer	undead armor-based melee
25	Underground	Babau x5, Skeleton Archer, Undead Mind Flayer x5	undead armor-based melee ranged
Boss	Underground	Orcus	boss demon fiend spawner armor-based melee
26	Underground	Undead Mind Flayer	undead armor-based melee
27	Underground	Intellect Devourer	aberration melee
28	Underground	Intellect Devourer, Zombie Underdark Denizen	aberration undead melee
29	Underground	Intellect Devourer, Zombie Underdark Denizen	aberration undead melee
30	Underground	Intellect Devourer x6, Zorbo x4	aberration monstrosity melee
Boss	Underground	Resurrected Hero of the Vale	boss undead hit-based melee
31	Underground	Grimlock	humanoid melee
32	Underground	Gazer, Grimlock	aberration humanoid melee ranged
33	Underground	Fungal Growth, Gazer	aberration static hit-based ranged
34	Underground	Gazer	aberration ranged
35	Underground	Mind Flayer Guard x10	aberration armor-based melee
Boss	Underground	Grell	boss aberration melee
36	Underground	Quaggoth, Undead Mind Flayer	humanoid quaggoth undead melee
37	Underground	Quaggoth	humanoid quaggoth melee
38	Underground	Grimlock, Mind Flayer Guard, Quaggoth	aberration humanoid quaggoth melee
39	Underground	Grimlock, Mind Flayer Guard	aberration humanoid melee
40	Underground	Grimlock x6, Quaggoth x4	humanoid quaggoth melee
Boss	Underground	Mindwitness	boss aberration melee
41	Underground	Grimlock, Intellect Devourer	aberration humanoid melee
42	Underground	Intellect Devourer, Mind Flayer Guard	aberration armor-based melee
43	Underground	Antechamber Control Panel, Mind Flayer Guard	aberration static armor-based melee
44	Underground	Mind Flayer Guard	aberration armor-based melee
45	Underground	Mind Flayer Guard x3, Undead Mind Flayer x7	aberration undead armor-based melee
Boss	Underground	Xetzirbor	boss aberration hit-based melee
46	Underground	Intellect Devourer, Mind Flayer Guard	aberration armor-based melee
47	Underground	Mind Flayer Guard x3, Undead Mind Flayer x7	aberration undead armor-based melee
48	Underground	Undead Mind Flayer	undead armor-based melee
49	Underground	Undead Mind Flayer	undead armor-based melee
50	Underground	Mind Flayer Guard, Undead Mind Flayer	aberration undead armor-based melee
Boss	Underground	Cyrog	boss spawner hit-based

Transcript

The Alien Underdark
Assault a mind flayer colony that may have a demon lord hiding out within it. What could go wrong?
Area	Goal		Quests & Cinematics
Celeste:	Make sure everyone clears the portal before it closes. We don't want to leave anyone behind with Vizeran. Especially when we're on our way to fight another demon lord.
Bruenor:	Are we sure we've moved closer ta Orcus and where he's holed up? This looks awfully similar ta where we left.
Jarlaxle:	Trust me. We are miles from Araj and Menzoberrenzan.
Havilar:	And there are definitely more demons nearby. Can we find them and fight them so this headache goes away? And also so there are fewer demons. Ooh! Hey there's some...awww. Not demons. Just drow warriors.
1	Defeat 25 Enemies		You can take a portal through the Underdark, but chances are the minions of Lolth will meet you on the other side! Push them back!
Jarlaxle:	Well that was certainly a way to start ourselves off.
Drizzt:	It's a reminder: We may be focused on the threat of Orcus and the other demon lords Gromph summoned to our plane of existence, but the perils of the Underdark are still all around us. We should stay alert.
Jarlaxle:	Please. I was born alert.
Krach:	Look out! There's a flock of Abyssal chickens up ahead!
Havilar:	Why do they call them that? They don't look like chickens. They look like angry triangles.
Mot:	It's like an Abyssal chicken crossed with a vrock. Small and feathery with a beak They eat them and steal their eggs on this plane.
Krach:	Steal their eggs? Don't they get swarmed and clawed to pieces? Chewed apart?
Mot:	Chickens don't have teeth...I don't think they have teeth. But Abyssal chickens have teeth, get that blade out, lady!
2	Defeat 25 Enemies		Much like normal chickens, Abyssal chickens aren't capable of sustained flight. Unlike normal chickens, you should watch out for their fangs!
Celeste:	At least this cavern has enough phosphorescent mushrooms to let us see what we're doing. Those of us without darkvision, of course.
Jarlaxle:	Oh right. I forget you can't see what you're doing in caves. So peculiar.
Celeste:	Well we're likely to need to go through some darker passages, so let's gather up as many of the mushrooms as we can.
3	Collect 25 Phosphorescent Fungi		This rare glowing fungi might come in handy! Gather up some samples!
4	Defeat 25 Enemies		More cultists attack between the Abyssal chickens' lunges! You'll have to fight!
5	Defeat the Bandit Rogue		A bandit bursts out of the darkness to attack you!
Baeloth:	All right, Krach, time to earn your keep. Which way to Orcus?
Krach:	All the magic down here is really mixed up and weird...but something feels, I don't know, homey I guess down that tunnel. Homey but...not.
Celeste:	Perhaps something Abyssal and yet undead. Let's check it out.
Drizzt:	Something's definitely down here. There's signs of many people passing this way, although I can't be sure what sort.
Jarlaxle:	I mean let's be honest with ourselves: any large group of people down here is probably a bad thing.
Drizzt:	I don't deny it. Look! More Abyssal chickens!
Baeloth:	Krach! If you've just led us to more disposable minions --
Drizzt:	No -- they're running from something. Get your weapons up -- can you feel the vibrations? It's something big.
Jarlaxle:	Quaggoths!
6	Defeat 25 Enemies		A flock of Abyssal chickens scatters before the lumbering bulk of some quaggoths! Both are happy to turn on you!
Drizzt:	If there's quaggoths, we're likely as not getting close to someone's settlement -- more Lolth-followers, perhaps, or even mind flayers. Keep your guard up.
7	Defeat 25 Enemies		More quaggoths! These fierce and bearlike humanoids can tear you apart!
Bruenor:	Look at all tha weapons scattered on tha ground! There's been fightin' here, and it's nae gone well fer a lot o' people.
Celeste:	But the victors didn't claim the weapons? That's strange. Maybe we can learn more if we examine them. Grab what you can.
8	Collect 25 Swords		Weapons are strewn all over the place here -- fight the quaggoths and gather the clues!
Celeste:	These are all manner of make -- this one's Cormyrean, this one's Chessentan, this one looks Turmishan, this one's definitely Elvish make. Evereskan, if I don't miss my guess.
Jarlaxle:	The remains of unfortunate adventurers then. I don't like the look of this.
Drizzt:	Nor do I. If the quaggoths' masters were drow, they would have claimed the weapons and repurposed them. The fact no one has bothered means we're likely dealing with --
Krach:	Oh my demonic overlords, what is that squid-faced monster-person?
Mind Flayer Arcanist:	Fools! You dare threaten the colony of Cyrog? Greater heroes than you have died trying.
9	Defeat 25 Enemies		Those quaggoths are thralls of the mind flayers! The Underdark's dangers multiply!
Mind Flayer Arcanist:	You will not breach the colony. I will drive you to your knees and devour your minds.
Jarlaxle:	Oh I'd love to see you try. But we have bigger game to hunt today. There's a demon lord raising an army near here. And I'm going to assume that's a bigger threat to your precious colony.
Krach:	Uh, so this -- what's happening right here? -- this is definitely the 'not homey' magic I was talking about. If anyone's curious.
Celeste:	Wait, the mind flayer's psionic powers? That's what you were sensing?
Krach:	Oh yeah. Orcus plus that. Not this one, to be clear. Something bigger, but the same 'buzzy-in-your-eyeballs' feeling magic.
Mind Flayer Arcanist:	As usual, surface dwellers, you have blinded yourself to the great power and opportunities that might otherwise lie within your reach. Cyrog is whole and hearty, by the terrible blessings of Orcus, Prince of the Undead. And so you will die.
10	Defeat the Mind Flayer Arcanist		A mind flayer arcanist turns their powerful magics against you! Defeat them quickly!
Jarlaxle:	Wonderful. Orcus has taken over a colony of mind flayers. What a wonderful surprise.
Havilar:	I thought you were born alert? Drizzt SAID this was going to happen.
Jarlaxle:	No, he said the Underdark was still full of perils, and I KNOW that. Nobody said that an Underdark peril might have decided to merge with an Abyssal peril into a whole new kind of terrible.
Celeste:	Regardless, this is almost certainly where Orcus has made his stronghold. We need to go inside.
11	Defeat 25 Enemies		Grimlocks swing their mighty clubs at you, as their mind flayer masters drive them to attack! Meet them head on!
Xetzirbor:	Psst! PSST! You there! Are you adventurers?
Bruenor:	Another bloody mind flayer! Come out and fight, if yer gonna fight! None o' this hissin' in tha shadows nonsense.
Xetzirbor:	No, no! You misunderstand. I need allies. Assistance. Something has gone terribly wrong with Cyrog.
Bruenor:	Yeah, we know. Yer colony's made a deal with a demon lord.
Xetzirbor:	Not the colony -- our elder brain. The heart of the colony, the parent of us all. Cyrog was...ill -- dying! I traveled to Gravenhollow to see what could be done to save it, but when I returned...It's monstrous, what that creature has done. Cyrog itself is undead and corrupted, telling the mind flayers to follow Orcus in all things.
Mind flayer:	The betrayer! Seize them!
12	Defeat 25 Enemies		The mind flayers are known for their powerful mental assaults, but these are fearsome melee fighters too! Don't let your guard down!
Jarlaxle:	Well they don't like you, do they?
Xetzirbor:	No. My connection to Cyrog was severed when it was reawoken and I cannot condone what's been done. I need to save my colony, but I cannot do it alone.
Jarlaxle:	Make a deal with a mind flayer? No thanks.
Xetzirbor:	I promise you will come to no harm so long as you bring none against me. We will be allies. I have traveled widely -- I'm not one of those mind flayers who thinks everyone outside the hive mind is a drooling empty vessel! And...I can show you how to get to Orcus's seat of power.
Jarlaxle:	Good enough for now. But if any of those tentacles comes near one of my ears, it's coming off.
Jarlaxle:	I said if it comes near my ear it's coming off!
Xetzirbor:	I'm sorry, I was merely...I'm very hungry. I haven't been able to leave in order to hunt for days. My supplies are quite diminished.
Jarlaxle:	The deal was you don't get to eat us and you show us where Orcus is, and we don't put all our swords in you at once.
Xetzirbor:	Of course, of course, but...perhaps we could steal some of my corrupted brethren's supplies. I am sure there are...fresh and non-allied options on their person.
Jarlaxle:	They have brains in their pockets?
Xetzirbor:	I would be much obliged.
13	Collect 25 Brains		What have they got in their pockets? Brains of course! Gather them up.
14	Defeat 25 Enemies		Grimlocks' ancestors might have been human long ago, but they've adapted to the Underdark's harsh environment!
Xetzirbor:	The thoughts of the others indicate that the demon lord has made his throne room down this passageway. We should be cautious -- it's likely guarded by more mind flayers or grimlocks, perhaps quaggoths --
Havilar:	FOUR-ARMED MONKEY ZOMBIE!
Xetzirbor:	Oh no! She's under some sort of mental attack!
Bruenor:	Nae, there's a zombie girallon at tha door! And it's about ta charge!
15	Defeat the Girallon Zombie		What is a girallon zombie doing down here? Fighting you of course!
Bruenor:	That girallon dinnae belong in tha Underdark. We ain't seen anythin' like that since we left Chult!
Celeste:	Which means Orcus has been settling in. Everyone be on guard -- we're likely to encounter many more undead from here on in.
Xetzirbor:	I traveled quite some distance to the library of Gravenhollow. There is nowhere else in the Underdark with such a concentration of knowledge. It is older than the greatest drow cities or the most deeply rooted mind flayer colonies. Legend says that it remembers all who have walked its halls...and all who one day will.
Havilar:	Spoooooky!
Xetzirbor:	Apparitions of the library's guests flicker throughout its mysterious halls, the echoes of past and future seekers of knowledge.
Havilar:	So did you just find yourself in the future and ask how yourself how you found out how to save your elder brain?
Xetzirbor:	What? No. I...That wouldn't...would that work? How would that work?
Havilar:	Mm, that sounds like a question for the magic library. I have to go chop some skeletons.
16	Defeat 25 Enemies		The clatter of bones echoes down the hallway -- skeletons from Orcus's undead horde come after you!
Krach:	So -- just so we're all clear -- this guy is a mind flayer. Mind flayers eat sentients' brains. The elder brain is the godlike being at the center of a mind flayer colony, responsible for creating and controlling mind flayers.
Mot:	And THIS elder brain has been corrupted by Orcus into an undead monstrosity. Which Orcus is controlling to help him turn all the mind flayers into undead versions of their already very dangerous selves.
Havilar:	That is also what I learned.
Mot:	Great. And just so we're all clear, this is a really bad idea.
Baeloth:	Listen, you little rats, this is what being a hero is...more or less. You use the tools -- I mean, allies -- handed to you. Besides, this Xetzirbor character might be one of those 'seems evil but is actually good' sorts. Like me!
Havilar:	..all right, now I'm worried.
17	Defeat 25 Enemies		Death does not deter the skeleton archers' aim! Break their focus!
Celeste:	Jarlaxle, may I ask a favor?
Jarlaxle:	You're going to anyway, so out with it.
Celeste:	Could you help me DISCREETLY get the others to gather up some of the tentacles off the mindflayers we're fighting. I don't want to upset Xetzirbor, but...
Jarlaxle:	What ritual could you possibly use mind flayer tentacles for?
Celeste:	It's very complicated and I don't want to get into it right now! But it's important, trust me. Just help me gather some up.
18	Collect 25 Mindflayer Tentacles		Do you ever wonder what Celeste does with all these ingredients? Is she prepping for some terrible Cataclysm to come? Oh well, waste not, want not!
19	Defeat 25 Enemies		Undead mind flayers still retain their fearsome abilities, while pursuing Orcus's agenda! Cut them down!
Mot:	Can you go over the plan one more time? I mean, you are going to march in there and fight a demon lord -- and you've done no drills, no dry runs, no testing his defenses first.
Celeste:	We've got this. We're the Champions! We've tangled with worse...or at least similar.
Havilar:	I still think we should have gone with my plan. It was elegant and straightforward.
Mot:	So help me, Celeste, if you go in there with 'Step One: Quickly size up his weak points. Step two: Chop him in the weak points and something-something magic spells,' -- Wait! Someone's coming...someone big...You'd better be ready, this might be your demon lord.
Krach:	Um, no. Orcus does NOT answer his own door. That will be a hideous ogre zombie meant to rend you to pieces for disturbing him, of course.
Havilar:	Oh good, we can test out the plan after all!
20	Defeat the Ogre Zombie		The caverns tremble as the ogre zombie lumbers forward! The bigger they are, the harder they fall!
Celeste:	Right -- we're going to go in there, eyes open, weapons ready. Make sure we get some of Orcus's blood for Vizeran's ritual --
Orcus:	YOU WILL GAIN NOTHING BUT DEATH, MORTALS. ENTER AND BE RIPPED FROM YOUR FRAGILE SHELLS.
Orcus:	YES. COME, COME -- IF YOU WOULD INTERRUPT ME, YOU WILL FACE YOUR DESTRUCTION QUICKLY, RATHER THAN AT LENGTH.
Mot:	That is a LOT of bones he's sitting on.
Krach:	He's very good at preserving an aesthetic. I will say this is one place Orcus has Prince Demogorgon beat.
Bruenor:	All right, everyone. Ye know tha drill. We just hafta get across tha pool ta tha throne --
Orcus:	YES, YES, AMUSE ME BEFORE YOU DIE. MY UNDEAD ARMY! MAKE THEM CAPER!
21	Defeat 25 Enemies		To reach the Demon Lord Orcus, you need to fight through his army of mind flayers and skeletons!
Mot:	Lady! There are babau in the ranks!
Havilar:	Right! Dodge a bunch, don't touch the goop that comes off them!...Hey wait, I thought those were just Graz'zt's assassins? Why's Orcus got them?
Baeloth:	Ooooh, I don't think he does. I think they're here FOR Orcus. How very interesting...and probably doomed to failure.
Mot:	Yeah, it's like they're throwing themselves against a demon lord without a plan or something.
Havilar:	You can yell at me about how I didn't listen to Celeste later. Those babau are attacking US first!
22	Defeat 25 Enemies		Those babau have followed you to fight Orcus, but they're happy to take you out first!
Orcus:	TREACHERY! DECEIT! GRAZ'ZT, YOU FOUL DEVILSPAWNED FIEND, SENDING YOUR MINIONS WHERE YOU SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT YOUR COWARDLY SELF! YOU FLED ME IN DISGRACE AND I WILL FIND YOU!
Mot:	Wow...He's just...putting it all out there.
Krach:	Well, yeah, they hate each other. Like A LOT. Everyone knows that.
Mot:	Just...the archlords of the Nine Hells wouldn't just...SAY that! You act nice to their faces and then do things to, you know, ensure they end up trapped in icebergs or turned into slugs when they get caught.
Krach:	That sounds EXHAUSTING. It's a lot easier when you just bite the person you don't like in the face.
Orcus:	OUR BATTLES ARE NOT FINISHED, GRAZ'ZT! DO YOU HEAR ME? DEMOGORGON COULD NOT DESTROY ME, ZUGGTMOY COULD ONLY WOUND ME, I WILL NOT FALL TO YOU!
Celeste:	Look there! He IS wounded.
Bruenor:	His minions seem ta be tryin' ta clean it up! And those babau are tryin' ta make off with it too!
Celeste:	If we can get enough for Vizeran, we can be on our way.
Xetzirbor:	After you help me set my colony to rights, of course!
Celeste:	Oh! Xetzirbor! I didn't see you there.
Xetzirbor:	You are distracted. But never fear: I can hear your thoughts! You merely forgot that driving off the demon lord is only the first step of saving Cyrog. I understand. Here, let me help gather the blood samples.
23	Collect 25 Vials of Blood		Orcus has been injured in his battles with the other demon lords! Quick -- scoop up some of his spilled blood for Vizeran's ritual!
Orcus:	AHHH, ANOTHER ILLITHID. YOU HAVE BROKEN FREE OF THE ELDER BRAIN? DEFIED MY MASTERY? YOU SEEK TO UNSEAT ME AND -- WHAT? -- PLACE THE DARK PRINCE IN MY PLACE? OH, I SEE HOW YOUR MACHINATIONS MUST LIE.
Xetzirbor:	No! I seek to destroy you and rescue Cyrog from the terrible fate you've left it to! I could have healed the elder brain, but you corrupted it! You corrupted my home!
Orcus:	HAHAHA! FOOL. YOU CANNOT SAVE CYROG. IT IS TRANSFORMED. IT IS AN EXTENSION OF MY POWER NOW. PERHAPS IF YOU HAD NOT BEEN SO PROUD, SO SURE OF YOUR WISDOM YOU WOULD NOT HAVE LEFT AND LOST YOUR PRECIOUS CYROG. ATTACK, MY MINIONS!
24	Defeat 25 Enemies		The undead mind flayers of the Cyrog colony have nothing left to lose! Hold your ground!
Orcus:	YOUR DEATH AWAITS.
Mot:	All right, you're at the foot of the bone throne. Time for the...ultimate weapon? The gift from a greater god? What is it?
Havilar:	Um, it's ALL of us. I don't know if you've noticed, but we're pretty good at fighting. Especially me.
Mot:	...Lords of the Nine, you're going to die, and I'm going to get demoted. Do you know what imps get demoted to???
Havilar:	Calm down. Yes, he is huge and, yes, he is powerful, and, yes, he can animate our dead bodies to fight against the rest of us when we fall. But he's also really distracted -- he's favoring that arm and he's very worked up about Graz'zt. See: I am good at spotting weak points, so there!
Baeloth:	Hmm...that gives me an idea -- which will have to wait for later, because here he comes!
25	Defeat the Orcus		Orcus himself turns his terrible attention to you! Time to put that plan into motion! Do you guys remember the plan?
Baeloth:	Ah, Your Highness, just a moment.
Celeste:	Baeloth, what are you doing?
Baeloth:	Saving our skins. Ahem, Your Highness, please, I think we've given you the wrong impression, due to our...hmm...hostage here, the mind flayer, yes, that's it. We've merely come to deliver a message to you!
Orcus:	A MESSAGE? FROM WHENCE? FROM THE ABYSS? FROM...THE SHADOWFELL?
Baeloth:	No, this is more of an intraplanar message. Your enemy, Graz'zt is encamped, not so very far from here. In fact, we could give you a map to his location and then--
Orcus:	I WILL WREST IT FROM YOUR MIND, PUNY ELF. I WILL CRUSH THE SO-CALLED DARK PRINCE BENEATH MY HOOVES AND TEAR HIS SILVERY DEVIL-TONGUE FROM HIS THROAT.
Baeloth:	I would just like to point out, I'm not hearing very much in the way of appreciation. Or discussions of increasing my share of the treasure.
Celeste:	Baeloth, as I said before, very well done and quick thinking, but we are not through this yet. Orcus is not HERE, but he is still out there, and we still need to recover the rest of the ingredients for Vizeran's ritual. The purple worm egg, the thirteen mushrooms --
Xetzirbor:	And we must save my colony.
Celeste:	Xetzirbor, I don't think...What Orcus said is probably true. The elder brain may be damaged.
Xetzirbor:	Well, we have to hope. And try! Which means we need to get to the elder brain pool. This way!
26	Defeat 25 Enemies		Orcus has fled, which buys you some space to recover, but that leaves the undead elder brain and the minions it controls!
Havilar:	Who is SHOUTING so much? My head feels like it's going to split in half!
Cyrog:	INTRUDERS! INTRUDERS AND TRAITORS!
Xetzirbor:	The elder brain! I'd know Cyrog's voice anywhere! Let's go!
27	Defeat 25 Enemies		Intellect devourers pursue you, drawn by your thoughts and your tasty brains. Knock them back!
Cyrog:	INTRUDERS! INTRUDERS AND TRAITORS!
Havilar:	We have to do something about the screaming brain! I can't hear myself think!
Xetzirbor:	Does it bother you? Huh. That's just what having an elder brain is like! Albeit, Cyrog is under a great deal of distress right now. I suppose the combination of it being unfamiliar and the shouting might be a lot for your brains to process. But think of it as exercise!
Cyrog:	INTRUDERS! INTRUDERS! KILL THEM!
Xetzirbor:	Wait, I know. Come in here. I may have just the thing. This is where we put all of the...well, hrm, this is awkward. This is where we store the things that unwelcome visitors leave behind! There should be some rings of mind-shielding in here. Take your pick!
28	Collect 25 Rings of Mind Shielding		Mind flayers have no need for the tools of adventurers. All these rings of mind shielding are just piling up. Maybe they couldn't save those poor souls, but they should give you the edge -- if you can grab them!
Mot:	Lady, you gotta ditch the mind flayer.
Havilar:	He fixed the screaming. And he doesn't seem too bad.
Mot:	He called letting an elder brain scream psionically in your thoughts 'exercise.' Why would you need to practice having an elder brain scream in your thoughts?
Krach:	Because it's very similar to a demon lord screaming in your thoughts and there are a lot more demon lords around?
Havilar:	Ooh, that's a good point.
Mot:	No, it isn't! I don't think he's going to let you leave.
Havilar:	Pfft! I'd like to see him try and stop me. Here, watch me fight these zombies! It will be like this, but with more face tentacles.
29	Defeat 25 Enemies		Foul monsters have tracked you to this trophy room! They won't let you leave alive!
30	Defeat the Resurrected Hero of the Vale		One zombie rises up, stronger and more determined than the rest! This champion must fall so that the Champions can continue their quest!
Havilar:	Celeste, Mot is freaking all out about Xetzirbor, and I have to admit that while I think we could take him, this might be one of those DIPLOMACY moments where we try to avoid the fighting.
Celeste:	I've been having similar concerns. It's one reason I'm glad we have these rings of mind-shielding. But Xetzirbor hasn't given any indication of intending to hurt us. We don't want to leap to conclusions. Just be ready.
31	Defeat 25 Enemies		Grimlocks driven by the mind flayers of Cyrog block your way! Carve a path through them!
Xetzirbor:	Hurry! Cyrog is this way.
Celeste:	What's your plan when we reach the elder brain?
Xetzirbor:	I...I hope that with the removal of the demon lord that Cyrog will be back to normal and the colony can be rebuilt. If not...then we must be prepared to destroy Cyrog. The corruption of the demon lord cannot remain to infect the colony if we are to survive.
Celeste:	I'm assuming, based on our interactions thus far, you're a...reasonable sort of mind flayer. You're not going to turn on us, are you?
Xetzirbor:	Turn on you? Why, you Champions are the greatest friends I have ever made! I hope our alliance lasts as long as possible -- I intend to be sure of it. You have my word: I will not cast you to the purple worms, as they say.
Celeste:	That's very good to hear!
32	Defeat 25 Enemies		Gazers may not be as fearsome as their beholder creators, but their eye beams will still ruin your day! Knock them down!
Bruenor:	Tha path ta tha elder brain's been closed off! We'll have ta break through!
Jarlaxle:	Watch out for those gazers! They've got a clear line of sight over the blockade!
33	Defeat 1 Fungal Growth		The mind flayers minions don't want you to reach the corrupted elder brain! Break through the barrier!
34	Defeat 25 Enemies		Do you ever feel like someone's watching you? It might be a whole army of gazers!
Krach:	What's that slithery sound?
Mot:	Mindflayers, probably.
Krach:	No, it's a different slithery sound than the mindflayers'. Is the elder brain or -- SWEET PALE NIGHT AT THE WINDOW, WHAT IS THAT?
Mot:	Whoa! Hawk-Brain-Octopus Beast?
Xetzirbor:	A grell! They lurk around the edges of the colony sometimes. They cannot consume brains -- they are poisonous to the grell, so they scavenge what we don't...er...well...you know.
Mot:	I told you creatures were better if you started with octopuses!
35	Defeat the Grell		A grell has infiltrated the mind flayers' colony -- they don't mind, it will leave your brains for the mind flayers and eat the rest!
36	Defeat 25 Enemies		These mind flayers have been corrupted by Orcus, but the quaggoths still seem eager to follow their orders to attack you!
Celeste:	Those mind flayers are still undead -- that doesn't bode well for Cyrog. Are you prepared to do what you need to Xetzirbor?
Xetzirbor:	If I must. I traveled far and into strange lands to find a cure for Cyrog. I said I would do anything to secure it, and the safety of my colony. Now it seems what is asked of me is to end the elder brain's corrupted existence for its own good. To start over.
Celeste:	There's a lot of world, and while a mind flayer trying to make a fresh start might have trouble in some places, we're beside you.
Xetzirbor:	Thank you, my friend. I am so glad I can count on you all.
37	Defeat 25 Enemies		Quaggoths are carnivorous, and sentient beings are a special treat! Don't end up on the menu!
Xetzirbor:	What a mess those quaggoths have left behind! One more thing I suppose in the quest to right the colony. Oh! Those jars! Why, those would come in handy I think.
Bruenor:	Do ya have a plan fer tha elder brain that needs jars?
Xetzirbor:	No for after, they're perfect for holding...well it will be easier to show you than to try and explain it. Could you help me collect those jars?
Mot:	Lady, this is very suspicious.
Havilar:	You're suspicious of JARS now? It's just picking up junk!
Mot:	What're they gonna USE the jars for, that's what I want to know!
38	Collect 25 Empty Jars		Xetzirbor has been such a help -- getting him these bottles seems like the least you could do!
39	Defeat 25 Enemies		The sightless grimlocks surge unerringly toward you, chased by their mind flayer guards. Hold the line!
Xetzirbor:	The mindwitness! They are created when a beholder undergoes ceremorphosis. It's a very valuable member of the colony -- very helpful for expanding psionic reach. But it's under the control of Cyrog!
Krach:	What's ceremorphosis?
Xetzirbor:	Oh, it's how we are born! A mind flayer tadpole implants itself into a host -- in this case, a beholder -- and through a long process, merges with the host to become an entirely new being!
Krach:	Oh neat! We do something similar. But with chaos energy and poisonous bites!
Mot:	Hm. What happens when you do that ceremorphosis thing on a fiend?
Xetzirbor:	Oh interesting -- I'm not sure that's ever been tried! How very interesting indeed. But first, we must deal with the mindwitness. It's alerting Cyrog as we speak!
40	Defeat the Mindwitness		Mindwitnesses are born from beholders implanted with a mind flayer tadpole to undergo ceremorphosis. It's the worst of both worlds!
Mot:	Lady, I mean it. You have to get out of here.
Havilar:	Gods, give me a moment. This is a weird room. What are the squirmy things in the tubes?
Xetzirbor:	Ah those are the tadpoles I mentioned earlier! Our young, our hope for a new colony. They're almost ready to be transferred! Aren't they adorable?
Havilar:	They are...squirmy.
Xetzirbor:	Quite! Now to get to the elder brain, we must get the doors open. The pool is on the other side.
Jarlaxle:	Oh good, just past all those intellect devourers and grimlocks! Well the more things change...
41	Defeat 25 Enemies		The colony's inhabitants won't let you pass without a fight! Battle through the intellect devourers and grimlocks!
42	Defeat 25 Enemies		Both mind flayer and intellect devourers want to eat your brains! Take advantage of their distraction and cut them down!
Xetzirbor:	No! Cyrog's ordered them to flood the room! The incubating brine! It will drown you all and risk the tadpoles!
Jarlaxle:	How do we shut it off?
Bruenor:	Bash tha controls ta bits, I'd say.
Xetzirbor:	That's the quickest way! Hurry!
43	Defeat 1 Monsters		Oh no! The antechamber is filling up with viscous tadpole brine! Break the control panels before you drown!
44	Defeat 25 Enemies		The floor is covered in tadpoles, but the mind flayer guards keep their footing just fine! Brace for the attack!
Xetzirbor:	All right, my friends, this is not when I would have chosen to do this, but needs must. If you could all take those bottles you collected earlier and catch a tadpole? Yes, it doesn't strictly matter which, but if you find yourself drawn to one in particular, follow that feeling. After all, you will be very well acquainted soon.
Celeste:	I'm sorry, what?
Xetzirbor:	Oh, well you need to keep them for later, since we still need to confront Cyrog. If you were to insert the tadpoles into your ears and begin the ceremorphosis process, you would be paralysed for sometime while the tadpole consumes your brain. I can certainly protect you during the process once Cyrog is dealt with, but not before.
Mot:	I TOLD YOU! I TOLD YOU! I TOLD YOU!
Celeste:	Xetzirbor, how could you? You said we were allies! That you would protect us!
Xetzirbor:	Of course! I would always protect my colony. Which I assumed would be you! YOU said we were friends -- are you telling me you don't want to become a mind flayer and stay here with me, building a new colony? A stronger, wiser colony?
Jarlaxle:	Of course we don't! What on earth made you think we'd want to become mind flayers?!
Xetzirbor:	WELL. That is just...I can't believe you surface types. Promising to help refound a colony -- how did you THINK this would work? You said you'd help! You said we were friends! And now you're turning against me!
Celeste:	I said we'd help you settle somewhere else! Not that we'd let tadpoles eat our brains from the inside out and turn us into mind flayers!
Xetzirbor:	And what's so wrong with being a mind flayer? No. Don't answer. I see how this is. We cannot be friends, Champions, and so we shall be the cruelest of enemies!
45	Defeat the Xetzirbor		Xetzirbor's plans turn on your destruction -- time to fight and survive!
Celeste:	I don't think there was another way this could end, after all that. But...I'm sorry to have lost them.
Mot:	Even though they were plotting to feed your brains to the mind flayer tadpoles?!
Celeste:	It's worse, somehow, because they really did think that was a generous thing to do. That we were harming the colony by refusing. But there's no way we could have and once they turned on us...Come on. We need to make sure that elder brain isn't harboring more of Orcus's power before we go.
Cyrog:	INTRUDERS! SEIZE THEM! IN THE NAME OF CYROG AND ORCUS SEIZE THEM!
Havilar:	Wow! That's an elder brain? It's huge. And...not very well armored. Is this difficult? It doesn't look difficult.
Drizzt:	Don't get complacent. It's got control over all the creatures in its colony. We're fortunate to have the rings of mind-shielding so it doesn't get control of us as well!
Celeste:	We don't know what Cyrog can do given Orcus has corrupted it. But we need to make our way over to it first!
Cyrog:	DEFEND ME, MY CHILDREN!
46	Defeat 25 Enemies		The elder brain waits on the other side of its pool -- and its minions block your path! Battle the mind flayer guards and intellect devourers!
Havilar:	All right. Fine. Mot, you were right. Xetzirbor was dangerous.
Mot:	Next time, listen to me! NOT THE EVIL MONSTER!
Havilar:	Wait, but technically, you're also an evil monster.
Krach:	Ooh, she's got you there!
Mot:	That's not...It's different because...Ugh, lady, look, there's some mind flayers to fight.
47	Defeat 25 Enemies		The mind flayers -- undead and alive -- will defend Cyrog to the death!
Baeloth:	Well that's intriguing. There's bones in the pool brine.
Havilar:	Is that intriguing? Don't they eat people's brains? Maybe this is a mind flayer midden.
Baeloth:	For starters, those aren't people bones -- they're dragon bones. What's a dragon skeleton doing in an elder brain pool?
Celeste:	Very curious. Let's take them with us. Maybe we can figure out what's going on here.
48	Collect 25 Dragon Bones		What are these dragon bones doing in the elder brain's pool? That seems concerning. Gather them up!
49	Defeat 25 Enemies		The corruption of Orcus will never leave this colony unless you clear his undead thralls from the place.
Cyrog:	YOU DARE TOO CLOSE, FEEBLE-MINDED SURFACE DWELLERS. MY CHILDREN MAY BE A POWERFUL THREAT, BUT THEY ARE NOT MY ONLY RESOURCES.
Celeste:	No, you've taken on a demon lord's power too, haven't you?
Cyrog:	IN LIFE, I WAS THE GREAT HEART OF THIS COLONY. IN UNDEATH, I WILL LEAD MY MASTER TO RULE THE ENTIRE PLANE.
Jarlaxle:	Not if we can help it!
50	Defeat the Cyrog		The elder brain Cyrog is still powerful, even in undeath! Guard your thoughts and raise your weapons! It's going to attack!
Jarlaxle:	Well at least THAT won't be following us on to our next task. Although I shudder to think what other demon lords might be running rampant in the Underdark...and what else they might bend to their will.
Celeste:	We have the samples of the demon lord's blood. We'll need to find a purple worm's egg next, and thirteen timmasks -- that's a mushroom. A very large mushroom.
Jarlaxle:	How large?
Celeste:	About the size of a small child. Or a purple worm egg. Hmm.
Jarlaxle:	Well then it sounds like the next thing we need to do is find someone who can sell us a cart. Because I am not hauling a purple worm egg and thirteen toddler-sized mushrooms back to Vizeran without some assistance. Fortunately, I know a guy. Just have to get my bearings...
Previous: The Dark Heart		Next: The Oozing Hunger