Into the Depths

Military action

The group makes their way to Dher Boldar, the underground city of the Dwarves. They gain entrance by explaining their quest to Hell and are backed up by the people of Ixam. While they initially wanted to just pass through, they get caught up in a conflict between the Dwarves and the neighboring Drow. The Drow have shut down communications with the dwarves, and many are concerned they've reverted to their evil ways under the spider queen. This turns out to not be the case as the party investigates and finds that the Drow are actually being controlled by an invasive mind flayer colony.

The party's reputation as heroes grants them an audience with the noble houses of the dwarves and they attempt to negotiate passage through the Underdark. This leads them to work under House Harrowmont during their investigation into the Drow. Shin, once he discovered the truth about what's happening with the Drow, orchestrates a double-cross in which the Dwarves think they're negotiating with the Drow, and the Mind Flayers think they're going to surprise attack the Dwarves. A war breaks out between the Dwarves and the mind-controlled Drow, and the party slips away amidst the chaos and destroys the Elder Brain that was unifying the hive mind of the Mind Flayers. They also recruit a sentient golem named Shale to their cause before escaping into the further depths of the Underdark.