By Calia Melve'tner

~On the opening page is a map of the Underdark. In the bottom Center is Udos Dro'xun. North and northeast of it is an area labelled the Forest of Spores. East of the Forest of Spores is a city marked Grond. Inside the Forest of Spores, in the southeast Corner, is a little cave opening shape labled "Stinger Caves". Northwest of Udos Dro~xun is a town marked "Wild Svirfneblin Town". East of Grond is a detailed pathway of to the Trade Post, that shows the way around to get to the Trade Post. At the end of the path, is a single cell called "Jhared~s Trade Post". South of the Trade Post is an area marked "Ruins".~

To survive in the Underdark, you don't have to be as skilled as you think. I bet even someone with twelve seasons of training could go down there alone and most likely survive. Here's some tips for surviving for long down there, if you ever get stuck down there. Firstly, it is best to stay hidden from Drow and other Underdark races. Invisibility and Camouflage work well down there. Secondly, you should stay away from the mushrooms and crystals. The mushrooms shoot out spores at you which can make you sick. Also, the crystals fall over and hit you on the head, sometimes. Thirdly, watch out for all the traps inside the Underdark. There are various types of traps sprinkled everywhere. Most of them are elemental or slow ones, so Freedom of Movement or Elemental Shields helps a lot.

When in the Underdark, it is best to stay hidden and avoid Drow and other Underdark races. One of the best places is the Svirfneblin Village, even though they are very hostile to all races, even the Underdark ones. One place NOT to go is the Ruins, it's very dangerous there. I don't recommend going there unless you're stuck below with a friend. There are undead soldiers there, even commanders with flaming spears.If you are looking to get outside of the Underdark, you best head for Jhared's Trading Post or the Stinger Caves. Those are the only two ways out of the Underdark. One place I have noticed the Drow common is the Tribal Caverns southeast of Udos Dro'xun. The Drow go there to train commonly, and to check the Stinger Caves for surfacers.

There are two ways to get into the Underdark. The first way is through the Minmir Cave, which is pretty straight-forward. But there's an easier way to get there through the Orc Cave. In the Orc Cave, you open the locked door and take a direct RIGHT, and go slip through the narrow passage-way. Then, you head south until you get to a room. Once in the room, take a RIGHT, and go through another narrow passage-way. Then, head south until you get to a locked door. To open the door, you need a key which is on the other side. Hence that, you need to get someone to give you that key. (Order a key today from Calia Melve'tner!) Then, you head down and every time you hit a fork in the pathway, go north. Then, once you have gotten into the skinny cave, find your way through it on the northeast corner of the cave. Then, you're in the Underdark.

There are many notable places inside the Underdark. One place is the Svirfneblin Village, which is a great place to get invisibility potions, after you kill the Svirfneblins. Also, you can find topaz there. Another notable place is the Kuo-Tan building, which is a small tower-like building in the DarkFalls, marked with a diamond on the map in the front. It's a hard place to train, but good none-the-less. Thirdly is the Stinger Caves, inside the Forest of Spores. Inside there is some topaz, and a tunnel that leads into the Tribal Caverns. Also, it leads back up to the surface at the end.Lastly is the Ruins. The Ruins is probably one of the parts of a city dragged into the UnderDark a long time ago into a place known as the Vault. I believe past the Ruins lies the vault, but I haven't been past the ruins quite yet.

In the Underdark, the geography is just like here up on the surface. They have a somewhat marshy place, a forest, and a few cities. Also, they have a barbaric village. Down south, near the Trade Post, is a small marshy area where lizards live. Inside that small area, is a little Kuo-tan structure. You have to pass through this area to get to the Trade Post. The Forest of Spores has four main parts, divided by rocky cliffs. One has a decently large chasm with a bridge going across it, the next is the middle of it, then comes the eastern half, and the svirfneblin village.Lastly, is the Vault, which is a big area of the Underdark. I've not seen the Vault myself, but I have heard stories about it.