quote:
Originally posted by ZFR:
there is no way to return to surface before completing underdark (and after you return to surface there is now way to return to underdark either)...
Spoilers
Firstly you can return to the underdark after you've left, just go back through the exit at the elves camp. Secondly it's true that you can't leave the underdark initially until you've done the drow quests. However you can do an abridged version, eg not to the beholder/ilithid areas, don't do the imprisioned mage quest etc.