It seems like there is a real risk of any given party missing out on a lot of the chapter 3-6 stuff, especially if they only want out (up, to the surface).
10. THE ROAD BACK. About three-fourths of the way through the story, the hero is driven to complete the adventure, leaving the Special World to be sure the treasure is brought home. Often a chase scene signals the urgency and danger of the mission.
11. THE RESURRECTION. At the climax, the hero is severely tested once more on the threshold of home. He or she is purified by a last sacrifice, another moment of death and rebirth, but on a higher and more complete level. By the hero’s action, the polarities that were in conflict at the beginning are finally resolved.
I have a question. My niece and nephew just bought me the book for my birthday, and I turned to the monster stats expecting mindflayer lichs... I know I read in the promo stuff that Orcus took an elder brain and turned it undead and it made a whole city of the flayers crave undeath... but I can't find it in the book itself. even if just flavor with no stats that sounds awesome, where do I look for it?