It makes perfect sense that your players are eager to get out of the Underdark and stay out of the Underdark. Great. Go with that. It will take more effort on your part to adapt the adventure to suit the desires of your players, but it is possible. If you take a close look at Out of the Abyss, the action does not need to occur in the Underdark for the story to work.
Here's how you do it.
Once the players exit the Underdark, they are summoned by the Zhentarim. Play out the Bruenor chapter as written, except reskinned for the Zhents. Rather than Bruenor, the conclave is led by a heavy hitter in the Zhentarim (perhaps the person who rules the Zhents, whoever that might be). Most of the guests are unsavory types such as the Red Wizards, Arcane Brotherhood, the Xanathar, etc. If you want, Bruenor and some good guys can show up--reluctant to partner with the Zhents but aware of the dire situation. Once the conclave is finished, a demon lord of your choice explodes from beneath their feet and slaughters everyone present. Dead. Bodies. Everywhere. Zhent HQ in smoking ruins. And the players barely escape with their lives.
Meanwhile, all across the Sword Coast, demon lords are emerging from the Underdark and laying waste to the land. WotC doesn't want to wreck the Forgotten Realms...but you can! Each demon lord is essentially Godzilla, so imagine what it would be like if six Godzillas were running wild across a medieval fantasy landscape. It would be awesome.
Now, the players have to trek across the Sword Coast to gather the necessary McGuffins to destroy the demon lords and save the Realms. All you need to do is reskin each location. For example, Mantol-Derith becomes a Zhent fortress. The library at Gravenhollow becomes Candlekeep. Menzoberranzan becomes Silverymoon or Waterdeep. Et cetera. Reskin Vizeran as Szass Tam or some other heavy hitter from Realmslore.
That's a campaign I would love to play or DM.
Here's how you do it.
Once the players exit the Underdark, they are summoned by the Zhentarim. Play out the Bruenor chapter as written, except reskinned for the Zhents. Rather than Bruenor, the conclave is led by a heavy hitter in the Zhentarim (perhaps the person who rules the Zhents, whoever that might be). Most of the guests are unsavory types such as the Red Wizards, Arcane Brotherhood, the Xanathar, etc. If you want, Bruenor and some good guys can show up--reluctant to partner with the Zhents but aware of the dire situation. Once the conclave is finished, a demon lord of your choice explodes from beneath their feet and slaughters everyone present. Dead. Bodies. Everywhere. Zhent HQ in smoking ruins. And the players barely escape with their lives.
Meanwhile, all across the Sword Coast, demon lords are emerging from the Underdark and laying waste to the land. WotC doesn't want to wreck the Forgotten Realms...but you can! Each demon lord is essentially Godzilla, so imagine what it would be like if six Godzillas were running wild across a medieval fantasy landscape. It would be awesome.
Now, the players have to trek across the Sword Coast to gather the necessary McGuffins to destroy the demon lords and save the Realms. All you need to do is reskin each location. For example, Mantol-Derith becomes a Zhent fortress. The library at Gravenhollow becomes Candlekeep. Menzoberranzan becomes Silverymoon or Waterdeep. Et cetera. Reskin Vizeran as Szass Tam or some other heavy hitter from Realmslore.
That's a campaign I would love to play or DM.
