Protect the Myconid Circle

Key takeaways

The essential route is straightforward, but the Glut decision can substantially alter the colony's reaction.

Start at the colony Speak to Sovereign Spaw in the Underdark Myconid Colony to initiate the quest and receive the objective involving the Duergar at the beach.
Use Glut strategically Glut may join the fight and can resurrect fallen creatures as temporary allies, giving the party an additional way to build combat support.
Return to Spaw After the Duergar are defeated, report back to Sovereign Spaw to complete the defensive objective and gain access to the Sovereign's Refuge.
Treat the Glut proposal as a major choice If Glut asks the party to betray Spaw, siding with Glut requires killing Spaw and makes most of the colony hostile, although it awards the King Bringer title.
Check the equipment implications The quest rewards Shadow of Menzoberranzan and is a necessary step for obtaining parts of the Mourning Frost staff.

Protect the Myconid Circle

Protect the Myconid Circle is an Act 1 side quest centred on the Myconid Colony in the Underdark and the Duergar attacking it.

The quest begins when the party speaks with Sovereign Spaw in the Underdark Myconid Colony. Spaw identifies a group of Duergar at the Underdark beach as the immediate threat, giving the party a clear objective: reach the beach and eliminate the attackers before returning to the colony.

The main combat encounter is not limited to the player character and their usual party. A Myconid named Glut can be recruited to assist, and his distinctive ability allows him to resurrect fallen creatures as temporary allies. This can change the shape of the fight, particularly when a suitable defeated creature is available to support the party.

Once the Duergar have been eliminated, reporting back to Sovereign Spaw completes the quest and grants access to the Sovereign's Refuge. The outcome can become more complicated if Glut asks the party to betray Spaw. Siding with Glut and killing Spaw changes the colony's response, awards the King Bringer title, and causes most other inhabitants to become hostile.

The quest also has wider equipment implications. Its rewards include Shadow of Menzoberranzan, and completing it is a necessary step toward obtaining parts of the Mourning Frost staff. Protect the Myconid Circle should not be confused with Avenge Glut's Circle, which is a separate task concerning the conflict between the two Myconid sovereigns.

Where this sits

Act 1The quest takes place during the first act.

UnderdarkThe Myconid Colony and the attacking Duergar are found in this region.

Defend the colonyComplete the objective assigned by Sovereign Spaw.

Resolve the sovereign conflictGlut may present an allegiance choice after the defensive task.

1Speak to Sovereign SpawstartThis conversation in the Underdark Myconid Colony initiates the quest.
2Travel to the Underdark beachobjectiveThe Duergar attacking the colony are located at the beach.
3Eliminate the DuergarcombatDefeat the group responsible for attacking the colony.
4Report back to Sovereign Spawturn-inReturning after the fight completes the main defensive objective.
5Decide whether to support GlutchoiceGlut's betrayal proposal creates a separate major outcome.

The core progression runs from Spaw's request to the beach fight and a return to the colony; the Glut decision is an optional branch with major consequences.

Requirements

The known starting requirement is access to the Underdark Myconid Colony and a conversation with Sovereign Spaw.

RequiredReach the Underdark Myconid ColonyThe quest is initiated in the colony, so the party must be able to reach and interact with this Underdark location.
RequiredSpeak to Sovereign SpawSpaw is the character who gives the defensive objective involving the Duergar at the Underdark beach.
RecommendedPrepare for a Duergar encounterThe quest's primary task is combat against the group attacking the colony. The source material does not specify a recommended level or required equipment.
OptionalConsider recruiting GlutGlut can assist in the fight and resurrect fallen creatures as temporary allies, but using his help is not stated as mandatory for completion.

Objectives

Speak to Sovereign Spaw in the Underdark Myconid Colony.This begins Protect the Myconid Circle and establishes the colony's immediate threat.
Travel to the Underdark beach.The attacking Duergar are located at the beach rather than inside the colony.
Kill the Duergar attacking the colony.The primary objective is to remove the group responsible for the attacks.
Report back to Sovereign Spaw.Returning to Spaw after the Duergar are eliminated completes the quest.
Decide how to respond to Glut's proposal.Glut may ask the party to betray Spaw, creating a choice between the two Myconid characters.Optional

WalkthroughSpoilers

01
Reach the quest-giver
Find the Underdark Myconid Colony
Travel to the Myconid Colony in the Underdark and locate the settlement's sovereign. The source material does not specify a single required route into the colony, so use the approach available in your current exploration path.
Location: Underdark Myconid Colony
02
Initiate Protect the Myconid Circle
Speak to Sovereign Spaw
Talk to Sovereign Spaw inside the colony to start Protect the Myconid Circle. Listen for the request concerning the Duergar at the Underdark beach; this conversation is the point at which the defensive objective becomes active.
Location: Underdark Myconid Colony
Checkpoint
03
Get ready for the beach encounter
Prepare before leaving the colony
Organise the party before travelling to the beach, because the next known objective is to eliminate a group of Duergar. Glut may be recruited to help, but the available facts do not identify a required party composition or a specific preparation route.
Location: Underdark Myconid Colony
TipConsider whether you want Glut's assistance before committing to the fight; his resurrection ability can provide temporary support.
04
Reach the attacking Duergar
Travel to the Underdark beach
Make your way from the colony to the beach where the Duergar are located. The source material identifies the beach as the encounter location but does not establish a precise entrance, direction, ladder, or terrain route.
Location: Underdark beach
05
Kill the Duergar
Defeat the Duergar
Kill the group of Duergar attacking the colony. The known information does not provide a reliable enemy count, named Duergar leaders, or a fixed encounter sequence, so the important completion condition is that the attacking group is eliminated.
Location: Underdark beach
Watch outDo not leave the beach fight unfinished if the quest objective remains active; the defensive task is completed by eliminating the attackers.
06
Support the fight
Use Glut's temporary allies if helpful
If Glut is accompanying the party, he can resurrect fallen creatures so they serve as temporary allies. This is an optional combat tool rather than a separate required objective, and the available facts do not specify which individual creatures are eligible.
Location: Underdark beach
TipGlut's value is greatest after a creature has fallen, so treat his resurrection ability as a way to add battlefield support rather than as a replacement for defeating the Duergar.
07
Report the victory to Spaw
Return to Sovereign Spaw
After the Duergar have been eliminated, go back to the Myconid Colony and report the result to Sovereign Spaw. This return conversation completes the main quest and provides access to the Sovereign's Refuge.
Location: Underdark Myconid Colony
Checkpoint
08
Choose between Sovereign Spaw and Glut
Consider Glut's demand
After the defensive conflict, Glut may ask the party to betray Spaw and make Glut the new sovereign. Supporting this route requires killing Spaw, so make the decision only after considering the effect on the rest of the colony.
Location: Underdark Myconid Colony
Watch outSiding with Glut makes most other inhabitants of the colony hostile.
09
Claim the quest outcome
Collect the resulting reward and access
The quest's stated rewards include Shadow of Menzoberranzan, while completion also opens access to the Sovereign's Refuge. The quest is additionally a necessary step toward obtaining parts of the Mourning Frost staff.
Location: Underdark Myconid Colony
Missable

Mission mechanics

Protect the Myconid Circle is built around a defend-and-report structure rather than a search for a hidden object. Sovereign Spaw sends the party to the Underdark beach, where the Duergar attacking the colony must be eliminated. The main progression advances when the attackers are dealt with and the party returns to Spaw.

Glut provides the quest's most distinctive combat mechanic. If recruited, he can resurrect fallen creatures and turn them into temporary allies, allowing the party to use the aftermath of combat to create additional support. The source material does not establish a fixed creature list or a limit for this ability, so those details should not be treated as universal instructions.

The quest also functions as a political choice. Glut may propose replacing Spaw, turning a straightforward defence mission into a decision between the existing sovereign and the challenger. The choice is consequential: killing Spaw for Glut awards the King Bringer title, but most of the colony becomes hostile.

What works and what does notSpoilers

Strengths

The objective is clearly tied to the immediate threat facing the Myconid Colony.
Glut can add temporary allied creatures through resurrection, giving the party an additional tactical option.
The quest connects combat, faction trust, access to the Sovereign's Refuge, and equipment progression.

Weaknesses

The Glut branch has a severe social cost because most of the colony becomes hostile if Spaw is killed.
The source material does not identify a fixed Duergar count or a detailed encounter sequence, so a precise enemy-by-enemy route cannot be confirmed.
The quest can be confused with Avenge Glut's Circle even though the two are separate tasks.

Best uses

Complete the defensive objective when you want to build trust with the Myconid community.
Consider Glut's resurrection ability when additional temporary combat support is useful.
Review the Spaw-versus-Glut consequences before choosing the colony's future sovereign.

Choices and consequencesSpoilers

Support Sovereign Spaw after defeating the Duergar
Reporting back to Spaw completes the quest, grants access to the Sovereign's Refuge, and supports the Myconid community's trust in the party.
Recruit Glut to assist with the fight
Glut can resurrect fallen creatures to serve as temporary allies. The available facts do not state that recruiting him is required to complete the quest.
Accept Glut's proposal and kill Sovereign Spaw
Glut becomes the supported claimant, the party earns the King Bringer title, and most other inhabitants of the colony become hostile.
Spoiler
Decline Glut's betrayal proposal
The party does not take the stated route of killing Spaw for Glut. The source material does not specify every later dialogue or reward variation for declining.
Spoiler

Completion checklist

Reach the Underdark Myconid Colony.The quest begins in the colony.
Speak to Sovereign Spaw.Spaw initiates the defensive objective.
Locate the Duergar at the Underdark beach.This is the stated location of the attackers.
Eliminate the Duergar attacking the colony.The central completion objective is to kill the group.
Return to Sovereign Spaw.Report the result to complete the main quest.
Recruit Glut before or during the conflict.Optional support; Glut can resurrect fallen creatures as temporary allies.Optional
Check the Sovereign's Refuge after completion.Successful completion grants access to it.
Evaluate the Spaw and Glut allegiance choice.Siding with Glut has major consequences for the colony.Optional
Confirm the Shadow of Menzoberranzan reward.This item is listed among the quest rewards.
Track progress toward the Mourning Frost staff.The quest is a necessary step for obtaining parts of the staff.Optional

Failure conditionsSpoilers

The Duergar remain aliveThe primary defensive objective is not complete until the group of Duergar attacking the colony has been eliminated.
Sovereign Spaw is killed for GlutThis is not a neutral resolution. It produces the King Bringer outcome and causes most other colony inhabitants to become hostile.
The party treats the quest as Avenge Glut's CircleAvenge Glut's Circle is a separate task involving the conflict between the Myconid sovereigns, so it should not be used as a substitute for the beach objective.

On failure

The known quest flow includes a starting conversation with Sovereign Spaw, the beach encounter, and a return conversation. The source material does not specify every reload point or failure-state reset.

Rewards and drops

Shadow of Menzoberranzan
Listed as a reward for completing Protect the Myconid Circle.
Sovereign's Refuge access
Successful completion and the report to Sovereign Spaw grant access to the Sovereign's Refuge.
Mourning Frost staff progress
Completing the quest is a necessary step for obtaining parts of the Mourning Frost staff.
King Bringer title
Awarded if the party sides with Glut and kills Sovereign Spaw; this outcome also turns most of the colony hostile.

AftermathSpoilers

The colony's future depends on the Glut choice

The standard resolution is to return to Sovereign Spaw after eliminating the Duergar, but Glut may propose a replacement. Killing Spaw for Glut grants the King Bringer title while making most of the colony hostile, so preserve a save before committing if you want to compare outcomes.

Trivia

Protect the Myconid Circle is an Act 1 quest set in the Underdark.
The quest's title refers to defending the Myconid community from the Duergar attacking it.
Glut's ability to resurrect fallen creatures makes him more than a dialogue participant during the beach conflict.
Protect the Myconid Circle and Avenge Glut's Circle are distinct quests despite both involving the Myconid sovereigns.
The King Bringer title is associated with siding with Glut and killing Sovereign Spaw.

Relationships

Characters

Sovereign SpawQuest giverInitiates Protect the Myconid Circle in the Underdark Myconid Colony.
GlutOptional ally and rival claimantCan assist in the fight and may later ask the party to betray Spaw.

Related missions

Avenge Glut's CircleSeparate questA distinct task involving the conflict between the Myconid sovereigns.

Rewards

Shadow of MenzoberranzanQuest rewardListed among the rewards for completing the quest.
Mourning FrostEquipment progressionThe quest is a necessary step for obtaining parts of the Mourning Frost staff.