Hunt for the Hydra

As you are leaving from Gracklstugh, you see a gathering of people: underdark and surface dwellers alike. They are gathered near the western Great Gates and appear to be forming a hunting mob.   Approaching them, you inquire about what is happening. Surprised, one of the group turns to you, "You mean you haven't heard? A hydra has been spotted and we are forming a hunting party to go defeat it for its hoard, meat, and the safety of the town." Looking you up and down, "You should put your name into the race, whoever slays it gets the biggest share of the reward."   Looking about the group, you see evidence of madness everywhere--some people are even wielding fish as if they were weapons.   Listening further to the conversations going about, you can tell that the only true consensus that this group has come to is that the hydra, that is either the size of horse or bigger than a house, is not far past the west gate in a cavern just off the darklake. As such, no one but the hunting party is currently being permitted to leave through these gate...but the docks are unguarded.   Sneaking off towards the docks to finally be rid of this city of madness, you slip off into the cool dark water that glistens with the light of floating embers reflecting of its obsidian surface. Your small skiff cuts through the black glass water, the sound of hammers slowly fades off into the swollen silence of the underdark, the faerez crystals the only thing lighting the path ahead. But which way will you go now? Forward? Back? Nowhere? That way?