OK - in order to get Imoen out of Spellhold I had to lave Aeire behind - not happy at all - any way of going back in and/or getting her out again??

Nope.

Reload to a point before you leave (on the ship) for spellhold. Kick arie out. And continue.

In part, there's *strong* pressure to keep Yoshimo in your party while you head to spellhold. You *might* just try swapping out arie for Yoshimo, and heading to spellhold with a 6-member party.

Don't they always offer to meet you at the coronet? Imoen did with me when i released her ... maybe Aeire would go back to the circus until you picked her up?

This doesn't seem to apply in Spellhold though. Imoen you can tell to go back to the Copper Coronet, but others don't give you this option. I'm unsure whether this is a bug or not.

Imoen is the only one whom you can leave behind and meet later back in Athkatla -- it is for reasons of the story. You'll remember that something is taken from her and from you in Spellhold, which you are told you must retrieve.

Thanks everyone - mind you I dont fancy going back as far as i would need to in order to leave for Spellhold with only a 5 strong party - though I think the adventure is do able with 5. Interesting point about keeping Yoshimo tho since I went to Spellhold without him.

Actually (at least with ToB installed) you can go back to the asylum if you so choose after you find your way out of the underdark. You'll have to go through the portal then go through the caves again but that shouldn't be overdifficult

What are you on about? after leaving Spellhold you CANNOT go back - even with ToB

Anyway some NPCs opt to go to the Copper Coronet after you leave them

some NPCs opt to go to the Copper Coronet after you leave them

As I stated above, in Spellhold, only Imoen does this. The rest don't seem to give you that option (at least, the ones that usually did never gave me the option)

I seem to remember reading that Jaheira could make her own way back as well - has anyone else heard this?

I seem to remember reading that Jaheira could make her own way back as well - has anyone else heard this?

I actually heard this as a bug exploit in Dan Simpson's guide explaining how to keep the drow equipment after you leave the Underdark. Never tried it myself, but you may be correct on that Maldir.