Quick Questions Options

[pappy]

I found Drizzt, and then went to the gnolls without minsc (forgot to bring him...he was, um, kinda mad when i got back!). I was going to go back to an inn and sell my goodies and such, but ran into regis on the way and had to go to the nine hells. I then ran into E and he sent me to IWD. This was pretty early on in the game...i just cleared the mines. My questions are:

1. Am I going to have to go through the whole drizzt saga straight through now, or am I going to get a chance to go back and finish up some lose ends with my prot first?
2. If I do go through IWD, am I going to lose Drizz and all his buddies after his saga is through, or can I hold on to those guys until I finish the game?