Baldur's Gate : The Sword Coast Chronicles : NWN2 Persistent World

What is the policy regarding surfacers questing in the UD and visa versa?

My surface orc character is cut off from a lot of surface quests because he is not allowed in Beregost and BG.

I recall orcs were once allowed to enter BG and pick up the quests if they flagged themselves as AFK. Is that no longer a thing?

I have the feeling I would not be able to enter BG as I know I am unable to enter Beregost.

Since orcs are common to both the surface and underdark I want to check if I have the option to quest in the UD, to make up for my limited surface questing options.

You do not, because UD quests are now locked to be accessible only by UD characters (regardless of race). Ran into the same issue with my own orc, should've made him a UDer.

Yes, I ran into the AFK tag issue recently as well when trying to access a few specific merchants in areas that mechanically kick orcs out.

As Dalo said, the Underdark is more mechanically conducive to being an orc due to quests among other reasons.

Well that is not fair.