Help with Narbondel [Archive] - Wizards Community

Help with Narbondel [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Tokugawa
07-02-03, 03:04 AM This question might have been answered in some 3e sourcebook which I have yet to put my hands on, but how is the Narbondel question explained?

For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, Narbondel's the rock pillar in Menzoberranzan that works as its "clock" by absorbing heat from the Archmage's fire spell and then having it dissipate throughout the day. The resulting heat ebb and flow is seen by people with infravision, which translates into time. For instance, when all the heat is gone from Narbondel, it is midnight in Menzoberranzan.

This system is quite clever for a race of drow with infravision under 2e, but with 3e it all changes. Since darkvision is based on light and not heat, how does Narbondel tell the time for the denizens of Menzoberranzan?

I'm trying to think of some clever solution but the creative juices of other people are gladly welcomed to try to give this nutshell a crack.
Orbdrin Mizzrym
07-02-03, 03:40 AM I figure the thing blazes with heat, and even in the normal spectrum, you can see it quite easily glowing with heat. So, not a problem to explain how drow with Darkvision can see it. The rock itself would glow with heat and light.
Acererak
07-02-03, 10:08 AM IMC, it's a spell similiar to faerie fire. Narbondel just glows dimly - starting at the base and working its way up for 12 hrs. then down for 12.
Zanan
07-02-03, 10:15 AM ... or they (will) simply use the spell Darkfire of the FRCS in some heigthened way.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Tokugawa 07-02-03, 03:04 AM	This question might have been answered in some 3e sourcebook which I have yet to put my hands on, but how is the Narbondel question explained? For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, Narbondel's the rock pillar in Menzoberranzan that works as its "clock" by absorbing heat from the Archmage's fire spell and then having it dissipate throughout the day. The resulting heat ebb and flow is seen by people with infravision, which translates into time. For instance, when all the heat is gone from Narbondel, it is midnight in Menzoberranzan. This system is quite clever for a race of drow with infravision under 2e, but with 3e it all changes. Since darkvision is based on light and not heat, how does Narbondel tell the time for the denizens of Menzoberranzan? I'm trying to think of some clever solution but the creative juices of other people are gladly welcomed to try to give this nutshell a crack.
Orbdrin Mizzrym 07-02-03, 03:40 AM	I figure the thing blazes with heat, and even in the normal spectrum, you can see it quite easily glowing with heat. So, not a problem to explain how drow with Darkvision can see it. The rock itself would glow with heat and light.
Acererak 07-02-03, 10:08 AM	IMC, it's a spell similiar to faerie fire. Narbondel just glows dimly - starting at the base and working its way up for 12 hrs. then down for 12.
Zanan 07-02-03, 10:15 AM	... or they (will) simply use the spell Darkfire of the FRCS in some heigthened way.