Narbondel

The Narbondel was a huge stalagmite in the city of Menzoberranzan and served as a clock for its inhabitants.

History
At one time, the drow Zaknafein Do'Urden found Menzoberra's tomb within Narbondel and took the Dagger of Menzoberra back to the city. During the Time of Troubles in 1358 DR, the clocktower was bathed in searing flames which blinded those who looked upon it with darkvision.

Structure
At the end of every day, the archmage of the city, Gromph Baenre, cast fire magic upon the stone to heat it. This heated point climbed the stalagmite during the day and showed the drow the passing of time. At the end, the stone glowed red before it cooled down rapidly and the archmage renewed the magic. This darkening of the Narbondel was called Black Death of Narbondel.

Tomb of Menzoberra
Besides being the clock of Menzoberranzan, the stone pillar housed a much greater secret. Within the stalagmite, the ancestors built the tomb of the legendary founder of the city itself, Menzoberra the Kinless. From a top of the pillar, a secret stair lead to the hidden chamber where the body of the priestess once lay in a cocoon upon a huge spider's web spanning a tremendous abyss. When Zaknafein took the Dagger of Menzoberra, the spider's web crashed and the cocoon with the corpse fell into the depths.