Darkfire was a spell used by the clerics of the Dark Seldarine.[1][2]
Effects[]
On casting the spell, dark fire appeared in the hands of the caster. These flames did not hurt neither the caster's body nor the caster's equipment, except for clothing in the flames' immediate area,[3] but could be used as a heat source like any other fire. However, the flames didn't produce any light and were invisible to anyone without darkvision. The last property was why it was sometimes used as signal or beacon for creatures with such vision[4][1][2] for it was brighter to darkvision than other fire.[3]
The fire in the hands could be used to either hit people in melee or be thrown within a range of 120 feet (36.6 meters). If thrown, new fire appeared immediately on throwing,[4][1][2] and flammable objects touched by the flame started to burn for one to two minutes.[3]
The spell was originally developed for ceremonial purposes by the church of Lolth. It could turn normal flames into darkfire or ignite fuel with it. Its weaponization was done in later development.[3]
The fire of darkfire was special in that it was never ineffective against creatures who were resistant against fire and even creatures who normally enjoyed an immunity against fire were not necessarily safe from darkfire.[5]
Being a fire spell, the spell did not work underwater.[4][1][2]
Components[]
The spell had only verbal and somatic components.[4][1][2]
History[]
As mentioned above, darkfire was originally developed for ceremonial purposes by the church of Lolth. The spell was notable as Lolth was quite liberal in her distribution of this spell. Every time, she found an imposter or spy present during a ceremony of hers, she provided this spell for free to every attending cleric to be used against the spy after she attacked the spy herself with a searing flame.[6]
Darkfire was one of those spells developed by the church of Lolth whose usage spilled over to other drow churches.[3] For example, darkfire was the first thing, a darkmask, a specialty priest of Vhaeraun, learned.[7][8]
During the Silence of Lolth, Quenthel Baenre used this spell to combat a demonic assassin sent by her brother Gromph Baenre.[9]
Appendix[]
See Also[]
Appearances[]
Novels & Short Stories
Video Games
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Jason Carl, Sean K. Reynolds (October 2001). Lords of Darkness. Edited by Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 186. ISBN 07-8691-989-2.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Sean K. Reynolds, Duane Maxwell, Angel McCoy (August 2001). Magic of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 86–87. ISBN 0-7869-1964-7.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Eric L. Boyd (November 1998). Demihuman Deities. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 31. ISBN 0-7869-1239-1.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Matthew Sernett, Jeff Grubb, Mike McArtor (Dec 2005). Spell Compendium. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 59. ISBN 0-7869-3702-5.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (July 1991). The Drow of the Underdark. (TSR, Inc), p. 59. ISBN 1-56076-132-6.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd (November 1998). Demihuman Deities. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 30. ISBN 0-7869-1239-1.
- ↑ Jason Carl, Sean K. Reynolds (October 2001). Lords of Darkness. Edited by Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 34. ISBN 07-8691-989-2.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd (November 1998). Demihuman Deities. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 39. ISBN 0-7869-1239-1.
- ↑ Richard Lee Byers (August 2003). Dissolution. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 463–492. ISBN 0-7869-2944-8.