A view of magically illuminated Narbondel.
The Narbondel was a huge stalagmite in the city of Menzoberranzan and served as a clock for its inhabitants.[1]
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.[2]
During the Time of Troubles in 1358 DR,[3] the clocktower was bathed in searing flames that blinded those who looked upon it with darkvision.[4]
Structure[]
Narbondel was the only unshaped piece of stone within the boundaries of the city cavern and it was used as a clock. At the end of every day, the Archmage of Menzoberranzan cast magic upon the stone to heat it. The heat from the Archmage's spell formed a band around it and moved up. When the end of the glow was at the pillar's top, the day was almost done.[5][1] When the pillar was completely dark, it was called "Narbondel's Black Death" (effectively midnight).[6]
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 the 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.[2]
Appendix[]
Appearances[]
Adventures
Novels & Short Stories
Video Games
Further Reading[]
- Ed Greenwood, Douglas Niles, R.A. Salvatore (1992). Menzoberranzan. (TSR, Inc). ISBN 1-5607-6460-0.
- War of the Spider Queen
- R.A. Salvatore (December 2005). Homeland. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 0-7869-3953-2.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Eric L. Boyd (November 1999). Drizzt Do'Urden's Guide to the Underdark. Edited by Jeff Quick. (TSR, Inc.), p. 61. ISBN 0-7869-1509-9.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Eric L. Boyd (November 1999). Drizzt Do'Urden's Guide to the Underdark. Edited by Jeff Quick. (TSR, Inc.), p. 65. ISBN 0-7869-1509-9.
- ↑ Brian R. James, Ed Greenwood (September 2007). The Grand History of the Realms. Edited by Kim Mohan, Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 142. ISBN 978-0-7869-4731-7.
- ↑ R.A. Salvatore (August 1995). Siege of Darkness. (TSR, Inc), pp. 85–86. ISBN 1-7869-0164-0.
- ↑ Richard Baker (May 2003). Condemnation. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 284. ISBN 0786932023.
- ↑ Elaine Cunningham (July 2003). Daughter of the Drow (Mass Market Paperback). (Wizards of the Coast), p. 134. ISBN 978-0786929290.