Ultravision was a type of vision possessed by many creatures in the Realms that allowed them to see in some instances of darkness.[1][2][3]
Nature of Ultravision[]
Ultravision allowed a creature to see radiation in the ultraviolet spectrum, above what was possible by normal eyesight.[1][2][3] This included gamma rays, X-rays,[1][2] radio waves, and more.[4]
Creatures that possessed ultravision could see normally in outdoor, night time darkness as if they were in twilight.[1][2] Capable of distinguishing colors, shapes, and even the relative position of objects.[3] This was because Toril and many other planets were continually bombarded by ultraviolet radiation[2] from stars and other celestial objects.[4] In these conditions, creatures could see clearly out to 100 yards (91 meters). Beyond that and up to 300 yd (270 m) away a creature could see things only dimly. On particularly cloudy nights, this visible range was reduced by half.[2]
As earth and stone screened out that radiation, this vision was of little use inside subterranean locations unless there were some form of ultravisual emanation.[4] Ultravision also did not function within the Inner Planes,[5] but would function in the Ethereal Plane[6] and the Astral Plane.[7]
When underwater, the visible range for a creature with ultravision was typically half that of their land range. At ocean depths below 200 feet (61 meters) nothing could be seen, for ultraviolet light did not penetrate beyond that depth in sufficient quantities.[8]
Spells and enchanted weapons that shed illumination typically would hamper this vision.[4]
Notable Ultravision Creatures[]
Several creatures were either known or believed to have the ability of seeing the world through ultravision. Some notable ones were:
- The angels known as planetars and solars.[9]
- The sprites known as atomies and grigs.[10]
- Daemons.[11]
- Derros.[12]
- Dragon horses.[13]
- Green hags.[14]
- Gripplis.[14]
- Gulguthras.[15]
- Hordlings.[16]
- Kuo-toas.[17]
- The modrons known as pentadrones, quadrones, and tridrones.[18]
- Peches.[19]
- Phoenixes.[20]
- Owls.[19]
- Vargouilles.[21]
Trivia[]
- There were a variety of magical items that could bestow ultravision upon a creature. These included the Eye of Vecna, the robe of eyes,[22] the lens of ultravision,[23] the staff of night,[24] the dark crown,[25] the magemask, and the catstaff.[26]
Appendix[]
See Also[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Gary Gygax (1979). Dungeon Masters Guide 1st edition. (TSR, Inc.), p. 59. ISBN 0-9356-9602-4.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Gary Gygax (1978). Players Handbook 1st edition. (TSR, Inc.), p. 102. ISBN 0-9356-9601-6.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Kim Mohan (November 1986). Wilderness Survival Guide. Edited by Kim Mohan et al. (TSR, Inc.), p. 74. ISBN 0-88038-291-0.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 David Cook (April 1995). Dungeon Master Guide 2nd edition (revised). (TSR, Inc.), p. 160. ISBN 978-0786903283.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb (July 1987). Manual of the Planes 1st edition. (TSR), p. 24. ISBN 0880383992.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb (July 1987). Manual of the Planes 1st edition. (TSR), p. 13. ISBN 0880383992.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb (July 1987). Manual of the Planes 1st edition. (TSR), p. 63. ISBN 0880383992.
- ↑ Gary Gygax (1979). Dungeon Masters Guide 1st edition. (TSR, Inc.), p. 56. ISBN 0-9356-9602-4.
- ↑ Gary Gygax (August 1983). Monster Manual II 1st edition. (TSR, Inc), pp. 102, 111. ISBN 0-88038-031-4.
- ↑ Gary Gygax (August 1983). Monster Manual II 1st edition. (TSR, Inc), pp. 11, 72. ISBN 0-88038-031-4.
- ↑ Gary Gygax (August 1983). Monster Manual II 1st edition. (TSR, Inc), p. 73. ISBN 0-88038-031-4.
- ↑ Gary Gygax (August 1983). Monster Manual II 1st edition. (TSR, Inc), p. 42. ISBN 0-88038-031-4.
- ↑ Gary Gygax (August 1983). Monster Manual II 1st edition. (TSR, Inc), p. 59. ISBN 0-88038-031-4.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Gary Gygax (August 1983). Monster Manual II 1st edition. (TSR, Inc), p. 71. ISBN 0-88038-031-4.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (April 1985). “The Ecology of the Gulguthra: Otyugh and Neo-Otyugh”. In Kim Mohan ed. Dragon #96 (TSR, Inc.), pp. 20–22.
- ↑ Gary Gygax (August 1983). Monster Manual II 1st edition. (TSR, Inc), p. 75. ISBN 0-88038-031-4.
- ↑ Don Turnbull (1981). Fiend Folio. (TSR Hobbies), p. 57. ISBN 0-9356-9621-0.
- ↑ Gary Gygax (August 1983). Monster Manual II 1st edition. (TSR, Inc), p. 88. ISBN 0-88038-031-4.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 Gary Gygax (August 1983). Monster Manual II 1st edition. (TSR, Inc), pp. 98–99. ISBN 0-88038-031-4.
- ↑ Gary Gygax (August 1983). Monster Manual II 1st edition. (TSR, Inc), p. 100. ISBN 0-88038-031-4.
- ↑ Gary Gygax (August 1983). Monster Manual II 1st edition. (TSR, Inc), p. 123. ISBN 0-88038-031-4.
- ↑ Gary Gygax (1979). Dungeon Masters Guide 1st edition. (TSR, Inc.), p. 157. ISBN 0-9356-9602-4.
- ↑ Gary Gygax (August, 1985). Unearthed Arcana (1st edition). (TSR, Inc.), p. 101. ISBN 0880380845.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (March 1993). “Campaign Guide to Myth Drannor”. In Newton H. Ewell ed. The Ruins of Myth Drannor (TSR, Inc.), p. 111. ISBN 1-5607-6569-0.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood et al. (December 1988). Lords of Darkness. Edited by Scott Martin Bowles. (TSR, Inc.), p. 87. ISBN 0-88038-622-3.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood, Steve Perrin (May 1988). The Magister. Edited by Karen S. Boomgarden. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 8, 48. ISBN 0-88038-564-2.