Menzoberranzan is a drow city that lays deep underground in the underdark. The only lights that break the pitch darkness regularly are luminous fungi farms, the fairy fire that covers many buildings, the many candle-lit studies of clerics and wizards studying arcane writings, and Narbondel.

Narbondel is the only pillar of rock in the 2 mile wide and 1000 foot high cavern untouched by the drow artisans. It lays right in the center of the cavern and streches from the bottom of the cavern to the top.

Each day the arch wizard of the city travels to Narbondel and casts a spell into its base igniting a light that slowly travels to the top over the period of a day. As the light travels upward, it fills the pillar with light and when it reaches the top it fades away signifying midnight.

Narbondel is how the drow of Menzoberranzan tell time in thier otherwise timeless cavern. To human eyes Narbondel is but a small glow like a campfire. But to the eyes of the drow, who are accustomed to seeing quite clearly in total darkness, Narbondel shines like a small sun.

This particular scene shows a young wizard of sorcere visiting a priestess in Arach-Tinilith at her command.

P.S. Yes that is a small glimse at Melee-magthere off to the far left.

Colored Pencil/watercolor
16 x 20 black matboard