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DDH_101
Master of Realmslore
Canada
1272 Posts |
 Posted - 27 Aug 2005 : 17:16:57
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I was in another forum a few days ago, and someone there criticized the Forgotten Realms for its lack of "realism". This person used the example of the Underdark, saying its inhabitants would not be able to breath because there would be no air.
However, I compared this with how people go exploring caves deep underground and still have oxygen. I do not know if this is correct though, and I was wondering if you guys know how it's possible to survive deep underground in the Underdark.
Is it because of like the magical nodes or something like that?
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"Trust in the shadows, for the bright way makes you an easy target." -Mask |
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KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
Posted - 27 Aug 2005 : 17:30:01
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| Well, there is the fact that there are portals, and given that a lot of those portals open to bring water into the Underdark, I imagine some can be placed to bring air into the Underdark as well. The other thing that you have to take into account is that there are a lot more plants (fed in part by faerzress) to produce air in the Forgotten Realms Underdark than there are in our own "real Underdark." |
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Kentinal
Great Reader
4689 Posts |
Posted - 27 Aug 2005 : 17:56:12
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| What can and does happen is pockets of heavy air. Gas pockets and so on. OTOH some mines go very deep and can be worked with ventilation and water pumps. So it is posible for the ubderdark to exist depending on how deep the caves are. Natural ventilation can be achieved by convection currents pools of lava would heat air causing it to rise drawing fresh cooler air in. The water drainage could be handled by lava pools to some etent though volcanoes erupting water from time to time would most likely be most common way to remove water. |
"Small beings can have small wisdom," the dragon said. "And small wise beings are better than small fools. Listen: Wisdom is caring for afterwards."
"Caring for afterwards ...? Ker repeated this without understanding.
"After action, afterwards," the dragon said. "Choose the afterwards first, then the action. Fools choose action first."
"Judgement" copyright 2003 by Elizabeth Moon |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 27 Aug 2005 : 18:13:48
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The only way there wouldn't be air is if the area was totally sealed off, and unreachable.
With magic, portals, plants, nodes, weird critters, there's plenty of ways for air to get down there. And the Underdark is a huge, huge area. It has countless openings to the surface -- which allows more air to flow in. |
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Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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warlockco
Master of Realmslore
USA
1695 Posts |
Posted - 27 Aug 2005 : 21:45:19
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quote:
Originally posted by DDH_101
I was in another forum a few days ago, and someone there criticized the Forgotten Realms for its lack of "realism". This person used the example of the Underdark, saying its inhabitants would not be able to breath because there would be no air.
However, I compared this with how people go exploring caves deep underground and still have oxygen. I do not know if this is correct though, and I was wondering if you guys know how it's possible to survive deep underground in the Underdark.
Is it because of like the magical nodes or something like that?
All I can say is Duh, of course there is gonna be a lack of "Realism" it is a FANTASY Setting after all.
Some people are too attached to the real world. |
News of the Weird
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 27 Aug 2005 : 22:18:28
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quote:
Originally posted by warlockco
All I can say is Duh, of course there is gonna be a lack of "Realism" it is a FANTASY Setting after all.
Well, that is true, but for a fantasy world to be believable, there still has to be realistic elements. For example, a group of Gondsmen managing to build a YF-22 wouldn't be believable... It is theoretically possible, especially with magic, but if it happened, it would destroy the suspension of disbelief.
quote:
Originally posted by warlockco
Some people are too attached to the real world.
Unfortunately, it's where most of us have to live.  |
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Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
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Asgetrion
Master of Realmslore
Finland
1564 Posts |
Posted - 27 Aug 2005 : 23:02:53
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quote:
Originally posted by DDH_101
I was in another forum a few days ago, and someone there criticized the Forgotten Realms for its lack of "realism". This person used the example of the Underdark, saying its inhabitants would not be able to breath because there would be no air.
Well, I have a history teacher as a player in my campaigns, and he regularly reminds me of any "unrealistic" details in the Realms, comparing them to how things worked in the Medieval Europe. And I always remind him that Forgotten Realms is a fantasy setting, which cannot directly be compared to any historical era in our world.
Many scribes and sages have already provided sound reasons on this thread why it is possible to breathe in Underdark, but there will always be "besserwissers" who forget what D&D and fantasy settings are about, ignoring the existence of magic (which is a huge factor) and any geographical differences between our world and fantasy settings  |
"What am I doing today? Ask me tomorrow - I can be sure of giving you the right answer then."
-- Askarran of Selgaunt, Master Sage, speaking to a curious merchant, Year of the Helm |
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Underdark
