Darksense:
Sonar as used by dolphins is quite sophisticated. Studies have shown that they can distinguish between a copper wire and a nickel wire. They can also distinguish between different types of fishes at quite some distance. To read emotions, they would not look for a smile, but instead read internal body signs like heart rate, blood vessel dialation, body posture, etc. Comparing a medical ultrasound machine to a dolphin's sonar skill is like comparing the abilities of pocket camera to an eagle's eyesight when it comes to spotting bunnies at 300 yards.
The real problem with sonar is that it works much better in a dense medium like water. Transitions between media are particularly difficult, (which is why they have to use all the jelly goo in untrasounds.) Mammal bodies have a very similar consistency to water, so sonar underwater can read into a mammal body much better than into a hollow submarine.
In summary, I think troll Darksense would be about as effective as bat sonar - that it, it would tell them the positions of physical objects. To put language into it would require reading finger signs, and therefore a line of sight. I agree that darksense would be lousy for communicating complex ideas.
Whee! E-mail from home now. No more cryptic subject headers!
Pam
End of The Glorantha Digest V5 #45
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