Flame tongue

A flame tongue was a rare type of magical sword with a burning blade.

Powers
After the Year of Shadows, 1358 DR, these were treated as plain +1 swords. However, these swords were further enhanced against certain creatures: regenerating creatures (like trolls and lycanthropes); avians, flammable creatures, and cold-using creatures (like ice toads, white dragons, winter wolves, and yeti); and especially the undead.

After the Year of Wild Magic, 1372 DR, these were treated as +1 flaming burst longswords. Once a day, the sword could be used to launch a ray of fire up to 30 feet (9 meters).

Upon utterance of its command word, a flame tongue would erupt into flames, radiating a bright light. The arcane fire would remain until commanded to stop, or unless the blade was dropped or sheathed.

The flames could easily burn paper, parchment, dry wood, and webs, and ignite oils.

Creation
These blades were created with the use of the scorching ray and either the flame blade, flame strike or fireball spells.

Notable Flame Tongues

 * Angurvadal: These were a set of longswords forged by the great Rashemi smith, Raegik Hammerhold. The secret of their creation was lost when Raegik and his apprentice died in a battle with some Red Wizards of Thay.
 * Burning Earth: This mysterious sword, unique in design, was said to have dated back to an age before the desert of Anauroch was dry.
 * Lawflame: The sword-of-state for the city of Daggerford
 * Lion's Sword: The Tethyrian sword of state was crafted by a dwarven smith, and enchanted as a flame tongue by King Alemander I, in the year 1122 DR.

Notable Owners

 * Movanic devas commonly wielded two-handed swords with flame tongue enchantments.

Appearances

 * Adventures
 * Ghosts of Dragonspear Castle • Out of the Abyss
 * Video Games
 * Descent to Undermountain • Baldur's Gate
 * Card Games
 * AD&D Trading Cards