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Tongues was a divination or alteration spell that allowed the caster or a touched creature to speak and understand additional languages.[3][20][21][22] The alteration version was reversible, called either babble,[20][21][22] or tangletongue,[23] and could confuse all verbal communication in an area.[20][21][22][note 2]

Effects[]

The divination version of tongues was much improved over the alteration version because it could be bestowed on another creature, had greater range, and lasted 10 minutes per level of the caster, but it was not reversible.[3] The alteration version had a divine and an arcane variation that differed only in duration: the divine variation lasted 10 minutes[24][25][26] whereas the arcane variation lasted one minute per level of the caster.[27][28][29] The area of effect for the alteration version was a circle of 30 feet (9.1 meters) radius centered on the caster,[20][21][22] whereas the divination spell allowed the subject to communicate as far as his or her voice could carry.[3]

The subject of tongues could only speak one language at a time but could understand other languages, therefore the subject could act as an interpreter but could not address a diverse crowd and be understood by all. This spell only allowed communication with intelligent creatures with the ability to speak; it did not otherwise bias creatures with respect to the subject.[3][20][21]

When cast in reverse, babble canceled the tongues spell or confused all verbal communication in the area of effect, even between those that shared a common language.[20][21][22]

Components[]

The divine versions of this spell required only verbal and somatic components.[24][25][26] The arcane versions also required a small clay model of a ziggurat,[note 3] which shattered when the verbal component was pronounced.[3][27][28][29]

History[]

The spell was attributed to Netherese arcanist Dace in −1858 DR and was originally called Dace's tongue forms.[1] It was also one of the spells available from the Balance of Belaros, a holy relic of Tyr.[30]

Appendix[]

See Also[]

Notes[]

  1. This spell was moved from the Divination sphere to the All sphere by the Player's Option: Spells & Magic. See page 186.
  2. The 2nd edition made some adjustments to this spell that were contradictory and confusing. The area of effect for the divine version was changed from a 30 feet (9.1 meters) radius circle to the caster, which makes no sense when reversing this spell.
  3. Historically, the Tower of Babel was thought to have been a ziggurat.

Appearances[]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 slade, Jim Butler (October 1996). “The Winds of Netheril”. In Jim Butler ed. Netheril: Empire of Magic (TSR, Inc.), pp. 23, 27. ISBN 0-7869-0437-2.
  2. Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford (2014). Player's Handbook 5th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 207–210, 283. ISBN 978-0-7869-6560-1.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams (July 2003). Player's Handbook v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 294. ISBN 0-7869-2886-7.
  4. Monte Cook, Jonathan Tweet, Skip Williams (July 2003). Dungeon Master's Guide v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 108. ISBN 0-7869-2889-1.
  5. Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 46. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
  6. Richard Baker, James Wyatt (March 2004). Player's Guide to Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 181. ISBN 0-7869-3134-5.
  7. James Wyatt, Darrin Drader, Christopher Perkins (October 2003). Book of Exalted Deeds. (TSR, Inc), p. 87. ISBN 0-7869-3136-1.
  8. Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd (March 2006). Power of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 72. ISBN 0-7869-3910-9.
  9. David "Zeb" Cook (August 1989). Player's Handbook (2nd edition). (TSR, Inc.), pp. 28, 153, 220–221. ISBN 0-88038-716-5.
  10. David "Zeb" Cook (April 1995). Player's Handbook 2nd edition (revised). (TSR, Inc.), pp. 39, 197, 280. ISBN 0-7869-0329-5.
  11. Cook, Findley, Herring, Kubasik, Sargent, Swan (1991). Tome of Magic 2nd edition. (TSR, Inc), p. 152. ISBN 1-56076-107-5.
  12. Richard Baker (1996). Player's Option: Spells & Magic. (TSR, Inc), p. 186. ISBN 0-7869-0394-5.
  13. Jeff Grubb and Andria Hayday (April 1992). Arabian Adventures. (TSR, Inc), p. 152. ISBN 978-1560763581.
  14. slade, Jim Butler (October 1996). “The Winds of Netheril”. In Jim Butler ed. Netheril: Empire of Magic (TSR, Inc.), pp. 121–123. ISBN 0-7869-0437-2.
  15. Gary Gygax (1978). Players Handbook 1st edition. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 24, 49, 75. ISBN 0-9356-9601-6.
  16. Gary Gygax, David Cook, and François Marcela-Froideval (1985). Oriental Adventures. (TSR, Inc), p. 67. ISBN 0-8803-8099-3.
  17. Gary Gygax, David Cook, and François Marcela-Froideval (1985). Oriental Adventures. (TSR, Inc), p. 84. ISBN 0-8803-8099-3.
  18. Gregg Sharp (May 1987). “The Geisya”. In Roger E. Moore ed. Dragon #121 (TSR, Inc.), p. 40.
  19. Roger E. Moore ed. (January 1989). “Orcs Throw Spells, Too!”. Dragon #141 (TSR, Inc.), p. 26.
  20. 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 20.4 20.5 David "Zeb" Cook (August 1989). Player's Handbook (2nd edition). (TSR, Inc.), pp. 153, 220–221. ISBN 0-88038-716-5.
  21. 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 21.4 21.5 David "Zeb" Cook (April 1995). Player's Handbook 2nd edition (revised). (TSR, Inc.), pp. 197, 280. ISBN 0-7869-0329-5.
  22. 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 22.4 Gary Gygax (1978). Players Handbook 1st edition. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 49, 75. ISBN 0-9356-9601-6.
  23. Jeff Grubb and Ed Greenwood (1990). Forgotten Realms Adventures. (TSR, Inc), pp. 150, 152. ISBN 0-8803-8828-5.
  24. 24.0 24.1 David "Zeb" Cook (August 1989). Player's Handbook (2nd edition). (TSR, Inc.), p. 220–221. ISBN 0-88038-716-5.
  25. 25.0 25.1 David "Zeb" Cook (April 1995). Player's Handbook 2nd edition (revised). (TSR, Inc.), p. 280. ISBN 0-7869-0329-5.
  26. 26.0 26.1 Gary Gygax (1978). Players Handbook 1st edition. (TSR, Inc.), p. 49. ISBN 0-9356-9601-6.
  27. 27.0 27.1 David "Zeb" Cook (August 1989). Player's Handbook (2nd edition). (TSR, Inc.), p. 153. ISBN 0-88038-716-5.
  28. 28.0 28.1 David "Zeb" Cook (April 1995). Player's Handbook 2nd edition (revised). (TSR, Inc.), p. 197. ISBN 0-7869-0329-5.
  29. 29.0 29.1 Gary Gygax (1978). Players Handbook 1st edition. (TSR, Inc.), p. 75. ISBN 0-9356-9601-6.
  30. Ed Greenwood and Doug Stewart (1997). Prayers from the Faithful. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 9–10. ISBN 0-7869-0682-0.
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