As fodder for something I'm working on, I need a fairly comprehensive list of all the standard to not-entirely-standard things one would expect a magic sword to do. Ideas?
In norse mythology, Skirnir owned a sword which undoubtedly ahs a name I've forgotten that would attack giants on its own, without needing to be wielded. That sort of thing is pretty common.
There's the Judeo-Christian flaming sword bit.
I remember a Russian folktale about a magic sword that would "point" to treasure.
There are a lot of swords that can't be returned to their sheaths without drawing blood (or killing someone).
Orlando had a magic sword that allowed him to breath water. (I'm not sure this makes much sense, but tehre you go).
Nuada, one of the four treasures of the Tuatha De Danann, only inflicted fatal blows.
Nuada, one of the four treasures of the Tuatha De Danann, only inflicted fatal blows.
Interesting, I didn't know that! Nuada was also a king of the Tuatha de Danann, the one who gave Lugh his throne for 13 days and was then killed by Balor of the Evil Eye, king of the Fomori at the battle of Moytura, which then led to Lugh becoming the king of the Tuatha after killing Balor, his grandfather. Or so (some of) the stories go.
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mythological swords
In norse mythology, Skirnir owned a sword which undoubtedly ahs a name I've forgotten that would attack giants on its own, without needing to be wielded. That sort of thing is pretty common.
There's the Judeo-Christian flaming sword bit.
I remember a Russian folktale about a magic sword that would "point" to treasure.
There are a lot of swords that can't be returned to their sheaths without drawing blood (or killing someone).
Orlando had a magic sword that allowed him to breath water. (I'm not sure this makes much sense, but tehre you go).
Nuada, one of the four treasures of the Tuatha De Danann, only inflicted fatal blows.
And of course, every magic sword needs a name.
Re: mythological swords
Interesting, I didn't know that! Nuada was also a king of the Tuatha de Danann, the one who gave Lugh his throne for 13 days and was then killed by Balor of the Evil Eye, king of the Fomori at the battle of Moytura, which then led to Lugh becoming the king of the Tuatha after killing Balor, his grandfather. Or so (some of) the stories go.