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?
Most of what I can think of has been said by others, but...
Along the lines of staying sharp and polished, staying *clean* without care-- like even just after you've killed someone, there's no blood.
Searing the hand of anyone but its rightful owner.
Caliburn (Excalibur, but in a different telling of the story) was forged to defend Britain, so when it was taken to Rome to attack the emperor, it availed him nothing. "It was a marvel it did not break in his hand." So, swords made for a specific purpose/defense of a specific land/use of a specific bloodline/etc, and useless when attempted to put to another use or by another person.
Cutting through... something... thin air... to create portals between worlds, as in The Subtle Knife.
Killing da wabbit. Oh wait, that's a spear and magic helmet. Never mind.
no subject
Along the lines of staying sharp and polished, staying *clean* without care-- like even just after you've killed someone, there's no blood.
Searing the hand of anyone but its rightful owner.
Caliburn (Excalibur, but in a different telling of the story) was forged to defend Britain, so when it was taken to Rome to attack the emperor, it availed him nothing. "It was a marvel it did not break in his hand." So, swords made for a specific purpose/defense of a specific land/use of a specific bloodline/etc, and useless when attempted to put to another use or by another person.
Cutting through... something... thin air... to create portals between worlds, as in The Subtle Knife.
Killing da wabbit. Oh wait, that's a spear and magic helmet. Never mind.