So my party has found A sword from out of the Abyss that is a sentient magic item. The sword has a pure black blade but the hilt matches the description I have come across on occasion of “Dawn Bringer”. Having retrieved it from the tomb we come to discover this sentient blade can’t actually speak our language at all and all we understand is it’s crying and wishes to be in the light. Having done everything save a daylight spell we are at a loss. (Going to try daylight spell this coming session). Our problem is that it speaks some sort of ancient language and we have no idea how to properly communicate.
My my question is “does a sentient magic sword that can communicate telepathically have to know your language or is this reasonable? I’m a warlock and hence can’t switch spells Willy nilly.
Telepathy is a magical ability that allows a monster to communicate mentally with another creature within a specified range. The contacted creature doesn’t need to share a language with the monster to communicate in this way with it, but it must be able to understand at least one language. A creature without telepathy can receive and respond to telepathic messages but can’t initiate or terminate a telepathic conversation.
A sentient sword probably could communicate with you if it wanted to. I think the key here is that this sword may or may not be "Dawn Bringer", which may or may not exist in your game's universe. What this sword definitely is, though, is a thing created, managed and controlled by your DM. If it doesn't speak your language that is because the DM has decided it doesn't. That is now a problem to be solved in game, not a rule to be debated on the internet. I would suggest the answers lie in a quest of some sort; ask a wizard, find a tome, bring it to the temple of dawn, that sort of thing.
A sentient sword probably could communicate with you if it wanted to. I think the key here is that this sword may or may not be "Dawn Bringer", which may or may not exist in your game's universe. What this sword definitely is, though, is a thing created, managed and controlled by your DM. If it doesn't speak your language that is because the DM has decided it doesn't. That is now a problem to be solved in game, not a rule to be debated on the internet. I would suggest the answers lie in a quest of some sort; ask a wizard, find a tome, bring it to the temple of dawn, that sort of thing.
I agree, I'd suggest using Comprehend Languages or Tongues to communicate with it.
So my party has found A sword from out of the Abyss that is a sentient magic item. The sword has a pure black blade but the hilt matches the description I have come across on occasion of “Dawn Bringer”. Having retrieved it from the tomb we come to discover this sentient blade can’t actually speak our language at all and all we understand is it’s crying and wishes to be in the light. Having done everything save a daylight spell we are at a loss. (Going to try daylight spell this coming session). Our problem is that it speaks some sort of ancient language and we have no idea how to properly communicate.
My my question is “does a sentient magic sword that can communicate telepathically have to know your language or is this reasonable? I’m a warlock and hence can’t switch spells Willy nilly.
any help or opinions is appreciated :)
From the Monster Manual,
A sentient sword probably could communicate with you if it wanted to. I think the key here is that this sword may or may not be "Dawn Bringer", which may or may not exist in your game's universe. What this sword definitely is, though, is a thing created, managed and controlled by your DM. If it doesn't speak your language that is because the DM has decided it doesn't. That is now a problem to be solved in game, not a rule to be debated on the internet. I would suggest the answers lie in a quest of some sort; ask a wizard, find a tome, bring it to the temple of dawn, that sort of thing.
Thank you Filcat
I agree, I'd suggest using Comprehend Languages or Tongues to communicate with it.
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