Tongues (spell)

Tongues is a spell that lets the caster understand and speak the language of any creature, living or dead. This includes idioms and elements like sarcasm or general intent. While the spell is active, the caster can converse with as many people as are within the area of effect, and in as many languages as needed.

Tongues

Range	self
Duration	10 rounds
Area of Effect	60 ft. circle
Casting Time	2 rounds
Saving Throw	none; see text
Level	cleric (4th)

As with comprehend languages, the caster can also understand writings and symbols, even with long-dead languages. The spell can be used to understand coded material and ciphers.

The caster may not bestow the effects upon a recipient. The spell cannot be used to communicate with creatures of less than 5 intelligence, who have not invented language.

Babble

Babble is the reverse of the tongues spell; this may be cast upon a recipient up to a range of 30 ft., who is entitled to a saving throw against magic. If affected, the individual will be unable to understand or speak rationally with any other person for the duration of the spell.

Bringing the Spell into Play

Players should consider using the spell not only when speaking with those communicating in another language, but specifically where addressing persons of an unusual cultural or heirarchical background. We tend to make fools of ourselves because we expose our lack of manners, our uncouth nature or, indeed, that we are more educated than our peers. The spell enables characters to speak at the level of the listener, whether with kings or the criminal element, with scholars or the common people. Though the spell does not last long, when making an inquiry or giving a toast at a banquet, the caster can be as eloquent or ineloquent as the situation desires, quickly putting the listeners at ease and treating the caster as "one of their own."

See also,
Speak with Dead
Speak with Plants
Stone Tell