Lightning bolt

Lightning bolt was an evocation spell that caused arcs of lightning to emanate from the caster's fingertips.
==Effects==
The searing bolt of electricity traveled in a straight line emanating from the caster. Older versions of this spell struck all in its path, while newer versions were aimed at a particular creature and then, with skill, could be forked to hit one or two other creatures.
The bolt from the older versions was powerful enough to blast a wooden door to cinders, set fire to combustible materials, splinter a hand-depth of stone, or melt soft metals such as gold, silver, copper, lead, or bronze.
A well-centered lightning bolt blast could interfere with magics of open gates, closing them after rippling through the fabric of the spell with electric feedback.
==Components==
The pre-Spellplague and post-Second Sundering versions of this spell required verbal, somatic, and material components including a tuft of fur and a small rod made of amber, crystal, or glass.
To inscribe this spell on a magic scroll, arcane scribes often used ink made from the horn of a behir.
==History==
The spell was attributed to the Netherese arcanist Volhm in and was originally called Volhm's bolt.
==Notable uses==
The wizard Parwyyd Hanifar used a forked version of lightning bolt to blast a number of kenkus and gargoyles in aerial combat in 1357 DR.
The following year, during the Time of Troubles, a false avatar of Selûne cast lightning bolt at Kyriani in the kitchen of Castle Waterdeep, but the bolts were caught and reflected by pots and pans.
In 1362 DR a harper wizard Brenna Graycloak was able to cast a version of a lightning bolt in a fray of battling a darkenbeast using sulfur as a component.
==Appendix==
===See Also===
* Call lightning
* Chain lightning
* Lightning arrow
* Tourmaline
* Waterstar
===Appearances===
:;Novels
::Daughter of the Drow • Red Magic • Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor • The Summoning
:;Comic Books
::The Forbidden Sands of Anauroch (#2)
:;Video Games
::Baldur's Gate series • Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor • Neverwinter Nights series
:;Board Games
::Mertwig's Maze
:;Card Games
::
:;Gamebooks
::Spawn of Dragonspear
===Gallery===
WoundingLightningBolt.jpg|Lightning bolt cast with a wounding effect.
Lightning bolt DC Comics.jpg|An avatar's lightning bolt foiled by pots and pans.
Lightning bolt iwd2.png|The symbol of the lightning bolt spell from Icewind Dale II.
Lightning bolt 2e.png|The symbol of the lightning bolt spell from Baldur's Gate.
Lightning bolt icon 3e.png|The symbol of the lightning bolt spell from the Neverwinter Nights series.
===External links===
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===References===
Category:Evocation spells
Category:Universal (province)
Category:Inventives
Category:Volhm's spells
Category:Adept spells
Category:Sorcerer spells
Category:Wizard spells