Lestat's Liteblade
(Abjuration, Evocation)

Range:  0
Components:  V, S, M
Duration:  1 round per level within 1d6 days
Casting Time:  1 round
Area of Effect:  Special
Saving Throw:  None

The material component of this spell is a large crystal (for example a diamond), worth at least 1000 gp, mounted in a precious metal (platinum or better) on a handle constructed from a precious wood (ebony, for example). This construction is not consumed in the casting.
At the completion of the casting, the crystal starts glowing from within. When the material component is wielded, the wielder can summon the blade forth at will (if the wielder is not the wizard, or is not familiar with the spell, the wizard will have to explain how to do this; it takes approximately 1 turn to understand how to control the summoning of the blade, and the blade will be active for 2d6 rounds in the process), and a blade of 5 feet length will spring from the crystal.
This blade is primarily light, contained within a field of magical force, though this force is such that the blade can block another blade, including non-liteblades. The blade itself has no discernible weight, and thus is very fast, having weapon speed 1 and +3 to-hit (also determining what the blade can effect). By the same token, it is balanced differently than any other weapon, and unless the wielder has spent considerable time practising the liteblade, the wielder will suffer the normal weapon non-proficiency penalty. In game terms, this means the character has to be proficient in the liteblade (note this requires rather considerable access to liteblades).
The blade does 1d10 damage on a successful hit (this damage is primarily from light and heat, and creatures particularly resistant or vulnerable to such damage will take half and double damage respectively, and those immune will take none). Also note that the blade cauterises the wounds it creates, and thus no bleeding will result.
Optional extension: on a roll of a natural 19, the opponents weapon must save versus magical fire or be cut by the blade (if reasonable). On a roll of a natural 20, roll a 1d20 on the following table:

	D20 Roll	Effect
	1	Head severed
	2-5	Arm severed
	6-10	Hand severed
	11-15	Leg severed
	16-20	Normal damage

The blade will retreat to a state of inactivity within the crystal at the wielder's will, or if the material component is released.

