Dolorous Decay afflicts the targeted creature with rotting and withering of the body.
Description[]
| “ | This spell affects a single living creature. Dolorous Decay is a rotting and withering of the body that spreads throughout the afflicted creature quickly. The target creature will automatically be slowed for 2 rounds. Furthermore, if the target fails a Saving Throw vs. Poison with a -2 penalty, he/she will suffer 1 point of damage per second until a total of 50 points of damage are inflicted. | ” |
Gameplay[]
The divine caster aims this spell toward a single creature, use the targeting cursor to select the desired target.
Upon completion of the spell casting, which is very rapid, a sparkling blue projectile speeds unerringly to the target creature and exposes it to the spell's effects.
A text will display <CASTER>: Casts Dolorous Decay.
The victim is immediately affected by a Slow effect lasting 2 rounds, with no Saving throw - There is no text message displayed for this. However, a sound effect will audible when the spell hits.
At the same time, a potential Poison status effect exposure occurs to the target - although a save vs. death/poison is allowed, with 2-point penalty to resist it.
If the saving throw is failed, the creature suffers 1 Poison damage per second, for up to 56 seconds.
A player character affected by the poison will show two icons on their portrait including "Poisoned" (Icon No. 6) and "Decaying" (Icon No. 101).
The Dolorous Decay spell can potentially be blocked by Magic resistance, and a Spell Immunity: Alteration will negate it outright.
Additionally, any Spell protections type defense capable of blocking a 6 power level spell effect will stop it, as will the Cloak of Mirroring.
The decay can be removed from a victim with any applicable Dispel Magic effect, and the poisoning dynamic can be halted by the slow poison spell, ability or Antidote potion.
Oddly, a Cure Disease spell won't work on this decay.
Undead and constructs like a Golem are unaffected by Dolorous Decay. Any creature with innate or magical Poison damage resistance equal to 100% is also immune.
This spell is flagged as a "Hostile" spell, obviously.
Trivia[]
This spell is granted by the evil god Myrkul, Lord of the Dead, of the Forgotten Realms setting.
The Advanced Dungeons and Dragons 2nd Edition priest spell Dolorous Decay affects a single currently injured living being; undead and healthy creatures are immune.
The PnP spell version requires that the victim be already injured, and the decay can spread from that injury, while the BG video game dispenses with that core requirement and just implements a decay effect, even if the target is healthy and whole.
The PnP spell version damages the victim periodically over time, as the existing injuries of the victim worsen - there are many saving throw checks allowed to eventually resist and halt the decay. The PnP spell version doesn't use any kind of poison dynamic in the spell's implementation, and the damage done is strictly hit point loss.
Mod content[]
This section is about unofficial content that is only available via fan-made mods.
Spell Revisions mod has changed this arcane spell, revising its effects, casting time, class usability, saving throw requirements, and description. See below:
Dolorous Decay
Level: 6
School: Alteration, Necromancy
Sphere: Combat, Necromantic
Range: Medium
Duration: Special
Casting Time: 6
Area of Effect: 1 creature
Saving Throw: Poison partial
This spell affects a single living creature. Dolorous Decay is a rotting and withering of the body that spreads throughout the afflicted creature quickly. The disease will instantly cause a permanent -1 penalty to strength, dexterity, and constitution. If the target fails a saving throw vs. poison at -4, the decay will inflict 1 point of damage per second, until a total of 60 hit points of damage is inflicted, and another point of damage to each physical attribute every 5 rounds. The afflicted creature will also be slowed for the duration of the decay, and ability scores lost with this spell can only be restored with a Cure Disease, a Heal, or a Greater Restoration spell.
External links[]
- Dolorous decay on the Forgotten Realms Wiki, a wiki for the Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting Forgotten Realms.
- Advanced D&D 2nd Edition Wiki - Dolorous Decay (Priest Spell)