Dolorous Decay

This spell affects a single currently injured living being; undead and healthy creatures are immune. Dolorous decay is a rotting and withering of the body that spreads from existing injuries causing additional damage. The targeted creature receives a saving throw vs. spell against dolorous decay. A target creature who succeeds at this initial saving throw is slowed (as the spell of that name) for 1 round by the impact of the spell but is then free of further effects. If the initial saving throw fails, the victim suffers 1 point of damage per level of the caster of the dolorous decay, is slowed for the following round, and is then allowed a second saving throw. If this saving throws succeeds, the spell ends without further effect; if it fails, the victim takes half the previous decay damage (round fractions down), and is slowed for a third round.

This cycle of saving throws and resulting damage continues, each bout of damage being half that suffered on the previous round, until a minimum loss of 1 point is reached; at that point only 1 point of damage continues to be inflicted until the victim succeeds at a saving throw. The cycle of spreading decay continues until the victim dies or succeeds at a saving throw, which breaks the spell. Dolorous decay is not contagious, but it can (at the DM's option) cause loss of mobility or the use of limbs if the damage is severe enough. (Typically over half the victim's hit points must be lost.)