Ecdysis

This insidious spell accelerates the molting that dragons undergo. It is effective only against dragons, dracohydra, dragon turtles, dragonets and the various draconic hybrids. Ecdysis is not effective against dracoliches and similar undead creatures.

If the creature makes a successful saving throw vs. spell, then the ecdysis spell has no effect. Failure means the creature begins to rapidly molt. The creature sheds 10% of its scales immediately. By the end of one turn, another 10% are shed, and again after an additional turn passes, another 10% are shed. For each 10% of its scales shed, the target creature suffers a -1 penalty to its Armor Class (thus, after 21 rounds, the creature suffers a -3 penalty to its Armor Class). Scales shed in this manner rapidly decay to dust and are useless as material components for spells.

The degenerative effects of the spell can be halted, but not reversed, by means of a successful dispel magic, remove curse, or cure disease spell. Only a heal, limited wish, or wish spell can speed recovery from an ecdysis spell. Otherwise, new scales grow naturally at a rate of 10% per tenday. Thus, it takes a full 30 days before a victim of this spell regains its full Armor Class.

The material components are the priest's holy symbol and a reptilian scale of any type.