This nefarious spell affects the victim’s life energies, increasing any fatigue or exhaustion the victim currently possesses. Alert and well‑rested characters suddenly become tired and sluggish, and characters who are already fatigued may be reduced to near‑helplessness. In effect, the ray adds one level of fatigue or encumbrance to the victim. Moderately encumbered characters suffer a –1 penalty to attack rolls; heavily encumbered characters suffer a –2 penalty to attacks rolls and a +1 Armor Class penalty; and severely encumbered characters suffer a –4 penalty to attack rolls and a +3 Armor Class penalty. (Assume that monsters suffer a –1 penalty to their attack rolls and reduce their movement rates by 33%.) The victim is allowed a saving throw to negate the spell’s effects.
If you are using the fatigue rules from the Player’s Option™: Combat & Tactics book, this spell operates in a slightly different manner—fresh characters become fatigued, gaining one level of encumbrance; fatigued characters become exhausted, gaining two levels of encumbrance; and exhausted characters collapse in a quivering heap, unable to move or attack.
