Suffocation

Suffocation

Necromancy
Level: Sorcerer*/Wizard * 5, Warlock* 5
Components: V, S, M (a vial containing a bit of the caster's breath)
Casting Time: 1 Standard Action
Range: close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target: one living creature
Duration: 3 rounds
Saving Throw: Fortitude partial
Spell Resistance: yes

This spell extracts the air from the target's lungs, causing swift Suffocation.

The target can attempt to resist this spell's effects with a Fortitude Save. If they succeed, they are merely Staggered for 1 round as they gasp for breath.

If the target fails, they immediately begin to Suffocate. On their next turn, they fall Unconscious and are reduced to 0 hit points. One round later, they drop to -1 hit points and are Dying. One round after that, they die. Each round, the target can delay that round's effects from occurring by making a successful Fortitude Save, but the spell continues for 3 rounds, and each time a target fails their Fortitude Save, they move one step further along the track to Suffocation.

This spell only affects living creatures that must breathe.

It is impossible to defeat the effects of this spell by simply holding one's breath - if the victim fails the initial saving throw, the air in their lungs is extracted.