This spell protects the recipient against the first incapacitating blow he suffers during the spells duration. An incapacitating attack is one that would reduce the the recipient to less than 1 hp. The attack must be one that deals damage; the staying spell does not portect against non-damaging effects from spells such as disintegrate or slay living. The recipient only suffers enough damage from the blow to reduce his hp to 1. Any extra damage from that one attack is delayed until the spell expires. The recipient can be healed before than, but nothing short of a wish or miracle will prevent the delayed damage from being dealt when the spell ends.

With a successful ranged touch attack, a ray of negative energy consumes the life energy of the target, making the target weaker, slower, and less healthy. The target must make a Fortitude saving throw if the caster succeeds at a ranged touch attack. If the saving throw fails, the target suffers a -4 effective decrease to Strength, Constitution and Dexterity for the duration of the spell.