Paralysation

Paralysation is an attack form and an effect in which the body becomes partly or wholly incapable of movement. Only the muscles are affected, so that the victim's organs and breathing continues, though the latter can become extremely shallow. If a character becomes paralysed in an environment where moving is required for survival, such as being underwater and being unable to surface and breathe, or helplessly being forced to inhale gas that will not sustain the body, then death is automatic after a sufficient amount of time has passed.

Magical paralysing attacks include glyphs, hold person and hold animal, the wand of paralyzation, the rod of lordly might and the staff of power. Some poisons can produce paralysis. Both awe and fear can sometime produce paralysation-like effects.

Monsters known to cause paralysis include carrion crawlers, gelatinous cubes, ghasts, ghouls, ice devils, lich, man-o-war, manta and sting rays, mummies, slithering trackers, vampires, giant wasps and wraiths.