Rotting Death (VH)

Melee; Resisted by HT 
The victim, who must be touched by the caster, rots from within. Every turn, he must roll against HT; on a failure, he takes 1d-1 damage; 6 points on a critical failure. A successful roll means he takes no damage that turn; a critical success breaks the spell. DR does not protect! 
For the duration of the spell, the subject feels crippling discomfort, equivalent to the effects of a Sickness spell. 
The victim appears to be undergoing a devastatingly rapid gangrene. Hit location should be rolled each time the spell inflicts damage; once crippled, a limb is considered to have rotted off! Once the victim is dead, its body quickly deliquesces, until only a puddle of evil-smelling goo is left. 
Undead are not affected. The caster must concentrate while maintaining this spell, but need not remain in physical contact.

Duration: 1 second. 
Cost: 3 to cast. 2 to maintain. 
Prerequisites: Magery 2, Sickness, and Pestilence.

Item 
Staff, wand, or jewelry. Usable only by mages; the item must touch the subject.  
Energy cost to create: 700.