Cause Serious Wounds Ray

The Cause Serious Wounds Ray is one of twelve different magical energy eye ray capabilities that are created and used by the Beholder and other similar aberrations. It is a common and frequently projected attack ray released by most types of beholders encountered during adventuring.
It shares very few similarities with the 4th level priest spell Cause Serious Wounds and stand-out differences include the fact that the eye ray has a ranged distance of 40 feet compared to a 1 foot melee touch, it has a cast time of 1 compared to 7, and it is continuously available for release instead of being available as a magical creation for only 15 seconds.
A more damaging type of Cause Serious Wounds Ray is the "Hive Mother" Cause Serious Wounds Ray that is only released by Hive Mother and Death Tyrant creatures. This ray of magical energy will inflict 5d8 hit points of damage and bypasses magic resistance.
== Gameplay ==
Beholder eye rays are released at a detected enemy creature that is in range, the beholder will always face the enemy it intends to attack and releases the Cause Serious Wounds Ray.
The eye ray is derived from the aberration's internal magical energy and therefore can't be prevented by Miscast Magic effects, Silence or spell casting interruptions (such as damage).
Upon release, the Cause Serious Wound Ray rapidly speeds unerringly to the target creature, inflicting 17 points of Magical damage. 
This ray can potentially be blocked by Magic resistance, and a Spell immunity: Necromancy will negate it completely.
Since this eye ray is considered a level 4 spell effect it can be blocked by any Spell protections type defense with enough protective capacity - for example, a Minor Spell Deflection or Globe of Invulnerability.
Likewise, a Minor Spell Turning or Spell Turning will reflect the eye ray back at the beholder.
However, a Minor Globe of Invulnerability can't block this ray.
As this eye ray is classified with a secondary type offensive damage spell, the Cloak of Mirroring will deflect it.
The Shield of Balduran bounces certain projectiles produced by the beholder, including the Cause Serious Wound Ray.