Slow Ray

The Slow Ray is one of twelve different magical energy eye ray capabilities that are generated and employed by the Beholder, Death Tyrant, Director, Elder Orb, Gauth, and Hive Mother aberrations. 
It is the most commonly projected attack ray released by most types of beholders encountered during adventuring, although it is usually directed at the second nearest party member to the beholder in nearly all encounters.
The eye ray is similar to the wizard's Slow spell except for being a single-target spell-effect delivered by a beholder blast projectile, a casting speed of 1 compared to 3 and a shorter duration of 45 seconds compared to 60 for the wizard spell.
== Gameplay ==
The creature releases a fast-moving beholder blast projectile at a detected target, and the projectile unerringly speeds to the targeted creature.
In almost all cases, the Slow Ray is automatically released and cannot be interrupted or foiled by Miscast Magic effects, Silence or damage incurred.
When the projectile connects the target is allowed a Saving throw versus spell (with a 4-point penalty) to resist the Slow Ray's effects - if the save is successful the ray is finished, and the target is unaffected by it.
If the saving throw is failed, the target is exposed to the ray's effects for a 45 second duration, as follows:
* Slow effect
* 4-point THAC0 penalty
* 4-point Armor Class penalty
A creature that fails the saving throw will be identified by name in the combat log with a text reading "Slowed", as well as a brief lighting effect and a color glow rendered on their sprite - a sound effect is audibled upon the start and at the expiration of ray's effects.
A player character affected by the ray will show a "Slow" icon (No. 41) on their portrait.
A slowed creature now takes twice as long to perform an action as compared to normal - some examples include; movement is halved, attacks per round are halved, casting time is doubled, regeneration rate is halved, initiative is worsened etc.
Magic resistance and a Minor Globe of Invulnerability can block this spell, as well as Spell Immunity Alteration.
A Spell protections type defense such as a Minor Spell Deflection will block the ray (until its protective capacity limit is reached), and a Minor Spell Turning will rebound the ray back at the attacker.
A Haste effect, such as from an Oil of Speed or a Haste spell will neuter the slow effect - slow and haste effects cancel each other out.
Any applicable Dispel Magic effect can also remove the ray's effects.
This ray will not "stack" or be additive to other forms of slow magic, for example from the Wish spell, or Golem Slow, or even another Slow Ray.