Rules: Death

When the character takes damage that reduces him to zero hp or less, regardless of the amount that brings the character to that point, the character assumes zero hp and rolls a save vs death.  Each character is entitled to three death saves per day but no more that one per battle.

If the roll is made, the character is able to function, somewhat, at zero hp.   At the DM’s discretion the character may also be stunned, nauseated, or feverish.  The character can crawl at one third his movement, usually this is away from combat.  The character may attempt a small action but that action takes 1d4 rounds.  During this time the character does not bleed out and is considered stabilized. 

If the save is failed, the character falls unconscious on the ground.  He then begins to bleed out.  The character takes a -1 each round thereafter.  When the player reaches -10 the character is dead.  While bleeding out, the character can be hit and reduced faster (killed faster).  If another character bandages the wounded character, the wounded character is stabilized. Stabilized characters are at a steady zero hp (is no longer bleeding out) and are unconscious until healed or rested into positive hp. The player may expend a hero point to stabilize automatically (zero hp, not bleeding out and unconscious).  Spell casters that are at zero hit points to -5 will still have spells memorized, however if they go beyond -5, the trauma of near death erases all spells memorized.  Spells can be regained as normal, after a nights rest.