Goldmoon’s staff hurts Draconians, Riverwind shellshocked

For one instant, as Goldmoon had looked into the cart, she had wondered what terrible disease could turn a man’s flesh into scales. She had moved forward to touch the pitiful cleric with her staff, but at that moment the creature sprang out at her, grasping for the staff with a clawed hand. Goldmoon stumbled backward, but the creature was swift and its clawed hand closed around the staff. There was a blinding flash of blue light. The creature shrieked in pain and fell back, wringing its blackened hand. Riverwind, sword drawn, had leaped in front of his Chieftain’s Daughter.
But now she heard him gasp and she saw his sword arm drop weakly. He staggered backward, making no effort to defend himself.

Excerpt From Dragons of Autumn Twilight, pg 150
Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman