Status effects
From Triangle Wizard Wiki
Status effects are different from magical effects that they cannot be dispelled, but they may be removed via a Healing Waters spell. They are all crippling in one way or the other and are associated with a particular type of damage. When struck by this type of damage you have a 20% chance of being affected by the linked status effect. This chance is reduced if you have the appropriate type of resistance.
Unlike magical effects (which dispel upon descending a level) status effects persist across levels.