.Nactrina Onarsh, Blessed of Thalander
A Book of Hallowed Might Web Enhancement

This illustration by Arne Swekel appears in The Book of Hallowed Might to exemplify a hallowed mage, one of the book's new prestige classes. The following NPC description was inspired by his image -- using her would be one way to introduce the concept of hallowed mages into your game. (For a preview of The Book of Hallowed Might, check out The Stuff archive.)

One simple, moonless night, in the mountain city of Revar, in the Third-Tier Guildhouse of the Stafflore Guild, newly inducted third-rank wizard Nactrina Onarsh prepared for bed. It was late, already the morning hours, and she knew that there would be a long day of studies when she awoke. As she carefully placed her staff in the corner, next to the bed, speaking the charms of protection around it, she heard a tapping at her window. Nactrina looked to see a small white cat on the sill, scratching at the pane.

After watching for a while she saw that it was not going to stop. Out of curiosity, she opened the window. The cat jumped onto the floor and tugged at her trouser leg. She tried to shoo it away, but the animal was persistent. She bent down to pick it up, but the cat darted away, to her door, and scratched at it. After more experimentation, she realized that the cat wanted her to follow it.

Thinking this might be the familiar of another wizard (she never took one on, despite her love of animals) she followed -- but only after putting on her cloak and taking up her staff again. The cat led her out of the Guildhouse and, much to her surprise, out of Revar and into the dark mountain woods. She followed a bit more and was about to turn back, tired and suspicious that either the cat was just a cat, or leading her into a trap, when the cat stopped. It pawed at the ground.

As the first rays of the sun came over the mountain, Nactrina dug where the cat scratched and found a strange gold device. It was jeweled and bore the symbol of a glowing cat. She had never seen its like, but deduced that it was to be worn on one's head, over one eye. Clearly it had been buried for many years.

A few divinatory spells later (over the next few days) and she learned that it was the holy eyepiece of Thalander, a god of life, of vitality and strength. She read every book she could find about the god, and felt drawn to his image and his teachings. Nactrina also saw that the whole event was obviously a sign -- a calling. Thalander's symbol was a glowing white cat.

Nactrina took up the mantle of cleric, devoting herself to Thalander. Still, she could not ignore her talent for arcane spells, so she continued her studies in that regard as well. She even took on the cat that had guided her as her familiar. In Thalander's service she left Revar and traveled all along the southern coast. Eventually, she learned of the order of Hallowed Mages, a rare group of wizards that served holy paths with as much dedication as their arcane studies. She learned from them and, although they did not follow Thalander specifically, it was easy to adapt what they taught her to the faith of her chosen patron.

Nactrina adapted the magical symbol of life to represent her arcane and divine devotion toward Thalander, who upheld life above all else. She worked an ankh into the holy staff that she created, and into her armor as well. She even had it tattooed onto her face -- she wanted no one to mistake her devout faith and commitment to her deity.

Today Nactrina wanders alone with her cat, Lifespring. She uses the eyepiece she was granted by Thalander to detect evil and deception wherever she goes. In particular, she hates undead and those that create them. Singlehandedly she has defeated two infamously powerful necromancers, and it is said that she is on the trail of a third.

Nactrina is beautiful, with long brown hair, and her signature tattoo and eyepiece (which she always wears). She wears chainmail armor and carries a staff and her round spellbook -- a peculiarity unique to mages of the Stafflore Guild, where she first trained in the arcane arts.

Nactrina Onarsh, female human Clr6/Wiz5/Hallowed Mage3: CR 14; Medium humanoid; HD 6d8+6 + 5d4+5 + 3d6+3; hp 74; Init +1; Spd 30 feet; AC 20 (+1 Dex, +8 armor, +1 ring), touch 12, flat-footed 19; BAB +6; Grapple +7; Attack +9 melee (1d6+2, quarterstaff); Full Attack +9/+4 melee (1d6+2, quarterstaff); SV Fort +8, Ref +5, Will +14; AL NG; Str 12, Dex 13, Con 13, Int 15, Wis 15, Cha 12.

Skills and Feats: Craft (armorsmithing) +11, Handle Animal +7, Heal +11, Hide +2, Knowledge (arcana) +11, Knowledge (nature) +10, Knowledge (religion) +13, Listen +5, Spot +3, Survival +5; Craft Magic Arms and Armor, Devout Faith*, Expertise, Heighten Spell, Scribe Scroll, Skill Focus (Knowledge [religion]), Vow of Obedience*

Possessions: +1 holy quarterstaff, +3 chainmail, +1 ring of protection, pearl of power (2nd-level spell), holy eyepiece of Thalander, potion of levitate, potion of levitate, potion of fire protection, 45 gp

Cleric Domains: Animal, Strength

Cleric Spells (5/4+1/4+1/2+1): 0 -- detect magic, guidance (2), mending, resistance; 1st -- bless, comprehend languages, divine favor, endure elements, remove fear; 2nd -- animal messenger, bear's endurance, bull's strength, calm emotions, silence; 3rd -- dispel magic, dominate animal, magic vestment

Wizard Spells (4/4/3/1): 0 -- arcane mark, dancing lights, mage hand, read magic; 1st -- burning hands, charm person, magic missile, shield; 2nd -- darkvision, detect thoughts, invisibility; 3rd -- haste

Wizard Spellbook: 0 -- arcane mark, dancing lights, daze, detect magic, detect poison, disrupt undead, flare, ghost sound, light, mage hand, mending, open/close, prestidigitation, ray of frost, read magic, resistance; 1st -- burning hands, charm person, color spray, mage armor, magic missile, protection from chaos, shield, shocking grasp, sleep; 2nd -- darkvision, detect thoughts, invisibility, knock; 3rd -- fireball, fly, haste

Hallowed Mage Spells (3/2): 4th -- ethereal prison*, halo of glory*, wall of fire; 5th -- hold monster, shield of light*

The holy eyepiece of Thalander: This strange golden, jeweled device fits over the wearer's left eye (taking up the lenses/goggles place). It allows the wearer to detect evil at will, and twice per day invoke the power of true seeing. It functions only for one who worships Thalander, the Many Father.
Moderate divination; Caster Level: 7th; Prerequisites: detect evil, true seeing; Price: 24,800 gp; Weight: 1 lb.

* Indicates a feat or spell introduced in The Book of Hallowed Might.

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