Battle Mage: The Mandorrian War Wizard.

One of my oldest and most used spell-casters. So many times when players, especially new players ask if they can play a wizard, this is often my default. They are a little different as they can wear armor.

Battle Mage: The Mandorrian War Wizard. 

Role: You originate from Mandos, the land of the sword in the heart of the old south. As a spellcaster you are shown little respect, and treated as mere battle fodder. Only after proving yourself for five years in battle are you given full rights. Those who survive this testing as a battle-mage are respected far and wide, but few make it that far. 

Requirements: Mandorrian by birth, Spellcraft +5; Oath of Allegiance to Mandos
              May be either Wizard or Sorcerer

Hindrances:  Cannot gain or replace a familiar if they do not have one
          Can cast spells from no more than four spell schools
          Can know no more than eight spells per level

Benefits: Automatic access to the War Domain; treat as arcane spells
  Use d6 for hp; Gain Saving Throws as spellcaster
          Gain proficiency of all simple Martial Weapons
          Gain Craft (Armorsmithing) and Craft (Weaponsmithing) as class skills
          Gain new Spells and spell level as per their Caster Level

 Abilities by Battle Mage Level

1st Wear padded armor without Arcane Spell Failure                               Gain +1 Level
2nd Wear leather armor without Arcane Spell Failure                               Gain +1 Level
3rd Wear studded leather without Arcane Spell Failure                            Gain +1 Level
4th Gain Endurance and Diehard                                                              Gain +1 Level
5th  Wear chain shirt or hide without Arcane Spell Failure; Gain Free Feat
6th Wear chain mail or breastplate without Arcane Spell Failure              Gain +1 Level
7th  Wear splint mail or banded mail without Arcane Spell Failure           Gain +1 Level
8th Inscribe Spell-Gem                                                                              Gain +1 Level
9th Wear half-plate without Arcane Spell Failure                                      Gain +1 Level
10th Craft Magic Arms and Armor                                                             Gain +1 Level

Endurance & Diehard: Per standard PhB
Inscribe Spell-Gem: Per Nysarian Meta-Feats
Craft Magic Arms and Armor: Able to craft magical arms or armor. They pay the normal exp point cost for their creation as per DMG. Also, they must be able to cast a spell to imbue armor with its property.

War Domain: May switch a memorized spell with a war domain spell at will

1 Magic Weapon
2 Spiritual Weapon
3 Magic Vestment
4 Divine Power
5 Celestial Strike  (stats as Flame Strike)
6 Blade Barrier
7-9   Player Option for what War Spells to be added

City of Terraxxia, in the Human nation of Mandos

Terraxxia

Nation: Mandos
Location: Eastern Section, near the Great Tay Forest

Population: 200,000

Distribution: Human (75%), Dwarf (10%), Minotaur (5%), Tenderfoot (5%), Lizardith (5%)

Major Products: Cay Leaves, Poultice, Tea, Spice, Liqour
Blood Stone, North Stone, Ringing Stone
Weapons (harpoon, javelin and halberd)
Trained Ferrets, war hounds and griffons
Potions (Warmth, Burning, Chimera & Griffon)

City Features:

Obelisks: Keran, Cush, Orelleo, Japeth, Rosetti, Faval, Casna, Fatanus, Crayos
Shrines: Mathai, Fenris, Rowena, Stradamia (while not illegal, all are hidden)
Temples: Keran, Darras, Pains, Father Stone (Dwarf)
Towers: Sash Knights, Camber Knight, Stradamia, Wyvern, Defense, Slave, Guild, Silence, Law, Coin (Casino), Alchemy, Sorrow, Smoke
Gardens: Piercer, Blood & Cay Fields
Arena, Kennel, Aviary, Stables, Museum, Barracks, Mausoleum Graveyard (Silence Tower)
Red Stone Bridge, Hanging Bridge, Tyrant (Dragon) Bridge

City Entry:  All items registered, Tax 5% on all items,  Any non appropriate items confiscated
Unlimited entry up until next Tower-Day (once every ten-day.)
Unofficial races are taxed at 10%. Non-Recognized races at 50%.

All church donations, guild business, gambling wins and training taxed at a standard 20% rate. This is lower than the official Mandorrian rate of between 25 - 35%

Rule: As a Mandorrian city, Terraxxia is ruled by a war counsel, led by Battle Lord Rethnor di Jine leader of the city, armies and Keranic Temple. Rethnor is am honest but brutal master who uses his personality and well trained soldiers to enforce the rules. He has few friends, but even his enemies know his word is his absolute bond. This does not mean he is above trickery, he merely uses deceptive practices to trick both allies and enemies as to his next actions would be. What is surprising is his compassion especially for someone in his position. If halfling slaves escape, he does not send soldiers to pursue as long as they don't return or cause problems from afar. Likewise he allows addicts a chance to clean themselves up, despite official Mandorrian policies on drug or alcohol abuse. He even tolerates soldiers to venerate non lawful deities - he doesn't promote it but doesn't punish it either. However what he never accepts are failure, incompetence or disloyalty among his soldiers. He is married, but most believe his wife and any children do not reside in the city.

There is an abundance of trade going on in the city, as cay is grown both in the wild and domestically. The cay is particularly strong, and many harvesters risk the thorns to harvest the strong spice. The soldiers press strangers to make sure contraband isn't brought into the city proper. Unlike other Mandorrian cities, the soldiers are more likely to kill smugglers then to capture them. Patrols are constant, but are more worried about Tyrants (dragons) and giants then smugglers.

The citizens are relatively content as revolt seems far from their minds. They have heard of attacks and abuses in other Mandorrian cities and believe Rethnor and the counsel keeps things fairly open. The dwarves are compliant and do all that they can to keep their own people in line as they are getting rich and drunk. Tenderfeet are tolerated much more here, and while they are slaves they are left alone as long as cay production is maintained. Unlike a lot of places, they are called citizens and have some rights; they just can't leave nor have a vote on the Tower counsels. Lizardith and Minotaur are mercenaries not citizens- they have jobs in small groups but do not really socialize with their own kin at least not in large groups. Minotaurs keep quiet as they maintain their bloody gladitorial games - these are religious rites for these brutes. Both these groups go on long hunts, which also service the patrols which is very helpful to the soldiers.

As elsewhere in Mandos, Elves and faerie are hunted down and killed on sight. Some believe there is an Elven Sanctuary within the cay forest, but city rangers dispute this. Like common Mandorrian custom, there is an open bounty on Elves, and they seek the fae folk for their dark ceremonies.

Obelisks are the standard places of worship on Nyssa. The faithful visit usually once (or twice) a week; though priests and other adventuring faithful can come every day during the tenday / weekly cycle. Few obelisks have official overseers, but many old clerics reside near them and will service for payments. Offerings are usually made by dropping coins down to the ground, very rarely to an individual that are physically absorbed by the soil. Shrines are usually obelisks in buildings that do not have official members. Temples are only found in large cities, and are much more elaborate with official members and clergy. These are the only places where scrolls or spell services can be oficially purchased in Mandos. All clerics cast spells at +1 casting level near obelisks of opposing views, +2 if aligned, and +3 at obelisks of their specific faith or religion.

Local Product
Cay is a small, round, green-red leaf that wildly grows among thorny vines. It naturally and very quickly absorbs any exposed blood. It can be used to make a huge variety of products, including alcohol, tea and poultices. Traditionally only Tenderfoot farmers could tease the leaf out and make its products, but the Teraxxian Cay is large enough for others to prune them off. Spending one minute in cay vines, will do one point of damage if the skin is unprotected. Pruners get 10 crowns (gp) for a pound of leaves.