At a Glance
| Identity | Nehalennia, goddess of safe sea passages, abundance and homecoming |
|---|---|
| Pantheon | Indigenous gods of the Low Countries and Lower Rhine |
| Sacred country | Zeeland; the North Sea routes from the Scheldt delta toward Britannia |
| Recognisable signs | Dog, basket of apples or other produce, vessel’s prow, ship’s steering gear |
| Worshippers | Seafarers, shipowners, merchants, families awaiting a return, harbour communities |
| Campaign alignment | Neutral Good |
| Divine concerns | Safe travel, provision, hearth, sea trade, rescue and return |
| Cleric paths | Life and the protection of travellers; additional water/travel traditions below |
| Ancient testimony | Votive altars, ship gear, produce and a dog; merchants thanked her for safe sea crossings |
Ships go out carrying families’ fortunes. Nehalennia sees them home. Along the Zeeland shore she is the goddess to whom sailors offer thanks for a surviving crew and a safe cargo. Her altars show a woman with fruit, a watchful dog and sometimes the prow or steering gear of a ship. Her protection reaches beyond the harbour: a merchant’s livelihood, a house waiting for its people and the food that must survive a rough passage all lie within her care.
The Lady of the Safe Return
The tide is running hard through the Oosterschelde. A small grain boat has grounded beyond the channel markers. Along the quay, the boatman’s wife holds a lantern over the water while two dockhands launch a skiff. She sets three apples on the low shrine before she follows them down the steps. By morning, when the boat is hauled clear, there are four apples in the basket. None of the rescuers admits adding the fourth.
Nehalennia is not a goddess who seeks battle. Her first answer to danger is a way through it: a wind that changes just enough for a wounded ship to make harbour, a current that brings a lost child to a rescuing boat, or a shoreline fire that survives a squall. When a cruel captain abandons passengers to save his cargo, she protects the abandoned before she deals with him. Her wrath is a channel he can no longer read and a safe shore he cannot reach. A captain who turns back for strangers finds the crossing shorter than it ought to be.
The Coast and Her People
Her greatest sanctuaries rise around the old routes near Domburg and Colijnsplaat. The ancient altars bear merchants’ names and thanks for successful sea crossings. A single local shrine may be tended by a fisher’s household, a quay guild or a travelling priest. Fruit and small gifts have meaning here because food, safe cargo and the return of loved ones are the very things for which worshippers give thanks.
A dog keeps watch beside her on numerous surviving carvings. In the coastal villages, a calm dog waiting on a pier is a welcome sight when a boat has gone missing. The dog on the shrine belongs to the goddess; the hound on the pier belongs to whoever feeds it.
Other Gods
Roman and indigenous gods have worshippers along the same waters. Magusanus is honoured inland by Batavian warriors, while Nehalennia’s altars gather the gratitude of shipping merchants. Their followers travel the same waterways, but offer thanks at different shrines. The old inscriptions preserve prayers of gratitude rather than tales of a divine family.
Meeting Nehalennia
She appears on a low quay in a plain cloak, accompanied by a dog, while an old ship creaks against the timber. Her voice is quiet enough that those who wish to hear must stop arguing. She notices wet blankets before golden offerings, stranded passengers before the shipowner’s ledgers. She helps characters who risk themselves to bring others home; she refuses to turn ordinary seafarers into expendable pieces in a contest between heroes and monsters.
When she asks something of adventurers, it is usually work only mortals can finish: freeing people from a wreck, telling the truth about a disaster, recovering food or helping a vessel cross without demanding that the weakest passengers pay the price. She marks a safe channel with pale light, but leaves mortal hands to steer the vessel.
Three Adventures
The Lantern at Westkapelle
A night pilot near Westkapelle has discovered that a smuggler has moved the harbour light to wreck a salt carrier. His daughter lies feverish aboard that very ship. The party can race the tide to restore the lantern, commandeer a fishing boat to guide the carrier, or expose the smuggler and bargain for his coastal charts. Nehalennia’s shrine offers a brief spell of clear water, but the party must decide which boat reaches the dangerous shoal first.
Seven Lost Fishermen
At Colijnsplaat, seven men come ashore on a boat that should have sunk fifteen years ago. They have not aged. Their families have built lives without them; one widow has remarried, and the boat carries a cargo of fresh apples from a vanished coast. The goddess will guide the characters to the place where the men were held, but she will not decide what happens to the returned. The adventure belongs equally to the living households and those who believed they had been forgotten.
The Broken Causeway
Floodwater cuts an evacuation route between two Zeeland communities just before a winter storm. A wealthy shipmaster will carry his warehouse goods to safety but refuses passage to villagers. The party can obtain another vessel, persuade the shipmaster or confront what has frightened his crew beneath the causeway. A ruined votive stone gives them a safe route through submerged foundations; it does not remove the choice of whom they save first.
Divine Powers and Cleric Traditions
The powers below describe a god appearing in person. If her mortal-facing form is defeated, Nehalennia survives beyond it; her shrines, sailors and sacred waters remain. All four encounter interpretations are original, unofficial and unplaytested; their challenge ratings are provisional.
Nehalennia
Medium Celestial (Deity), Neutral Good
AC 24 Initiative +7 (17) HP 700 (56d8 + 448) Speed 40 ft., Swim 90 ft., Fly 60 ft. (Hover)
| Ability | Score | Modifier | Saving Throw |
|---|---|---|---|
| STR | 22 | +6 | +6 |
| DEX | 24 | +7 | +17 |
| CON | 26 | +8 | +18 |
| INT | 24 | +7 | +7 |
| WIS | 32 | +11 | +21 |
| CHA | 30 | +10 | +20 |
Saving Throws Dex +17, Con +18, Wis +21, Cha +20 Skills Insight +21, Perception +21, Religion +17, Survival +21
Resistances Acid, Fire, Force; Bludgeoning, Piercing and Slashing from nonmagical attacks Immunities Cold, Poison; Charmed, Frightened, Poisoned Senses Truesight 120 ft., Passive Perception 31 Languages All; Telepathy 120 ft.
CR 32 (unofficial extrapolation beyond the published table; XP not assigned) Proficiency Bonus +10
Traits
Legendary Resistance (4/Day). If Nehalennia fails a saving throw, she can choose to succeed instead.
Return by Water. She breathes air and water; she and willing creatures within 30 feet can walk on water and breathe underwater. This effect ends for a creature when it is more than 30 feet from her, unless she grants it for 1 hour with her action.
Unbroken Passage. Difficult terrain made of water, mud or ice doesn’t cost her extra movement. She can’t be forcibly teleported, and she is unaffected by environmental pressure or violent seas.
Actions
Multiattack. She makes three Tide Strike attacks.
Tide Strike. Melee Attack Roll: +21, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 43 (5d12 + 11) Force damage. A creature hit can choose to be moved 10 feet to an unoccupied space within her reach; otherwise it must succeed on a DC 29 Strength saving throw or be pushed 10 feet away.
Crushing Wake (Recharge 5–6). Nehalennia sends a wave through a 90-foot-long, 20-foot-wide line originating from her. Each enemy in the area makes a DC 29 Dexterity saving throw, taking 66 (12d10) Bludgeoning damage plus 33 (6d10) Cold damage on a failed save, or half as much on a success. On a failure a creature is also pushed 30 feet along the wave’s path and knocked Prone. Creatures she chooses are unaffected.
Divine Spellcasting (Wisdom; spell save DC 29, +21 to hit). She casts the spells below with their normal casting times, ranges, components and Concentration rules. Cantrips (at will): Guidance, Light, Mending, Sacred Flame, Thaumaturgy. Level 1 (at will): Create or Destroy Water, Sanctuary. Level 2 (at will): Aid, Lesser Restoration. Level 3 (at will): Water Breathing, Water Walk. Level 4 (3/day each): Control Water, Freedom of Movement. Level 5 (3/day each): Commune, Greater Restoration. Level 6 (2/day each): Heal, Word of Recall. Level 7 (2/day each): Plane Shift, Regenerate. Level 8 (1/day each): Control Weather, Holy Aura. Level 9 (1/day each): Foresight, Mass Heal.
Bonus Actions
Harbour Light. One willing creature she can see within 120 feet gains 25 Temporary Hit Points and can immediately move up to half its Speed without provoking Opportunity Attacks. This movement does not expend the creature’s Reaction.
Reactions
Hold Fast. When a creature Nehalennia can see within 120 feet takes damage, she reduces that damage by 40 and can move that creature up to 15 feet into a safe unoccupied space it can occupy.
Legendary Actions
Legendary Action Uses: 3. Nehalennia can take one legendary action after another creature’s turn, expending one use each time, and regains all uses at the start of her turn. Turn the Current: She moves up to half her Speed without provoking Opportunity Attacks. Beacon of Return: One ally within 120 feet gains 20 Temporary Hit Points. Undertow: One enemy within 90 feet makes a DC 29 Strength saving throw, taking 22 (4d10) Bludgeoning damage and being pushed up to 20 feet on a failure, or half damage without being moved on a success.
Followers — 2024
Life Domain spells, always prepared: cleric 3—Aid, Bless, Cure Wounds, Lesser Restoration; 5—Mass Healing Word, Revivify; 7—Aura of Life, Death Ward; 9—Greater Restoration, Mass Cure Wounds. Domain features follow the 2024 Cleric rules.
Cleric subclass: Life Domain suits her protection of crews and homes. The optional spell gifts below are original campaign options, not a replacement for the published Life Domain features or its granted spells. A cleric preparing spells with these gifts uses normal 2024 Cleric spellcasting and must obey the spell-level limits.
| Cleric level | Optional coastal spells |
|---|---|
| 3 | Create or Destroy Water, Sanctuary, Lesser Restoration, Locate Object |
| 5 | Water Breathing, Water Walk |
| 7 | Control Water, Freedom of Movement |
| 9 | Commune, Greater Restoration |
Rules note. These additions count as prepared Cleric spells for a cleric chosen by the goddess; they don’t consume prepared-spell choices. Their combined power with other class features is unplaytested.
Nehalennia
Medium celestial (deity), neutral good
Armor Class 24 (divine ward) Hit Points 700 (56d8 + 448) Speed 40 ft., swim 90 ft., fly 60 ft. (hover)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 (+6) | 24 (+7) | 26 (+8) | 24 (+7) | 32 (+11) | 30 (+10) |
Saving Throws Dex +17, Con +18, Wis +21, Cha +20 Skills Insight +21, Perception +21, Religion +17, Survival +21
Damage Resistances acid, fire, force; bludgeoning, piercing and slashing from nonmagical attacks Damage Immunities cold, poison Condition Immunities charmed, frightened, poisoned
Senses truesight 120 ft., passive Perception 31 Languages all, telepathy 120 ft. Challenge 32 (unofficial extrapolation; no official XP value); Proficiency Bonus +10 (campaign extrapolation)
Traits
Legendary Resistance (4/Day). If Nehalennia fails a saving throw, she can choose to succeed instead.
Return by Water. Nehalennia can breathe air and water; willing creatures within 30 feet of her can walk on water and breathe underwater while remaining there. As an action she can instead extend those benefits to three creatures for 1 hour.
Innate Spellcasting. Her spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 29, +21 to hit with spell attacks). She requires no material components without a listed cost, and follows the spell’s normal casting time and concentration rules. At will: guidance, light, mending, sacred flame, thaumaturgy, create or destroy water, sanctuary, aid, lesser restoration, water breathing, water walk. 3/day each: control water, freedom of movement, commune, greater restoration. 2/day each: heal, word of recall, plane shift, regenerate. 1/day each: control weather, holy aura, foresight, mass heal. These are levels 0–9 respectively; spell levels do not determine the daily charge groups.
Actions
Multiattack. Nehalennia makes three Tide Strike attacks.
Tide Strike. Melee Spell Attack: +21 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 43 (5d12 + 11) force damage. The target makes a DC 29 Strength saving throw or is pushed 10 feet; she may instead allow the creature to move 10 feet willingly.
Crushing Wake (Recharge 5–6). Water surges through a 90-foot-long, 20-foot-wide line originating from Nehalennia. Enemies in the area must make a DC 29 Dexterity saving throw. A creature takes 66 (12d10) bludgeoning damage plus 33 (6d10) cold damage and is pushed up to 30 feet and knocked prone on a failure, or half damage without movement or prone on success.
Bonus Actions
Harbour Light. A willing creature within 120 feet gains 25 temporary hit points and can use its reaction to move half its speed without provoking opportunity attacks.
Reactions
Hold Fast. When a creature she can see within 120 feet takes damage, Nehalennia reduces that damage by 40, then may move it 15 feet into an unoccupied space it can occupy.
Legendary Actions
Nehalennia can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from these options, one at a time, at the end of another creature’s turn. She regains spent legendary actions at the start of her turn. Turn the Current: Moves up to half her speed without provoking opportunity attacks. Beacon of Return (Costs 2 Actions): Up to three allies within 120 feet gain 20 temporary hit points. Undertow (Costs 2 Actions): One enemy within 90 feet makes a DC 29 Strength saving throw, taking 22 (4d10) bludgeoning damage and moving 20 feet on a failure, or half damage without moving on a success.
Followers — 2014
Life Domain spells: cleric 1—Bless, Cure Wounds; 3—Lesser Restoration, Spiritual Weapon; 5—Beacon of Hope, Revivify; 7—Death Ward, Guardian of Faith; 9—Mass Cure Wounds, Raise Dead. Tempest Domain spells: cleric 1—Fog Cloud, Thunderwave; 3—Gust of Wind, Shatter; 5—Call Lightning, Sleet Storm; 7—Control Water, Ice Storm; 9—Destructive Wave, Insect Plague. Each cleric follows one subclass; its domain spells are always prepared.
Cleric domains: Life or Tempest, according to whether the cleric protects homecoming or faces the dangers of storms. Those are the published subclasses; the following optional coastal domain spells are original campaign material and don’t replace normal domain powers.
| Cleric level | Additional campaign domain spells |
|---|---|
| 1st | Create or Destroy Water, Sanctuary |
| 3rd | Lesser Restoration, Locate Object |
| 5th | Water Breathing, Water Walk |
| 7th | Control Water, Freedom of Movement |
| 9th | Commune, Greater Restoration |
With this campaign option, the spells are always prepared and count as cleric spells, without counting against the cleric’s prepared total. This extra access is unplaytested.
Nehalennia
NG Medium outsider (extraplanar, good, water); CR 30 (original, unplaytested)
XP 9,830,400 (standard Pathfinder award for CR 30; encounter CR is unplaytested) Init +12; Senses darkvision 60 ft., true seeing; Perception +65
DEFENSE AC 49, touch 29, flat-footed 40 (+8 Dex, +20 natural, +10 deflection, +1 Dodge); hp 660 (40d10+400 plus 40 Toughness); Fort +25, Ref +32, Will +36; DR 15/epic; immune cold, poison; resist acid 20, electricity 20, fire 20; SR 41; fast healing 20
OFFENSE Speed 40 ft., swim 90 ft., fly 60 ft. (perfect); Melee 2 slams +51 (6d8+10 bludgeoning plus 4d8 force/19–20); Space 5 ft.; Reach 10 ft. (divine tide); Special Attacks tidal judgment (3/day)
Tidal Judgment (Su, 3/day). Standard action. A 90-foot line, 20 feet wide, deals 20d6 bludgeoning and 20d6 cold damage, Reflex DC 44 half. Creatures that fail are pushed 30 feet and knocked prone. The save DC is Wisdom-based (10 + half HD + Wis modifier + 2 from Ability Focus).
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 30th; concentration +42, saves DC 22 + spell level, Wisdom-based). At will: 0—create water, detect magic, light, mending; 1—obscuring mist, sanctuary; 2—aid, fog cloud; 3—water breathing, remove curse. 3/day each: 4—control water, freedom of movement; 5—breath of life, commune; 6—heal, find the path. 2/day each: 7—greater teleport, regenerate; 8—control weather, holy aura. 1/day each: 9—mass heal, elemental swarm (water elementals only). These abilities use their standard spell-like action timing, except where a spell specifies otherwise. These are personal divine powers, not cleric domain slots.
STATISTICS Str 30, Dex 26, Con 30, Int 26, Wis 34, Cha 32; Base Atk +40; CMB +50; CMD 79
Feats Ability Focus (Tidal Judgment), Alertness, Blind-Fight, Cleave, Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Great Cleave, Great Fortitude, Improved Critical (slam), Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Mobility, Power Attack, Skill Focus (Perception), Skill Focus (Profession [sailor]), Skill Focus (Sense Motive), Spring Attack, Toughness, Weapon Focus (slam)
Racial class skills Bluff, Craft, Knowledge (planes), Perception, Sense Motive, Stealth, Diplomacy, Profession, Survival and Swim. Unlisted skills have no ranks. Skills Bluff +54, Diplomacy +54, Heal +52, Knowledge (geography) +48, Knowledge (history) +45, Knowledge (planes) +51, Knowledge (religion) +45, Perception +65, Profession (sailor) +61, Sense Motive +65, Spellcraft +48, Survival +55, Swim +61, Acrobatics +48; Languages all, telepathy 120 ft.
SQ amphibious, unbroken passage. Unbroken Passage (Su): Nehalennia and willing creatures within 30 feet may walk on water and breathe underwater. She is not impeded by mundane currents. Divine Rescue (Su): Immediate action once per round, prevent up to 40 points of damage to one creature within 120 ft. from a single damaging effect and move that creature 15 ft. to a safe unoccupied space. This is a Wisdom-based supernatural ability.
Followers — Pathfinder 1e
Domains: Water, Travel and Protection; clerics choose two as normal. Domain powers follow the linked edition-native Cleric rules. Suggested subdomains: Oceans, Trade, Rivers, Defense (where allowed). No special item is required; a fruit basket or dog-marked votive stone can serve as her holy symbol.
| Spell level | Water domain | Travel domain | Protection domain |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Obscuring Mist | Longstrider | Sanctuary |
| 2 | Fog Cloud | Locate Object | Shield Other |
| 3 | Water Breathing | Fly | Protection from Energy |
| 4 | Control Water | Dimension Door | Spell Immunity |
| 5 | Ice Storm | Teleport | Spell Resistance |
| 6 | Cone of Cold | Find the Path | Antimagic Field |
| 7 | Elemental Body IV (water only) | Greater Teleport | Repulsion |
| 8 | Horrid Wilting | Phase Door | Mind Blank |
| 9 | Elemental Swarm (water only) | Astral Projection | Prismatic Sphere |
Nehalennia
Medium Outsider (Good, Extraplanar, Water); Challenge Rating 30 (original deity encounter, unplaytested)
Hit Dice 40d8+400 (580 hp); Initiative +12; Speed 40 ft. (8 squares), swim 90 ft., fly 60 ft. (perfect); Armor Class 48 (+8 Dex, +20 natural, +10 deflection), touch 28, flat-footed 40; 49 against a foe designated for Dodge; Base Attack/Grapple +40/+50
Attack slam +51 melee (6d8+10 plus 4d8 force/19–20); Full Attack 2 slams +51 melee (6d8+10 plus 4d8 force/19–20); Space/Reach 5 ft./10 ft. (supernatural tidal reach)
Special Attacks tidal judgment, spell-like abilities; Special Qualities damage reduction 15/epic, darkvision 60 ft., fast healing 20, immunity to cold and poison, resistance to acid/electricity/fire 20, spell resistance 42, unbroken passage, divine rescue
Saves Fort +34, Ref +32, Will +36; Abilities Str 30, Dex 26, Con 30, Int 26, Wis 34, Cha 32
Skills Diplomacy +54, Knowledge (religion) +51, Knowledge (the planes) +51, Listen +57, Sense Motive +55, Spot +57, Survival +55, Swim +61, Search +51, Profession (sailor) +55 (selected); Feats Alertness, Blind-Fight, Cleave, Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Great Fortitude, Improved Critical (slam), Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Mobility, Power Attack, Spring Attack, Weapon Focus (slam)
Environment sea coasts and transitive waterways; Organization solitary; Treasure none; Alignment neutral good; Advancement —
Tidal Judgment (Su, 3/day): Standard action; 90-foot line, 20 feet wide. Creatures take 20d6 bludgeoning plus 20d6 cold damage, Reflex DC 42 half; those failing are pushed 30 feet and knocked prone. Save DC = 10 + one-half Hit Dice + Wisdom modifier. Unbroken Passage (Su): Nehalennia and willing creatures within 30 feet can walk on water and breathe underwater. Divine Rescue (Su): Immediate action once per round; one creature within 120 feet has the damage from one attack or damaging effect reduced by 40 and may shift 15 feet to an unoccupied space.
Spell-Like Abilities (caster level 30th; save DC 22 + spell level, Wisdom-based): At will: 0—create water, detect magic, light, mending; 1—obscuring mist, sanctuary; 2—aid, fog cloud; 3—water breathing, remove curse. 3/day each: 4—control water, freedom of movement; 5—break enchantment, commune; 6—heal, find the path. 2/day each: 7—greater teleport, regenerate; 8—control weather, holy aura. 1/day each: 9—mass heal, elemental swarm (water elementals only). Spell-like abilities use standard spell-like ability action timing, unless an entry specifies otherwise.
Followers — D&D 3.5e
Domains: Water, Travel, Protection. Clerics choose two. The following domain spells use this edition’s published domain lists; they are not the deity’s personal spell-like abilities. Followers may use a dog, ship’s prow or fruit basket as her holy symbol.
| Spell level | Water domain | Travel domain | Protection domain |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Obscuring Mist | Longstrider | Sanctuary |
| 2 | Fog Cloud | Locate Object | Shield Other |
| 3 | Water Breathing | Fly | Protection from Energy |
| 4 | Control Water | Dimension Door | Spell Immunity |
| 5 | Ice Storm | Teleport | Spell Resistance |
| 6 | Cone of Cold | Find the Path | Antimagic Field |
| 7 | Acid Fog | Greater Teleport | Repulsion |
| 8 | Horrid Wilting | Phase Door | Mind Blank |
| 9 | Elemental Swarm (water only) | Astral Projection | Prismatic Sphere |
Offerings, Omens and Sacred Places
Known carved attributes include a dog, fruit, a vessel’s prow and nautical equipment. That is why a damaged altar in the sand still lets a traveller recognise her. For a harbour priest, an offering of fruit after a safe voyage is an act of gratitude; for a child searching for a lost parent, it is also a prayer. A large stone sanctuary need not stand wherever a character needs her help.
At the quay: one dog refuses to leave a mooring while its owner’s boat is missing. On the crossing: the currents briefly reveal an old, dry route through a reef. At the homecoming: the boats of the poorest fishermen arrive first, because they went back for another vessel’s crew. Those signs offer a warning, a possible rescue or a lead to investigate.
The carved dog at her side has no name in the surviving inscriptions. A dog etched on a stone, a basket of fruit and a ship’s steering gear are her recognisable sacred signs.
Places and Historical Sources
Explore the Low Countries Pantheon, Zeeland, Holland, the Gods & Pantheons directory and the neighbouring Roman Pantheon.
Ancient evidence: Nehalennia’s inscribed altars and images date chiefly to the second and third centuries CE. Her dog, fruit and nautical imagery and the names of merchants who thanked her for sea passages are securely attested. No ancient narrative survives defining her divine family or every ritual of her worship. The living personalities, encounters, miracles and gaming rules here are original campaign material.
- Rijksmuseum van Oudheden — Altars Dedicated to Nehalennia
- Rijksmuseum van Oudheden — Nehalennia and the Salt Merchant
- Rijksmuseum van Oudheden — Statue of Nehalennia
- Corpus F.E.R.C.A.N. — Linguistic Evidence and Inscription
- Pathfinder First Edition — Cleric Domain Rules
- D&D 3.5e SRD — Cleric Domain Spell Lists
Original SpiralWorlds campaign lore, artwork and encounter rules. D&D 5e references use the 2014 Basic Rules / SRD 5.1 and 2024 Free Rules / SRD 5.2; Pathfinder references use the First Edition Core Rulebook and Bestiary; D&D 3.5 references use the revised System Reference Document. Referenced spell and feat names identify the relevant rules; no publisher endorsement is implied.
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