Natasha

Version 0.30: This article may not be up to date for the latest stable release of Crawl.

Natasha h
HP	9-20
HD	3
XP	34
Speed	10 (move: 80%)
AC	2
EV	12
Will	20
Attack1	10 (claw: plain)
Resistances	None
Vulnerabilities	None
Habitat	Land
Intelligence	Human
Uses	Starting equipment Open doors
Holiness	Natural
Size	Little
Type	felid, felid
Flags	See invisible Speaks Warm-blooded Unique Female Evil

A fast-moving magical cat. Once a powerful wizard's familiar, Natasha was abandoned after her master was consumed by the very necromantic forces he sought to control. Now she patrols the dungeon, taking a bloody vengeance with spell and claw upon any adventurer who crosses her path. This cat doesn't have nine lives, but just one death isn't going to be enough to put her down for good. “It dooth appéere that there is in Cats as in all other kindes of beasts, a certaine reason and language wherby they vnderstand one another. But as touching this Grimmalkin: I take rather to be an Hagat or a VVitch then a Cat. For witches haue gone often in that likenes, And therof hath come the prouerb as trew as common, that a Cat hath nine liues, that is to say, a witch may take on her a Cats body nine times.” -William Baldwin, “Beware the Cat”, 1584

Useful Info

Natasha, Servant of Life and Death is a unique felid wizard. Although not very durable, she is fast and capable of summoning imps to her aid, as well as inflicting irresistible damage at any range and disabling you with status effects. On top of all that, she has three lives; when killed, she will respawn elsewhere on the floor twice before finally dying for good.

Location

• The Dungeon:2-4

Spells

Tile	Name	Damage	Range	Flags
	Magic Dart	3d4	LOS	Wizard flag
	Slow	—	LOS	Wizard flag
	Call Imp	—	—	Wizard flag

Tips & Tricks

• Her summons can quickly turn the fight into a disastrous situation. Consider retreating and returning later if she manages to get a sizable imp army up before you can reach her. Remember that summons will vanish as soon as the summoner is defeated (even if she still has extra lives.)
• Natasha can wield wands and has been known to spawn with a wand of polymorph in addition to her own Slow spell. Be cautious if you have low willpower.
• If you are trying to track her down after she's respawned in an otherwise cleared-out level, consider reading any previously discarded scrolls of noise or even deliberately setting off an alarm trap to help draw her out.
  • If you hear an "angry hissing noise", then she's within earshot and will be coming your way momentarily.

Trivia

Although never explicitly stated, the (now removed) unrand dagger Morg once belonged to a "powerful mage called Boris" who "got lost in the Dungeon while seeking the Orb." Given Natasha's flavour text, this strongly suggests that Natasha was once the unique lich Boris' familiar, making the pair into one of Crawl's sneakier pop culture references.

History

• Prior to 0.30, Call Imp created either crimson imps, white imps, shadow imps, or iron imps. They were replaced by the spear wielding cerulean imp.
• Prior to 0.18, Natasha became weaker upon revival.
• Prior to 0.16, Natasha knew Mephitic Cloud.
• Natasha was added in 0.14.