[andrewas]

in order of quality, in my opinion:

nalia is the best good aligned,pure(ish) mage in the game. shes in the Copper Coronet.

imoen is more of a thief (nalia dosent deserve the title) but still an excellent mage. by the end of the game these should both have level 8 spells, level 9 with ToB. You start with her and get her back in spellhold.

aerie is crap as a mage, acceptable as a cleric, but that dosent matter since you dont use her as your primary mage, do you? use her for backup and healing. she can also turn undead, but i only remembered this in an certain crypt much later on and she turned about 50 skeletons before dying. no exageration. shes in the yellow circus tent just south-east of the exit from irenicuses dungeon.

jan i havent tried, but is the only NPC thief that can level up as a thief. except yoshi and he has his own problems. he also has magical abilities, should be similar to what aerie can accomplish. hes in the goverment district selling contraband and turnips.