This week, our German Community Manager, Hadi Al-Begami, once again dabbles in all things supernatural, focusing on what the men of the Empire call Winds (or Lores) of Magic. If you want to find out more about the works of the seemingly uncontrollable power that, in a way, rules every aspect of existence in the Old World, read on – but be warned, for many a man who has sought this knowledge died an awful death in the pits of The Inevitable City.


The Eight Lores

While other races of the Old World, notably the Slann and Elves, are able to control the entirety of the Winds of Magic, human spellcasters, for various reasons such as a short lifespan as well as a lack of natural connection to the fabric of magic, can only focus on one of the Winds of Magic, called Lores. The High Elf mage, Teclis, helped Magnus the Pious to found the now famous Colleges of Magic in Altdorf, each one specializing in one of the Lores.

The Wind of Aqshy

Also called the Lore of Fire, the followers of this path are known as Pyromancers or Bright Wizards. They utilize the destructive and cleansing nature of fire to bring annihilation to the foes of the Empire, so it is no wonder that they make up the bulk of the Empire’s battle mages.

As is always the case for those that dabble in the arcane arts, this power comes at a price – and in particular, their physical appearance will change, beginning with reddish hair and a faint scent of brimstone or sulphur, and ending with brightly glowing eyes and tattoo-like glowing markings on their arms.

The Wind of Chamon

Those who utilise the powers of Chamon, or the Lore of Metal, are referred to as Alchemists or Gold Wizards. They are the masters of transmutation, capable of rearranging the elements of any given body and even replacing certain elements by another for a while.

So, while the Bright Wizards are capable of flinging a red-hot fireball at a foe, Gold Wizards will simply turn an armoured knight into a pile of red-hot molten steel.

The Wind of Ulgu

Also called the Wind of Deception, Ulgu is represented in the Lore of Shadows. It symbolizes all that is unseen and unknown, and its followers are referred to as Shadowmancers or Gray Wizards. They make up the greatest of the Empire’s spy networks, and not even Karl Franz is fully aware of all of their actions.

When they uncover a plot intended to bring down the Empire, they will act swiftly and with precision to rid the Old World of those they consider traitors.

The Wind of Ghur

Amber Wizards are what the practitioners of the Lore of Beasts are known as. They have a special bond with nature, and even more so with its creatures. This allows them to call upon wild beasts for aid in combat, communicating with them or, in some cases, even taking the form of an animal.

They can often be found in the wilderness of the Empire, purging the forests of Beastmen and protecting remote villages.

The Wind of Azyr

The Celestial Wizards, also called Astromancers, are by definition some of the most powerful spellcasters of man, for they utilize the Lore of Heavens, and thereby Azyr, to see into the future. But this gift is a double-edged sword, for what was once seen cannot be unseen; many adepts of the Lore of Heavens have fallen to insanity, as their minds were unable to grasp what Azyr had shown them.

But they aren’t merely prophets; they are true masters of the Heavens, capable of calling forth gusts of wind that can bring a giant to his knees and lightning bolts that will melt even the hardest steel. The most powerful Celestial Wizards can even reach further than the skies, raining down meteor showers on their foes.

The Wind of Hysh

The practitioners of the Lore of Light, referred to as White Wizards, are capable of manipulating the power of light in various ways – they can force it into a beam that will sear the flesh off the bones of their foes or they can use it to mend the wounds of their allies.

But their true power lies in the struggle against the forces of Chaos, for the Hierophants are the most powerful exorcists known to man. Even if they are not able to banish a particularly powerful demon, they will incarcerate him in the cellar of the White College for eternity.

The Wind of Ghyran

Those who follow the Lore of Life call themselves Jade Wizards, but they are known to the people as Druids. Like those who call upon the Wind of Ghur, Jade Wizards have a strong bond with nature, but this bond is between them and the land itself, not the creatures that dwell on it. They are masters of the elements, capable of bringing plants to life or turning the air in a creature’s lungs into poisonous gas.

The Wind of Shyish

Contrary to common belief, Amethyst Wizards are no necromancers; rather, they accept death and the end of all, while necromancers will do anything to lengthen their own life.

The Brethren of Shyish have many spells at their disposal, and they are capable of causing the decaying of any living being, be it man, beast, or plant, in an instant, or even ripping the very soul out of a foe’s body.


Elven Magic

High Magic

This Lore of magic is taught by the High Elves of Ulthuan. Where the casters of man will focus on controlling and mastering one of the Winds, High Elves view magic as a whole. They are able to weave the very fabric of magic together and make it act as they wish, each Wind doing its part in its true-nature form, making High Elves some of the most powerful spellcasters alive.

Dark Magic

Also called Dhar, Dark Magic will, like High Magic, utilize every aspect of the Wind – but unlike the High Elves, the Druchii Sorceresses will bend the raw fabric of magic to their will, rather than weave it together.

Lore of Athel Loren

As the name implies, this Lore of magic takes its power from the Forest of Athel Loren, allowing the Wood Elves that use it to draw upon the power of the forest in many different ways.


Other Lores

There are many different races in the Old World, and among almost all of them are spellcasters – people who utilize powers that we would consider supernatural, from the Truthsayers of Albion to the Vampires to the Ogre Butchers and their Gut Magic. There are too many to represent all of them in this article, but I certainly hope to have given you a small glimpse of the works of magic that are known to be employed in the Warhammer universe.