Magic
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Magic is a supernatural force used by a magic-user, commonly named magician, wizard, or sorcerer, to perform a spell.
All magic comes from the Realm of Chaos. While a very small part of it concentrates and solidifies into Warpstone, most of it enters the Warhammer world through the damaged Polar gates in the form of the Winds of Magic and is largely invisible. Magic-users are individuals who are somehow able to sense and to feel and, usually following a special training, can learn to manipulate and use magic in the form of spells.
There are several kinds of magic but most magicians are able to use only a single form. Just as Chaos is represented as an eight pointed star, the winds of magic consist of eight "colors" or lores.
Since magic is closely associated with Chaos, it carries with it an inherent risk to its users. Most races, including humans, can only devote themselves to learning a single lore of magic without being corrupted, thus each of The Empire's Colleges of Magic are centered around the use of only one wind of magic. Elves and Slann have an inherently greater affinity with magic and are able to use the full spectrum.
The eight Winds of Magic:
| Name | Color | College of Magic | Lore |
| Hysh | White | The Light Order | Light |
| Chamon | Yellow | The Gold Order | Metal |
| Ghyran | Green | The Jade Order | Life |
| Azyr | Blue | The Celestial Order | Heavens |
| Ulgu | Grey | The Grey Order | Shadow |
| Shyish | Purple | The Amethyst Order | Death |
| Aqshy | Red | The Bright Order | Fire |
| Ghur | Brown | The Amber Order | Beasts |
In addition, the High and Dark forms of magic use the whole spectrum of the Winds of Magic, respectively in either its combined, or primal form:
High Magic (Qhaysh) consists of the entire spectrum of magic, and when used is further refined into a more advanced form. High Magic, when "refracted" into the separate colors, are essentially specialized forms and seem to influence somewhat the magician in question.
Dark Magic (Dhar), represents the primal Chaotic source of magic. Spells cast using dark magic use multiple strands of magic in its raw, unrefined form. Dark Elves are the most renowned users of dark magic, but specialized forms of Dhar are used in the Necromancy of Necromancers and Vampires.
There are further forms of magic generally associated with a single race or culture:
- Divine Magic - magic derived from the gods of the Warhammer world.
- Rune magic - used extensively by the Dwarfs, but also to a lesser degree by High Elves, Dark Elves and Chaos.
- Warpstone is used by the Grey Seers of the Skaven to fuel their spells.
- Maw magic is used by the Ogre Butchers, a kind of tribal shaman.
- Whaaagh magic, used by Orcs and Goblins seems to be a unique form of magic.
- Ice Magic is a mysterious form of magic seemingly practiced only by the Tzars and Tzarinas of Kislev.
