Spellsingers

Spellweavers are those among the Wood Elves dedicated to the art of magic, be it High or Dark.

Elves are intrinsically magical beings. In most, this talent is too weak to be developed, presenting itself as occasional forebodings, but in truly gifted Elves, it can be shaped into a tool of great power. Such a boon is not without danger, for raw magic is a destructive thing if drawn upon unwisely. Whilst other Elves protect themselves from such ravages through ritual, the Spellweavers and Spellsingers of Athel Loren shield themselves by joining their minds to the forest’s sleeping consciousness.

As a result of this connection, Wood Elf mages have an altogether unique relationship with Athel Loren. In some ways, they are a part of a greater intelligence, much as the Dryads, spites and Treemen are. This bond allows them to commune with the forest, and some particularly powerful mages can use their bond to reshape the forest itself. This can mean changing the course of a tree’s growth or, more dramatically, reshaping the pathways within the forest to slow enemies or hasten the progress of the Elves. Such a ploy is by no means certain, for the forest often refuses such requests and must be persuaded - or tricked - into obeying.

On the rare occasions that the Wood Elves willingly enter into discourse with other races, it is invariably the mages who perform diplomatic duties, travelling with small entourages to the courts of foreign kings. To avoid potential danger while on such journeys, the mages focus their powers into spells of protection, moving themselves and their companions beyond the physical realm. Such groups often appear as translucent silhouettes and pass through physical obstacles without hindrance, giving rise to countless peasants’ tales of ghostly travellers that stalk the lands about Athel Loren.

As they practise a magical discipline both uncluttered by the stiff-necked morality of Ulthuani Mages, and untainted by the sadism of the Naggarothi, Wood Elf mages are able to draw upon both High and Dark Magic. The former is a legacy of the ancient tutelage their High Elf ancestors received, the latter a lingering aftereffect of Ariel’s long years during the Season of Retribution. Despite the Mage Queen’s best efforts, every generation of Wood Elves since that time has yielded a handful of magi attuned to the dangerous path of Dark Magic. Thus far, none have succumbed to the same madness that claimed Ariel all those centuries ago, but it is impossible to say what the future will bring. In the meantime, Athel Loren cannot afford to reject such a potent resource.

So it is that mages sometimes take to the field in pairs composed of one Highweaver and one Darkweaver. Whilst the Darkweaver unleashes flesh-shredding storms of sorcery, her Highweaver counterpart employs High Magic to bolster their allies. Yet the Highweaver has another duty also. Should the Darkweaver show signs of being overcome by the sorceries she wields, the Highweaver becalms the Winds of Magic, shutting off the flow of corrupting power, and thus holding the incipient madness at bay — at least, for a while...

Source
Warhammer Armies: Wood Elves (8th Edition) -- pg. 39