Colleges of Magic

The Imperial Colleges of Magic are located in and around the city of Altdorf in the Empire. The Colleges are given the task and responsibility for training all persons in the Empire who are capable of manipulating the Winds of Magic. The Colleges were founded in 2304 IC under the permission of Magnus the Pious and the tutelage of Teclis the Elf Archmage and the Loremasters Finreir and Yrtle.

The Winds of Magic
Teclis knew that the minds of mankind were too weak to safely manipulate the full spectrum of the Winds of Magic, known to the High Elves as Qhaysh, and to Humans as the High Magic. Therefore, he broke the High Magic into its eight component winds, and dedicated each College to the study of one particular "colour" of wind.

The eight different winds, and their associated Colleges are:
 * Hysh, the White Wind: Light Order
 * Azyr, the Blue Wind: Celestial Order
 * Chamon, the Yellow Wind: Gold Order
 * Ghyran, the Green Wind: Jade Order
 * Ghur, the Brown Wind: Amber Order
 * Aqshy, the Red Wind: Bright Order
 * Ulgu, the Grey Wind: Grey Order
 * Shyish, the Purple Wind: Amethyst Order

The Supreme Patriarch
Each of the Colleges is led by their most powerful wizard, known as the Patriarch (or Matriarch), as determined by ritual magic duels. All of the Colleges, however, bow before the mightiest Human wizard: the Supreme Patriarch. The Supreme Patriarch rules the Colleges for a period of eight years. At the end of each term, he may be challenged for his (or her) right to remain Supreme Patriarch. Again, this challenge takes the form of a magical duel. The winner (usually the survivor - many duels end in the loser's demise) becomes (or remains) Supreme Patriarch for the neext eight years.

The current Supreme Patriarch of the Colleges of Magic is Balthasar Gelt, of the Gold Order. He defeated Thyrus Gorman of the Bright Order for the title even before he secured his own seat as Patriarch of the Gold Order.

Source

 * Realms of Sorcery (WFRP, 2nd ed.)

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