Luminark of Hysh

"Each Orb is infused with the essence of one of the eight magical winds and it is even whispered that a poriton of Lord Teclis's own power is bound within every one of them...The Orbs of Hysh radiates a blinding white light so intense that they have been mistaken for miniature suns..."

- The Orbs of Sorcery, magical Artefacts of Lord Teclis

2The Great Luminark of Hysh is one of the Empire's, most powerful Arcane Battle Altar throughout the colleges of Magic. In every Magical College, each one has one of several rare, potent, and powerful artefacts once held and maintained by the most powerful mage of this age, Lord Teclis of Ulthuan. The Battle Altar is a marvel of magical and technological advancement, for this great weapon has the ability to destroy whole ranks of enemy foes that dare to stand before it, and with so much power wielded by a single mage, these magical constructs are kepted greedily by the Order of Light, also known as the College of Light.

The Luminark of Hysh is a large and complex magical machine created by the Wizards of the Light College, which each Altar having one of the great magical Orb of Sorcerery imbeded in it. This particular machines uses the Orbs unique ability to its full advantage during battle. The Orb's mystical ability is that of a blinding bright light so powerful and bright that many mistake it for a miniature sun, is directed inside a complex mechanism of interlocking lens each projecting the magical light energy, in a direct beam of light that is so powerful and deadly, that a single shot from one can sear through rank after rank of enemy troops, burning through metal and flesh with equal measure. This powerful machine is only fielded by the permission of the Patriarch of the Light College himself, and indeed, these wizards are very reluctant to send such a precious device in the hands of a foolish, unknown of the power he will unleashed. Only in the most dire of situations, where the entire Empire is in the balance, will these machines be brought up.

Each Luminakr is crewed by several Acolyptes who maintain and oversee the well-being of the construct, while one of their group, an experienced and powerful Wizard directs the beam of light. While the Acolytpes focuses the lenses, titlting prism and polishing mirrors, another would enchant the spells needed to channel the Winds of Hysh onto the Orb. Though slow at first, the dim light within the construct will eventually grow, increasing in ferocity and power, until so much power is charged within the machine that it emits a blinding white light which leaps through the Luminarium's arcane optics, manifesting in a destructive beam of soulfire so instead that it vaporises everything in its path. Not only do these machines have a powerful offensive capability, it also bestows those around it with an aura of pure light energy, protecting many of the Empire's troops from blows that would cleave a man in two. Warriors so blessed by this magical light find enemy sword strokes turned aside by a magical force, where even incoming missle fire from the enemy burn in the sky, creating a dazzling aura of multi-colored light moments before reaching their suppose victim

The Light College has very precious few of these Luminarks left, as these machines need an Orb of Sorcerery in order to work functionally. Such safeguarding of these machines is often common place, and even deploying a single of these marvels into battle provides an ultimate dilemma within the Order's Patriact. Not only are the Orbs used as magical weapons, but these Orbs are a critical component within the Light Colleges pyramids, that allows it to safeguard the many powerful and ancient artefacts long forgotten within the Valuts of the Colleges underground catacombs. The removal of an Orb to be used for a Luminark decreases the vault's magical defences, and it would risk the evil hidden away within the depths of the Vault to slither away unto the darkness, spelling a quite wind of doom in the air.

Source
Warhammer Armies: The Empire (8th Edition) pg 52