High Elf Mage

"The dwellers of the White Tower use High Magic to destroy enemies and augment allies."

—Description of a High Elf Mage from Total War: Warhammer II.^[6]

A High Elf Mage is among the most powerful wizards of the mortal world, but due to the High Elves' natural affinity for the Winds of Magic, they are far more powerful than even the most experienced Human wizards, even Imperial Battle Wizards.

Role[]

By lineage and inclination, the Elves are a magical race. They are fascinated by the secrets of magic, and their mages' nimble minds can embrace a deeper understanding of its subtleties and whims than other wizards. It is well that this is so, for without the magics of the High Elf mages, Ulthuan would have long since have slipped beneath the waves or been overwhelmed by the black sorceries of Naggarothi sorcerers.^[1a]

Indeed, not only Ulthuan, but the entire Known World owes much to the disciplined and selfless actions of High Elf mages. It is by their effort that the Great Vortex and the network of waystones that feed it are maintained, and the dread power of Chaos thus kept in abeyance. In Ulthuan, those who devote their lives to magic are treated with the highest respect and honour.^[1a]

Though each kingdom has its own magical traditions and methods of scholarship, Saphery is the realm most famed for its mages, and it is at the White Tower of Hoeth that Ulthuan's seat of magical learning can be found. There, the greatest collection of mages, Loremasters and scholars in the world endeavor to perfect their mastery of the sorcerous arts. It is a place of wonders unbounded, where mages strive to harness every aspect of the Winds of Magic.^[1a]

The robes of mages often bear the stars of the night sky -- a silent testament to Lileath, the divine patron of dreamers and sages, and to Morai-heg, the Crone Goddess who set the stars in the heaven.^[2a]

Mages of Lothern are said to spend half their lives aboard ships, summoning winds, protecting them from monsters, blasting enemy ships with spells when the need arises and preventing enemy wizards doing the same to their vessels.^[4b]

Asur must be at least sixteen years of age before they are allowed to properly study the Art. If the would-be mage is of the Blood of Aenarion, they must also visit the seers of Asuryan on the Island of Flame prior to their schooling.^[4a]

Blessings of Isha[]

Before a promising young High Elven mage is taught the dangerous path of Qhaysh, or High Magic, they will be shown some simple prayers and enchantments to bring down the blessings of the divine Isha, the Elven goddess of nature and fertility. These are far less dangerous for the caster and can be safely employed by even the most untutored Elven mage.^[3a]

These blessings are of limited use upon the battlefield, intended as they are to ease the burden of daily chores carried out by the aspirant, and allow the tutor-mages to assess the potential of their charges, showing who is most favoured by the gods.^[3a]

It is said that the High Elven farmers who live near the White Tower never plough their own fields, as every year there is another crop of novices eager to practice their skills.^[3a]

Military Service[]

While the leadership of a High Elf force almost always falls to a noble, this does not necessarily mean that the chosen general will be a warrior -- indeed there have been a number of renowned mages throughout the history of the High Elves who have successfully led armies into battle.^[5a]

More commonly, one or more High Elf Mages will be invited to join the force, both in a capacity as an advisor and as a protection against the magic of the enemy. Many examples of this relationship working harmoniously exist and none better than the cooperation between Tyrion and Teclis -- both of these renowned High Elven heroes would make fine generals in their own right, however when together there is no doubt that Tyrion speaks with the voice of command. Likewise, any who have observed them notice that Tyrion leans carefully on his brother's counsel. Of course, few High Elves can hope to share a bond of brotherhood and cooperation so close as this pair. Outright antipathy is, thankfully, rarer still.^[5a]