"I hear tale of Great College of Magic and how it save Kislev from Chaos. Nekulturny talk! Many century before College and precious Elf founder, Kislevarin witches guard land with old Human magic. Yha, Imperinyi and Elf wizards come to Kislev's Gate in Great War, but they are few to Kislev's many!"
Tzarina Katarin Bokha, the most powerful Ice Witch in Kislev, unleashes the frigid power of the Lore of Ice and Lore of Tempest.
Ice Magic, divided between the disciplines of the Lore of Ice and the Lore of Tempest, is the primary magical tradition practiced in Kislev, usually by the all-female order of Human wizards known as the Ice Witches.[1b] It is said to be the power of winter itself granted by the divine embodiment of Kislev, the powerful nature spirit called the Ancient Widow.[1a]
Ice Magic flows throughout Kislev through a series of leylines with multiple nexus points, most capped by the ancient stone circles called Oghams erected by either Men or Elves in ancient times. Its cold flows vary in strength, becoming very strong in Kislev's sites of power, along the leylines, and in the depths of winter, but becoming far weaker and waning the further from Kislev one travels, in warmer climes, and closer to the equator. The leylines remain flooded with chill power in Kislev even during the Summer Solstice, when the flow is at its most sluggish.[1a][1b][1c]
The Ice Witches practice traditions founded long before their Gospodar ancestors migrated across the Worlds Edge Mountains. Before the Gospodar people invaded the Old World and founded the kingdom of Kislev, the first Ice Witches practised their magic on the Eastern Steppes. Unlike their Kurgan neighbours -- who worshipped the Great Eye of the Chaos Wastes and channelled the dangerous magic it seeped -- the Gospodars learned to tap the cold power coursing through their homeland.[1b][1e]
Two disciplines of Ice Magic are practiced in the Ice Court of Kislev. The first is simply called the Lore of Ice, but more specifically Frost Magic, Fractalmancy, or "Mother's Lore." It is the path of the snow and blizzard, with powerful spells that can conjure glaciers into being, cast sharp icicles and slow or freeze others in place down to even their blood. The Lore of Tempest by contrast, also called Gale Magic, Zephyrlation and "Father's Lore," is a magic of the cold winter storm, conjuring magical cyclones and powerful winds said to be drawn from the breath of the bear god Ursun himself.[3]
Furthermore, Ice Magic leaves its mark upon those that cast it, as is true for all Human wielders of the Winds of Magic. Ice Witches are cold women, many would say heartless, for their personalities soon come to mirror the frigid magic they channel. It is said that to wield the Lore of Ice, they must have permafrost in their hearts. Users of the Lore of Tempest, meanwhile, are short-tempered and not to be crossed, but compassionate to those they protect.[1a][3]
Officially, the Ice Court only accepts young women of noble, ethnically Gospodar lineage, and teaches those of such a bloodline the old ways of their khan-queen ancestors and spells to manipulate the great ice spirits of the land and of rulership and war. The common folk can also wield Ice Magic however, and are less concerned with regal ice spirits, instead practicing spells that manipulate the cold magic that saturates the oblast lands of Kislev. These commoner Ice Witches are known as "oblast witches." Lastly, Ice Witches guarding the ley lines and the ancient Oghams of Kislev learn spells to control the freezing flows of magic that flood those powerful places, and so are known as "ley witches."[1e][3]
Safe Usage[]
An Ice Witch of Kislev can summon the frigid power of the Lore of Ice.
Although the practice of Ice Magic did not carry the same risks of mutation as wielding the power of Chaos, it was as difficult to control as all magic and often killed unwary Ice Witches. Many centuries later, things are little different. As should be expected for a magic with its roots in the ancient wars fought on the Eastern Steppes, it is extremely deadly, not just for the Ice Witches' enemies but for the witches themselves.[1a][1b]
Many apprentice Ice Witches do not survive their training; indeed, some can be found to this day in isolated corners of the Kislevite oblast, frozen eternally as sparkling statues of unmelting ice by the magic they failed to control. For those that do survive, it never gets any easier. Ice Magic can surge out of control at any moment, so constant vigilance and careful preparation is required.[1a]
Ice Magic can generally be safely channelled so long as the wielder is surrounded by freezing conditions (including harsh winters, tundras or icy houses) or is located within Kislev's borders. Channelled Ice Magic is already "cleansed" by the cold heart of the Ancient Widow, rendering witches less susceptible to the Curse of Tzeentch.[1b]
However, outside of Kislev this protection does not exist, and if the caster was not in cold conditions spells would need additional effort and ingredients to function. Furthermore, the flows of Ice Magic could rise and become too strong for a witch to control, possibly piercing through to the Aethyr and allowing Tzeentch's Curse to take hold.[1b][1c]
Lore of Ice Notable Spells[]
Petty Spells[]
These spells are known by many Ice Witches of both disciplines.[1d]
- Chill - A simple touch upon any surface leaves a gleaming frost behind. The air within the immediate area drops to below freezing for the duration of the spell.[1d]
- Winter Walk - The caster demands that the nature spirits of winter grant her passage. She has no difficulty in moving through blizzards, snowdrifts, icy surfaces, and similar frigid environments.[1d]
Lore of Ice[]
- Chill Voice - The Ice Witch speaks with the pitiless chill of the Gospodar khan-queens of old, becoming greater at commanding, bartering, intimidating, or even torturing. Naturally, this leaves the caster less sociable while the spell is in effect.[1e]
- Crystal Cloak - This spell calls forth a swirling, shimmering, ice-laden mist and wraps it around the caster. Anyone within two yards suffers physical impediment as the cloak's cold seeps into them. Further, anyone trying to attack the witch in melee combat backs away from the intense chill.[1e]
- Crystal Sanctuary - A temporary crystalline dome of ice is generated around the spellcaster and their allies warding them against magical attacks but rooting them to the spot in the process.[3]
- Death Frost - This spell calls up lethal cold from the land. A target that the caster touches potentially suffers fatal injury regardless of armour. If slain, the target is frozen solid.[1e]
- Frost Blade - A sparkling blade of ice forms in the caster's hand, serving as a precise magical weapon. It immediately melts away if she lets go of it. At the end of the spell's duration, the caster can retain the blade with concentration.[1e][1g]
- Frost Blades - Crackling magical energy envelops the weapons of the unit of warriors targeted by the caster, imbuing mundane weapons with deadly new properties. Those foes impaled on these murderous blades will die in frozen agony.[3]
- Frost Fang - Like the cuspid of a fearsome beast, spikes of ice force their way through the frozen wastes to impale the incognizant foe.[3]
- Frost Shield - Ambient water vapour in the air is frozen into a shield to protect an entire unit of warriors from magical attack for the duration of the spell ranged against it.[3]
- Frozen Skin - The caster draws the chill from the depths of her heart and lets it fill every inch of her body. She becomes cold to the touch and even more pallid than before, and her skin becomes hard and resilient to any blows.[2a][2b]
- Form of the Frost Fiend - The caster invites the cold spirits of old within her to transform herself, along with her trappings, into a shrieking, taloned Frostfiend. She retains her own mind, but otherwise takes on the characteristics, abilities, and physical traits of a Frostfiend. However, the witch may not communicate in anything other than howls, cannot cast spells, and cannot wield weapons. The spell ends when she takes a severe enough injury, goes to sleep, or when she ends the spell voluntarily.[1g]
- Heart of Winter - Those caught by this spell are gradually slowed to a frozen stop as they reach the very epicentre of winter's glacial cold.[3]
- Ice Maiden's Kiss - This spell allows the witch to breathe forth purest cold, freezing foes into glittering statues of ice, potentially killing them outright.[1g]
- Ice Sheet - This spell glazes a large area with a thin layer of slippery ice. Even if able to keep their footing, those that cross it must do so at a slower pace or risk falling to the ground.[1g]
- Permafrost - This spell channels mighty flows of cold into the land. A heavy frost immediately crusts over every affected surface, halving all movement for those in or moving through the area. On the round of casting (and that round only), anyone affected also suffers crippling injury that ignores armour. After one minute, all liquid water in the area freezes.[1g][1h]
- Shardstorm - This spell unleashes one to ten diamond-hard shards of ice that shoot towards a selected target. Each shard is a potent magic missile.[1h]
- Shattering Doom - The caster turns her victim to a statue of ice that, if shattered, will result in the victim's death.[2b]
- Shoika's Call - This spell calls out to the spirit of Kislev known as the Ancient Widow, reminding her of her promises to Khan-Queen Shoika, the first tzarina of Kislev, and causes twenty-foot tendrils of ice to erupt from the ground. Movement through this area is halved. Any creature in the area risks the tendrils wrapping around it and dealing excruciating pain that ignores armour. In addition, the affected individual is considered grappled.[1h]
- Snow - This spell causes a small blizzard to fill a diameter of 12 yards around the caster, decreasing visibility and the physical characteristics of those caught inside it. Though not usually done, the spell can be cast indoors.[2b]
- Sword of Ice - This spell causes a sword made of ice to appear in the caster's hand that acts as a magical weapon.[2a]
- Walk the Endless Steppe - The caster lowers the temperature of her body. She is immune to any exposure effects caused by freezing conditions and is immune to damage from cold-based attacks, whether magical or mundane.[1h]
- Wall of Ice - This spell forms a wall of snow-covered ice from the ground. The caster may create a straight wall up to ten yards long and six yards high, all of which must be within the spell's range and may not pass through an area emanating any warmth (living bodies, fire, etc.). The wall is quite durable and blocks line of sight, but fire deals double damage to it.[1h]
- Wind of Ice - With a single breath, the caster blows a freezing gale at anyone in front of her within 48 yards that can cause severe frostbite and even death.[2b]
Lore of Tempest[]
- Biting Wind - This spell channels mighty flows of magic into a howling gale of cold. Anyone between the caster and her target is slashed by wind-whipped ice shards. In addition, creatures risk falling to the ground, prone. Biting Wind is a type of magic missile.[1e][3]
- Blizzard - A swirling flurry of snow and ice rises from the land, freezing and blinding all in its path. The caster can cast Blizzard at any point she can see. Those within at least twenty-four yards of the chosen target suffer continual injury from the unnatural cold.[1e][3]
- Freezing Winds - When this spell is cast, a cold squall quickly escalates into a freezing gale which slows the enemy's movement across the battlefield.[3]
- Gust of True Flight - Projectiles of all kinds, such as arrows and bolts, can be fired faster and further, as if guided by a sentient essence deep within.[3]
- Hailstorm - This spell channels Ice Magic upwards, forming large chunks of ice that fall to the ground with horrifying speed. In addition to the threat of injury, all creatures beneath the storm are physically impaired so long as they remain therein. By channelling the spell, the Ice Witch can slowly move the hailstorm in a direction of her choice.[1g][3]
- Hawks of Miska - By calling upon nature spirit pacts sealed by the first Gospodar khan-queens such as Miska, the caster summons the Hawks of Miska, frozen spirits of fear, hatred, and dread. The icy birds crystallise from the air and swoop around the target, loosing fearful cries, tormenting all others who bear witness.[1g][3]
- Swiftwing - The spellcaster and their allies become a blur of cyan energy which darts through the air at incredible speed before coalescing back into their natural form.[3]