Hysh is the Realm of Light in Age of Sigmar — home of the Lumineth Realm-Lords and the aelven gods Teclis and Tyrion. It is a domain of blinding radiance, geometric perfection and merciless clarity where light itself is both environment and weapon. Of the eight Mortal Realms that form the setting of Warhammer Age of Sigmar, Hysh represents illumination in every sense: physical, intellectual and spiritual.
Where other realms deal in shadow, metal, fire or death, Hysh is the realm where truth cannot hide. Its relentless radiance lays bare flaws and strips away illusions, which makes Hysh a place of great beauty and great cruelty in equal measure.
What Does Hysh Look Like?
Hysh is a realm of overwhelming luminosity. Its light is at its fiercest towards the realm’s heart, and the deeper you travel, the harsher and brighter everything becomes.
The landscape and its cities are defined by order and geometry. Crystalline mountains catch and refract the light, and the great cities of the Lumineth Realm-Lords — the aelven inhabitants of Hysh — are built with precise symmetry, their spires and temples reflecting the aelves’ pursuit of perfection. White stone, pale crystal and gold dominate, which is why white and gold are the classic Lumineth colours on the tabletop.
Towards its edges the realm grows less harsh. Like every Mortal Realm, Hysh is ringed by the Perimeter Inimical, but in the habitable lands short of that edge the light is more bearable, and these regions are easier for non-aelven peoples to live in.
Who Lives in Hysh?
The dominant civilisation of Hysh is the Lumineth Realm-Lords — an aelven people who have attuned themselves to the light of their realm and built a sophisticated, deeply philosophical society around its principles. They are among the most magically advanced civilisations in the Mortal Realms.
The Lumineth were shaped by Teclis, one of the twin aelven gods and the supreme master of magic, who created them from aelven souls rescued from Slaanesh. His twin brother Tyrion, the god of light, rules alongside him, and the pair correspond to the characters of the same names from the old Warhammer Fantasy setting.
Beyond the Lumineth, Hysh is home to its own realm-spirits — the great elemental spirits of mountain, wind, river and sky that the Lumineth learned to commune with after the Spirefall. Human communities also exist in Hysh, often in the gentler regions and under Lumineth influence.
Chaos has footholds in Hysh too, particularly the servants of Slaanesh, who are drawn to the realm’s beauty and to the aelven souls the Dark Prince once devoured. The struggle between the Lumineth and Slaanesh’s followers is one of the defining conflicts of the realm.
What Is the Spirefall?
The Spirefall is the defining catastrophe in Lumineth history. In their early years the Lumineth used aetherquartz, a crystal that can absorb emotions and store magical energy, to rid themselves of unwanted feelings and to enhance their abilities. Their overuse of it, together with their pride, left them open to disaster: the suppressed emotions and Slaanesh’s influence tore their society apart, and the result was a period of madness, strife and ruin.
The surviving Lumineth rebuilt with a new humility. Rather than trying to master everything through aetherquartz, they learned to commune with the realm’s elemental spirits and to discipline their own minds. That reawakening gave rise to the elemental temples whose warrior-monks now fight alongside the rest of the Lumineth. The best known are the Alarith (mountain), Hurakan (wind) and Ydrilan (river) temples.
The Spirefall gives the Lumineth real depth as a faction: they are not simply haughty aelves, but a people who suffered a catastrophic failure of their own making and rebuilt themselves from it.
What Magic Is Unique to Hysh?
Hysh is saturated with the magic of light, the Wind of Hysh in the cosmology of the Mortal Realms. This magic manifests as illumination, clarity, truth and purification. Lumineth mages — the Scinari — draw on it to power their spells.
Hyshian magic is associated with spells that blind and dazzle enemies, reveal what is hidden, create barriers of light and burn away corruption. In earlier editions of Age of Sigmar, the Lumineth’s Lore of Hysh included spells such as Solar Flare, Lambent Light and Speed of Hysh. Spell lores change with each battletome, so check the current Lumineth Realm-Lords battletome for the spells available today.
The temples add their own traditions: Alarith warriors and mages draw on the steadfastness of mountains, Hurakan on the speed of the winds and Ydrilan on the flowing power of Hysh’s rivers.
Teclis himself is the supreme master of magic in the Mortal Realms. His abilities dwarf those of any mortal mage, and when he takes the field he is one of the most powerful wizards in the setting.
How Does Hysh Connect to Other Realms?
In the cosmology of Age of Sigmar, the eight Mortal Realms exist in relationship to each other. Hysh, the Realm of Light, is paired with Ulgu, the Realm of Shadow, as its opposite. Where Hysh reveals, Ulgu conceals, and that duality runs through their geography, inhabitants and magic.
Realmgates — magical portals between the realms — make travel between Hysh and other realms possible. They are strategic assets of enormous importance, controlling the flow of armies, trade and refugees, and the Lumineth guard theirs carefully.
The Perimeter Inimical — the edge of each realm, where its essential nature becomes overwhelming — surrounds Hysh with a zone of unbearable light. Mortals who venture too close are blinded and burned, and only the most powerful beings can survive there.
The Lumineth have taken part in major Age of Sigmar conflicts, including the struggle against Nagash in the Soul Wars era and the ongoing war against Chaos, but they often pursue their own agenda rather than simply following Sigmar’s lead.
How Are the Lumineth Realm-Lords Played on the Tabletop?
On the Age of Sigmar tabletop, the Lumineth Realm-Lords are an elite army that rewards careful positioning and planning. Their units are generally expensive in points but individually strong, reflecting their lore as a quality-over-quantity civilisation.
The army combines the Vanari warrior caste and the Scinari mage caste with warriors of the elemental temples: Alarith for tough infantry and great mountain spirits, Hurakan for speed and Ydrilan for magic. Key units include Vanari Auralan Wardens (disciplined spear-armed infantry), Alarith Stoneguard (heavy elite infantry), Hurakan Windchargers (swift cavalry archers) and the Scinari Cathallar (a support mage who manipulates emotions). Heroes such as Teclis and the Light of Eltharion lead the army.
The Lumineth play best when their units support each other, and their magic is a big part of that. For current warscrolls, points and army rules, check the latest battletome and Battle Profiles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hysh the same as the Realm of Heavens?
No. Hysh is the Realm of Light. The Realm of Heavens is Azyr, which is Sigmar’s domain. While both are associated with positive concepts (light and heaven), they are distinct realms with different characteristics, inhabitants and magical traditions.
Can humans live in Hysh?
Yes, mainly in the gentler regions away from the realm’s harshest light. The Perimeter Inimical is lethal to anyone who ventures too close. Human communities in Hysh tend to cluster around Realmgates and in the more temperate lands, often under the protection or influence of the Lumineth.
Who are Teclis and Tyrion?
Teclis and Tyrion are twin aelven gods who rule Hysh. Teclis is the god of magic and wisdom, master of High Magic and the architect of Lumineth civilisation. Tyrion is the god of light, a martial deity of tremendous physical power. They correspond to the characters of the same names from the old Warhammer Fantasy setting, having survived the destruction of the World-That-Was.
What is the relationship between Hysh and Ulgu?
Hysh (Light) and Ulgu (Shadow) are cosmological opposites — paired realms that define each other by contrast. Where Hysh reveals, Ulgu conceals. The Lumineth and the forces of shadow are often at odds, though alliances of convenience have occurred.
Are the Lumineth the only aelves in Age of Sigmar?
No. Several aelven factions exist in Age of Sigmar. The Daughters of Khaine are based in Ulgu and serve Morathi-Khaine. The Idoneth Deepkin dwell in the deepest oceans of several realms. The Sylvaneth, while not aelves, have strong connections to aelven culture through their goddess, Alarielle. Each aelven faction has its own realm, culture and way of war.
What are the Great Nations of the Lumineth Realm-Lords?
The Lumineth are divided into Great Nations, each with its own culture and way of war: Iliatha, Syar, Ymetrica, Zaitrec, Alumnia and Helon. Ymetrica is known for its mountain-like steadfastness, Zaitrec for its zealous mages, Helon for its archers and Syar for its fine crafting of aetherquartz. Players often paint their army in a nation’s colours.
What is aetherquartz in Hysh?
Aetherquartz is a crystal found in Hysh that stores magical energy and can absorb emotions. The Lumineth used it to cast off unwanted feelings and boost their abilities, but that overindulgence helped cause the Spirefall. Today its use is more carefully controlled, and on the tabletop Lumineth units still carry aetherquartz reserves that represent the gem’s power.