Server Lore

Thedas is a land of uneasy neighbors, of national frictions, and cultures in conflict. The borders between the great nations of Thedas—nations like the Tevinter Imperium, Orlais, and Ferelden—are sometimes shifting, sometimes understood only by the locals. The heart of these lands is clear but their reach is a matter of politics, posturing, and intrigue. This isn’t a place or time of strict and rigid maps. “This is the marchland between Orlais and Ferelden,” a frontierswoman might say, waving her hand. “This side of the mountain is Ferelden, that side is Orlais, and the rocks between aren’t worth dying for. Not yet.”

Magic permeates all living beings in the land of Thedas. It courses through every animal, plant, and sentient creature. Some even believe that magic is the power that gives life. Despite the prevalence of magic in all living beings, only a rare few possess the ability to manipulate it. Mages and other spellcasters are able to draw mana from living matter around them and shape it into fire to blast their foes, channel it into arcane glyphs, or use it to dominate the minds of those around them. Magic is a complex and dangerous art. Those with the potential to wield its power undergo years of extensive training and study to master it, and are tested until they are tempered—or broken—by the process. Magic is not for the faint of heart, because those lacking the strength to use it will instead be used by it, becoming vessels for unspeakable evil and cruelty.

The Fade:

Mages have a special connection to the otherworldly realm known as the Fade. According to the Chantry, the Fade is the source of the primeval matter from which the Maker formed Thedas and all living beings. When the living die, their souls pass through what is called the Veil and into this realm. Those who lived good lives and worshipped the Maker then journey into the sky to join him as an eternal reward. Those who lived evil lives or did not worship the Maker, however, return to the ether from which they were formed when they enter the Fade. Mages claim that what happens to the souls of the dead is a Chantry tenet that has no substantiation. No dead soul has ever been witnessed to enter the Fade, according to the mages, so it also cannot be proven that anything described by the Chantry happens upon death. It is an eternal debate between the Chantry and the Circle of Magi, made all the more difficult because the Chantry requires that its position be accepted as a matter of faith.

The Danger of Magic:

The Fade is not an empty realm. Indeed, it is full of spirits of various sorts, as well as those of beings asleep in Thedas. For reasons still unknown, mages attract the attention of the Fade’s native spirits. Some sages speculate that the mages’ natural ability to use magic makes them appear differently in the Fade. Unlike other living beings, when a mage enters the Fade (voluntarily or no) they are able to act normally, and spirits may be able to sense this difference in them. However it occurs, malevolent spirits (such as demons) that wish to enter the world of the living are drawn to mages like beacons. Should a mage encounter such a demon in the Fade, it will attempt to possess them. Some demons try to use force, but others cajole or trick their prey, offering power or nearly anything to get their way. The result is inevitably the same: an abomination is created. This is the name given to possessed mages, though it is not a physical possession. The demon is still in the Fade, but so is the mage’s own spirit; the demon twists and controls the mage’s body through that captive spirit. The demon sees through the body’s eyes, channels power through it, and is able to use the mage’s magic in ways the captive would never have imagined. Once the demon is in control, an abomination becomes a mad creature that goes on a rampage until stopped. The more powerful the demon, the worse the abomination, and historical records tell of abominations that have destroyed entire settlements and continued to terrorize the countryside for years. So it is that the fears of the common people are not unjustified. All mages are susceptible to demonic possession, and even the strongest must stay on their guard. This is why the Chantry created the Circle of Magi in the first place. If mages must exist so their power can be wielded against the darkspawn, so be it. The Chantry insists, however, that they must be watched carefully and that those who endanger Thedas be dealt with before possession can take place.