Mage

Individuals born with a profound connection to the Fade, granting them incredible power to shape reality, are known as Mages. Feared and revered in equal measure, mages have long been subjects of fascination and abuse. Capable of miraculous feats, from conjuring protective barriers to unleashing elemental fury, their presence challenges the natural order. Their oddity compels societies to either embrace them as superiors or shun them as dangerous anomalies.

Across Thedas, mages hold drastically differing roles culture to culture. In the Tevinter Imperium, magic determines rights and political influence. Conversely, in Orlais and the southern kingdoms such as the tribal lands of Ferelden, mages face strict scrutiny and persecution. They are driven into secrecy, must adhere to more shamanic practices for others to understand their powers, or are forced into apprenticeships of greater mages.

The core difference across societies is whether magic is seen as a birthright, or a peril to be rigorously controlled.

Abilities

Mages draw their power from their connection to the Fade, shaping reality through personal talent, rigorous training, cultural teachings, and a steeled willpower.

Spirit Magic: It is from the Fade itself that this magic draws its power. Students of this school cover everything from direct manipulation of mana and spell energies to the study and summoning of spirits themselves.
Primal Magic: This is the magic of war: Fire, ice, lightning, and nature. Devastation. This is what the vast majority imagines when they hear the word "magic".
Entropy Magic: Time inevitably brings an end to all things in the material world, and yet in this ending is the seed of a beginning. It is with entropic magic that Mages manipulate the forces of erosion, decay, and destruction to create anew.
Creation Magic: Creation magic manipulates natural forces, transforming what exists and bringing new things into being.

Career Features

The Fade: Able to use Invocation based spells

Cultures

The Avvar, Chasind, and Clayne have powerful mages as augurs, witches, and shamans. The Avvar see spirits as gods, and the purpose of an augur is to consult with said gods and provide advice to their leadership. Mages-in-training within the Avvar willingly undergo possession to learn from spirits. Once that training is done, the mage is meant to conduct a ritual to release said spirit. The Chasind and Clayne practice similarly, being more tribal in their regulation of mages, albeit still cautious and overall weary of their influence.

The Dalish have varying attitudes towards magic. Most Dalish believe that magic is a gift of the Creators and that study of magic is key to rediscovering their lost history. They do, however, acknowledge the inherent danger of magic and take strides to reduce its risk. They also seek to avoid the wrath of the Templars. Mage children are personally instructed by their clan's Keeper, and if they demonstrated sufficient aptitude will be elevated to the Keeper's First (or Second), an apprentice to one day become the clan's new Keeper.

The Kossith have a thin tolerance for mages, which they call sareebas, which means 'dangerous thing'. They are allowed for more shamanic purposes, but there are rumors of far off tribes shearing off the horns of their mages, fitting them with blinders, and even stitching their lips together. It is a great limiter, a dampener to forcefully limit wicked magic from being practiced.

The Rivaini do not worship the Maker. They have seers, wise women who are in fact hedge mages, communicating with spirits and allowing themselves to be possessed. The Chantry's disdain is ignored. Seers continue to be a position in Rivaini socieity that is revered and greatly respected, though they must renounce any claim to rule as a noble.

The Tevinter Imperium holds that magic is a mark of honor, a birthright to humanity. Those powerful enough and adept to use it to their advantage deserve special privilege. Tevinter has its own Imperial Chantry, but in a mageocracy, control over the Fade remains a source of respect and power.