Somniari

Somniari (Tevene for "Dreamer") are mages with the unique gift of entering the Fade, the realm of spirits and dreams, at will and without the aid of lyrium or blood magic. In essence, a Dreamer can physically project their consciousness into the Fade while still awake, a talent that most mages can only achieve unintentionally when asleep.

This rare ability gives Somniari a remarkable command over dreams and spiritual matters. A skilled Somniari can shape the very fabric of the Fade and influence the dreams of others, even to the extent of harming their targets. Even killing them.

Abilities

Somniari often serve as seers, historians, or weapons. They use their lucid-dreaming talents to glean knowledge for their associates to make use of.

Echoes: By communing with spirits, a Dreamer can see history re-enacted in dream form, a technique from Elves wishing to learn the secrets of ancient ruins.
Malevolent Sensitivity: Because a Dreamer's soul freely walks the Fade, they attract the attention of demons more than any other mortal. Many prove too frail of the mind to survive a demonic possession should it happen, making Somniari even more rare. The very presence of a demon can cause a Dreamer pain, as they are acutely sensitive to the turmoil they radiate.
Rituals: Somniari can learn how to harvest Fade Essence from the dreams of others, or through the infliction of pain in reality (blood magic). This essence then fuels their abilities, specifically to alter dreams into nightmares or inflict direct harm on a sleeping target.

Career Features

The Fade: Able to use Invocation based spells

Blood Magic: Able to use Mysticism based spells

Dreamer: Able to use Gather Essence, Brutalize grants Fade Essence, and perform Dreamer Rituals

Fade Walker: +5 Mana, -15 Willpower

History

The first known human dreamer was Thalsian. He came from the Neromenian tribes and claimed that he ventured to the Realms of the Gods where the Old God Dumat taught him blood magic. The Old Gods are said to have taught many members of the Neromenian tribes magic and over time, the Neromenian dreamers become both priests and kings.

There are stories of ancient Tevinter magisters who were able fend off rivals by haunting or killing them in their dreams. Adralla, the mage who invented the litany, is also known to have found a defense against dreamers.

It is said that the First Blight and the birth of darkspawn crippled the Dreamers: for the first time in thousands of years, they could no longer hear the voices of their gods. Over the next hundred years, fewer and fewer mages with the Dreamers' abilities were found in Tevinter. Attempts to breed the ability proved futile, and the resultant mages proved weak of power and frail of mind. Some believe that true Dreamers could still be found in Dalish clans, though they were few and far between even there.

By the time of the Divine Age, Dreamers are a rare sort. If they are not possessed by a malevolent spirit and killed in the process, they are typically abused for their powerful potential by a greater mortal entity, forced into servitude to decimate rivals.