The Fade is a metaphysical realm that was once separated from Thedas by the Veil. The Veil was removed in 9:45 Dragon, by Solas (the Dread Wolf) and members of the Sylvas, a now-defunct Elvhen organization. The Dread Wolf lost his life in using his powers to forcibly pull the Veil down and re-create the Ancient reality that the Ancient Elves lived in. It was his belief that by pulling down the Veil he could bring back the Evanuris, specifically: Mythal. However, in pulling the Veil down, Solas released the Fade and all of its magic unto the world.

Previously to the Veil being pulled down, the Dalish referred to the Fade as the Beyond and believe that it is a holy place that was once the home of the gods. They also tell that following Fen'Harel's deception before the fall of Arlathan, the gods now lie imprisoned in the Eternal City at the heart of the Fade while the Dread Wolf roams, gleefully feasting on the souls of the dead. Ancient elves also called the act of creating the Veil "holding back the sky". Thus they called the Fade "the sky". Yavana mentions the time "before the Veil, before the mysteries were forgotten", when dragons ruled the skies. Ancient Tevinters believed that the Fade was the realm of their Old Gods, and the Golden City was the center of the deities' power. Aurelian Titus offers to imagine mages sculpting dreams and dreams sculpting reality. He claims that the Fade is magic and reality itself. Aurelian tells that the dreamers of old commanded the Fade and that the blood of the great dragons grants power over it - the power of gods.

HOW DOES THE FADE ALTER REALITY?
The Fade was an ever-changing world of ether, and retained most of the world's ether (ie: the magic resource that mages draw their power from). Now that it is all around Thedas, and no longer held back by the Veil, spirits, demons, and so much more has spilled forth into the world to roam freely. The first noticeable way the Veil falling has changed the world is that all mages are now possessed by a spirit, demon or a Shard. However, more is happening out in the world—a tree that seems alive, mushrooms that glow, a section of the path is colder than the rest. Get creative, have fun with it.

The magic in this world is altered and ever-changing, meaning that magic can be caste in a variety of ways. From runes etched on bone or wood, to burning protection runes into a surface. From potions and spoken spells to signed spells and more. Magic does not require a staff or a wand, but you can use these if you wish. Magic displays in a variety of ways, from potentially giving someone using a fire element a firey aura, to someone sneakily using ice with no aura. How it looks for your character is up to you.