Let's look around.

Well, in The Fade there wasn't any clearly defined geography, so there really aren't any places to go. So, as you step off the platform, you decide to just fly around, and see what you can find.

As you soar over the ever-shifting landscape, you can't help but be awed even further by its beauty. It's true that The Fade generally lacks a great deal of color. At least, when it was entered in a dream. But physically standing in it made everything much more defined. There were pillars of lyrium so high they looked to reach forever. Statues of civilizations so ancient you doubted anyone alive in Thedas knew from whence they came. It was amazing.

After flying aimlessly for a good hour and a half you find a place that looks... oddly familiar. It starts in a circle, with statues of demons with bladed arms. The only path down out of it was a shallow canyon, with walls to steep and too smooth to climb out of. It looked so familiar, yet you still couldn't place where you knew it from.

"What is this place?" you ask aloud.

As soon as the question passes your lips the answer pops into your mind. This is the site of the Harrowing from the Mage Origin in the first game. And given the ever-changing nature of the Fade, that can only mean...

"Aaaargh!" You hear a voice cry.

You snap to attention. You know that voice. You chose that voice.

It was the voice of Ilyanna Surana. Your very first character in Dragon Age: Origins. And she needed help. Without a second thought, you teleported to her side and with a wave of your hand, the world stands still. Everything is frozen but you.

You look at her. She's exactly as you remember her. As an elf, she stands a bit shorter than you but only a couple of inches. Her features were soft, but there was a strength to her eyes that while you had never seen before, you knew had always been there. Her hair was long, blonde, and flowing. Gentle but noticeable curves, hidden slightly by her apprentice's robes.

She was just as beautiful as you remember.

Off to her left, you saw Mouse, in the shape of a bear, thrown aside like trash. A closer look reveals several wounds across his body. And Ilyanna's as well. Apparently, they were losing.

"Well," you say, "Seems like someone could use a little help, huh?"

You snap your fingers, and time resumes.

"Dammit," Ilyanna thought, "This thing is tough."

The beast swiped with one of its molten claws, raking her across the chest.

"Shit!" she exclaimed through gritted teeth.

With a wave of her staff, she sent a bolt of lightning careening towards the demon. The beast recoiled from the blow, but Ilyanna could tell it hadn't taken much damage.

"What's it gonna take to kill this thing?!" she whispered.

"Care for some assistance?"

"Huh?"

Ilyana spun, her staff at the ready, searching for the source of the voice.

"Who was that?!"

"Have no fear. I am here to help you."

"Why can't I see you?"

"Ms. Surana. I do believe there are more pressing matters at hand," the voice replies.

Ilyanna looked. Sure enough, the Demon had already recovered and was making its way towards her again.

"Fine. How do I stop this thing?"

"Well, Rage Demons represent the dark side of Anger. Anger is most commonly described as hot or fiery. The obvious counter would then be?"

"Cold."

"Correct."

"Well that's all well and good, but I don't know any Ice Magic."

"Hm. Are you sure about that?"

Ilyanna was about to respond when she felt something. A wave of knowledge flooded her mind, and all of a sudden, the spell she needed was ready and waiting.

She pointed her staff at the Demon and smirked. From its tip, Winter's Grasp sprang forth, freezing the demon solid.

"Excellent. And the finishing touch?"

Another spell appeared in her mind, ready and waiting to be cast.

"Eat stone!" she cried, unleashing a Stonefist on the Demon's frozen form. As the rock collided with the monster, both of them shattered into pieces.

As the fires died down, the elf sat back.

"How did you-"

"Put the knowledge of spells you had yet to learn directly into your mind?"

"Are you going to keep doing that?" she asked, annoyed.

"Apologies. I'm not used to this," the voice said, "Perhaps I should start again."

As it spoke, a form appeared in front of her, that of a young man.

"Hello. Call me Michael."