Not all entities of the Fade are demonic. Many are benevolent entities consisting of life energy, which can be called upon to mend flesh and heal disease. Spirit healers focus on channeling the energies granted by these spirits, making them indispensable members of a party of adventurers.

The spirit healer is one of four specializations available to a mage at levels 7 and 14. After acquiring the specialization, the character will gain access to four new talents and be granted +2 magic and minor combat health regeneration.

How to Unlock: This specialization is taught by Wynne if your approval rating is high enough, or can be made available with the Manual: Spirit Healer item.

History

Not all things to come from the Fade are harmful. While maleficarum summon and control demons from the Fade, some mages within the Circle of Magi seek to summon spirits that do not feed on the darker side of the human psyche. These are benign spirits of fortitude, compassion and hope that rarely seek to cross the Veil into our world and can be persuaded to protect and restore life rather than destroy it. The people of Thedas may think of all spirits as malevolent entities, but as the spirit healers propose, there is much good to be done alongside the Maker's first children.

While healing spells do exist, spirit healers are well-known for taking healing and restoration far beyond a standard mage's capabilities. In effect, the spirit healer summons a benevolent spirit through the veil and that spirit uses its abilities on the mage's behalf. Thus, spirit healers are highly desired in the ranks of the Circle.

Becoming a spirit healer, however, is no simple matter. To gain the services of such benevolent and righteous beings requires that the mage earn their trust. Often this requires a series of trials to prove that the mage's goals are as noble as the spirit demands, though some mages have claimed to command the compliance of such spirits through sheer force of charisma. Some spirit mages even claim they did not choose their calling; instead, a powerful spirit chose them and led them into lives of service and ordeal.

It should also be noted that the calling of a spirit healer is a dangerous one. The summoning of spirits through the Veil inevitably draws demons to the mage, sometimes very powerful ones. More than one tale exists of a spirit healer being fooled into believing a demon to be a spirit and inadvertently bringing them across the Veil... or being tricked into letting down their guard and possessed. As such, once a mage becomes a spirit healer they must heighten their vigilance for the remainder of their lives. It is a calling that not all will gladly suffer.