#zither!

So first, the groundwork to lay:

Summarizing and condensing for the sake of attention spans (namely mine), the Fade is the realm of dreams, spirits, and magic.  And while theoretically only mages are connected enough to stay conscious in dreams and tap into its energies, non mages can still brush it in dreams./ Templars and Seekers, depending on what you believe about their abilities, seem to access the magics of some form. 

Magic itself seems to come from several different sources; the direction actions of sapient spirits, the emotional resonance of semi-sapient wisps, or just pure raw energies from accessing the Fade. And fade spirits still react to strong emotions of battles and such. And they seem to like paying attention to notable figures. In a word, they like experiencing big stories and strong emotions. 

(Also, since I hear the objections already in my own head - Dwarves are of course an outlier here. But barring a clearer picture of what exactly Sandal and Valta can do and how, the theory somewhat parses if, instead of “Fade spirit/wisp attention”, you substitute in “a fraction of a Titan’s attention”)

Bards, beyond just the Orlesian type, are set to deliver big stories and strong emotions in spades. They’re often going to be performing for large crowds of notable people. Perhaps some are even called upon on commemorative/remembrance events for places of great tragedy, or heralding great changes.  

Their intended audience may be mortals, but what if the spirits of the Fade could hear them too? What if, over time and many performances, a bard catches spirits’ attention? What if, over time, the bard develops an audience of spirits that begin to follow their performances?

There are times when spirits of the Fade seem to be able to affect the physical world - hey, Fade-touched material exists! - whether through cracks in a weakened Veil or pushing hard enough to just influence things just slightly?

Bards in DAO have abilities that buff the entire party in arguably magical ways - granting attack, critical hit, stamina regeneration (heh) and so on. Nathaniel, sometimes spec’d as a bard, can make people fall in love with him despite him being a non roman cable companion in a 12 year old DLC. 

That last one might not count, technically, but really. Bards can do some PRETTY SUSPICIOUSLY MAGICAL THINGS.

What if spirits are helping them? What if the fade spirits are just...really excited to see a good show, and are doing what they can to help it along?

What if some bards are aware of this, and are specifically trying to play towards their Fade audience - in the hopes of getting a boon in the form of a lucky break or perhaps a little more?

Leliana in the Sacred Ashes trailer seems to be able to use some pretty magical arrows (and sure, that could be just a magical arrow thing or a faith thing, and is probably actually just artistic license). She’s also gotten visions from the Maker, has an unusually high blight resistance, and, potentially, was so connected to a spirit that one just took her place. Suggesting she might have some magical hookery pokery up her sleeves is not that far fetched 

Zither is a bard who is actually a mage, and uses NO abilities that his supposed Circle training would imply, His playstyle in the game is WILD, but focuses a lot on buffing the party but occasionally doing massive attacks of his own.  

Mage seems to be doing very well for himself these days, considering how popular his band is. 

According to him, anyway. But he is just jauntily out and about in Trespasser, with nary a Templar guard in sight. 

In fact, much like his mundane bard counterparts, his abilities seem to buff his party through enhancing their attack, or offering them some protection.

So...why would a Circle trained mage have abilities more in common with a mundane bard than the various battle magics we see used in game? 

Is it possible that it’s simply because bards are already tapping into a small form of magic in their adoring Spirit fans, and ZITHER! is just a really amped (heh) up version of their magic?!?