I believe that the golden figure seen in the intro after you create your character is really Andraste. I also believe that the "memories" you see in the Fade while speaking with "Justinia" are twisted perversions of the actual truth.
Here is some evidence;
1. When you approach the breach to seal it for the first time in the intro you hear phrases such as "now is the hour of our victory" and "run while you can, warn them!". The interesting thing is that you also hear this while picking up your so-called "memories" before you see the whole "memory" itself. However, the phrase "run while you can, warn them" is not present in the actual sequences you see concerning Corypheus with the Orb AND the scene where you are climbing the mountain up towards the exit where "Justinia" is standing.
If this was truly an actual re-constitution of a memory then all of these pieces would be together. This is also evident by the fact that if you bring Cassandra with you; there is no indication whatsoever of this inconsistency in her dialogue. She was there in the beginning. She heard that phrase warning you to warn them. She mentions nothing about it here. This is a glaring contradiction.
This is reinforced by the fact that actual memories would be specific to the Inquisitor himself and would NOT be available to be known by anyone else. There is no lore precedent that would give any human being the ability to take a memory and share it with others. However, remaking the events to form a "vision" in the Fade would actually be more believable.
It is also evident that the only reason as to why the Inquisitor and his party were able to enter the Fade alive is by the magic of the mark itself. Indeed, the Inquisitor willfully used the Mark to open a portal to allow them to enter in the first place. Corypheus was using Justinia as some sort of vessel to power the magic He was using to open the rift in the first place, but there isn't any actual substantiated evidence that would prove that because Justinia was being used as such that it would have allowed Her to survive like the Inquisitor in the intro to the game.
2. The realm that the Inquisitor is in was the Nightmare itself in the beginning of the game which was evidenced by the spiders that were chasing him/her and that you see when you return to the Nightmare later on in the game. Not only this, but "Justinia" states outright that the Nightmare feeds on the memories of fear and darkness. Fear and Darkness are easily manipulated and the forms change.
The Fade itself is a relection of the dreams of mortals and codex entries explicitly state that mortals cannot alter the landscape but the spirits that dwell there can. The only exception to this would be the Maker and/or Andraste. Even more so, it is the usage of the Mark itself that allows the Inquisitor to access these so-called "memories". As such, without the Mark, nothing like this would be possible. Hence, evidence that "Justinia" is not human. It is a spirit.
3. The main avenue of evidence to support the theory that Justinia in the Fade is a Pride demon is the underlying theme of Dragon Age: Inquisition itself; Faith.
The entire theme is "Faith". Whether or not the Inquisitor speaks/acts on the behalf of Andraste Herself who is supposed to be the Bride of the Maker. There are several times where you are supposed to make a decisions either by action or by words whether or not you are the Herald.
"Justinia", in the Fade, refuses to answer directly any question to her identity. According to Leliana this would be reminiscent of her behavior while she was alive. Yet, that is precisely the point if she were, in fact, a Pride Demon. The codex entry to Pride Demons in DAI itself states that they are the ones that resemble man the most. They are as clever as desire demons with a penchant for "cruel irony". They will use mans nature against him. Strong men will crush themselves. Clever men will outwit themselves. Humble men forget themselves...etc.
The best and most cruel irony of all would have the Inquisitor doubt himself/herself as to whether or not the Inquisitor actually is the Herald. In addition, the Herald also has to choose whether or not to believe the words of "Justinia" to make it so. Doubt itself tests Faith to make it stronger, sure, but that is based on "FEAR" of being wrong. To deliberately act in a manner that promotes doubt is to play upon the fear itself. Considering the fact that they are in the realm of nightmares in a land that cannot be altered by man that is specific to harboring fear and darkness itself; Justinia here is playing a role that fits the pride demon so well it is practically uncanny.
One might argue that it serves no purpose for a Pride Demon to help the Inquisitor escape from the Nightmare, but that is just essentially irrelevant to the issue; Faith. The best deceivers will always act under the guise of righteousness.
In addition, the final parting of the "Justinia" before the Nightmare ends is her remark concerning Leliana that she has failed her. This itself is interesting because Leliania outright rejects it and does not believe it. Why? Because her "Faith" in what she knew was stronger than the doubt posed.
The strongest rebuttal concerning this theory is Cole himself. I am not of the persuasion that Cole would do anything against this theory because Cole himself is not truly...well, Cole. He is a spirit imitating a human and by the very nature of spirits and humans cannot fully become human. He will always retain a portion of his "spiritness". Cole also has a purpose that is dependant on the spirits will itself and not a singular drive concerning the arguments about Justinia being a Pride Demon.
A major piece of evidence that is glossed over is really, I believe, a hint given by the devs when conversing with The Iron Bull. He speaks of the rehabilitators changing the mind of those they are operating on. He described it like a book. Change a word here or add a footnote there. Change the margins and suddenly everything changes. If it is possible to change the outlook then memory itself can be altered as well.
The memories in the fade could have very well been altered while they were there being locked away by the Nightmare and/or Justinia herself. Since it was Her giving the memories back to the Inquisitor and only spirits can change the Fade...the memories were not entirely truthful...especially considering the fact that the Inquisitor could not possible know the events of that chamber BEFORE He/she opened the door. He could only hear.
As such, I believe that Justinia in the Nightmare was a Pride Demon whose sole focus was to cause doubt to the Inquisitor concerning being the Herald itself. Faith, after all, is the theme. Faith can, in a manner of speaking, destroy the faithful.
Makes sense to me. Thoughts?
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