I actually asked this question for the Las Vegas Lore Panel. Fernehalwes didn't have an answer. There was a 5th Astral Era civilization existing where the ruins of Qarn are found today and that this mysterious nation of Black Mages sparked the War of the Magi against Amdapor and Nym, but it's name has been forgotten. Likely scrubbed out of history by those 6th Umbral Era survivors who sought to wipe Black Magic from history.
What's interesting however, was that after this nation's extinction during the 6th Umbral Era, the survivors of that great flood returned to Qarn (a holy temple used for sun worship) and founded Belah'dia. (So these people were also likely predominantly Lalafellin.) The lore that follows is that at the dawn of the 6th Astral Era, mages of all kinds were ostracized and outcast from the city-states. Magic was a hated practice, deemed as nothing more than sorcery and strictly outlawed. Belah'dia alone embraced the history of the Magi and was a city of magicks. Even though Black Magic was outlawed, Belah'dians reverted to their Thaumaturgy roots and began delving deeper into its study to create a deeper balance between its destructive force and its life restoring properties. This practice birthed the Order of Nald'thal and the start of the religion of the Traders, which has been borne down into both Belah'dia's children, Ul'dah and Sil'dih.
In Ul'dah's flag you can see the Trader's golden scales weighing the Gem of Affluence on the left with the Flame of Magic on the right.
If Sil'dih were around today, their flag would be the Trader's silver scales weighing the Flame of Magic on the left and the Fruit of Knowledge on the right.
Ironic, right, that that combination is the key to opening the secret room in the Temple of Qarn... ;P
(Think I know who the favorite son was.)
So if you'll recall, there was a fourth symbol: The Helm of Might. Why then, would a fourth symbol exist if the "surviving" nations only used three? Well, we can assume the Helm of Might was the symbol of Belah'dia. And perhaps because they were sunworshipers, the Helm of Might might have been wreathed in sunlight... very similar... to the portcullis in Ul'dah that Coat caught me studying a while back. It's a pretty door, but it's actually more than that.
Note what might be two coins, symbol of the Traders, wreathed in golden sunlight. Azeyma being the goddess of the sun. Qarn being a temple made to worship Azeyma. And Lalafellin worship of Azeyma may go back even further.
Take out the fact that this is about an eel, and this makes a very compelling story of how a Sultan may have risen to rule in this ancient nation. Giving rise to the custom of traders gifting newly crowned Sultans fish as a coronation present. So while the name of this nation has been lost to time, its legacy of wisdom, affluence, might, and magic still lives on in Ul'dah.
Most of this is piecing together lore bits into speculation, but hope it helps! ^^
What's interesting however, was that after this nation's extinction during the 6th Umbral Era, the survivors of that great flood returned to Qarn (a holy temple used for sun worship) and founded Belah'dia. (So these people were also likely predominantly Lalafellin.) The lore that follows is that at the dawn of the 6th Astral Era, mages of all kinds were ostracized and outcast from the city-states. Magic was a hated practice, deemed as nothing more than sorcery and strictly outlawed. Belah'dia alone embraced the history of the Magi and was a city of magicks. Even though Black Magic was outlawed, Belah'dians reverted to their Thaumaturgy roots and began delving deeper into its study to create a deeper balance between its destructive force and its life restoring properties. This practice birthed the Order of Nald'thal and the start of the religion of the Traders, which has been borne down into both Belah'dia's children, Ul'dah and Sil'dih.
Cocobuki Wrote:Two scales, one of gold and one of silver. The gold of Ul'dah, weighing prosperity and power. The silver of Sil'dih, weighing knowledge and power. But the power sought by the two nations differed greatly - yes, greatly indeed.
In Ul'dah's flag you can see the Trader's golden scales weighing the Gem of Affluence on the left with the Flame of Magic on the right.
If Sil'dih were around today, their flag would be the Trader's silver scales weighing the Flame of Magic on the left and the Fruit of Knowledge on the right.
Ironic, right, that that combination is the key to opening the secret room in the Temple of Qarn... ;P
(Think I know who the favorite son was.)
So if you'll recall, there was a fourth symbol: The Helm of Might. Why then, would a fourth symbol exist if the "surviving" nations only used three? Well, we can assume the Helm of Might was the symbol of Belah'dia. And perhaps because they were sunworshipers, the Helm of Might might have been wreathed in sunlight... very similar... to the portcullis in Ul'dah that Coat caught me studying a while back. It's a pretty door, but it's actually more than that.
Note what might be two coins, symbol of the Traders, wreathed in golden sunlight. Azeyma being the goddess of the sun. Qarn being a temple made to worship Azeyma. And Lalafellin worship of Azeyma may go back even further.
Quote:The Warden's Wand
There is an age-old Lalafellin faerie tale which tells the story of a trader eel who swam so far upstream that he eventually arrived at the very gates of the goddess Azeyma's palace. So impressed was the Warden with the wavekin's perserverance, that She gifted him with a cloak woven from rays of the sun.
Take out the fact that this is about an eel, and this makes a very compelling story of how a Sultan may have risen to rule in this ancient nation. Giving rise to the custom of traders gifting newly crowned Sultans fish as a coronation present. So while the name of this nation has been lost to time, its legacy of wisdom, affluence, might, and magic still lives on in Ul'dah.
Most of this is piecing together lore bits into speculation, but hope it helps! ^^