Tree like race?

[Anonymoose]

We knew about their previous existence due to a sightseeing log entry in 3.1. The temple in Azys Lla is theirs.

At least they're mentioned in more than one place now. Before it was clear that Fiend = Sephirot, I was starting to think that the SSL in question was just to shut down theories (including my own) that the re-used Qarn / Belah'dian (Invisible City) assets at the Allagan Sun Temple (Cartenau) and Cathedral (Azys Lla) implied some larger, arcing connections. Especially since Oda-san specifically shut down an Allagan connection between the Cathedral, Cartenau, and Qarn on the 2 Year Anniversary stream.

Seems to be a coincidentally re-used asset, though. The design is referred to by the SSL as distinctly Meracydian, which makes it hard for it to show up in all the places they do at the times they do... I suspect that it wouldn't be impossible for the Lore Team to back themselves out of that corner; they seem to enjoy the "no retcons on my watch" challenge of coming up with an interesting and plausible excuse. But they'd have to have a reason to care first, lol.

EDIT: Here, I'll try my hand at it.

In the Third Astral Era, the design was considered "distinctly" Meracydian. The tree-like beast tribe had it, it was on the Cathedral, and it was raised into Azys Lla by the Allagans. That's where it ends for them. However, other tree-like beast tribe ruins remained in Meracydia. The Cathedral clearly displays the symbol that we know is today associated with Azyema, the Warden - the Sun. Who knows why the tree-like beast tribe had it. Maybe Sephirot is connected to the sun. Maybe tree-people like the sun because they're freakin' tree people. Whatever, the door's open.

If the Miqo'te didn't have large populations in Meracydia then, they certainly did by the fall of the Fourth Astral Era. We also know that the Seekers of the Sun Miqo'te were already established as a clan of tribes at this time. I posit that the Seekers of the Sun preserved this architectural style because of the homage it paid to the sun, bringing it with them when they crossed the frozen sea into Eorzea during the Fifth Umbral Era (aka the Age of Endless Frost).

And here is where the possibilities open up; Fifth Astral Era onwards in Eorzea itself. Lets keep the Mhach connections vague and consider them a possible, but not the only possible, vector. The style is eventually resurrected by either them, the original builders of Qarn, or the Belah'dians that came after. The Allagan Sun Temple at Cartenau isn't Allagan at all. Eorzean scholars just assumed that it was because it was surrounded by other structures that are obviously Allagan. Two cultures, two times, two ruins - one place. Either the original builders of Qarn used the style, or the Belah'dians applied it to Qarn then they took it over. So too is this true then for the Sun Temple built on the Allagan ruins. And then Belah'dia definitely used it for the Invisible City and the statue of Azyema.


Simplified Vector:

      Tribe's Cathedral lifted into Azys Lla
     ↗
Meracydian Tree-like Beast Tribe
     ↘
      Style of architecture preserved from tree-like beast tribe ruins by Seekers of the Sun Miqo'te
     ↘
        Miqo'te bring it to Eorzea in the Age of Endless Frost Style, where it is resurrected by either Mhach or the originators of Qarn or (later) Belah'dia
       ↘
          This same culture (or Belah'dia once they adopt the style) build over the Allagan ruins at Cartenau
        ↘
               Belah'dia continues to use the style at The Invisible City and the statue of Azeyma
         ↘
             Belah'dia falls. Qarn, The Invisible City, and Cartenau are all buried until the Calamity.
          ↘
                   Eorzeans are exposed to all of this at once, even Azys Lla, and, as usual, make poor assumptions.

/moonwalks out of the lore-inconsistency corner