Lore Questions: Why is Gridania's Flag Yellow, and What do the 'Twin Adders' Mean?

[Yrusama]

too much greenish in the green forest. Yellow add contrast to it, is a matter of design choice if i'm not mistaken.

This is the most likely choice for all three. An army's banner should be clear and visible against any background.

Thanalan has a lot of pale yellow colors (sand), so black contrasts nicely. Apart from that, Nald'thal (attributed to scales) is the dual-manifestation of life/wealth and death/virtue. Take wealth (gold) and death (black) and you have the Ul'dah flag!

Limsa Lominsa is a sea-faring nation, so the ship flag is obvious. That being said, there is a lot of green in La Noscea and blue on the sea, making Red stand out vibrantly. There are other things one can speculate, as well.
*It's not a trade city, but one of war and bloodshed. Blood is red.
*Limsa Lominsa is on the western edge of Vylbrand, which in turn is to the west of Aldenard. As the sun sets in the west, the sky (and maybe the reflective sea) might turn red.
*edit: Between Vylbrand and the Cieldalaes (islands) is the Rhotano Sea. "Rhot" in Roegadyn means "red", but there isn't a word "ano" or "tano" in the Roegadyn dictionary.

The ironic thing about yellow is that it's also a prominent color for toxicity and biohazards. Sure, some snakes are poisonous, but you'd think a nature loving community would avoid putting such things on their flag.

[Catapult]

Fun Fact: The Rod of Asclepius, the medical symbol, only has one snake. The two snakes with wings that you often see on medical things is a mistake. That's the Caduceus. The differences between what they mean can make their misuse hysterical at times.

This is exactly why I didn't mention it. :P

Ey, Catapult:

You think Gridania comes from the Italian Gridare, meaning "to shout or cry?"

Wood Wailers?

Hmmmm....

I hadn't actually given that much thought. My instinct says the -ania is meant to be "land of" as in Romania, Lithuania or Oceania. Which would bring us to the meaning of "Grid-", which means network.

If we then take network in the "structured society" sense - as in planned agriculture to preserve a land where everything is linked (and the Gridanians are very concious about maintaining the order of nature) then we we may have a connection.

But that's just me going on a speculative ramble.

[Ramesses]

Most of this is coming from memory, but I'll field what I can, being the resident Chief Serpent Loremonger Lieutenant.

The elements of the device can be considered representations of Gridania's socio-political infrastructure. The lotus flower represents Stillglade Fane, seat of the Conjurers who are the de-facto theocratic government of Gridania. They are protected by two entities:
- The Wood Wailers, who protect the citizenry of Gridania; and
- The God's Quiver, who protect the Twelveswood from external threats.
In this way, these two entities protectively wrap themselves around that which Gridania holds dear.

Additional fun facts:
- The council of Seedseers meet at the Lotus Stand.
- Ixal lore tells how Garuda became hungry for flesh only after she saved the Ixal from a cruel Serpent. (This lore is probably just as warped by the ages as that of the Twelve, but I'm guessing there is a connection here that associates the Ixal being cast out of Tinolqa with the establishment of Gridania.)

I suspect that among the zodiac associated with Heavensturn, the Year of the Snake represents the Year of Nophica, Gridania's patron, much like how the Rabbit represented Halone and the Dragon represented Althyk, creating a reverse rotation of the gods through the cycle of elements.

As to why yellow? I'm not entirely sure and this is entirely conjecture, but I think of yellow as the colour of the earth. Nophica's elemental affiliation is Astral Earth, so a bright yellow rather than a brown would be appropriate for her.
(Ice = light blue; Water = dark blue; Lightning = purple; Wind = green; Fire = red)


Edit: Making sure to distinguish the emblem from Windurst would have very likely been a design consideration to work with, but by no means the sole reason for this appearance.

This... totally agree with you Catapult, and thanks for perfectly suggesting the significance regarding the lotus and serpents. Also agree with the idea that Yellow was chosen because it is a spiritual colour relating to the Earth element.

Only thing I will add is that I think the triangular shape of the banner (which is the classic triangular shield shape) also emphasizes the ancient origins of the region. Triangular banners were one of the earliest styles of heraldry or flags (however, triangular shields or the "kite-shield" only came several centuries after the classic Greek circular Hoplons and the Roman rectangular Scutums)

And to the OP... awesome thread

[Enkidoh]

Thanks for all the info guys and girls. You've provided a lot of ideas I hadn't even considered but which make perfect sense (such as yellow referencing earth which is Nophica's element).

Now all we need is a certain ahriman developer to pop in and completely blow our theories away with a lore bomb.

[Fernehalwes]

They are protected by two entities:
- The Wood Wailers, who protect the citizenry of Gridania; and
- The God's Quiver, who protect the Twelveswood from external threats.
In this way, these two entities protectively wrap themselves around that which Gridania holds dear.

Hey Catapult,

Thanks (as always) for taking the time to chime in to show off the nuggets you've gathered while panning for lore.

HOWEVER, the Ahriman Assayer (scribbles down idea for new monster name) cannot accept this particular nugget...as it is fool's gold.

Fun Fact: We just translated a quest last week which touches upon the Gridanian standard and the TRUE meaning behind the twin snakes. It actually originated fiv-- Uh... The loremaster's giving me the evil eye... I think I'll stop right here...

Sorry I can't divulge any further, but rest assured, more info is coming.

[Yrusama]

This is exactly why I didn't mention it. :P



I hadn't actually given that much thought. My instinct says the -ania is meant to be "land of" as in Romania, Lithuania or Oceania. Which would bring us to the meaning of "Grid-", which means network.

If we then take network in the "structured society" sense - as in planned agriculture to preserve a land where everything is linked (and the Gridanians are very concious about maintaining the order of nature) then we we may have a connection.

But that's just me going on a speculative ramble.

Your explanation of Grid reminds me too much of Tron. I hope I don't get derezzed while I'm gathering!

I always figured it was a twisting of the word "Garden" and, as you mentioned above, tagged with "ania".

[Nakiamiie]

This is the logo for the American Medical Association. Because I can. It doesn't have anything to do with the subject, but I'll leave it here anyway.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_of_Asclepius

Correction, it's the Rod of Caduceus, not the Rod of Asclepius: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caduceus

[Catapult]

Hey Catapult,

Thanks (as always) for taking the time to chime in to show off the nuggets you've gathered while panning for lore.

HOWEVER, the Ahriman Assayer (scribbles down idea for new monster name) cannot accept this particular nugget...as it is fool's gold.

But... but... I'm a miner! I should be able to recognise pyrite! D:

Fun Fact: We just translated a quest last week which touches upon the Gridanian standard and the TRUE meaning behind the twin snakes. It actually originated fiv-- Uh... The loremaster's giving me the evil eye... I think I'll stop right here...

Sorry I can't divulge any further, but rest assured, more info is coming.

/ears prick
/brain clicks
/starts scribbling furiously
You may have revealed far more than you realise. *_*

Of course I'm going to need a bit of time to consolidate these thoughts.

[Ramesses]

*(Rubs temples while staring very very hard at the screen)*

Could Ferne mean Five astral ages ago? Five thousand years ago? Five battles ago?

Wait... did Nophica and her sister Llymlaen have a battle? But I thought they got on great with each other. Wait wait wait... maybe Halone and Nophica had a battle in present day Gridania???

Bugger... now I'll keep thinking about this for days

[Catapult]

Hrmmm...

Can someone get me a date on the Autmun War and the stuff that happened on Finesand Banks?
I want to pin a few more things down.