The Masked Mage

[Yrusama]

Mhm! He was in fact. He's also referred to by Nael van Darnus as a false prophet.

The possibility of him being mistaken for one of the dark sorcerers from the Sixth Umbral era, Ascian or not, is definitely there I think. Especially since stories can become twisted over time as they're passed down and no normal person from the last umbral era would still be alive.

Again I point to a line a text Y'sthola provided.



Perhaps the stories of Archons and Ascians* got mixed up and twisted over time, hence why some people believe mages led them out of the umbral era, those mages actually being the Archons and not the dark mages they fought.

When we confront Urianger about the rumors in the quest An Officer and a Wise Man, he has this to say.

Thanks! I figured as much. Maybe both existed in the 6th Umbral Era - the Circle of Knowing and the Ascians - and one group averted the calamity that the other had caused, only to have history lump them in the same category.

Edit: Another possibility as that they were the same group, but some members defected to found the Circle of Knowing and save the world, and thence dedicated themselves to preserve the world thereafter.