That is definitely something possible. Not unlike Star Masters, I suppose. We all have common origins for our powers but they express themselves differently.

[He's also a little pensive about this.]

I also wonder about timelines. Whatever happened in Sa-Hareth, it was at least several hundreds of years ago, but it appears the disaster that befell his place might be more recent. The Merchant speaks of it as if he suffered through it himself, and while he is of respectable age, I wouldn't imagine he is more than hundred years old... unless, of course he got afflicted by the curse of this place somehow, maybe.