What is The Eye doing?

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachmen...02/unknown.png

Having ended the war already, I have at least some exposure to the weird things that dragon eyes are capable of. Like how the still-living dragon can still sense stuff through their detached eyeballs, and can exert their will through it to a degree.
So in unlocking DRG now, knowing the nature of "The Eye" that grants the Azure Dragoon power, I am weirded out a bit by the quest text above and seeing The Eye's twinkle in reaction to my presence.

What is Nidhogg's eyeball doing reacting to people?!

Is it like some kind of aetheric resonance, which is why such people can tap into the power of the eye and be the Azure Dragoon? Why does the eye never react to more than one person at a time then (up until you show up)? It makes it sound more like Nidhogg's selecting people.

If he's selecting people, then what conscious or subconscious reasons could there be? Is he recognizing these people as threats? Or.. or... is it attraction?! In another time and place, could we have been best buds?

Nidhogg is obviously nothing but a big WoL fangirl

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Originally Posted by synesthetic

Or.. or... is it attraction?!

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Incoming fanfic

I'm pulling pretty much all of this out of my ass, but seeing as how the Azure Dragoon is a symbol of hope for the Ishgardians to rally around and keep fighting, and seeing as how Nidhogg actively wants the Dragonsong War to go on for eternity so he can torment the Ishgardians forever, I'd say this is his purpose in creating Azure Dragoons.

Sort of like giving your enemy guns, and thus giving them hope that they can defend themselves, when you have missiles.

As for why Nidhogg then chose the WoL, I can only assume that he wanted to try and manipulate us into bringing the Eye back to Ishgard. It's a little far-fetched, and honestly seems too subtle a strategy to fit with Nidhogg's character, but it's the best I can come up with.

I also considered the possibility that it's the dragon heritage that all Ishgardians* have, that the Eye is reacting to, but that wouldn't explain why it reacted to the WoL, who is explicitly stated to be a foreigner to Ishgard, and therefore most likely doesn't have Ratatoskr's essence in them.

*Speaking of Ratatoskr's essence being passed down through the generations, I've been wondering how every Ishgardian can possibly have it in them. If only Thordan and his knights ate the eyes, and then passed them down, and as far as I know, all of Thordan's knights were Elezen, why would the Hyur population of Ishgard also have the essence? I thought interbreeding wasn't a big thing in Ishgard, and if it was, wouldn't it have shown in the features of the people?

The Azure Dragoon plot point is pretty disappointing... We're an Azure Dragoon at the same time as Estinien! Why? Who cares! Hopefully 4.0s Job quests touch on that, seeing as we sure as hell aren't still being chosen by Nidhoggs Eye, although 10g says they just go "Hraesvlgrs Eye chose you in 3.3!" and nothing more is said...

There are a few possibilities as to why Nidhoggs eye picks us, my favorites being he never actually picked any Azure Dragoons, he just noticed them and Ishgard mistook that metaphorical crooked eyebrow to mean Nidhogg chose them... Ratatoskr, in some small sense, still being alive in Ishgard and manifesting most strongly through the Azure Dragoon would be a particularly heartbreaking scenario... Nothing backing that up though, and it doesn't explain why we're an Azure Dragoon... Midgardsormr would be my explanation there; We're destined to be connected to him, and thus an Azure Dragoon, and Nidhoggs Eye reacts to that... Kinda backed up by our Limit Break...

I think the more likely, though kinda boring explanation, is the one we've already been given, though... Nidhoggs Eye picks an Azure Dragoon, and in us it picked a second Azure Dragoon... Why? Well, because Ishgard has two Eyes... Why Nidhogg picks anyone is still kind of odd, though giving Ishgard hope is a fair explanation, but then Nidhogg tried to take control of Estinien all the same... Still, the city had two Eyes, one picked Estinien, the other picked us... Where was the other Eye? Fused to Haldrath. What did Alberic see when we battled Estinien? Haldrath... We called upon the power of "our" Eye, and manifested the armor it was fused to as a result... No explanation for why the second Eye only just picked a second Azure Dragoon, maybe Thordan disturbed Haldraths tomb earlier than we think to prepare for his summon and awoke the Eye in 2.0 or something...

Really hope 4.0 goes back and explains some of this though... I mean, it kinda has to, doesn't it? How can we be the Azure Dragoon, chosen by Nidhoggs Eye, when Nidhogg is dead and his Eyes foolishly tossed off a cliff? At the very least they need to explain why his Eyes are still giving us... What were they even giving us exactly? 1.x and 2.0 were kind of iffy on Dragoons, the Azure Dragoon seemed like the only one... 3.0 made it clear there is an entire order of them (although... Do they ever show up outside the Job quest? They're in the trailer, and occasionally get mentioned, but the only spears I saw at the Final Steps of Faith were held by statues... All the actual knights fighting there seemed to be Temple Knights...), and we don't seem all that different from them... I'm incline to think you could make Azure Dragoon nothing more than a title and remove any indication of "Chosen One" from it with little impact on the story...

If I had to vernture a guess as to where the DRG job story is going from here, I'd say that we're gonna have Estenien as the job quest tutor guy, having been possesed directly by Nidhogg he may have learned techniques for drawing out more DRAGON POWAH and wants to share them with us.

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Originally Posted by Mysterysword

*Speaking of Ratatoskr's essence being passed down through the generations, I've been wondering how every Ishgardian can possibly have it in them. If only Thordan and his knights ate the eyes, and then passed them down, and as far as I know, all of Thordan's knights were Elezen, why would the Hyur population of Ishgard also have the essence? I thought interbreeding wasn't a big thing in Ishgard, and if it was, wouldn't it have shown in the features of the people?

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Well, Hilda's backstory seems to imply that, while scandalous, it's not that uncommon for such trysts to occur. So, why isn't Ishgard (or, at least, the Brume) crawling with pointy-eared Hyur? Not all such unions will necessarily result in a child as perfectly half-and-half as Hilda. Many would likely be able to pass quite easily as Elezen or Hyur, with only the barest traces of the other heritage (and possibly without even the knowledge that they HAD another heritage, if their mother kept quiet about the affair). A thousand years of this could well be enough to pass the blood of Thordan's knights to most or all of the Hyur population, as well.

Can I mention that the Eyes have answered to THREE people at the same time?

Estinien, WoL, and Thordan.

Those three chosen by the Eyes have one thing in common; strong desire for power. Estinien wanted power to slake his thirst for vengeance, Thordan to purge the world from evil and rule with iron fist, and WoL... just for the sake of power(?).

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Originally Posted by RobinMalvin

WoL... just for the sake of power(?).

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While that is a possibility, the WoL's motivations are a cipher due to the blank slate thing. With that said, it is more likely that he would desire the power to aid in his Primal slaying (The only one he actually faced by the point Jobs are unlocked was Ifrit) or to protect those that are dear to him, the world, or some other stereotypically heroic thing

...And then, at the of 3.3, Estinien clearly says that the new Azure Dragoon is Aymeric, as he (Aymeric) flies away on dragonback.

So there's 2 Azure Dragoons at this point, the WoL and Aymeric the Blue (although I think Aymeric's "Azure Dragoon" title might just be that, a title, since he has no DRG powers or a dragon's eye, AFAIK).

But then what happened to Hraesvelgr's eye? The one he gives the WoL in the Final Steps...?

Then, we toss both of Nidhogg's eyes into a chasm... so what happens to the power of the Azure Dragoon? Do the eyes still give someone their power? Shouldn't the WoL be a DRG no longer...? Gaaahh!

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Originally Posted by RobinMalvin

Can I mention that the Eyes have answered to THREE people at the same time?

Estinien, WoL, and Thordan.

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Is this the case? Seemed more like he was just using it... If you have to be chosen in order to use it then I'm even more confused by it, given how Estinien effectively crippled Nidhogg with it... Why give your enemy that much power over you? Heck, the Eye wasn't even meant to be carried around, it was kept in the Vault until Estinien stole it, indicating that the Azure Dragoons never really directly used the Eye...

I'd need to go back and check the cutscenes as well, but I don't think the Eye reacted to Thordan in anyway... It clearly reacted to us when we first met Estinien, but the only animation I recall of it with Thordan was him turning it into a sword and it absorbing Lahabreaether...

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Originally Posted by RobinMalvin

Can I mention that the Eyes have answered to THREE people at the same time?

Estinien, WoL, and Thordan.

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Thordan didn't get chosen by the eye, he just used it as an aether fountain and a substitute for crystals when turning himself into a primal.

I'll give a good example: (3.3 story spoilers)

When primal used the power of Nidhoggs eye, he simply drained it of its aether, however when the WoL uses the power of hraesvelgrs eye they become "blessed" by it, enhancing his/her power, but in a very different way

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Originally Posted by Asghard

But then what happened to Hraesvelgr's eye? The one he gives the WoL in the Final Steps...?

Then, we toss both of Nidhogg's eyes into a chasm... so what happens to the power of the Azure Dragoon? Do the eyes still give someone their power? Shouldn't the WoL be a DRG no longer...? Gaaahh!

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We gave Hraesvelgr his eye back, as it can be clearly seen when we're flying alongside him in the ending cutscene.

As for Nidhogg's eyes, I don't think the WoL or Estinien can draw on their power any more, but I'm pretty sure the WoL never did that in the first place (except for one instance), and Estinien clearly no longer wants to anymore.

I still say it was pretty stupid to just throw them into the abyss... did they seriously think it's just a bottomless pit that nobody could ever possibly dig them out of? Frankly, I was a little annoyed by that plot hook, because I'm more than a little done with the whole Dragonsong War, which, story-wise, felt like we were constantly taking two steps forward and then two steps back, and then fighting a ton of "final final, no, THIS one is the FINAL ONE, WE SWEAR" battles. We've already fought Nidhogg twice, I don't think Round 3 (or Round 4 if you want to count EX) is going to be very exciting now.

Finally, the Eye may make the Azure Dragoon, but it doesn't make someone a DRG, otherwise there would only be one DRG ever, at a time. It's the soul crystal that makes the DRG, and that is a different thing from the Eye, and, as long as we unlocked the job quest and have the soul crystal, we're a DRG. Note that, if we never unlocked the DRG quests, then the 3.0 storyline plays out the same, with the WoL not being an Azure Dragoon. It... kind of raises the question of how we managed to use the Eye's aether to kill Iggy, if we're not the Azure Dragoon, but I'll chalk that one up to the WoL being a Jedi.

I don't think the Warriors of Darkness are after Nidhogg's eyes to revive him at all. I'm expecting the WoDs to eat them just as Thordon and his knights did to Ratataskr's.

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Originally Posted by Ametrine

I don't think the Warriors of Darkness are after Nidhogg's eyes to revive him at all. I'm expecting the WoDs to eat them just as Thordon and his knights did to Ratataskr's.

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Now that would be an interesting plot twist

Kinda like American foreign policy.

<snip>

Sort of like giving your enemy guns, and thus giving them hope that they can defend themselves, when you have missiles.

<snip>

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Originally Posted by Nalien

Is this the case? Seemed more like he was just using it... If you have to be chosen in order to use it then I'm even more confused by it, given how Estinien effectively crippled Nidhogg with it... Why give your enemy that much power over you? Heck, the Eye wasn't even meant to be carried around, it was kept in the Vault until Estinien stole it, indicating that the Azure Dragoons never really directly used the Eye...

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Haldrath had the Eye until his death, hadn't he? And with the fact Azure Dragoons need the Eye's power to fight Nidghogg on equal footing, and Estinien brought the Eye with him during our journey together, I'd assume that Azure Dragoon would keep it in person when fighting Nidhogg. It was because Nidhogg was thought asleep and thus not an immediate threat that the Eye was kept, until Nidhogg awakens.

I never said the Eye reacted to Thordan. I said that the Eye answered to him, when he reached for it, allowing Thordan to access its power with no apparent difficulty despite Nidhogg's presence in it. Unless you count the Eye's glow as a sign it reacting to someone, then yes, Thordan also qualifies.

But I honestly don't think you need to have the Eye reacts to you in any way to use its power, but you have to beat Nidhogg's will in a mind battle first, which is said to be extremely hard it took Estinien crippled to cripple Nidhogg. With Thordan could access its power seemingly without effort can be adressed to the fact that he was primal when we saw him used it, or that he made Nidhogg's will inside the Eye to submit, making him somewhat one of the chosen and allowed to use it, just like how Azure Dragoons do.

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Originally Posted by Asghard

Then, we toss both of Nidhogg's eyes into a chasm... so what happens to the power of the Azure Dragoon? Do the eyes still give someone their power? Shouldn't the WoL be a DRG no longer...? Gaaahh!

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Eyes of a dragon can store the surrounding aether inside, so yes, they can still give power to anyone wielding it.

Dragoon's abilities and skills come from training, not the Eyes. It's Azure Dragoons who can tap into the Eyes power, giving them extra power to be able to face stronger dragons i.e Nidhogg. As Alberic has confirmed, an Azure Dragoon can give up their link to the Eyes' power. With Estinien being the last Dragoon to ever bond with the Eyes, I believe his link has been severed when he's freed from the Eyes' grasp, or he simply gave it up when he put down his spear.

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Originally Posted by Ametrine

I don't think the Warriors of Darkness are after Nidhogg's eyes to revive him at all. I'm expecting the WoDs to eat them just as Thordon and his knights did to Ratataskr's.

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Well since Nidhogg has been confirmed to be dead for real this time, I doubt they'd want to revive him.

No,they must want to use the eyes for their wellspring of aether, maybe to eat them, or to empower something, something...

Requisite text:

Do people really not see the obvious "Slap the eyes into Omega Weapon to raise all seven hells in Ala Mhigo" plotline coming here? C'mon now.

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Originally Posted by Laili

Requisite text:

Do people really not see the obvious "Slap the eyes into Omega Weapon to raise all seven hells in Ala Mhigo" plotline coming here? C'mon now.

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Hadn't thought of that yet to be honest, makes sense! (Spoiler alert for those clicking it and not finish the story yet)

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Originally Posted by RobinMalvin

Haldrath had the Eye until his death, hadn't he? And with the fact Azure Dragoons need the Eye's power to fight Nidghogg on equal footing, and Estinien brought the Eye with him during our journey together, I'd assume that Azure Dragoon would keep it in person when fighting Nidhogg. It was because Nidhogg was thought asleep and thus not an immediate threat that the Eye was kept, until Nidhogg awakens.

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I'd think Haldraths story is a pretty good argument for not giving Azure Dragoons the Eye to play with... It eventually claimed him, and everything we saw of Estinien had the same thing happening... It makes sense to me that they'd keep the Eye out of reach, having seen what it did to Haldrath... We saw what having it did to Estinien multiple times... Even with Nidhogg dead, it was a battle for him to harness the Eyes power for something as simple as breaking into Azys Lla, you don't want your "best" fighter to be burdened in that way during such a crucial battle...

I also don't think Nidhogg would have stood much of a chance against Ishgard if the Azure Dragoons always had the Eye backing them up... Estinien utterly crippled Nidhogg during the Aery, if every Azure Dragoon could do even a fraction of that, I think Ishgard would have overpowered Nidhogg long ago, not the narrative we got, that Nidhogg was holding back every time and could easily have wiped them out... Nidhoggs dialog during the Aery also indicates that Azure Dragoons don't usually use the Eye in that way, if every Azure Dragoon used the Eye against Nidhogg in that way, Nidhogg wouldn't have been so surprised when Estinien pulls it out to counter him...

Heck, just from a strategic point of view... While it's possible the Eye can cripple Nidhogg, it's also true that he wants them back... Using the Eye on the front lines is a pretty risky plan, bordering on stupid... You risk letting it fall back into his hands (or... socket?) and powering up your enemy... Given you do not need to be in direct contact with it to be an Azure Dragoon (given we're an Azure Dragoon long before we touch it), it makes far more sense to keep it under lock and key during the battle... The last thing you want is an Azure Dragoon falling in battle and handing the Eye back to Nidhogg as a result...

Here's the question I have; if all it takes for someone from Ishgard to turn into an. Aevis is ingesting a few drops of dragon blood, how aren't the Eyes transforming people left and right like cartoon radioactive waste? Those things are leaking dragon essence all over the place.

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Originally Posted by Laili

Here's the question I have; if all it takes for someone from Ishgard to turn into an. Aevis is ingesting a few drops of dragon blood, how aren't the Eyes transforming people left and right like cartoon radioactive waste? Those things are leaking dragon essence all over the place.

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Because its not a few drops of random dragon blood that transforms Thordan's Children; its a ritually-prepared concoction using the blood of Nidhogg's brood.

Draconian Potions won't transform anyone even though dragon blood is an ingredient because its not prepared in the specific way to induce it. Its also why Estinien didn't transform after bathing in Nidhogg's blood (with that much blood on him, he had to ingest some of it accidentally)

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Originally Posted by Nalien

I'd think Haldraths story is a pretty good argument for not giving Azure Dragoons the Eye to play with... It eventually claimed him, and everything we saw of Estinien had the same thing happening...

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I agree with you that Haldrath's fate was what first compelled Holy See to keep the Eye when it's not used; less exposure, less risk from becoming a dragon's thrall. Maybe they also added some rule, like one can only become Azure Dragoon for period of time, need to be inspected by inquisitors, and so on...

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Given you do not need to be in direct contact with it to be an Azure Dragoon (given we're an Azure Dragoon long before we touch it)

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But this one I disagree. We were *chosen* by the Eye, true, but the only time we ever being seen and confirmed using Eye's power is when we killed Igeyorhm, and everytime we learn new DRG skills they come from the Soul Crystal/dragon within us not from the Eye. The Eye only reacted to us, *chose* us, but we never use its power save that one and only occasion.

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I also don't think Nidhogg would have stood much of a chance against Ishgard if the Azure Dragoons always had the Eye backing them up... Estinien utterly crippled Nidhogg during the Aery, if every Azure Dragoon could do even a fraction of that, I think Ishgard would have overpowered Nidhogg long ago, not the narrative we got, that Nidhogg was holding back every time and could easily have wiped them out... Nidhoggs dialog during the Aery also indicates that Azure Dragoons don't usually use the Eye in that way, if every Azure Dragoon used the Eye against Nidhogg in that way, Nidhogg wouldn't have been so surprised when Estinien pulls it out to counter him...

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Nidghogg was crippled by the Eye, true, and crippled Estinien too. Having to draw enough power from the Eye to do so, while simultaneously fighting against Nidhogg from within and without, caused Estinien too much strain that by the time we reached him it was all he could do to keep his hold over the Eye and his mind. The fact that he managed to pull that off for quite some time and still managed to keep his sanity, is likely what surprised Nidghogg; lesser men would've got their mind taken by then.

And even crippled, Nidhogg was still formidable it was all we as WoL could do to weaken him enough for Estinien to strike the killing blow. If WoL can't beat him in his weakened state, can the ordinary soldiers of Ishgard kill him?

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Heck, just from a strategic point of view... While it's possible the Eye can cripple Nidhogg, it's also true that he wants them back...

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Is it true though? The only ones who claimed 'Nidhogg wants his eyes back' are all Ishgardians, with little to no knowledge of the dragon's intention. They are the same people who claimed 'Nidhogg has been repelled by our mighty nation time and again' while in truth Nidhogg could burn the city no problem, reclaiming his eyes in process.

But he didn't, because that was never his intention to reclaim his eyes. He's got enough power to wage his war and that's all that mattered.

The reason he never tried to reclaim them is the same reason he never tried to burn the city. The eyes were taken from him was a misfortune, but he decided to use that as part of his strategy.

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Originally Posted by synesthetic

---It makes it sound more like Nidhogg's selecting people

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Originally Posted by RobinMalvin

Those three chosen by the Eyes have one thing in common; strong desire for power.

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And I say it's true, OP. Nidhogg was selecting people to wield his eye, and he chose those who crave power; those who will use any power whatever it is, whatever the cost.

Azure Dragoon is a chosen one, deemed worthy to use the Eye's power and potentially can kill Nidhogg. For Ishgardians, Azure Dragoon is a symbol of hope in their war for achieving victory.

And Nidhogg played from this hope.

Azure Dragoons are adviced to tread carefully in their dealing with the Eye lest they get enthralled by Nidghogg. But with the Eye's untold power, how long will it take for man to be 'careful', especially if he has ambition he so desires that not even he as Azure Dragoon can achieve? Even if it's just a moment, once he lower his guard, Nidhogg would take his mind.

What do you think would happen if the Azure Dragoon, the people's champion, suddenly became great wyrm's thrall?

It would be a major blow to Ishgardian as the whole, causing untold despair to their hearts, knowing that not even their champion is safe from Nidhogg's influence. They would lose their will to fight, and then Nidhogg would simply harass them over and over, singing his requiem for his beloved sister Ratatoskr with blood of Ishgardians.

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Originally Posted by Laili

Here's the question I have; if all it takes for someone from Ishgard to turn into an. Aevis is ingesting a few drops of dragon blood, how aren't the Eyes transforming people left and right like cartoon radioactive waste? Those things are leaking dragon essence all over the place.

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Because it will be pointless. Nidhogg wants Ishgardian to suffer not enthralling them. Turning them into dragon will not sate his anger at least from his perspective.

And also, it's not dragon's blood that turn them into dragons. Every single Ishgardians possess a sliver of Ratatoskr's essence, which can be awakened with possibly some ritual involving dragon's blood, but it is that very essence that enables them to become dragon.

"What news from Mordor, my lord? What does The Eye command?"

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Originally Posted by PArcher

Because its not a few drops of random dragon blood that transforms Thordan's Children; its a ritually-prepared concoction using the blood of Nidhogg's brood.

Draconian Potions won't transform anyone even though dragon blood is an ingredient because its not prepared in the specific way to induce it. Its also why Estinien didn't transform after bathing in Nidhogg's blood (with that much blood on him, he had to ingest some of it accidentally)

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You say that a special concoction is required, but as I understood it, wasn't it more that the Ishgardians required the consumption of a large amount of dragon blood in order to become dragons? Also, perhaps the potions just don't have any effect at all on non-Ishgardians? As for Estinien, hasn't he always been *this* close to transforming anyway?

Finally managed to push my DRG to 50.

Story recap:

Alberic, your mentor, is a former Azure Dragoon, and he initially asked for help from Gridania regarding a delicate matter. Since secrecy was an issue, the Lancers' Guild chose to send you, an adventurer--someone who's both skilled and has no political affiliation. He briefs you on how a priceless relic has been stolen and he needs your help in tracking down and apprehending the fugitive.

The fugitive is Estinien. Estinien's shocked to see that The Eye is reacting to you, and departs after warning that you'll meet again.

Alberic is equally shocked to hear that The Eye reacted to you, and decides you deserve to hear more about what you're up against. You're told that Estinien is the Azure Dragoon, chosen by The Eye. Since you've also been chosen by The Eye, Alberic decides to train you so that you'll be able to hold your ground next time you encounter Estinien, and reclaim the relic.

Eventually, Estinien arranges a meeting with you and Alberic. Alberic asks him why did he steal the eye from the Holy See, knowing that it would doom Ishgard by awakening Nidhogg? Estinien corrects him saying the prevailing beliefs concerning the eye were wrong and he sensed Nidhogg was already rousing, so he stole the eye to save Ishgard in hopes of using it to lure Nidhogg away--an act of self-sacrifice. But now that you're in the picture, another potential Azure Dragoon where never in history has there been more than one, Estinien proposes that together you may be able to slay Nidhogg instead. He leaves your preparation to Alberic.

Alberic sends you on life-or-death trials to retrieve and bond with drachen armor, as all Azure Dragoons need to do. The armor is forged using the blood of dragons, and as blood calls to blood, this armor is needed to awaken your "inner dragon". (Note, they don't say anything like you need dragon blood in your veins, they merely say that the dragon blood would "resonate" with yours.) He can't just give you his old armor because his is already bonded to him.

Before you could get the last piece of armor, Estinien sends word that Nidhogg is already moving, so if you're to fight, it's now or never. Alberic hurries with you because he's desperate to tell Estinien the whole truth of his own encounter with Nidhogg, or else he may fall prey to the dragon's will. People know that in the past when Alberic was the Azure Dragoon, he warred with Nidhogg and fought him for three days and three nights. Exhausted, Alberic wagered everything on a single blow and stabbed his lance into Nidhogg's empty socket. Nidhogg screamed in agony and flung Alberic away, retreating in defeat while also leaving Alberic injured and unfit to continue as an Azure Dragoon. What people don't know is that while Alberic and Nidhogg were locked together in that final blow, their eyes met and Alberic was overwhelmed by Nidhogg's emotions.

"Sorrow... Rancor... Pity... They threatened to drown the man in me and leave behind a dragon."

Alberic voluntarily gave up being an Azure Dragoon to retain his humanity, rejecting the power of The Eye. As Nidhogg fled, the remainder of his horde laid waste to Ferndale, and Alberic, no longer a dragoon, no longer had the ability to save it. Estinien was the sole survivor and Alberic chose to raise him as his own, out of guilt, because just as Nidhogg fled, he had fled from being a dragoon, and Ferndale paid the price for it.

When you catch up to Estinien, he's blinded by grief and rage and wants Alberic dead. The Eye had already revealed the past to Estinien--of Alberic's failure to protect Ferndale--so Alberic doesn't get a chance to warn him about the risk of being enthralled by Nidhogg.

You defeat Estinien, but maybe already lost to Nidhogg's will, he looks to the sky and beseeches Nidhogg for strength. Estinien is consumed by a dark aura. Alberic flinches at the blow that was meant to kill him and opens his eyes amazed to see that he's alive, protected by the shining visage of the first (and strongest) Azure Dragoon, Haldrath. Haldrath strikes down Estinien with a Dragonfire Dive. Afterwards, you're there in Haldrath's place, and Estinien is nowhere to be seen.

In the aftermath, Alberic tells you that you awakened to the ability that only Haldrath possessed and summoned Haldrath's drachen mail (now yours) which was apparently sealed within the soulstone. He posits that your indomitable sense of justice must've resonated with Haldrath's.
In the meantime, he prays for Estinien's safety. Whatever happened in the past, he loves Estinien as his son. And when Nidhogg's shadowy aura brushed against Alberic...

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachmen...20/unknown.png

Whose voice?! Nidhogg's?!
Or was it possibly Hraesvelgr's, since I think Nidhogg would've had Hraesvelgr's eye by this point?

For now, I'm going to entertain the idea that Nidhogg wanted us to be bros.

Probably Hresvelgr. Or perhaps Haldrath.

It's Iceheart crouching behind a snowbank and yelling "HEY DUDES, CAN YOU BE COOL FOR JUST ONE SECOND"

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Originally Posted by Zohar_Lahar

Probably Hresvelgr. Or perhaps Haldrath.

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I'd go with Haldrath, given he was kept in an sort of undying state while directly connected to the eye twin... Plus, you know, he'd have plenty of reason to lament the rift between man and dragon, given he helped create it... Last we ever saw of him (via Echo) he was set to bear the sins of his father until death, so he was certainly under no illusions that what they did was somehow just...

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Originally Posted by synesthetic

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachmen...20/unknown.png

Whose voice?! Nidhogg's?!
Or was it possibly Hraesvelgr's, since I think Nidhogg would've had Hraesvelgr's eye by this point?

For now, I'm going to entertain the idea that Nidhogg wanted us to be bros.

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Nidhogg did have one of Hraesvalgr's eyes since he lost both of his own so it's possible that the voice is Hraesvalgr's and by extention, Shiva's, assuming the voice comes from the eye.

Or maybe the voice is from the soul crystal, which means it could be Haldrath's, or one of the previous Azure Dragoons before us.