What are the differences between the Echo and having Hydaelyn's Blessing? [Spoilers?]

[Delily]

There are at least four. the WoL, Minfilia, Hoary Boulder, and Coultenet. The last two I'm pretty sure use the Echo since they're not Archons, and if they were just "hired muscle" then they'd have been transferred to the Crystal Braves by now.

No, with the growing dangers, the Scions need to hire protection. The Braves are not the military arm of the Scions, they're separate organizations. Alphinaud always checks with Minfilia before requesting your help when he needs you.

[Wolfandre]

There are at least four. the WoL, Minfilia, Hoary Boulder, and Coultenet. The last two I'm pretty sure use the Echo since they're not Archons, and if they were just "hired muscle" then they'd have been transferred to the Crystal Braves by now.

We're not really given any clues as to whether or not Hoary Boulder and Coultenet possess the Echo, sadly. As far as backgrounds go, we've got nothing on Hoary Boulder. Coultenet is Ishgardian, so I imagine he'll have plenty to weigh-in on soon enough, but no Echo. Not yet, anyway.

[Delily]

Thaaaaaat's interesting... So long have we all pretty much assumed this to be true, when we're not specifically told? Hmmm I'll have to launch my own investigation into this...

This probably has a very simple answer: You're an adventurer and they're not. And the best one, to boot. I'd wager a guess that many many people who stumble upon the Echo, in all it's macguffin-y goodness, are likely not the fighty type. Look at Minfilia, who we're only really certain can wield a dagger, at best. Remember that most of those that COULD reasonably fight were wiped out by Livia sans Junius in the raid on the Waking Sands during the MS. There are likely very few or only two Echo-havers (yourself and Minfilia) in the Scions these days.

I do like where this discussion is going. I am still very veeeery concerned as to what exactly Middy tried to do to us that triggered glowy blue blessing/Echo thing. Is it the blessing? If so, does that mean Midgardsormr is Dark/Void aligned (probably not)? If he triggered the Echo, does that mean he was trying to temper us (I know, I know! He's not a primal!)?! If he *was*, that would explain his blue head thing.... Does separating these two things make any sense for the scene directly after KotL?! WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN!?

EDIT: Just rewatched the CS. Middy didn't do nuffink to you to make the shield activate. Seems like you can just call on that nonsense whenever you want. I'm much calmer now....tehe.

He was trying to kill us. Even though we just defeated him, he had no idea who we were, and, as far as he was concerned, we could be agents of Ishgard. The dragons are clearly no friend of the Ascians, but given Ishgard's stance on the dravians, they're not our friend, either.

[Wolfandre]

He was trying to kill us. Even though we just defeated him, he had no idea who we were, and, as far as he was concerned, we could be agents of Ishgard. The dragons are clearly no friend of the Ascians, but given Ishgard's stance on the dravians, they're not our friend, either.

Yeah I just rewatched that CS. He merely threatened you and didn't actually launch anything your way until he shot his dragon beam through you and stripped the Blessing of Light. For whatever reason, I thought the Blessing reacted, rather than being willfully called upon.

[ExKage]

I'm not sure how much of this I'll be able to tease out by the end, but let's start with one thing:

Thank you! This ties that up nicely.

I don't even remember why the crystals were so important. Does Hydaelyn's blessing do much except.... What did it do other than it somehow protected us from Ascians? What exactly is it, to be blessed by Hydaelyn?

Edit: From what I remember of the end cutscene (I might have been too busy going "oh SHIT!") Midgardsormr was mad after sending the dragons to kill you. He speaks to you and he realizes that you have Hydaelyn's Blessing. You're worried, he tells you he won't harm you, and then he strips the weak Hydaelyn's blessing???? and makes a covenant of his own with you. For what purpose? I assume we shall find out in 2.55 and 3.0.

Dragons are not Ascian friends. Dragons and Dravonians are at War with Ishgard. Ascians control Ishgard.

WELP

[lololink]

Thank you! This ties that up nicely.

I don't even remember why the crystals were so important. Does Hydaelyn's blessing do much except.... What did it do other than it somehow protected us from Ascians? What exactly is it, to be blessed by Hydaelyn?

The crystals removed the defences of the Ultima weapon too, it's basically an anti-zodiark weapon ( the core of Ultima Weapon is connected to Zodiark ).

[Delily]

Edit: From what I remember of the end cutscene (I might have been too busy going "oh SHIT!") Midgardsormr was mad after sending the dragons to kill you. He speaks to you and he realizes that you have Hydaelyn's Blessing. You're worried, he tells you he won't harm you, and then he strips the weak Hydaelyn's blessing???? and makes a covenant of his own with you. For what purpose? I assume we shall find out in 2.55 and 3.0.

I am going to go out on the limb and say stop the Ascians from reviving Zodiark. The various storms brewing around Eorzea are directly influenced by them.

[myahele]

It seems like anybody can either be born with the echo (us, minfilia, others) or given it somehow via the Sahagin priest method. It's not just mutually exclusive to Hydelines power; I think the Echo is simply an ability that opens up possibilities the more you use it. For one, it connects us to Hydeline, for others it gives them body switching abilities.

With that said, us being the "champion of hydaeline" means she favors us more than any of the other echo users, probably because we're actually strong enough to beat a primal unlike the others.

Though I think primals sucking up her aether +her having to boost our anti-tempering abilites constantly weakens to the point where speaking is too much effort

[Shane_Leonhart]

IIRC, only those with the echo can see the Ascians as well. Been a pretty long time though, so I might be wrong about that.

[Exodus-E]

IIRC, only those with the echo can see the Ascians as well. Been a pretty long time though, so I might be wrong about that.

Unless they want to be seen, of course (similar as with the moogles).
Otherwise, people such as Gaius or Moenbryda wouldn't be able to interact with them at all.