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

[Anonymoose]

Alright, I did some research. It took me a while to go through every mention of blessing and echo that I've ever saved, but here we are. These two quotes I think sum up the majority of the information needed to make an educated guess, though that many in the thread have already expressed a similar interpretation. What made me assume they were synonymous up until this point was simply the choice of words the game often used. We are blessed with the power of the Echo, it often says, and both the Echo and the Blessing of Light are described as empowering us "beyond mortal limits" by several NPCs. Alas, if they are not separate, we can make some guesses.

THE ECHO

Yours is the power to transcend the boundaries of the soul—a power known as the Echo. The Echo allows you to pass through the walls of a man's soul, and hear the resonations of his past. You will be there in his memories, and see things as he saw them. You may even interact with that which you see, though you cannot change the outcome of events. For another blessing, the Echo will enable you to know a man's mind even if you cannot comprehend his words.In short, the Echo is a truly extraordinary power. And this power is strong within you.

The Echo is bestowed upon the player the first time the Mothercrystal says, "Hear... Feel.... Think..." It somehow removes from your soul its inability to transcend certain boundaries. It gives you the ability to re-live others' memories as well as understand their sentiments, words, and intent regardless of what the actual expression of it is. Moreover, there are hints that it can transcend the flesh and mortality itself if used properly. It also protects the bearer's soul from the corrupting influences of the primals. I still resist calling the Echo "another form of tempering." If Hydaelyn is the "white light" to the six-element "rainbow," she, as the whole, should be able to fill the "blessing socket" with a whole that could resist any of its parts. Furthermore, perhaps it's just the overcoming of the limitations of ours soul in the first place that strengthen it enough to resist influence. I'm not really sure on that one, yet.

THE BLESSING OF LIGHT
The Blessing of Light does not seem to manifest until we collect the first Crystal of Light; it seems to be tied to the glyph.

It is the blessing of Light that confounds you. Your foe acts under the protection of the Crystal [he] bears. (It is what empowers [him]) [b]eyond mortal limits.

Receive of me this power, my child, and raise thy Crystal aloft!

As Hydaelyn's Champion (and in our own right), our strength draws the Crystals of Light to us, and they in turn further strengthen us. It's a positive feedback loop. Many characters remark that it's amazing that our strength could not only draw one crystal, but that our strength in addition to it would draw another... and another... As far as I can tell, the Blessing of Light is essentially the glyph we see in the visions, strengthened as we collect the crystals. A guess would be that their power enables Hydaelyn to shine through them and shield her champion in the corporeal realm, but doing so has come at a great cost. With Hyadelyn weakened, we still lean on her like a crutch, and I think this offends Midgardsormr, who entered into some covenant with her long ago and sees us as weak and unworthy to be her champion. By sealing the weakened Blessing of Light and binding himself to us, I think Midgardsormr is engaging in a trial of mankind through us, much as Ramuh did, to see if Hydaelyn chose well or if we'll just burn along with Ishgard.

A lot of people have been saying Midgardsormr lacked some information in English, so I went out of my way to translate all four languages back to English and then paraphrase their combined content. Say what you will about the decision to sand off a lot of Midgardsormr's wordiness, but in my humble opinion, if you actually considered his words instead of trying to absorb them like a sponge and move on, the other versions didn't tell you anything you didn't already know or anything you couldn't infer.

COMBINED / PARAPHRASED DIALOGUE

Who shows such irreverence as to enter my resting place and disturb my slumber?
You are (ignorant / forgetful) to not know me, I am the (lord / first / genesis) of dragons.
You possess the Echo, but it is not your salvation.
Is it by Her will that we have met? ... What is it that has led you to me?
A star? Yes, it burns bright, my kind rallies to the call.
Ishgard will burn. They remember not fear or the crimes that have been committed.
The sons have inherited their father's sins, and with their deaths will their crimes be avenged.
We will never forget, we will never forgive, we will not allow their sins to be repeated.
One of my seven children sings for justice. That the advance will halt is but false hope.
I rouse only to respond and join in the song.
Man repents not his sins against us. The earth will be scorched and they will be undone. This is your last hour.
---- Attack is deflected by Hydaelyn's protection ----
What trickery is this?! That light! This is Your chosen!?
You give this vulgar being powers beyond the Echo, and beyond what it deserves! And you would wish for me to aid them?
If this be your wish, I must accept it. Fear not, mortal...
---- The crystals of light are darkened ----
By my claw has been sealed the blessing of light.
But I will not harm you, the threat of that comes from elsewhere.
At the beginning, Hydaelyn gave me shelter and light.
You, who are young and weak, have long enjoyed Her grace, but no more.
---- Midgardsormr creates a small dragon ----
This is my incarnation, a piece of my soul. I send it with you, as we are now bound.
It's eyes are my eyes, its ears are my ears. Let us see what you do without the protection of light.
Will this trial lead to war's end? Are you more than just a porter of borrowed power?
Can you overcome the mark I've laid upon you with your own strength? Man has ever coveted that just beyond his reach.
I drink of this land's aether and by Her grace am I gradually restored.
When this incarnation is whole, the loyal and penitent shall rejoice.
The song of my children covers the whole of the sky and heralds both beginning and end.