Nidhogg's Eyes [Spoiler]

[Ntol]

The main problem with the "nothing can survive the Sea of Clouds" explanation is that wasn't clear at the time we chucked the eyes over the bridge. I largely remember that being a retcon/author's saving throw.

Indeed, in fact reading these comments made me wonder where did that information regarding the Sea of Clouds came from. During that cutscene I also facepalmed at the decission but I also understood the urgency to get them as far from everyone as possible. I didn´t understand why they thought the eyes would be lost forever or why they didn´t send anyone to destroy them afterwards though.

[SannaR]

Indeed, in fact reading these comments made me wonder where did that information regarding the Sea of Clouds came from. During that cutscene I also facepalmed at the decission but I also understood the urgency to get them as far from everyone as possible. I didn´t understand why they thought the eyes would be lost forever or why they didn´t send anyone to destroy them afterwards though.

It's stated a few times on some of the fish you can catch I think. Along with other side tidbits. I know someone says it in the story but we the players got to see why/how that was a bad idea.

[Alien_Gamer]

What does the sea of clouds have to do with the eyes? We threw them off the bridge to Ishgard, basically into a really deep ravine; of course the bad guys would get it. We should have tracked them down that night and destroyed them...but the plot bus interfered.

[Enkidoh]

That is actually classed as part of the Sea of Clouds - the actual zone of that is one small section of a much wider area and includes the section where Ishgard itself is located, bordering onto Coerthas (it's why the explorable area of it are floating islands, it's quite frankly too dangerous on the actual floor of the 'sea').

[Alien_Gamer]

Geographically, that doesn't make sense though. If you look from Haurchefants grave site you can clearly see ishgard at ground level on a mountainside, attached to coerthas central highlands. If that's a part of the sea of clouds then it would have to be at the bottom of it already which would make the city in inhabitable...not to mention all of coerthas. For the bottom of the sea of clouds to stretch a finger down to just affect that area under the bridge doesn't make sense either. Ishgard simply isn't high enough in altitude do it to be a part of the sea of clouds.

[ObsidianFire]

It's best seen in HW's credits/menu movie. There we see that conceptually anyway, there are lots of floating islands around Ishgard. Ishgard itself looks like it's situated on the summit of one of the highest mountains in Abalathia's Spine (the only mountain that it taller then it is Sonm Al in the far distance) and the rest of the mountain ranges around it are quite a bit lower in elevation. What is higher then Ishgard are other floating islands and they've got a lot of fortifications on them. The area of the Sea of Clouds we can get to in game is considered a back-water outpost where knights who aren't suited for the frontlines are sent to be out of the way. I'm calling this a case of gamplay vs lore representation.

So yeah, I can definetly buy that Ishgard is in the Sea of Clouds and that whatever crazy aether currents that keep the Sky Islands afloat are down rather then up. We've seen aether trump geography plenty of times in FFXIV as it is.

[Apoptomon]

Yeah, almost the entire northern border of CCH is a cliff that drops off into the Sea of Clouds. It's also a level 45 fishing spot though, so at least some organisms can survive there. Unless those creatures are 'above' the bad part - (as presumably are the bridge's foundations).

[SicariusSeven]

Makes me wonder what would have happened if the WoL had gotten both eyes, instead of taking one. Would bad stuff had happened to them or would it just be another day?

[Ilenya]

Makes me wonder what would have happened if the WoL had gotten both eyes, instead of taking one. Would bad stuff had happened to them or would it just be another day?

*imagines Nidhogg trying to take over the WoL, getting *****-slapped by Hydelaen.*

[AmemeAmeklin]

Makes me wonder what would have happened if the WoL had gotten both eyes, instead of taking one. Would bad stuff had happened to them or would it just be another day?

WoL: *stands there with both eyes*
Everyone else: omg are you okay
WoL: *nods*

Honestly the WoL has walked around with both Nidhogg's eye and Hraesvelgr's eye by this point and has seemingly had no issues, while Estinien clearly had moments where he struggled with just the one. I think Aymeric might've been of the mind that getting the eyes as far away from Estinien as possible at that moment was the best thing to do.

To be honest, I suspect Aymeric panicked. Whenever Aymeric makes a bad decision, terrible things happen...I won't comment on how we ended up at The Vault and lost Haurchefant. I'm glad we were able to save Estinien, though. He more than repaid that debt in Stormblood and I look forward to seeing him be a snarky butthead in the future!