The Garlean Empire vs Omega

[Necrotica]

Even with his body and the eyes completely destroyed, there is a certain amount taint remaining in Estenien that threatens to take control.

Is this stated in the game anywhere?

[Zero-ELEC]

If anything, elder/more powerful dragons are almost a viral/lycanthropic creature able to exert a certain amount of control/power simply by having the blood mixed in another creature. And, should the host be of a certain strength it seems they can control the dragon's power.

Honestly, that seems to be the case with dragons in general, when you think about. An asexually reproducing alien species, whose blood can turn others into them when flesh is consumed, whose powerful individuals can compel others of its species and those close in nature (scalekin) through song. Change a few details and you've got a pretty compelling sci-fi viral alien species like the zerg or tyranids or xenomorphs of something.

[Cleretic]

the PLD lions can fly or is that WoL magic?

Those aren't most lions, and Omega's got the firepower to down the few that are like that pretty easily.

Honestly the real threat is how many of them are those lion-like Sin Eaters Vauthry had. Those can fly AND take a good couple hits, if there's enough of them Omega might break a sweat.

[Alleo]

Is this stated in the game anywhere?

I am not sure if this is outright stated but we do get hints that Nidhogg is still in a way with Estinien. (Not sure about the "threatens to take control part")The way he talked with Tiamat. How he was able to see the souls of the death dragons on Ultima (just like the WoL), stuff like that. Of course you also have his attacks that are fulled by Nidhogg too.

I guess this could go many ways but it does feel like at least a bit of Nidhogg stayed behind. Maybe part of his aether.

[Necrotica]

I am not sure if this is outright stated but we do get hints that Nidhogg is still in a way with Estinien. (Not sure about the "threatens to take control part")The way he talked with Tiamat. How he was able to see the souls of the death dragons on Ultima (just like the WoL), stuff like that. Of course you also have his attacks that are fulled by Nidhogg too.

I guess this could go many ways but it does feel like at least a bit of Nidhogg stayed behind. Maybe part of his aether.

I see how that could be attributed to being Nidhogg still. I just figured he had been semi dragon aspected/fused/genetic rewrite type thing but it was just general draconic nature not specifically tied to Nidhogg. Like how some of a person's traits are tied specifically to their parents but others are just a natural part of being human.

Nidhogg made him more dragon like, maybe not specifically more Nidhogg like. Also whenever he 'talks' to Nidhogg I think he is talking to his weapon still coated in the blood.

[RyuDragnier]

Just exactly how does Nidhogg's taint work, and what all did Estinien "inherit" from Nidhogg? Judging from how he has pretty much calmed down after the whole Final Steps of Faith, I'm wondering if the part of Nidhogg that Estinien absorbed was what was left of his actual "nicer" self, the self from before Ratataskr's death. My evidence for this would be Estinien's actions whenever dragons are involved. Estinien is fairly protective of Vrtra, almost like a sibling would be. Also when he calls out the dragon in Ultima Thule on their actions, he gets aggressive with a tone shift in his voice, almost feeling like somebody else is doing the talking, trying to remind the dragon of what they are.

[WhiteArchmage]

Just exactly how does Nidhogg's taint work, and what all did Estinien "inherit" from Nidhogg? Judging from how he has pretty much calmed down after the whole Final Steps of Faith, I'm wondering if the part of Nidhogg that Estinien absorbed was what was left of his actual "nicer" self, the self from before Ratataskr's death. My evidence for this would be Estinien's actions whenever dragons are involved. Estinien is fairly protective of Vrtra, almost like a sibling would be. Also when he calls out the dragon in Ultima Thule on their actions, he gets aggressive with a tone shift in his voice, almost feeling like somebody else is doing the talking, trying to remind the dragon of what they are.

It seems that Nidhogg left a part of his personality inside Estinien, it also comes out when Estinien downright taunts Tiamat into moving on. It's not an actual merging of personalities, but sometimes it feels like Estinien has... not sure if I'm explaining myself right, but basically got so used to thinking like Nidhogg that he now exists as a "shoulder angel/devil" of sorts to him. Like a little "What Would Nidhogg Do?" voice on the back of his head.

[Joven]

Just exactly how does Nidhogg's taint work, and what all did Estinien "inherit" from Nidhogg? Judging from how he has pretty much calmed down after the whole Final Steps of Faith, I'm wondering if the part of Nidhogg that Estinien absorbed was what was left of his actual "nicer" self, the self from before Ratataskr's death. My evidence for this would be Estinien's actions whenever dragons are involved. Estinien is fairly protective of Vrtra, almost like a sibling would be. Also when he calls out the dragon in Ultima Thule on their actions, he gets aggressive with a tone shift in his voice, almost feeling like somebody else is doing the talking, trying to remind the dragon of what they are.

I took it as Estinien gaining a sort of respect and admiration for the dragons through his interactions with Hraesvelgr and Ysayle and the fact that everything he thought he knew about them was predicated on a lie.

[RyuDragnier]

Those are pretty good ways of looking at it.

[SannaR]

I'm in the a smidge of ol Niddy is still in there party. Estinien got possessed by him twice and during one of those times transformed. You're going to tell me no aetherical shenanigans happened? All this after we know that just their blood can alter a person's aether.