Heavensward Art (Potential Spoilers)

[WyrahFhurrst]

Not in the scene I linked above. It shows a distinct scar where an eye should be. The white dragon may simply be at the wrong angle, but the blue dragon actually has a scar when viewed from any angle. Look at the benchmark trailer at 7:19 and see for yourself the dragon's face from the front, missing his right eye and instead having a scar where it should be.

[Alacran]

So just to speculate. We fight for the Ishgardians in the dragonsong war, beat back the the dragon hoard all the way to Nidhogg's door step, through finding and bringing to light the true origin of the war we broker a truce, once all is completed we head back to Ul'dah to take care of business at the head of an Ishgardian/ Dravainian army, unite all of Erozea and set up to take on the Garleans while taking back Doma and Ala' Mhigo. Go to go as soon as DRK is level 60.

[Nalien]

We have two Celestial Dragons with missing eyes, I don't think there is any arguing that. This one seems to be missing one, the Benchmark one did too, even had a massive scar.

My money is on the Benchmark Dragon being Nidhogg. This white one doesn't seem violent or angry enough, plus that seemed like a Praetorium style final fight situation, really the fact that he is white is proof enough really... Dragoons armor is meant to be a very dark blue to match Nidhogg, no?

Really not that surprised that two Celestial Dragons are missing an eye... Owning Nidhoggs eye has given Ishgard some sort of power, giving rise to an Azure Dragoon and perhaps other things. Nidhogg also seems to really want it back, so either he really misses depth perception or Celestial Dragon Eyes grant some form of power. Makes sense they'd be sought out if that's the case. Thinking back, didn't Midgardsormr imply that Ishgard was about to make a second mistake? First mistake - Taking Nidhoggs Eye. Second mistake - Taking this guys Eye? Perhaps we return it as a sort of peace offering, but Nidhogg is far to gone into madness to be quelled so we have to take him out.

[Frederick22]

Can someone please show an screenshot were we can see perfecty that this dark dragon is really missing an eye ? I have checked the benchmark few times, and I still not seeing anything.

[Nalien]

Can someone please show an screenshot were we can see perfecty that this dark dragon is really missing an eye ? I have checked the benchmark few times, and I still not seeing anything.

You can tell where his eye should be based off face symmetry, the fact that he has the massive scar is just further proof IMO.

I guess he could be winking at us, but then so could the dragon in the OP. The one which doesn't match any description of Nidhogg, has no visible battle scars indicating any involvement in a 1,000 year war (outside the possible missing eye), and certainly doesn't seem like the inspiration for the Drachen Armor.

If the white dragon is Nidhogg, I am extremely confused. Nidhogg is said to be seething with rage, yet that art work is clearly a meeting of sorts, while the Benchmark Dragon is clearly just an out right battle with a fairly unfriendly seeming Dragon, who is missing an eye, seems much closer in comparison to Drachen Armor, has numerous scars from various battles with (presumably) Ishgard and various Azure Dragoons. If that ain't Nidhogg, I don't know what is.

You can also see the scars very clearly in this artwork, though not the missing eye;

But yeah, of the two which one seems to be seething with rage? This one, by far. The whole seething thing is information we've basically gotten directly, too, since it comes from Nidhoggs Eye (unless our friendly neighborhood Azure Dragoon is lying).

[Frederick22]

Thanks so much and my apologies for not trusting you, It seems that you are right. But now then who is that white big dragon? o.o

[myahele]

It seems like eyes give a boost of power...what if they pull an Uchiha clan and the Dark Dragon (Nidhogg) forcefully took the White Dragon's eye after being defeated by WoL and Co?

[WyrahFhurrst]

I'd imagine most any part would give a decent amount of power, but eyes may be the easiest part, as they are soft and and easily removed when stabbed with a spear. The rest of the dragon's body would be hard and probably a lot more difficult to remove to use as a source of power.

Alternatively, as the eyes are the window to the soul, having an eye may allow one to pull power from the dragon's very soul.

[Alberel]

You can tell where his eye should be based off face symmetry, the fact that he has the massive scar is just further proof IMO.

I guess he could be winking at us, but then so could the dragon in the OP. The one which doesn't match any description of Nidhogg, has no visible battle scars indicating any involvement in a 1,000 year war (outside the possible missing eye), and certainly doesn't seem like the inspiration for the Drachen Armor.

If the white dragon is Nidhogg, I am extremely confused. Nidhogg is said to be seething with rage, yet that art work is clearly a meeting of sorts, while the Benchmark Dragon is clearly just an out right battle with a fairly unfriendly seeming Dragon, who is missing an eye, seems much closer in comparison to Drachen Armor, has numerous scars from various battles with (presumably) Ishgard and various Azure Dragoons. If that ain't Nidhogg, I don't know what is.

You can also see the scars very clearly in this artwork, though not the missing eye;

But yeah, of the two which one seems to be seething with rage? This one, by far. The whole seething thing is information we've basically gotten directly, too, since it comes from Nidhoggs Eye (unless our friendly neighborhood Azure Dragoon is lying).

Are you entirely sure the concept art you just linked actually supports your argument? I actually see two eyes on that dragon. The right eye is a little obscured by the scar but turn the picture on its side and it's much clearer. If you still can't see it drop a yellow colour filter on it as he has two very distinct yellow eyes.

If that still doesn't convince you then take a look at the concept art of all seven of Midgardsormr's sons. That blue dragon is the one featured bottom-middle in the image (his horns protrude forwards in a very unique way) and you clearly see his right eye.

The white dragon with the obvious missing eye was also featured the most prevalently in the marketing posters for the expansion at the event which would make sense for it to be Nidhogg.

Something to remember: almost everything we know about the Dravanians comes from Ishgard. Given that they're mortal enemies of the dragons (and fallible mortals to boot) I'd be wary of taking everything they tell us as definite fact. At this point the only detail I'm willing to trust them on is that they took Nidhogg's eye, since they actually have it still and all. I'm more comfortable saying the white dragon is Nidhogg based on the obvious missing eye than I am saying he's not because he's the wrong colour.

[Nalien]

Are you entirely sure the concept art you just linked actually supports your argument? I actually see two eyes on that dragon. The right eye is a little obscured by the scar but turn the picture on its side and it's much clearer. If you still can't see it drop a yellow colour filter on it as he has two very distinct yellow eyes.

I see two very distinct scars, but not two eyes. Just looking at the angle I don't think it would even be possible to see his right eye. Meanwhile we have the actual in game model clearly displaying a missing eye, not to mention everything else I said. Fluffy McWhite Feathery Dragon really doesn't seem like Nidhogg; No rage, doesn't match the Drachen Armor, etc. Why is he prominent? Because he is the Celestial Dragon we'll actually communicate with? It makes sense that they'd give us a Dragon for that exact purpose, given Nidhogg has been on a 1,000 year hissy fit over his eye.

Something to remember: almost everything we know about the Dravanians comes from Ishgard. Given that they're mortal enemies of the dragons (and fallible mortals to boot) I'd be wary of taking everything they tell us as definite fact. At this point the only detail I'm willing to trust them on is that they took Nidhogg's eye, since they actually have it still and all. I'm more comfortable saying the white dragon is Nidhogg based on the obvious missing eye than I am saying he's not because he's the wrong colour.

So you're going to take promotional art over the actual ingame model we saw in the Benchmark and say the Benchmark Dragon isn't missing an eye? How many times has promotional (yes, not even concept) art shown us things which clearly aren't in game or are drastically different? Pretty much every event, no?

All the white Dragon has is a missing eye. That's it.
The Benchmark Dragon has a missing eye. The Benchmark Dragon has a very obvious aura of rage, and we're told frequently that Nidhogg is seething with rage. Think that's a lie? What, so Estinien didn't get overcome with Nidhoggs rage and almost lose himself? Guess that fight never happened? The Benchmark Dragon also has multiple scars, while the white Dragon doesn't seem to have any. Which one seems like his been in a 1,000 year war with Ishgard given that? We know Alberic managed to wound him, I imagine plenty of Azure Dragoons did over 1,000 years. The Benchmark Dragon also matches the Drachen Armor more closely.

Pretty much every description we have of Nidhogg matches the Benchmark Dragon, not the white one. You can claim Ishgard is lying about all that if you like, I'll admit it is a possibility (or rather it would be a plot twist that will catch even most NPCs), but that doesn't definitively make Whitey-McFeather-Face Nidhogg when both are clearly missing an eye. All we can conclude here is that there are two Celestial Dragons missing an eye when we previously thought there was only one. Like I said earlier, that's not really surprising since Nidhoggs Eye has granted Ishgard some degree of power, makes sense these Dragons would have their eyes sought after.

If that still doesn't convince you then take a look at the concept art of all seven of Midgardsormr's sons. That blue dragon is the one featured bottom-middle in the image (his horns protrude forwards in a very unique way) and you clearly see his right eye.

This is perhaps true, but again, promotional art often has mistakes, though perhaps more importantly, did you check the white Dragons eye? In the promotional piece with all of them, you can see whitey's left eye and blues right eye. In the individual pieces, well I maintain that you can't even see blues right side enough to make out an eye, but whitey? He is missing his left eye...

Again, it's a promotional piece (not concept) and they often have mistakes in, or things are too small for us to clearly make out. Whitey probably is missing an eye in game as well, but we have the ingame model of the Dragon thought to be Nidhogg thanks to the Benchmark, on top of that he actually fits every description of Nidhogg we've been given. This is fairly cut and dry as far as I'm concerned...