What is The Eye doing?

[RobinMalvin]

I'd think Haldraths story is a pretty good argument for not giving Azure Dragoons the Eye to play with... It eventually claimed him, and everything we saw of Estinien had the same thing happening...

I agree with you that Haldrath's fate was what first compelled Holy See to keep the Eye when it's not used; less exposure, less risk from becoming a dragon's thrall. Maybe they also added some rule, like one can only become Azure Dragoon for period of time, need to be inspected by inquisitors, and so on...

Given you do not need to be in direct contact with it to be an Azure Dragoon (given we're an Azure Dragoon long before we touch it)

But this one I disagree. We were *chosen* by the Eye, true, but the only time we ever being seen and confirmed using Eye's power is when we killed Igeyorhm, and everytime we learn new DRG skills they come from the Soul Crystal/dragon within us not from the Eye. The Eye only reacted to us, *chose* us, but we never use its power save that one and only occasion.

I also don't think Nidhogg would have stood much of a chance against Ishgard if the Azure Dragoons always had the Eye backing them up... Estinien utterly crippled Nidhogg during the Aery, if every Azure Dragoon could do even a fraction of that, I think Ishgard would have overpowered Nidhogg long ago, not the narrative we got, that Nidhogg was holding back every time and could easily have wiped them out... Nidhoggs dialog during the Aery also indicates that Azure Dragoons don't usually use the Eye in that way, if every Azure Dragoon used the Eye against Nidhogg in that way, Nidhogg wouldn't have been so surprised when Estinien pulls it out to counter him...

Nidghogg was crippled by the Eye, true, and crippled Estinien too. Having to draw enough power from the Eye to do so, while simultaneously fighting against Nidhogg from within and without, caused Estinien too much strain that by the time we reached him it was all he could do to keep his hold over the Eye and his mind. The fact that he managed to pull that off for quite some time and still managed to keep his sanity, is likely what surprised Nidghogg; lesser men would've got their mind taken by then.

And even crippled, Nidhogg was still formidable it was all we as WoL could do to weaken him enough for Estinien to strike the killing blow. If WoL can't beat him in his weakened state, can the ordinary soldiers of Ishgard kill him?

Heck, just from a strategic point of view... While it's possible the Eye can cripple Nidhogg, it's also true that he wants them back...

Is it true though? The only ones who claimed 'Nidhogg wants his eyes back' are all Ishgardians, with little to no knowledge of the dragon's intention. They are the same people who claimed 'Nidhogg has been repelled by our mighty nation time and again' while in truth Nidhogg could burn the city no problem, reclaiming his eyes in process.

But he didn't, because that was never his intention to reclaim his eyes. He's got enough power to wage his war and that's all that mattered.

The reason he never tried to reclaim them is the same reason he never tried to burn the city. The eyes were taken from him was a misfortune, but he decided to use that as part of his strategy.

---It makes it sound more like Nidhogg's selecting people

Those three chosen by the Eyes have one thing in common; strong desire for power.

And I say it's true, OP. Nidhogg was selecting people to wield his eye, and he chose those who crave power; those who will use any power whatever it is, whatever the cost.

Azure Dragoon is a chosen one, deemed worthy to use the Eye's power and potentially can kill Nidhogg. For Ishgardians, Azure Dragoon is a symbol of hope in their war for achieving victory.

And Nidhogg played from this hope.

Azure Dragoons are adviced to tread carefully in their dealing with the Eye lest they get enthralled by Nidghogg. But with the Eye's untold power, how long will it take for man to be 'careful', especially if he has ambition he so desires that not even he as Azure Dragoon can achieve? Even if it's just a moment, once he lower his guard, Nidhogg would take his mind.

What do you think would happen if the Azure Dragoon, the people's champion, suddenly became great wyrm's thrall?

It would be a major blow to Ishgardian as the whole, causing untold despair to their hearts, knowing that not even their champion is safe from Nidhogg's influence. They would lose their will to fight, and then Nidhogg would simply harass them over and over, singing his requiem for his beloved sister Ratatoskr with blood of Ishgardians.