What is The Eye doing?

[Laili]

Here's the question I have; if all it takes for someone from Ishgard to turn into an. Aevis is ingesting a few drops of dragon blood, how aren't the Eyes transforming people left and right like cartoon radioactive waste? Those things are leaking dragon essence all over the place.

[PArcher]

Here's the question I have; if all it takes for someone from Ishgard to turn into an. Aevis is ingesting a few drops of dragon blood, how aren't the Eyes transforming people left and right like cartoon radioactive waste? Those things are leaking dragon essence all over the place.

Because its not a few drops of random dragon blood that transforms Thordan's Children; its a ritually-prepared concoction using the blood of Nidhogg's brood.

Draconian Potions won't transform anyone even though dragon blood is an ingredient because its not prepared in the specific way to induce it. Its also why Estinien didn't transform after bathing in Nidhogg's blood (with that much blood on him, he had to ingest some of it accidentally)

[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.

[RobinMalvin]

Here's the question I have; if all it takes for someone from Ishgard to turn into an. Aevis is ingesting a few drops of dragon blood, how aren't the Eyes transforming people left and right like cartoon radioactive waste? Those things are leaking dragon essence all over the place.

Because it will be pointless. Nidhogg wants Ishgardian to suffer not enthralling them. Turning them into dragon will not sate his anger at least from his perspective.

And also, it's not dragon's blood that turn them into dragons. Every single Ishgardians possess a sliver of Ratatoskr's essence, which can be awakened with possibly some ritual involving dragon's blood, but it is that very essence that enables them to become dragon.

[Confidence_Trick]

"What news from Mordor, my lord? What does The Eye command?"

[Tenkuu]

Because its not a few drops of random dragon blood that transforms Thordan's Children; its a ritually-prepared concoction using the blood of Nidhogg's brood.

Draconian Potions won't transform anyone even though dragon blood is an ingredient because its not prepared in the specific way to induce it. Its also why Estinien didn't transform after bathing in Nidhogg's blood (with that much blood on him, he had to ingest some of it accidentally)

You say that a special concoction is required, but as I understood it, wasn't it more that the Ishgardians required the consumption of a large amount of dragon blood in order to become dragons? Also, perhaps the potions just don't have any effect at all on non-Ishgardians? As for Estinien, hasn't he always been *this* close to transforming anyway?

[synesthetic]

Finally managed to push my DRG to 50.

Story recap:

Alberic, your mentor, is a former Azure Dragoon, and he initially asked for help from Gridania regarding a delicate matter. Since secrecy was an issue, the Lancers' Guild chose to send you, an adventurer--someone who's both skilled and has no political affiliation. He briefs you on how a priceless relic has been stolen and he needs your help in tracking down and apprehending the fugitive.

The fugitive is Estinien. Estinien's shocked to see that The Eye is reacting to you, and departs after warning that you'll meet again.

Alberic is equally shocked to hear that The Eye reacted to you, and decides you deserve to hear more about what you're up against. You're told that Estinien is the Azure Dragoon, chosen by The Eye. Since you've also been chosen by The Eye, Alberic decides to train you so that you'll be able to hold your ground next time you encounter Estinien, and reclaim the relic.

Eventually, Estinien arranges a meeting with you and Alberic. Alberic asks him why did he steal the eye from the Holy See, knowing that it would doom Ishgard by awakening Nidhogg? Estinien corrects him saying the prevailing beliefs concerning the eye were wrong and he sensed Nidhogg was already rousing, so he stole the eye to save Ishgard in hopes of using it to lure Nidhogg away--an act of self-sacrifice. But now that you're in the picture, another potential Azure Dragoon where never in history has there been more than one, Estinien proposes that together you may be able to slay Nidhogg instead. He leaves your preparation to Alberic.

Alberic sends you on life-or-death trials to retrieve and bond with drachen armor, as all Azure Dragoons need to do. The armor is forged using the blood of dragons, and as blood calls to blood, this armor is needed to awaken your "inner dragon". (Note, they don't say anything like you need dragon blood in your veins, they merely say that the dragon blood would "resonate" with yours.) He can't just give you his old armor because his is already bonded to him.

Before you could get the last piece of armor, Estinien sends word that Nidhogg is already moving, so if you're to fight, it's now or never. Alberic hurries with you because he's desperate to tell Estinien the whole truth of his own encounter with Nidhogg, or else he may fall prey to the dragon's will. People know that in the past when Alberic was the Azure Dragoon, he warred with Nidhogg and fought him for three days and three nights. Exhausted, Alberic wagered everything on a single blow and stabbed his lance into Nidhogg's empty socket. Nidhogg screamed in agony and flung Alberic away, retreating in defeat while also leaving Alberic injured and unfit to continue as an Azure Dragoon. What people don't know is that while Alberic and Nidhogg were locked together in that final blow, their eyes met and Alberic was overwhelmed by Nidhogg's emotions.

"Sorrow... Rancor... Pity... They threatened to drown the man in me and leave behind a dragon."

Alberic voluntarily gave up being an Azure Dragoon to retain his humanity, rejecting the power of The Eye. As Nidhogg fled, the remainder of his horde laid waste to Ferndale, and Alberic, no longer a dragoon, no longer had the ability to save it. Estinien was the sole survivor and Alberic chose to raise him as his own, out of guilt, because just as Nidhogg fled, he had fled from being a dragoon, and Ferndale paid the price for it.

When you catch up to Estinien, he's blinded by grief and rage and wants Alberic dead. The Eye had already revealed the past to Estinien--of Alberic's failure to protect Ferndale--so Alberic doesn't get a chance to warn him about the risk of being enthralled by Nidhogg.

You defeat Estinien, but maybe already lost to Nidhogg's will, he looks to the sky and beseeches Nidhogg for strength. Estinien is consumed by a dark aura. Alberic flinches at the blow that was meant to kill him and opens his eyes amazed to see that he's alive, protected by the shining visage of the first (and strongest) Azure Dragoon, Haldrath. Haldrath strikes down Estinien with a Dragonfire Dive. Afterwards, you're there in Haldrath's place, and Estinien is nowhere to be seen.

In the aftermath, Alberic tells you that you awakened to the ability that only Haldrath possessed and summoned Haldrath's drachen mail (now yours) which was apparently sealed within the soulstone. He posits that your indomitable sense of justice must've resonated with Haldrath's.
In the meantime, he prays for Estinien's safety. Whatever happened in the past, he loves Estinien as his son. And when Nidhogg's shadowy aura brushed against Alberic...

Whose voice?! Nidhogg's?!
Or was it possibly Hraesvelgr's, since I think Nidhogg would've had Hraesvelgr's eye by this point?

For now, I'm going to entertain the idea that Nidhogg wanted us to be bros.

[Zohar_Lahar]

Probably Hresvelgr. Or perhaps Haldrath.

[sciencebot]

It's Iceheart crouching behind a snowbank and yelling "HEY DUDES, CAN YOU BE COOL FOR JUST ONE SECOND"

[Nalien]

Probably Hresvelgr. Or perhaps Haldrath.

I'd go with Haldrath, given he was kept in an sort of undying state while directly connected to the eye twin... Plus, you know, he'd have plenty of reason to lament the rift between man and dragon, given he helped create it... Last we ever saw of him (via Echo) he was set to bear the sins of his father until death, so he was certainly under no illusions that what they did was somehow just...