On the topic of "lone wolf" Estinien, I think it's a mistake to pigeonhole him so neatly. He really is quite a remarkable character in how he defies the stereotypes associated with him! Time and again, he's surprised me by behaving like a sensible human being, whereas his character type would normally make all kinds of irrational decisions. Just a few of the ways in which he defies the vengeance-obsessed lone wolf tropes:

- He wants vengeance against Nidhogg - and ONLY Nidhogg. He does not discriminate against other dragons, in spite of the fact that nearly the entire nation of Ishgard does.
- He's willing to behave in a civil (if snarky) fashion around Ysayle, in spite of the fact that she allies herself with dragons (and, at one time, with Nidhogg himself).
- He recognizes the failings of his superiors, who are at least somewhat corrupt, in spite of the fact that they provide him with tools and authority to hunt the target of his vengeance, and does not show them blind loyalty.
- At no point does he declare that we're holding him back, only to go off on his own and get his butt handed to him.
- As a corollary, when we finally do face Nidhogg, he does not even for a moment entertain the thought of taking on the Wyrm alone. He has no insistence that he be the only one to defeat him; as long as Nidhogg gets dead, it's all fine by him.

So many opportunities for eye-rollingly pointless drama averted! My hat is definitely off to the writers at SE for the development of Estinien's character. I never expected it - particularly since, pre-Heavensward, he DID show a few of these regrettable traits during the Dragoon job questline (arguably, due to Nidhogg's influence through the Eye, something he apparently managed to get under control by the time Heavensward rolled around).