Freedom for Tiamat

[LineageRazor]

Which is why I'm confused, since that's the only reason taking a new mate would make sense while he's still raging over Ratatoskr's murder...but as Enur has pointed out, the lore book claims dragons reproduce asexually, so I'm still left to wonder why he'd bother.

Well, not to be pedantic, but I believe that it's stated that dragons CAN reproduce asexually, not that they MUST. It's possible that dragons may have methods for producing offspring as a mated pair, but maintain the option of reproducing even without taking a mate. We already know that dragon biology is super weird, given that the variety of shapes a dragon can grow into seems to be nigh-limitless. Who knows what other quirks they may have hidden?

Whether or not that's true, it's possible that Nidhogg took Tioman as a mate out of convenience. Perhaps she had a sizable brood of her own that Nidhogg wished to add to his army, and she was amenable on condition that they become mates. It's unclear how much actual affection there might have been between them; she certainly seemed to hold some for him, as her dying "beloved" shows, but was Nidhogg's anger because he, too, held affection for her, or was he just enraged that we'd destroyed one of his most valuable assets?

[Settiesama]

It's stated in the book that dragons take consorts as more of a spiritual and emotional bond, it doesn't mention anything on physical though. They seek a connection with a partner on a level that the land (for lack of better words) races can't comprehend. That is why Tiamat freeing herself is a highly unlikely event, as more than just creating a monster of a thing named after Bahamut, she feels she betrayed that bond they had, which if is something we can't even imagine, is understandable why she would never want to leave or even die in the prison.

[LineageRazor]

It's stated in the book that dragons take consorts as more of a spiritual and emotional bond, it doesn't mention anything on physical though. They seek a connection with a partner on a level that the land (for lack of better words) races can't comprehend. That is why Tiamat freeing herself is a highly unlikely event, as more than just creating a monster of a thing named after Bahamut, she feels she betrayed that bond they had, which if is something we can't even imagine, is understandable why she would never want to leave or even die in the prison.

Whether or not we can understand it, the game makes it clear that someone who CAN understand it (Midgardsormr) feels that she has tormented herself long enough. The "dragons have bonds we can't even comprehend" excuse doesn't work very well when the most dragonly of dragons holds the same opinion we do!

On the other hand, just as one human cannot always understand the depths of emotion another human can feel, it could be the same between dragons. Midgardsormr may simply not have the right frame of reference to understand how completely Tiamat was devastated, having never gone through something similar himself (that we know of). Heck, Middy may never have even had a mate of his own in the first place.

Still, Midgardsormr's words lead me to believe that the events surrounding Bahamut's death and recreation as a Primal are wounds that time CAN heal. Tiamat may still one day pull herself out of her eons-long funk without waiting for death to claim her first. I'd simply like to see that day come within the lifespan of the game. :P

[Savagelf]

a giant redemption story for tiamat would be awesome

[Settiesama]

Whether or not we can understand it, the game makes it clear that someone who CAN understand it (Midgardsormr) feels that she has tormented herself long enough.

That could also just be him talking as a father who wishes that his daughter would stop suffering.

[Savagelf]

there could be huge quest series where you free her and then she give you Twintania the freed

[Unholychinchilla]

That could also just be him talking as a father who wishes that his daughter would stop suffering.

That's how I interpreted it. In fact I really started to like him a lot more from that moment on. Not that I didn't like him before but he went from interesting lore figure to a character with actual feelings for me.

[Savagelf]

i to like Midgardsormr. father care when they children suffer. this true in the really world.

[Stroking]

Maybe offtopic, but it always bothered me how Midgardsormr didn't show up at all in any of the early exchanges between us and Hraesvelgr/Nidhogg. At this point i just assume he didn't speak with them because he knew what had actually happened with the Ishgardians and that he thought it would be a good opportunity to test us. I think having had him speak with Hraesvelgr at some point would have made for some interesting dialogue

[Mirateski]

I was really hoping that Mids would convince Tiamat that she can heal and stop tormenting herself Seeing her in Azys Lla always makes me upset.

You would have thought that, in the aftermath of Nidhogg's death and Hraesvelgr being sort of mauled, she'd at least want to... talk to them? Can Hraesvelgr not visit Azys Lla to talk to HER? He flew over with Ysayle, after all, so we know he can make the journey.

Vidofnir often comments that the first brood is dwindling in number and "cannot be replaced". Given dragons reproduce asexually, is it just a choice from Mids to not have more children, or is there a reason behind it? Inquiring minds want to know.

Anyway basically Tiamat needs some time with her family. Minidad saying "sup girl stop moping" didn't do it, maybe a "you're not as terrible as you think you are, sis" party would.