How does Nidhogg's eyes grant powers to an Azure Dragoon?

[Jonnycbad]

Nidhogg abhors mankind for their betrayal, yet his disembodied eye somehow still grants powers to the strongest dragoons, allowing them to tap into his powers. How should this be possible? Haldrath and Thordan the First had to consume Ratotskr's eye to gain her powers, yet Nidhogg grants his remotely. Is it perhaps Midhardsrmr programmed his First Brood to be able to grant favor to certain powerful individuals, and all Wyrms have this capability? Or is it perhaps since all Ishgardians have the blood of Ratotskr in them because of their lineage (forebearers consumed her eyes), that Nidhogg's eye innately can transfer power to anyone with dragonblood in them? Perhaps it's similar to how Nidhogg can wield Hraesvelgr's eyes? Since wyrms can share eyes and their associated powers, perhaps an Elezen with dragon blood in them can also tap into that ability as well, as sort of an unnatural and unintentional consequence?

[Naoki34]

Like Sauron's ring.

[MistakeNot]

A dragon's eyes have power, and if you have one of them you can tap that power - no matter what the original owner may want.
Once Nidhogg's eye was plucked out of his socket, he did not have control over it any longer.

[Anonymoose]

Ayyy, MistakeNot beat me by a few seconds to say pretty much the same thing.

The eyes are the focal point of the aetheric wellspring for a dragon, and aether of an individual often contains traces of that individual (hence why on very rare occasions we can read spiritual aetherial "residue" on objects with the Echo, as if we were resonating with another individual's soul).

As far as we know, it was Nidhogg's essence itself that was too powerful for most to be near without being overwhelmed by it. The Azure Dragoon is "chosen" by the Eye in the sense that they can tap its power without succumbing to it.

If Estinien is any example, the Azure Dragoon is just someone who has a lot in common with Nidhogg and thus resonates enough with his essence to harness it, and is yet strong enough to resist it. Estinien and Nidhogg were basically the same character: a family member slaughtered, a life lived only for vengeance at any cost, complete disregard for the ever self-perpetuating cycle of violence. Is it any wonder the Eye took a shine to him?

When the eyes finally overpowered Estinien, it wasn't really Nidhogg that returned. It was a shade of Nidhogg born of his essence hijacking Estinien's soul and twisting his body.

Of course, Estinien had something Nidhogg didn't: actual friends and allies. For that reason alone, Estinien's life went another way. He planned to let the Azure Dragoon die with Nidhogg and move on with his life, but Yoshida loves him he has taken a shine to Alphinaud and the Scions and knows his spear may occasionally make a meaningful difference (not that he's fond enough of people to join the group outright).

I think that's why he talks to his spear as if it were Nidhogg; the Azure Dragoon yet lives, so Nidhogg can never fully die.
They've got kind of a Batman / Joker thing goin' on.

[Daralii]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't there something about drachen mail being forged with dragon blood way back in the ARR DRG quests? I wouldn't be surprised if the Eye could sense and resonate with the blood of its owner's brood to help further strengthen the connection between it and the Azure Dragoon.

[Sathona]

Ayyy, MistakeNot beat me by a few seconds to say pretty much the same thing.

The eyes are the focal point of the aetheric wellspring for a dragon, and aether of an individual often contains traces of that individual (hence why on very rare occasions we can read spiritual aetherial "residue" on objects with the Echo, as if we were resonating with another individual's soul).

As far as we know, it was Nidhogg's essence itself that was too powerful for most to be near without being overwhelmed by it. The Azure Dragoon is "chosen" by the Eye in the sense that they can tap its power without succumbing to it.

If Estinien is any example, the Azure Dragoon is just someone who has a lot in common with Nidhogg and thus resonates enough with his essence to harness it, and is yet strong enough to resist it. Estinien and Nidhogg were basically the same character: a family member slaughtered, a life lived only for vengeance at any cost, complete disregard for the ever self-perpetuating cycle of violence. Is it any wonder the Eye took a shine to him?

When the eyes finally overpowered Estinien, it wasn't really Nidhogg that returned. It was a shade of Nidhogg born of his essence hijacking Estinien's soul and twisting his body.

Of course, Estinien had something Nidhogg didn't: actual friends and allies. For that reason alone, Estinien's life went another way. He planned to let the Azure Dragoon die with Nidhogg and move on with his life, but Yoshida loves him he has taken a shine to Alphinaud and the Scions and knows his spear may occasionally make a meaningful difference (not that he's fond enough of people to join the group outright).

I think that's why he talks to his spear as if it were Nidhogg; the Azure Dragoon yet lives, so Nidhogg can never fully die.
They've got kind of a Batman / Joker thing goin' on.

Im getting Arkham vibes right now xD When Joker injected Batsy with his blood haha

[Floortank]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't there something about drachen mail being forged with dragon blood way back in the ARR DRG quests?

Correct. "Estinien: Behold my armor. This is the drachen mail, forged in the lifeblood of dragons. As blood calls to blood, so too does the armor call to the dragon within, redoubling the wearer's strength thereby."

[ObsidianFire]

Dragoon spears are also forged from dragon bones...

[Bright-Flower]

The thing that confuses me about Nidhogg 2.0 when he possesses EStinien is that it seems to just be a shade, and Midgarsormr doesn't seem to think it's actually Nidhogg...but then after the fight, it looks like NIdhogg's soul is 'freed' to the afterlife? Seems like if it was just a shade that wouldn't happen?

[RenewalXVII]

The thing that confuses me about Nidhogg 2.0 when he possesses EStinien is that it seems to just be a shade, and Midgarsormr doesn't seem to think it's actually Nidhogg...but then after the fight, it looks like NIdhogg's soul is 'freed' to the afterlife? Seems like if it was just a shade that wouldn't happen?

Less his soul, and more the malevolent will that clung to the Eyes' aether. It's honestly more of an academic difference, but all that remained of Nidhogg in the Eyes was his hate and rage, the strongest emotions he had left--the shade had the shape of a soul perhaps, but not its fullness. In theory, the true Nidhogg that was slain at the Aery might have eventually let go, even if that's unlikely of the First Brood: the capability existed, even if it never happened. The shade literally would never be anything more than Nidhogg's malevolence given flesh through Estinien.