(02-11-2017, 02:32 AM)Redrick Wrote: What's the deal with the whole 'inner dragon' struggle and dragon curse after the end of the Dragonsong war?
Inner Dragon
The "Inner Dragon" is something exclusive to the Azure Dragoon, Ishgardian's champion. In order to fight Nidhogg and the Horde on a more even field, one Dragoon per generation is chosen by the Holy See (or the Eye itself, it's unclear) to drink deep the power of the Eye of Nidhogg and add that aether to their own. However, this comes with a risk of being corrupted by "the dragon within" meaning Nidhogg.
Encyclopedia Eorzea Wrote:The Azure Dragoon
The title is bestowed upon the dragoon who has drawn upon the roiling energies of the Eye of Nidhogg. While bonding with the artifact grants enormous power, it also exposes the dragonslayer to the will of Nidhogg - a malevolent influence that can be resisted only by the most unyielding of minds. Thus, it is tradition that but one dragoon - the strongest among their number - is selected to embody the tenets of the order.
Alberic Wrote:The Eye is no ordinary relic. It harbors the power of the dragon, which it bestows upon a single chosen soul─the strongest and wisest dragoon. He who is chosen is possessed of the power to fight our mortal foes, the dragons of Dravania, on equal footing, soaring the firmament as if it were an extension of the land. That man is known as the Azure Dragoon. The Azure Dragoon is the light of hope for all Ishgardians, and the paragon of all dragoons.
Blood of the Dragon Wrote:This technique allows the Azure Dragoon to draw upon the baleful strength bestowed by the Eye. As this act essentially allows a wyrm's instincts to supplant one's own, a will of steel is paramount in retaining control of one's focus.
Estinien Wrote:Now I ask that you lend me your power - aye, the power of the dragon. Behold 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 Azure Dragoon's strength thereby. If you would save the people of Ishgard from the great wyrm Nidhogg, you must needs clad yourself in the same.
Alberic Wrote:So you return bearing four pieces of the drachen mail. That leaves us with the fifth and final item. Aye, there exists one more piece to the set. However, it cannot be worn save by those dragoons who have achieved perfect awakening of the dragon within. This is something you must attend to presently.
Dragon Curse
The "dragon curse" is referring to many Ishgardians who bear the "Essence of Ratatoskr" in their blood. This only affects Ishgardians who bear the blood of one of the six surviving Knights Twelve who slew Ratatoskr, ate her eyes, and used their power to defeat Nidhogg at the dawn of the Dragonsong War. This trait or "essence" has passed down to most Ishgardian Houses after one thousand years and likely several thousand bastard children, judging by today's High Houses as well as the original owner of the Forgotten Knight who is cited as having had quite a way with women.
Encyclopedia Eorzea Wrote:During their thousand-year war with the dragons, Ishgardians stumbled upon a dark secret - it seemed that some men, upon partaking in a dragon's blood, would be granted the ability to transform into a hideous chimerical hybrid. In time, these aberrations would come to be called aevises, a word taken from the Enchiridion meaning "devil who flies." Recent revelations have shown that this transformation is not a matter of chance, but is most likely to occur in those who claim lineage with those great Ishgardian heroes who consumed the eye of Ratatoskr, ever tainting their bloodline.
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(02-11-2017, 02:32 AM)Redrick Wrote: Can Ishgardians guzzle dragons blood(not that you'd want to) without any problems?
This depends upon how much, if any, essence of Ratatoskr a hypothetical Ishgardian has in their blood. What Virella noted is pertinent though, in that drinking dragon blood or being splattered with dragon blood will have no affect on anyone (even if some Ishgardians might THINK it will). An Ishgardian must drink deep from "blood poured with great magick" - meaning ritually and willingly given by a dragon, and the blood itself must be from an older, true dragon.
Dengeki Wrote:– When the people of Ishgard become dragons, is there a general role for what they will become?
In terms of how powerful they will become, it goes in order Aevis -> Syricta -> Diresaur. Think of it as depending on how much of the “factor of the dragon†they inherited. Also, drinking “dragons blood†alone has no effect. It has to be “blood poured with great magick.†Drinking the blood of a defeated dragon, or even taking draconian medicines, there will be no effect. In the right doses it is perfectly safe, so adventurers and even the people of Ishgard should have peace of mind when using draconian medicines.
Curbing the Contagion (L) Wrote:A bevy of women and children burst into the church in hysterics, having been showered by the blood of a dragon felled by a ballista strike. Wailing that the dragon's essence may have been absorbed into their skin and turned them against the Fury, they have been bowing unceasingly in prayer for nearly a bell now. As a member of the clergy, I could not possibly forsake them in their time of need—and when they are so willing to pay the proper fee for a cleansing ritual. Forsooth, bring me holy water and I shall reward you thus.
As for if this is still a thing, even after the end of the Dragonsong War? Yes, the essence of Ratatoskr still resides within the bodies of most Ishgardian families. Whether or not you'll find dragons offering out their blood freely anymore, I'm not so sure. Perhaps in another hundred years of peace between Ishgard and Dravania we'll see "Dragonblood" pop up on Coerthan black markets for people who just really want to become scalekin.
You can find out more about these topics in the links below! Hope this helps! ^^
-Dragoon Lore Compilation
-Dragon Blood Transformation Lore
-Ishgardian Heretic Lore
