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[draveinian]

⌈ PLAYER SECTION ⌉
Player: Zorn
Contact: ZornSable
Age: 28
Current Characters: Guzma, Vyryx Desrosiers (Who is also a dragoon, but a fake one, and he will be ICly avoiding Estinien completely because Estinien is the #1 person to out him on his bullshitting)


⌈ CHARACTER SECTION ⌉
Character: Estinien Wyrmblood
Age: 32-33
Canon: Final Fantasy XIV
Canon Point: End of 4.0

Background: At least it's not as long as the Dragonsong War

Personality:

Estinien hails from the Holy See of Ishgard, which is a nation filled with people as cold as the winter that has engulfed it. With the nation suffering a thousand year war of extinction against sentient dragons, there has been little reason for Ishgardians to be hopeful, happy, or warm. Not only to outsiders, but even to each other. Estinien encompasses this very well, and his is a story that tends to be pretty typical for Ishgardians; especially for those who find themselves training to become Dragoons. Having suffered his hometown being razed to the ground by Nidhogg and his horde twenty years ago, and thus enduring what horrors that bore with it, he ended up growing into a very distant and cold person.

Ishgardian society hardly helps admonish this, particularly when they often take in specifically orphans of war to be dragoons in order to weaponize their trauma against dragons. There's no therapy in Ishgard, only nurturing hatred and psychological scars to further give them an edge against their mortal foes, and Estinien was no exception to this. He, of course, didn't help himself either, and let his hatred and thirst for vengeance fuel him through the years to eventually become the Azure Dragoon: the mightiest warrior of Ishgard so chosen by the Eye of Nidhogg.

The Eye of Nidhogg being the literal eye of their greatest foe: an ancient wyrm that has been laying siege on Ishgard for a thousand years. His eye had been plucked from his head at the beginning of the war. Thus becoming a national treasure, but also one of Ishgard's greatest war assets, due to the advantage it gave them by wielding half his power, as well as the Azure Dragoon being linked with his emotions/thoughts/etc. (The more you know!)

However, at the start, Estinien was a bit of a lone wolf, he was taken in by the previous Azure Dragoon after his hometown was destroyed. He was tending to his family's laughably small flock of sheep at the time, thus he was spared the fate the rest of the villages suffered, and was the sole survivor due to nothing short of luck. Alberic, his adopted father, then trained him from an early age in the ways of the dragoon. Helping him foster his skill, and while he tried to gainsay Estinien's obsession with getting vengeance, Estinien still stayed the course. However, as Estinien remarks far later in story, it was through Alberic's admonishment and others he grew close to, that his obsession didn't completely consume him. Just, mostly did.

In his time in the temple knights, before he became the Azure Dragoon, he was seen as a surly, dedicated soldier who favored battle and training than he did social interaction. He made no friends for a good while within it, and the only friend he did make was more because they pursued him than the other way around. Even after that, he didn't seek friendships, nor did he make any more till the events of Heavensward. Perhaps because he saw most socializing as unnecessary distractions to his true goal—one that may very well cost him his life. So such relationships weren't exactly important to him. They didn't help him in his pursuit for vengeance, so they were of little value to him.

When the Warrior of Light first meets Estinien (assuming they did the dragoon storyline), he is a fugitive of Ishgard because he's taken the Eye of Nidhogg from the church, when it's not supposed to leave. Ever. Estinien, while loyal to Ishgard, still does things his way, even if it might guarantee him some repercussions. As it turns out, he was not simply taking the eye for the sake of it, but he had sensed that Nidhogg was awakening after a twenty year nap (he had to sleep off his wounds that Alberic had given him back in Ferndale) and aimed to draw Nidhogg's attention away from Ishgard.

He had hoped to use himself as bait, so that he might do battle with the great wyrm, and thus have the chance to slay him where Ishgard might not suffer the battle. Needless to say, Estinien has some good intentions, but he is extremely reckless in them, and has little self preservation if it means it might guarantee him his vengeance, and also Ishgard's safety.

However, as the dragoon storyline progressed, Nidhogg had shared with Estinien what had happened in Ferndale, and how because of Alberic's inability to slay Nidhogg when he had the chance (due to his bond with Nidhogg through the eye, thus being overwhelmed with Nidhogg's emotions and nearly being taken over because of it) it lead to Ferndale's destruction. This was not pleasant news for the vengeance starved Estinien, who then took his rage and set it upon Alberic. In his moment of manipulated weakness, he called upon Nidhogg for his power so that he may slay his adoptive father, he became no more than a thrall to Nidhogg's and his own rage.

The WoL was having none of it though, and through a travailing battle, Estinien was defeated, and the essence of Nidhogg banished from him. He retreated from the scene quickly after that. However, this whole conflict between Alberic and Estinine never gets remarked upon again, and so we as players have no idea if Estinien forgave Alberic, or if he is still mad at him for his inability to save his small village. Thanks SE, you're a gem. I go with the latter, seeing as Estinien is pretty bullheaded about this stuff when it concerns his family.

Even with that conclusion, Estinien still carried the Eye, and the Holy See seemed fine to let him be; after all he was their finest champion and he was indeed using the Eye for their benefit. So, it would seem even his fugitive charges had been dropped. Honestly, by the time Heavensward rolls around, it would appears the Holy See was just accepting of Estinien's Do What He Wants attitude. They probably just learned to accept it, particularly when he tended to spurn any invitation to political events he was expected to go to. So much they just stopped bothering to invite him. There was no changing Estinien for the most part, he was stubborn and set in his ways. That was unless something specifically thought provoking challenges him in ways he cannot deny.

During the events of Heavensward, such an event occurred, however. With the threat of Nidhogg and his hoard making an assault on Ishgard, Estinien grouped up with the Warrior of Light and Alphinaud in an attempt to contact the heretic leader Iceheart. Their aim was to parley with the dragons through her connections. Estinien knew that if Nidhogg aimed a full assault on Ishgard, he would likely be the victor of such a battle. With such a reality weighing on him, he was willing to go along, because if the parley failed, then he could likely down Nidhogg with the warrior of light's aid. Convenient as it would be that they'd be on Nidhogg's soil, and not their own. This, of course, didn't stop him from sassing Ysayle despite her willingness to help them, and bickering beliefs with her all along the way. Because he's kind of a petty child, even when his nation is in danger.

Through their travels, and through more and more piling evidence pointing at the fact that maybe the Holy See's ways of how events transpired a thousand years ago were not as factual as they would have their people believed, Estinien started to question his beliefs. His resolve started to chip a bit, and he was becoming more willing to accept that his faith was flawed—but his loyalty was till to Ishgard, even if the church has sewn lies into their faith and teachings. The people of Ishgard was who he would protect, to who he was loyal. Not the church, which says a lot about Estinien. While a man of faith, he had little for the church itself, and he actually knew well how flawed the men of Ishgard were (once making a comment that if every man's thought was made known, that Ishgard would not last a bell), but that did not mean they deserved to be damned to death by dragon's fire.

Not only did his beliefs change with his traveling, so too did his demeanor in ways: he opened up, even playfully teased Alphinaud (in likeness to that of a teenage boy teasing their little brother for having feelings), and made friendships. Even with his disputes with Ysayle, he still eventually forged some respect for her, seeing her as he put it "a worthy woman". However, even with his camaraderie with the others, his true goal remained ever present and unwavering. Even when he did kill Nidhogg, after learning the truth behind the motivations of the Dragonsong war, he felt little joy in accomplishing his life-long goal. It was a bittersweet victory, but it served its purpose to protect Ishgard from its would-be destruction.

Ultimately, beyond vengeance, duty is the most important thing to Estinien. His dedication to such was greatly shown when he was possessed by Nidhogg's eyes (long story, but basically both eyes were found, Estinien held both like a smarty, and got his body jacked by dragon satan and went MIA for a good long while). Nidhogg waged an assault on Ishgard, using Estinien's body as a vessel, but through the combined effort of Hraesvelgr (Nidhogg's brood brother and a mortal sympathizer) and the WoL, Nidhogg was defeated, though scarcely dead. Estinien was able to regain control of himself long enough to subdue Nidhogg and beg for the WoL to kill him—thus Nidhogg would be truly defeated with his sacrifice. His shounen sacrifice got denied, but regardless it showed just how willing he was to let himself die for the sake of Ishgard.

Since then, he's decided to find his place in the world now, seeing as Ishgard hardly needs a dragon slayer, and he's not interested in being one. With Nidhogg's mind merging with his own, he gained his insight, his feelings, his memories. As such, he's come to fully realize the loss on both sides, and decides that he wishes to grieve for those lost to the terrible war—man and dragon alike. There's a somberness to his personality, that has blunted his anger, and killed his need for revenge. Even with Nidhogg's death, he did not feel happiness. Instead, he felt mourning.

In his travels to find himself and mourn the losses of those from the war, he did eventually find that his work was not done. Nidhogg's eyes were being used to power a primal, and so with Hraesvelgr's assistance, he geared up and left to go east. Eventually finding the eyes discarded after the battle between Shinryu-Zenos and the WoL, he destroys the eyes for good, thus truly putting an end to Nidhogg and his duty. A bitter-sweet relief, to be sure.

Or so he thought his duty was over, but not long after that, he had found himself settled with Orn Khai in Kugane. Penniless, they took to work to the tea house there, Estinien more or less being bullied into becoming a waiter. Yet, he would find such a pedestrian life interrupted by two scions who sought his help, and while their requests were doubtlessly dire, he did everything he could to avoid them. See, while he is a good man with a good heart, he also is one ever taken to freedom, and with his old life's duties completed, he was not ready to take on some new adventure. Yet, they were relentless and more stubborn than him, and with the right incentive given (a well-played bluff of blackmail with an embarrassing moment of his past being threatened to be revealed) he agreed to help them.

All in all, Estinien is stand-offish and aggressive, but a good dude. He may undermine authority if it would serve his duty better, or be better for the people/those he cares about, even if it means it might get him in trouble (he usually gets out of it anyways). He is highly a chaotic neutral type of character, but with more of a leaning towards good, than evil. He will be heroic and generally do the right thing even if no one else will, but entirely under his terms and any naysayers be damned. He carries himself as very prickly and with little patience, but he does have a good nature about him under it all. Something that he's proven to be getting better with as he's been healing from his time away from the war. He can be rash, and quick to anger sometimes, and absolutely rude, but he means to do well, just in his own way.

Abilities:
Dragoon Skills

Jump: As all dragoons who are part of the Order of the Knight's Dragoon, Estinien can jump extremely far (35 yards is the in game number give on the skill, but in cutscenes he seems to be able to jump further.)

Spearmanship/Aetherial augmented attacks: Dragoons are taught to be very proficient with polearms, so that they may pierce the hides of dragons that swords tend to break upon. They are quick and nimble with these weapons, and they combine their use with jumping to commit devastating blows to the otherwise immortal beings.

That aside, there are many attacks that are infused with aether to allow for more devastating blows. Attacks that give lingering damage beyond the physical wound, as well as attacks that build up strength in succession of each other. He's also trained in the ability to boost his own strength through aetherial manipulation, while amplifying the damage he suffers at the same time.

Dragon Blood Abilities
Inhuman Strength: Generally speaking, Eorzeans are capable of greater feats of strength than average humans upon training themselves, and Estinien is absolutely ridiculously strong in comparison to even them. Dragoons are trained to be able to crush dragon skulls with their landing, and have to be strong enough to pierce the hide of nigh impenetrable dragons scale.

On top of that, he has a great amount of dragon's blood within him (previously his blood was half when he suffered a very slight possession from Nidhogg, but since then he's been fully possessed and turned into a dragon, thus the quantity of him that's been infected with dragon is rather high, but never remarked upon just how much); which makes him even stronger than before. With a single jump attack from his spear he destroyed a canon that was basically the size of a skyscraper, for example. of course this will be nerfed, seeing as he doesn't need to go around demolishing buildings, not that he would without a good reason, but all the same.

Dragonfire Dive: Calling upon the powers of Nidhogg, and those he's garnered from his tainted blood, Estinien can conjure dragon's fire to erupt as he descends upon an opponent. It explodes upon impact, hurting everyone around him, and also scorching the place he lands with lasting fire (a feature unique to his use of it).

Dragonsong Dive: A devastating attack that can only be used under very particular circumstances (particularly ones of great duress), and usually requires the additional aetherical assistance of others. However, Estinien has been shown to be able to use it more or less on his own, but he's also an aetherial powerhouse so it's not too surprising.

"Unleashing the power of the dragon within, the dragoon leaps upon the enemy with primal savagery. The aether expended with this attack burns with a fierce light, appearing as nothing less than a colossal, cerulean wyrm descending from the heavens." (From the lorebook)

Blood of the Dragon: Estinien can tap into his dragon blood and channel it to make his attacks and jumps more powerful, as well as gaining the ability to shoot concentrated aether like a dragon's breath weapon. With enough build up from a fight, he can hone it into an even stronger blast, channeling Nidhogg's strength more or less, making the attack that much more powerful. He's basically soulbonded to one of the seven celestial god dragons, and he can call upon that power at will.

Dragon Transformation: Although he'll never willingly do this, but if Estinien were give into his dragon's blood, he could potentially turn into a dragon. Being far past the ritualistic requirements of such, and having been forced turned into Nidhogg himself, this is certainly something that could happen, but he'll never allow it. ALL THE SAME, IT'S THERE.

Dragon Empathy: Being the Azure Dragoon already granted him a connection to dragons, but specifically Nidhogg through The Eye. Now that he's been one with Nidhogg, his and the dragon's soul and mind becoming one, he's more or less gained his knowledge, experiences, and memories. This continues to give him the innate ability to sense, feel, and understand the emotions of dragons. He also can speak to dragons, though more specifically Eorzean dragon's language, but through his strong bond and empathy with dragons in general, he likely can communicate with other dragons as well.

Alignment:

Daimonia.

While Estinien would fit quite a few of them (Thras, Sosyne, Elios...), his current canon point best reflects Daimonia. With the end of the Dragonsong War, Estinien has gone around mourning for all who were lost from the war. A lot of his character and development handle loss and grief, and a great motivator through his life has been the grief he's felt at the loss of his family, but particularly his little brother. However, as he's been able to grieve, and work towards his healing, he's been able to slowly experience joy and feelings that were otherwise unsuited for a man on a path of vengeance while also being a key figure in a war that's spanned a thousand years.

Other:

I would like for him to be able to bring his manacutter with him. It's basically a personal airship that he's been using to travel.

⌈ SAMPLE SECTION ⌉

General Sample: TDM top level

Emotion Sample: TDM thread


Questions: None!