Azure Dragoon

The Azure Dragoon is a position within the Ishgardian Temple Knights, acting as commander of the Order of the Knights Dragoon in Final Fantasy XIV, widely seen as the Holy See's preeminent warrior. Entrusted with the left eye of Nidhogg, they led the fight against the Dravanian Horde during the Dragonsong War.
==History==
The position of Azure Dragoon was established in the opening moments of the Dragonsong War. During the battle between Thordan I's forces and the great wyrm Nidhogg, Thordan's son, Haldrath, wrested Nidhogg's eyes from their sockets, driving the dragon off. Rejecting his post as prince of the Kingdom, Haldrath would be dubbed the Azure Dragoon for his actions, and would wield the eyes against the Dravanian Horde for the rest of his life, becoming known as one of Ishgard's greatest heroes. Wielding the eyes would constantly subject the user to Nidhogg's influence, which ultimately caused Haldrath to nearly succumb and become Nidhogg's puppet. Fearing that this eventuality was upon him, Haldrath asked Aureniquart de Cordillelot, owner of the Forgotten Knight and former member of the High Houses of Ishgard, to take his life before that happened, but he refused. Aureniquart's daughter, Berteline, who had heard Nidhogg's voice from the eyes herself and had rescued Haldrath, was willing to take Haldrath's life and become his successor.
Burying Haldrath with the right eye of Nidhogg, which had become fused with his body during his life, the left eye would be passed on to Berteline, also dubbed the Azure Dragoon. The line of Azure Dragoons would defend Ishgard against the Dravanian Horde for millennia, using the power of the eye to cow the dragons, even Nidhogg himself. The power of the eye would continue to prove dangerous, as the Azure Dragoons would constantly have to battle to maintain control, Nidhogg's influence ever-present. The reward was seen as worth the risk until the position fell to Ser Alberic Bale, who forsook the power of the eye when he was nearly overwhelmed by it while battling Nidhogg in the village of Ferndale, which was burnt to the ground as a result.
The title of Azure Dragoon would eventually be passed to Estinien Wyrmblood, the sole survivor of Ferndale and adopted son of Alberic. Estinien's hatred of Nidhogg for the sacking of Ferndale clouded his judgment, and he went rogue as he believed Ishgard was not doing enough to combat the Horde. This led to the naming a of a second concurrent Azure Dragoon for the first time, in the form of an adventurer who would go on to be known as the Warrior of Light. The adventurer would do battle with Estinien in the Steel Vigil when Estinien, having learned of Alberic's actions in Ferndale, flew into a rage and fell prey to Nidhogg's influence. Aided by the spirit of Haldrath, the adventurer bested Estinien, who returned to his senses, and after re-establishing his control over the eye, would go on to renew his station as Azure Dragoon.
Estinien would prove to be the last Azure Dragoon of the Dragonsong War. With the death of Nidhogg at the Steps of Faith and the eyes discarded into the Sea of Clouds, Estinien would step down as Azure Dragoon to distance himself from the hatred that had dominated his life. With the Dragonsong War ended and the eyes later destroyed by Estinien following the liberation of Ala Mhigo, the position is now defunct.
==List of known Azure Dragoons==
*Haldrath the Dragonseye
*Berteline
*Saint Reinette
*Saint Valeroyant
*Ser Alberic Bale
*Estinien Wyrmblood
*The Warrior of Light
==Etymology==
The term Azure Dragoon also evokes the Azure Dragon. 
Category:Dragoons