#and compare that to the encounter with Ludinus’s simlacra?

[blazingstar24]

RIGHT! Because we have to remember in his notes, his desire to be Ruidusborn comes before he even made contact with Predathos. Even before something found him in dreams and before he did the ritual that destroyed Molaesmyr, he wanted to be Ruidusborn.

Solely out of spite and hatred for the Gods. It had nothing to do with power nor Predathos yet. There is something to be said about the fact that Ludinus fully admitted to desperately wanting to be part of a people, that have throughout history been hated, shunned, and called a curse. That does not speak to someone who wants power. No power hungry mage wants to be hated or shunned. Every Arcanum mage collapsed under their own hubris and need to be worshipped and revered. Ludinus was fine with being a villain, something Vespin Chloras the most infamous Arcanum mage couldn’t stand to be.

Ludinus needs power, yes this is true. But also Ludinus rarely ever takes the spotlight. The only time we have seen him do something was at the Key. Even now on the base of his operations, not a soul talks about seeing him doing something meaningful. The recruits know Liliana, they know Otohan. They know Ludinus in the sense that he’s the boss but who has seen him on Ruidus doing anything of great import?

Need vs Want is such a huge part of his character. And man I can’t wait for Matt to give us more insight into his character.

the fact liliana is the vessel of predathos and not ludinus, and he bears no ill will toward her and in fact seems to revere her for it, is yet another sign he wasnt lying when he said he finds power to very simply be a tool, & detests it. i assume he now needs power tangibly as an addiction due to the harness and to survive long enough to see his goals through, and he has a subconscious need for his goals to go exactly as he plans, but he has never once in all the campaigns wanted to really be the Man. he's doing what he does because he feels he needs to. liliana is sacrificing, as he is.