#matt has crafted such a interesting BBEG

[blazingstar24]

Of course Ludinus parallels Laerryn and Patia, but I think what’s even more compelling is the key difference that splits them apart.

It’s the fact that they had the Ring of Brass that sets these hubris wizards apart. All of them are ambitious, prideful, too powerful for their own good. But Laerryn and Patia have the stopgap. They have loved ones, family, friends that factor into their decisions. And this changes the whole dynamic on how far they go and how much they are willing to put on the line.

Yes, the Ring of Brass enabled each other so incredibly much. But Patia falters when Cerrit calls her selfish. She tries so hard to explain to Zerxus that no they weren’t playing around with Evandrin’s life. Laerryn stopped! Laerryn fully stopped in her casting of Blight when she saw the fear and disappointment in Quay’s eyes. Over and over, the Ring of Brass at the very least put doubt into their minds about what they were doing, about the actions they took to get there.

Ludinus however, is utterly and completely alone. There’s no lover like Quay to signal fear. There’s no friend like Cerrit to call out the bullshit. He has nothing. The CA are not friends, Otohan and the Sorrowlord are means to an end. This is what makes him such a frightening villain.

Because all of these wizards had the same conviction in mind: that their goal is going to achieve the betterment of their society/world. But with Laerryn and Patia, you could reach them. You could appeal to them through the connections they had outside of their conviction. But Ludinus? He only has his conviction. He only has this one goal. And he has not wavered from it in 1000 years.

In a way the true parallel for Ludinus might be Zerxus! These two extremely and unhealthily devoted men. Because Zerxus’s flaw comes down to this unyielding belief in his conviction that he can redeem anyone. And we see where that conviction will fail. How do you appeal to a person to stop when they believe they are doing good?

It is frightening in the sense of how do you affect him. How could you even get Ludinus to see the ground beneath his feet? He seems to truly believe he’s saving the next generation. That he’s freeing them from some terrible fate. It is frightening in the way that he could stand amidst the wreckage of the world and proudly say that he did it for the good of everyone.

How do you make lawful evil terrifying? Hold them to their convictions, their code, their so called honor. And never waver. Even as Molaesmyr falls. Even as annex after annex die in Aeor. Even after colleagues are being thrown in jail. Even after the world keeps saying no, please stop. Over and over, obstacles in the way. But still, the plan, the goal, must be achieved. He has nothing else.