Originally Posted by tarraxahum
Ceremorphosis is a tricky thing, I'm not fully sure what to believe in that regard.

I�m not 100% either, but as I understand it, �free� mind flayers like the emperor are not actually their old selves, just a grown brain parasite that has inherited the original person�s memories and personality. It�s mimicry and the original person is dead. Withers and the game in general are very clear about ceremorphosis being soul death, and in fact now that I think of it the only ones in the game who try to contradict this are themselves illithid.