We know that tadpoles communicate with and influence one another, and that influence is made explicit when you have to make a wisdom save to reject it. For The Emperor to simulate emotions in the pc without any indication from the narration that that's what he's doing, no skill checks or anything, I see no evidence to suggest that's what going on.
He has no interest in lying about everything, but he may amplify what he chooses to share. I no longer believe in the supposed objectivity of the narrator since the encounter with the Guardian at the Creche, due to the lie despite the insight check. It's conditional, but the Emperor is already lying, if only by his demeanour. Doing this with such assurance and to have it confirmed by the narrator casts doubt on everything that is truly perceived:
"There's no lie. I would never lie to you.
Narrator: *In spite of your reservations, he's telling the truth.*"
Moreover, she does not always remain in her place, such as when she comments in the Emperor's rejection event: "As you drift into sleep, you feel a certain disappointment. The mind flayer was very quick to abandon its attentions on you."
It's totally biased, but I hold onto this certainty when we encounter Raphael at the brothel: "Narrator: For the first time since the nautiloid, your mind is clear. It's... unsettling." at the side of the Meticulous Notes (
https://bg3.wiki/wiki/Meticulous_Notes)
Transformation is something that he never forces on the pc.
He doesn't force us to finalize the process, but he truly expects us to claim it ourselves after he has given everything to convince us.
To human Tav on the dock: "And in spite of your resistance to (completing your) evolution - you have proved a good ally."
I don't see anything in the letter that indicates to me that he's calling all the shots.
"I have made the necessary adjustments to my headquarters - our headquarters." I perceive the correction he brings as a way to assert the place is strictly his own, while indicating that our presence is "indefinitely" welcome, rather than treating it as a mistake he spontaneously rectified. The way it's phrased also gives me the impression that he will be responsible for redesigning the construction plans beneath the tavern and defining more of its accesses, not just for the "necessary adjustments". And due to our absence, there is a significant likelihood of needing to further enhance the foundations of what he has established rather than reaching consensus on new initiatives.
He shares his intentions in both letters addressed to illithid Tav, but at no point does he involve us in the process (using "we" is the least he does), nor does he mention waiting for our return to validate certain points, despite the possibility that our avatar may have submitted some before embarking on their journey 6 months ago.
I also haven't seen any dialogue with him about going to the Underdark
If Tav is present with their companions on the dock, the only choice that unlocks the endings with the Emperor is: "I'm a mind flayer. I'll do whatever I please." Choosing to hide, in the Underdark and Cie, prompts a comment from him, but he does not offer hosting (except for Karlach? Then why?)
You meet Omeluum long before knowing the Dream Guardian is The Emperor, so I don't know why he would comment on him then.
The Emperor did not react during the adventure because he was focused on a single goal. However in the end, he might have desired a closer relationship with Omeluum because he is part of a "scholars network", possesses knowledge that could be useful, and has also evolved away from the influence of an Elder Brain. Whatever bond the Emperor forms with humans, I don't believe it could ever replace what he could forge with another illithid.
I'm not entirely sure what you mean by "all the little nice sentences are reserved only for the group leader who didn't commune with the astral tadpole"
Sorry for inaccuracy, I'm referring to the additional sentences we receive in certain scenes, at least the following ones:
"You have shown me great empathy. We are closer now, close enough - I hope - that I can ask you to reconsider your position regarding your physical form."
"I know it is no easy choice for you […] accept just a touch of illithidness. […] the more illithid we both are."
"You should reconsider your attachment to your physical form. You have seen what an illithid can do. You have experienced the pleasure for yourself. It would make us even more compatible."
If we are already half-illithid, theses sentences are not replaced by other dialogues or opportunities to share something with him. He couldn't care less even if he is satisfy that we are taking this path.
I don't agree with the theory about him showing himself half naked because his outfit is intimidating. I don't recall him ever mentioning his outfit.
Indeed it's not stated, I believe this because the choice of camera angle is consistently oriented towards reinforcing the intimidating aspect of this character (more "neutral" angle in scenes where he appears vulnerable and only one overhead view, I think, when he is cornered by the Gith), and the fact our avatar regularly has a bewildered, somewhat frightened expression in interactions with him, while over time, an increasing number of responses invite to humanize him.
I interpret this as a deliberate narrative to play with our expected fear, then gradually draw us closer to him. It would have been probably easier for him to keep coming as the Guardian anyway, but the fact that he doesn't appear half-naked initially in this form might mean he intends to pack the experience that he is about to offer to his Illithid nature rather than just a "gift" or sharing moment.
He could have communicated positive, inspiring thoughts from the perspective of an illithid, or to demonstrate a method to solve a problem that seemed insoluble while he were working with Stelmane, but he chose to speak of memories of his "former self" and revealed his illithid side only as a threat if the conversation turned sour. It's as if he didn't want to give a chance to be known (even to a half-illithid avatar) yet simultaneously having to make the last effort pushing further the leader to align with his desires.
(Given the narrative presented, it seems that players are expected to strongly resist using the tadpoles, particularly the one from the Astral plane.)
I may perceive a sort of dissociation between how the Emperor is portrayed on screen and how is depicted through the text's construction, considering how he delivers information and acts. It's as if each team involved in its creation had only partial information and steered it in the direction of their interpretation. Swen and those who worked on the Emperor's personality undoubtedly encountered significant challenges in ensuring its preservation throughout the entire project.
