Gangplank's Past and Future (Illaoi's Long Lore Reveal)

I hate that it took me so long to realize this, but I think we really got a huge glimpse into Gangplank's past thanks to Ilaoi. The biggest change was his relationship with his father, or at least how he reacted to it. Old Gangplank was a monster created by his father.

Old Lore:
As he grew, the young man rapidly became the most ruthless and feared pirate in all of Bilgewater, and his daddy was never more proud than on the day of his son's eighteenth birthday - when Gangplank stabbed his old man in the back and claimed the famed pirate ship, the Dead Pool, for his own.

The new lore changes this ever-so-slightly, but still enough to add depth. When Gangplank grew up and became captain, he (apparently) did not do so by killing his father. In fact, he seems to have cut ties with him and captained his own crew. He fell in love with Ilaoi, and she with him, but something caused her to break up their relationship. Was it the other priests and monks? Was it Nagakabouros that told her? Whatever it was it changed his path, and not for the better.

Illaoi knew what she had to do. She knew it before Gangplank had spoken. She had known years before his ship had sunk.

Gangplank had strayed. For too long, he had festered in the hatred and self-pity his father had beaten into him. Illaoi had ignored her duty. She had ignored it because she had loved him, once, and because she had led him down this path when she left him. He had been content as a killer, a corsair, a true pirate, and never interested in his father’s title of Reaver King.

He had only set anchor in his bloody quest to become the lord of Bilgewater after they had parted ways.

I admit I don't understand 100% Nagakabouros' desires for the living, but from what I gather when Illaoi first met Gangplank he was "in motion" and worthy of Nagakabouros' blessing, but after the breakup and his conquest of the title of King of Bilgewater that changed. He stagnated, ruled by paranoia that left him unable to move forward.

My guess is that Gangplank never wanted the title of King; or at least never fully embraced it. Why his breakup with Illaoi lead him to initiate a bloody crusade to overthrow the previous Reaver King (his father?) is only known to him right now. The fact is she fully believed that the man who ruled Bilgewater and the man she loved were not the same, and that he would doubtlessly fail Nagakabouros' test.

But he didn't.

Bloody and exhausted, he finally stood in front of Illaoi. His eyes bulged with hate and pain, but full of purpose. With his final ounce of strength, he walked into the glowing visage of his spirit.

“I will be king.”

The wind fell still. The tentacles ruptured in bursts of light. Nagakabouros was satisfied.

“You are in motion,” Illaoi smiled.

Gangplank stood inches from his former love—glaring at her. His back arched and his chest swelled with the sweet air of resolve—he was the proud captain once more.

Something about the attack from Sarah Fortune changed him, or at least brought back the man he once was. Gangplank the Reaver King is dead, but Gangplank the Saltwater Scourge, the captain from so long ago, is back.

My questions are: why do you think Illaoi broke up with Gangplank in the first place? Why do you think he "stopped being in motion" when he took the title of Reaver King, and is that related to the reason why he suddenly now is back "in motion" when he is going after the title once more?

What are all your thoughts?