Oh, I actually have a defense of that crackpot, too!
Think of our character. We've been loyal little Hydaelyn servants, beloved children, Blessed and Gifted. Basically, we're Hydaelyn's special snowflake.
And even we didn't even know what we were fighting against until 3.2 - and even then our knowledge is very incomplete.
I see no reason why it isn't the same for the Ascians, especially because Zodiark has been in such a weakened state. I'm not sure if I would go as far as to say that everything the Ascians know is due to Elidibus teaching them, but I think on the scale of 1 to Special Snowflake, the Black-robed Overlord might rank up there around 8, the Lessers around 5, and Elidibus right at the top with us as the Special Snowflake.
Er, anyway. Point being, given how quiet Hydaelyn has been with Her will, it's possible Zodiark is equally quiet and, like us, the black-robed Ascians believe themselves to be fulfilling His will based on vague visions and broken communication. However, they have had longer with that vague communication, so the pieces to their puzzle are far more fleshed out than ours.
