diff --git a/playbooks/inventory/linode.yaml b/playbooks/inventory/linode.yaml
index a3f8f94..f8c5898 100644
--- a/playbooks/inventory/linode.yaml
+++ b/playbooks/inventory/linode.yaml
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@
           Include only running: {{ include_only_running }}
 
   roles:
-    - role: roles/inventory/linode
+    - role: linode_inventory
       vars:
         linode_api_token: "{{ linode_api_token }}"
 
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@
   hosts: discovered_linodes
   gather_facts: false
   vars:
-    ansible_user: root
+    ansible_user: phlux
     ansible_ssh_common_args: '-o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -o ConnectTimeout=10'
   tasks:
     - name: Test connectivity
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@
   hosts: discovered_linodes
   gather_facts: false
   vars:
-    ansible_user: root
+    ansible_user: phlux
   tasks:
     - name: Control plane specific task
       ansible.builtin.debug:
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@
   hosts: discovered_linodes
   gather_facts: false
   vars:
-    ansible_user: root
+    ansible_user: phlux
   tasks:
     - name: Worker node specific task
       ansible.builtin.debug:
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@
   hosts: discovered_linodes
   gather_facts: false
   vars:
-    ansible_user: root
+    ansible_user: phlux
   tasks:
     - name: K3s cluster task
       ansible.builtin.debug:
diff --git a/roles/inventory/linode/tasks/main.yml b/roles/inventory/linode/tasks/main.yml
index f8c5898..e1e84b3 100644
--- a/roles/inventory/linode/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/roles/inventory/linode/tasks/main.yml
@@ -1,182 +1,139 @@
 ---
-- name: Update Linode Dynamic Inventory
-  hosts: localhost
-  gather_facts: true
-  connection: local
-  
-  vars:
-    # Override these variables as needed
-    linode_inventory_output_dir: "/tmp/linode_inventory"
-    inventory_format: "json"  # or "ini"
-    awx_integration: true
-    cleanup_temp_files: false
-    
-    # Optional filters
-    include_only_running: false
-    specific_regions: []  # e.g., ['us-east', 'us-west']
-    specific_tags: []     # e.g., ['production', 'web']
-  
-  pre_tasks:
-    - name: Check for Linode API token (will be injected by AWX credential)
-      ansible.builtin.fail:
-        msg: "Linode API Token credential must be attached to this job template in AWX"
-      when: linode_api_token is undefined or linode_api_token == ""
+# Main tasks for linode_inventory role
 
-    - name: Display configuration
-      ansible.builtin.debug:
-        msg: |
-          Linode Inventory Configuration:
-          Output directory: {{ linode_inventory_output_dir }}
-          Output format: {{ inventory_format }}
-          AWX integration: {{ awx_integration }}
-          Include only running: {{ include_only_running }}
+- name: Set API token (AWX credential injection takes precedence)
+  ansible.builtin.set_fact:
+    linode_api_token: "{{ linode_api_token | default(lookup('env', 'LINODE_API_TOKEN')) | default('') }}"
 
-  roles:
-    - role: linode_inventory
-      vars:
-        linode_api_token: "{{ linode_api_token }}"
+- name: Validate required variables
+  ansible.builtin.assert:
+    that:
+      - linode_api_token is defined
+      - linode_api_token | length > 0
+    fail_msg: |
+      Linode API token not found. 
+      For AWX: Attach a Linode API Token credential to your job template
+      For local: Set LINODE_API_TOKEN environment variable or pass linode_api_token variable
+    quiet: true
 
-  post_tasks:
-    - name: Display next steps
-      ansible.builtin.debug:
-        msg: |
-          Inventory update complete!
-          
-          Next steps for AWX integration:
-          1. Copy the inventory script to your SCM repository
-          2. Create a custom inventory source in AWX
-          3. Point it to the linode_inventory.py script
-          4. Set up the Linode API credential
-          
-          Files created:
-          - JSON inventory: {{ linode_inventory_output_dir }}/{{ linode_inventory_output_file }}
-          {% if inventory_format == "ini" %}
-          - INI inventory: {{ linode_inventory_output_dir }}/linode_static_inventory.ini
-          {% endif %}
+- name: Ensure output directory exists
+  ansible.builtin.file:
+    path: "{{ linode_inventory_output_dir }}"
+    state: directory
+    mode: '0755'
+  delegate_to: localhost
 
-# Optional: Run against discovered Linode hosts
-- name: Debug and use discovered Linode hosts
-  hosts: localhost
-  gather_facts: false
-  tasks:
-    - name: Check if inventory file exists
-      ansible.builtin.stat:
-        path: "{{ linode_inventory_output_dir | default('/tmp/linode_inventory') }}/{{ linode_inventory_output_file | default('linode_inventory.json') }}"
-      register: inventory_file_stat
+- name: Copy Linode inventory script
+  ansible.builtin.copy:
+    src: linode_inventory.py
+    dest: "{{ linode_inventory_output_dir }}/linode_inventory.py"
+    mode: '0755'
+  delegate_to: localhost
 
-    - name: Display inventory file status
-      ansible.builtin.debug:
-        msg: |
-          Inventory file path: {{ linode_inventory_output_dir | default('/tmp/linode_inventory') }}/{{ linode_inventory_output_file | default('linode_inventory.json') }}
-          File exists: {{ inventory_file_stat.stat.exists }}
-          File size: {{ inventory_file_stat.stat.size | default(0) }} bytes
+- name: Execute Linode inventory script
+  ansible.builtin.command:
+    cmd: python3 {{ linode_inventory_output_dir }}/linode_inventory.py --list
+  environment:
+    LINODE_API_TOKEN: "{{ linode_api_token }}"
+  register: linode_inventory_result
+  delegate_to: localhost
+  changed_when: true
 
-    - name: Load and display inventory contents
-      ansible.builtin.slurp:
-        src: "{{ linode_inventory_output_dir | default('/tmp/linode_inventory') }}/{{ linode_inventory_output_file | default('linode_inventory.json') }}"
-      register: inventory_content
-      when: inventory_file_stat.stat.exists
+- name: Show script execution details
+  ansible.builtin.debug:
+    msg: |
+      Script execution results:
+      Return code: {{ linode_inventory_result.rc }}
+      Stdout length: {{ linode_inventory_result.stdout | length }}
+      Stderr length: {{ linode_inventory_result.stderr | length }}
+      
+- name: Show stderr if present
+  ansible.builtin.debug:
+    msg: "Script stderr: {{ linode_inventory_result.stderr }}"
+  when: linode_inventory_result.stderr | length > 0
 
-    - name: Parse inventory JSON
-      ansible.builtin.set_fact:
-        dynamic_inventory: "{{ inventory_content.content | b64decode | from_json }}"
-      when: inventory_file_stat.stat.exists
+- name: Show stdout if present
+  ansible.builtin.debug:
+    msg: "Script stdout: {{ linode_inventory_result.stdout }}"
+  when: linode_inventory_result.stdout | length > 0
 
-    - name: Display parsed inventory summary
-      ansible.builtin.debug:
-        msg: |
-          Inventory loaded successfully!
-          Total hostvars: {{ dynamic_inventory._meta.hostvars | length }}
-          Groups: {{ dynamic_inventory.keys() | reject('equalto', '_meta') | list }}
-          Hosts in hostvars: {{ dynamic_inventory._meta.hostvars.keys() | list }}
-      when: dynamic_inventory is defined
+- name: Test API token directly
+  ansible.builtin.uri:
+    url: "https://api.linode.com/v4/linode/instances"
+    method: GET
+    headers:
+      Authorization: "Bearer {{ linode_api_token }}"
+      Content-Type: "application/json"
+    return_content: yes
+    status_code: [200, 401, 403]
+  register: direct_api_test
+  delegate_to: localhost
 
-    - name: Add discovered hosts to in-memory inventory
-      ansible.builtin.add_host:
-        name: "{{ item.key }}"
-        groups: discovered_linodes
-        ansible_host: "{{ item.value.ansible_host }}"
-        linode_id: "{{ item.value.linode_id }}"
-        linode_region: "{{ item.value.linode_region }}"
-        linode_type: "{{ item.value.linode_type }}"
-        linode_status: "{{ item.value.linode_status }}"
-        linode_tags: "{{ item.value.linode_tags }}"
-        is_debian: "{{ item.value.is_debian }}"
-        is_ubuntu: "{{ item.value.is_ubuntu }}"
-        is_k3s: "{{ item.value.is_k3s }}"
-        is_control_plane: "{{ item.value.is_control_plane }}"
-        is_worker_node: "{{ item.value.is_worker_node }}"
-        tag_string: "{{ item.value.tag_string }}"
-      loop: "{{ dynamic_inventory._meta.hostvars | dict2items }}"
-      when: 
-        - dynamic_inventory is defined
-        - item.value.linode_status == "running"
+- name: Display direct API test results
+  ansible.builtin.debug:
+    msg: |
+      Direct API test results:
+      Status: {{ direct_api_test.status }}
+      Response: {{ direct_api_test.json | default('No JSON response') }}
+      
+- name: Parse inventory JSON (only if stdout exists)
+  ansible.builtin.set_fact:
+    linode_inventory_data: "{{ linode_inventory_result.stdout | from_json }}"
+  when: 
+    - linode_inventory_result.stdout | length > 0
+    - linode_inventory_result.rc == 0
 
-    - name: Display added hosts with tag information
-      ansible.builtin.debug:
-        msg: |
-          Added {{ groups['discovered_linodes'] | default([]) | length }} running Linode hosts to inventory
-          
-          Host details:
-          {% for host in groups['discovered_linodes'] | default([]) %}
-          - {{ host }} ({{ hostvars[host]['ansible_host'] }})
-            Tags: {{ hostvars[host]['linode_tags'] | join(', ') }}
-            K3s: {{ hostvars[host]['is_k3s'] }}
-            Control Plane: {{ hostvars[host]['is_control_plane'] }}
-            Worker: {{ hostvars[host]['is_worker_node'] }}
-          {% endfor %}
+- name: Set empty inventory if script failed
+  ansible.builtin.set_fact:
+    linode_inventory_data:
+      _meta:
+        hostvars: {}
+      all:
+        children: ['ungrouped']
+      ungrouped:
+        hosts: []
+  when: linode_inventory_data is not defined
 
-- name: Test connection to discovered Linode hosts
-  hosts: discovered_linodes
-  gather_facts: false
-  vars:
-    ansible_user: phlux
-    ansible_ssh_common_args: '-o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -o ConnectTimeout=10'
-  tasks:
-    - name: Test connectivity
-      ansible.builtin.ping:
-      register: ping_result
-      ignore_errors: true
+- name: Save inventory to file
+  ansible.builtin.copy:
+    content: "{{ linode_inventory_data | to_nice_json }}"
+    dest: "{{ temp_inventory_path }}"
+    mode: '0644'
+  delegate_to: localhost
 
-    - name: Display connectivity status with tag info
-      ansible.builtin.debug:
-        msg: |
-          {{ inventory_hostname }} ({{ ansible_host }}): {{ 'REACHABLE' if ping_result is succeeded else 'UNREACHABLE' }}
-          Tags: {{ linode_tags | join(', ') }}
-          Role: {{ 'Control Plane' if is_control_plane else 'Worker Node' if is_worker_node else 'Other' }}
+- name: Display inventory summary
+  ansible.builtin.debug:
+    msg: |
+      Linode Dynamic Inventory Summary:
+      Total hosts discovered: {{ linode_inventory_data._meta.hostvars | length }}
+      Groups created: {{ linode_inventory_data.keys() | reject('equalto', '_meta') | list | length }}
+      Inventory saved to: {{ temp_inventory_path }}
+      API Token status: {{ 'Set (' + (linode_api_token[:8] + '...' if linode_api_token | length > 8 else linode_api_token) + ')' if linode_api_token is defined else 'NOT SET' }}
 
-# Example: Run tasks only on k3s control plane nodes
-- name: Example - Control Plane specific tasks
-  hosts: discovered_linodes
-  gather_facts: false
-  vars:
-    ansible_user: phlux
-  tasks:
-    - name: Control plane specific task
-      ansible.builtin.debug:
-        msg: "This would run control plane specific commands on {{ inventory_hostname }}"
-      when: is_control_plane | bool
+- name: Show raw script output for debugging
+  ansible.builtin.debug:
+    var: linode_inventory_result.stdout
+  when: linode_inventory_result.stdout | length > 0
 
-# Example: Run tasks only on k3s worker nodes  
-- name: Example - Worker Node specific tasks
-  hosts: discovered_linodes
-  gather_facts: false
-  vars:
-    ansible_user: phlux
-  tasks:
-    - name: Worker node specific task
-      ansible.builtin.debug:
-        msg: "This would run worker node specific commands on {{ inventory_hostname }}"
-      when: is_worker_node | bool
+- name: Show discovered hosts
+  ansible.builtin.debug:
+    msg: "Host: {{ item.key }} ({{ item.value.ansible_host }}) - Region: {{ item.value.linode_region }} - Status: {{ item.value.linode_status }}"
+  loop: "{{ linode_inventory_data._meta.hostvars | dict2items }}"
+  loop_control:
+    label: "{{ item.key }}"
+  when: linode_inventory_data._meta.hostvars | length > 0
 
-# Example: Run tasks on all k3s nodes (control plane + workers)
-- name: Example - All K3s nodes
-  hosts: discovered_linodes
-  gather_facts: false
-  vars:
-    ansible_user: phlux
-  tasks:
-    - name: K3s cluster task
-      ansible.builtin.debug:
-        msg: "This would run on all k3s nodes: {{ inventory_hostname }}"
-      when: is_k3s | bool
+- name: Create static inventory file (optional)
+  ansible.builtin.template:
+    src: inventory.ini.j2
+    dest: "{{ linode_inventory_output_dir }}/linode_static_inventory.ini"
+    mode: '0644'
+  when: inventory_format == "ini"
+  delegate_to: localhost
+
+- name: Clean up temporary script
+  ansible.builtin.file:
+    path: "{{ linode_inventory_output_dir }}/linode_inventory.py"
+    state: absent
+  delegate_to: localhost
+  when: cleanup_temp_files | default(true)