Who's behind what? - A detailed analysis of all end-of-raid tier boss motives

[seni]

A detailed analysis of final raid bosses and who is ultimately behind their empowering/status. I will check back to the origin of the boss and record what/who is behind his/her/it’s creation and original tasking that required us to kill him/her/it, (e.g. titan construct gone bad; I will record why it went bad instead of titans) regardless of what allegiance the boss owed at the time of its death. I will use the present tense for those bosses the players can kill, and past tense for those the players didn't actually kill in the game's lore.

Tier 1

Ragnaros, Molten Core.
-Ragnaros serves his own purpose, but served the Old Gods in the past.
Mastermind? Old Gods

Onyxia, Onyxia's Lair.
-Onyxia serves her own purpose, but served Deathwing, her father, in the past.
-Deathwing serves the Old Gods since the Well of Eternity instance, as determined by the Madness of Deathwing journal in Dragon Soul.
Mastermind? Old Gods

Hakkar the Soulflayer, Zul'Gurub
-Hakkar serves his own purpose, with no noticed connection to any mastermind.
Mastermind Hakkar the Soulflayer

Ossirian the Unscarred, Ruins of Ahn'Qiraj
-Ossirian was originally a Titanic watcher for the Ahn'Qiraj complex, that was designed to imprison C'thun's remains.
-Ossirian was corrupted by C'Thun when he was ressurected.
-C'Thun is a primary Old God.
Mastermind? Old Gods

Baron Rivendare, Stratholme (Undead, original)
-Baron Rivendare is in direct employment of the Lich King.
-The Lich King was originally created by Kil'Jaeden as an architect of the Scourge.
-Kil'Jaeden is in employment of Sargeras, the Dark Titan.
Mastermind? Sargeras

Tier 2

Nefarian, Blackwing's Lair
-Nefarian serves his own purpose, but served Deathwing, his father, in the past.
-Deathwing serves the Old Gods since the Well of Eternity instance, as determined by the Madness of Deathwing journal in Dragon Soul.
Mastermind? Old Gods

C'Thun, Ahn'Qiraj Temple
-C'Thun is a primary Old God and therefore has allegiance to the Old Gods.*
Mastermind? Old Gods

Tier 3

Kel'Thuzad, Naxxramas(original)
-Kel'Thuzad is in direct employment of the Lich King.
-The Lich King was originally created by Kil'Jaeden as an architect of the Scourge.
-Kil'Jaeden is in employment of Sargeras, the Dark Titan.
Mastermind? Sargeras

Tier 4 (The Burning Crusade)

Magtheridon, Magtheridon's Lair
-Magtheridon is in direct employment of Archimonde.
-Archimonde was the primary lieutenant of war for Sargeras.
Mastermind? Sargeras

Prince Malchezzar, Karazhan
-Prince Malchezzar is in direct employment of Archimonde as a sub-commander for the forces of the Burning Legion.
-Archimonde was the primary lieutenant of war for Sargeras.
Mastermind? Sargeras

Gruul, Gruul's lair
-Gruul has no allegiance, being the overlord of the ogres
Mastermind? Gruul

Zul'jin, Zul'Aman
-Zul'jin has no allegiance, being the ruler of the Amani tribe.
Mastermind? Zul’jin

Tier 5

Lady Vash'j, Serpentshrine Cavern
-Lady Vash'j originally served Queen Azshara.
-She was summoned by Illidan Stormrage to serve.
-Lady Vash'j is a commander of Illidan Stormrage and commander of the Naga forces in Outland.
Mastermind? Illidan Stormrage

Kael'Thas Sunstrider, Tempest Keep (the Eye), Magister's Terrace
-Kael'thas Sunstrider was the Prince of the Sunstrider Dynasty of Eversong Woods
-He served on the Council of Six of the Kirin Tor, and was a part of the Alliance of Lordaeron.
-Kael'thas is led by Illidan Stormrage, persuaded by a source of power possibly located in the Black Temple to satiate his people's hunger for magic after the Sunwell was destroyed by Prince Arthas.
-After his defeat in Tempest Keep (the Eye), he turned to a new master, Kil'Jaeden the deceiver, who promises to reignite the Sunwell.
-Kil'Jaeden is in direct employment of Sargeras.
Mastermind? Himself, the Kirin Tor, Illidan Stormrage, and finally Sargeras

Tier 6

Archimonde the Defiler, The Battle for Hyjal
-Archimonde was the primary lieutenant of the forces of the Burning Legion for Sargeras, the Dark Titan.
Mastermind? Sargeras

Illidan Stormrage, The Black Temple
-Illidan Stormrage served the Night Elf people before the events of the Sundering.
-After the events of the Frozen Throne, Illidan was conscripted by Kil'Jaeden to destroy the renegade Lich King and kill his champion Arthas Menethil.
-Kil'Jaden is in service to Sargeras.
-After failing to kill Arthas and the Lich King, Illidan escaped to Outland and conscripted the Blood Elves and Naga to help take the broken world for their own.
-Illidan Stormrage has no master.
Mastermind? Night Elves, then Sargeras, Illidan Stormrage

Kil'Jaeden the Deceiver, Sunwell Plateau
-Kil'Jaeden is the other lieutenant of Sargeras tasked with conscripting or subverting living or demonic forces into the allegiance of the Burning Legion.
Mastermind? Sargeras

Tier 7, Wrath of the Lich King

Malygos, Eye of Eternity
-Malygos was in service to the Titans before the Sundering.
-Malygos serves his own purpose in the Nexus War after regaining his sanity from the travesty of the events of the Sundering.
Mastermind? Titans, Malygos

Sartharion, Obsidian Sanctum
-Sartharion was charged by Sinestra to protect a clutch of Twilight dragon eggs.
-Sinestra is in service of Deathwing.
-Deathwing is in services to the Old Gods.
Mastermind? Old Gods

Kel'Thuzad, Naxxramas
-Kel'Thuzad was originally in service to the Kirin Tor.
-After being exiled from the Kirin Tor, Kel'Thuzad entered into the service of the Lich King and was reborn as a Lich by Arthas Menethil.
-Lich King was created by Kil’jaeden, whos is in service of Sargeras.
Mastermind? Sargeras

Archavon, Emalon, Koravon, Toravon, The Vault of Archavon
-Watchers for the titan facility in Wintergrasp
-Servants of the Titans
Mastermind? Titans

Tier 8

Yogg-Saron, Ulduar
-Yogg-Saron is a primary Old God.
Mastermind? Old Gods

Algalon the Observer, Ulduar
-Titan (construct, being?) sent to Azeroth after Watcher Loken’s death to analyze corruption levels.
-Deemed corruption levels near 100%, ordered re-origination of life and total destruction of Azeroth and Old Gods.
Mastermind? Titans

Tier 9

Anub'Arak, Trial of the Crusader
-Anub'Arak was revived by the Lich King after his defeat in Azjol-Nerub.
-Lich King was orchestrated by Kil'Jaeden.
-Kil'Jaeden is in service to Sargeras
Mastermind? Sargeras

Tier 10
the Lich King, Icecrown Citadel
-Originally the soul of Ner'zhul, the orc warchief and warlock who was conscripted by Kil'Jaeden the Deceiver into making a Blood Pact, thus entering the orcs into the service of Kil'Jaeden, and by effect, Sargeras.
-After trying to escape to another world by way of an extra-dimensional portal like the Dark Portal, his soul was captured by Kil'Jaeden and shred to pieces, and afterwards was formed into the being named the Lich King, imprisoned in the Helm of Damnation, and sent to Azeroth (Northrend) to be the master of the Scourge army, designed to weaken the forces of Azeroth in order to herald the arrival of Sargeras and the Burning Legion.
-He selected a champion, Arthas Menethil, and an architect for the Cult of the Damned (Kel'Thuzad) and by way of telepathic whispers and corruption, drew the prince to take up Frostmourne, kill his father, destroy the kingdom of Lordaeron and aid in the formation of the Scourge, transform Kel'Thuzad into a lich, etc.
-the Lich King used Arthas to destroy his Nathrezim watchers, and orchestrated his own ascent to power without Archimonde's knowledge. He masterminded a plan to free him from service to the Burning Legion (and Sargeras), and used Arthas as a mortal shell to turn himself into the true Lich King.
-The Lich King is the ruler of the Scourge and owes no allegiance at the time of his demise.
Mastermind? Sargeras

Halion, The Ruby Sanctum
-Twilight Dragon ordered by Sinestra to take over the Ruby Sanctum
-Sinestra is in service to Deathwing.
-Deathwing is in services to the Old Gods.
Mastermind? Old Gods

Tier 11, Cataclysm

Cho'gall, Bastion of Twilight
-originally servant of the Shadow Counil, the orc warlock group that served the old Horde, the Burning Legion, and therefore Sargeras.
-Head of the Twilight's Hammer clan, which serves Deathwing, who serves the Old Gods.
Mastermind? Old Gods

Sinestra, Bastion of Twilight
-original consort of Neltharion.
-sent to the Bastion to take care of black and twilight dragonflight eggs and oversee Twilight Highlands operations.
-in service to Deathwing, who is in service to the Old Gods.
Mastermind? Old Gods

Nefarian+Onyxia, Blackwing Descent
-No change in allegiance since his defeat at Blackwing's Lair.
Mastermind? Old Gods

Al'Akir, Throne of the Four Winds
-Elemental Prince of Air
-Elemental Lord in service to the Old Gods.
-Was persuaded by Deathwing to lend his elementals to his mission.
-Deathwing serves the Old Gods.
Mastermind? Old Gods

Argaloth, Occu'thar, Alizabal, Baradin Hold
-All three are in service to Archimonde, who is in service to Sargeras, Lord of the Burning Legion.
Mastermind? Sargeras

Tier 12

Ragnaros, the Firelands
-Elemental Prince of Fire
-Elemental Lord in service to the Old Gods.
-After his defeat in Molten Core, he was persuaded by Deathwing to lend his elementals and power to Deathwing's mission.
-Deathwing serves the Old Gods.
Mastermind? Old Gods

Tier 13
Deathwing (Neltharion), Dragon Soul
-Originally in service to the Titans as a watcher for the Well of Eternity and Kalimdor.
-Corrupted by the remaining Old Gods, ensnared by whispers and maddened into making the Dragon Soul.
-Was the Old Gods primary plan into releasing them from their prisons.
-Deathwing went into hiding with the Dragon Soul, and tried to muck up human affairs as Lord Daval Prestor.
-Was defeated by the Alexstrasza, Nozdormu, and Ysera, and retreated to Deepholm.
-Cataclysm
Mastermind? Old Gods

Tier 14, Mists of Pandaria
Grand Empress Shek'Zeer
-Originally the leader of the Mantid swarm.
-Mantid are a subgroup of the Aqir, like the Qiraji and Nerubians.
-Mantid Swarm originally served Y'Shaarj and fought against the titans.
-Corrupted by the Sha of Fear.
-Sha of Fear is part of the remains of Y'Shaarj, and Old God defeated by the mogu constructs led by Ra'den. Y'Shaarj cursed the southern part of Kalimdor with it's dying breath, scattering the sha power over what is now Pandaria.
Mastermind? Old Gods

Will of the Emperor, Mogu'shan Vaults
-Constructs made by Lei Shen, the Thunder King to guard the Vaults and Engine of Nalak'sha.
-in service to the Thunder King, who has no allegiance.
Mastermind? Lei Shen, the Thunder King

Sha of Fear, Terrace of Endless Spring
-Sha of Fear is part of the remains of Y'Shaarj, and Old God defeated by the mogu constructs led by Ra'den. Y'Shaarj cursed the southern part of Kalimdor with it's dying breath, scattering the sha power over what is now Pandaria.
Mastermind? Old Gods

Tier 15
Emperor Lei Shen, the Thunder King, Throne of Thunder
-Ancient emperor of the Mogu
-Recently ressurected by the Zandalari
-No allegiance
Mastermind? Lei Shen

Ra'den, Throne of Thunder
-Titan Watcher ordered by Titans to eradicate Old God presence in southern pre-sundering Kalimdor.
-Built mogu titan constructs (like vrykul, earthen, tol'vir) to combat Old God servant Mantids.
-Once Y'Shaarj was destroyed, Titanic Watcher entered sleep under Thunder Mountain, which now houses Mogu'shan Vaults, which contains the Engine of Nalak'sha, used by Ra'den to create the mogu.
-Curse of Flesh affected all titan creations, including mogu, turning them into flesh beings.
-Mortal mogu society fell to violent in-fighting with no presence to lead them.
-Lei Shen descended into Thunder Mountain, defeated Ra'den, somehow manipulated Ra'den's power over thunder and lightning to bolster his own power, and went on to creathe Mogu Empire, (re: Mists of Pandaria mogu lore)
-Current resides in the Throne of Thunder in high-level prison.
Mastermind? Titans, Lei Shen

PREDICTED
Garrosh Hellscream, Siege of Ogrimmar
-Son of Grom Hellscream, part of the Hellscream Clan at Garadar in Outland.
-Made overlord of Warsong Offensive in the Northrend Campaign.
-Promoted to Warchief of the Horde after Thrall deemed his devotion to shamansim in the Cataclysm events necessary.
-Consumed by desire to eradicate his enemies, Garrosh seeks to bend the energies of Sha to bolster the Horde's power.
-Some plot twists sees Garrosh consumed by all the negative emotions of the Sha and possessed, thus turning him into a pawn of the Old Gods.
Mastermind? Hellscream Clan, Horde, Old Gods

Results?
Old Gods with 16 counts of masterminding.
Hakkar with 1 count of masterminding.
Sargeras with 10 counts of masterminding.
Gruul with 1 count of masterminding.
Zul’jin with 1 count of masterminding.
Illidan with 3 counts of masterminding.
Malygos with 1 count of masterminding.
Titans with 3 counts of masterminding (I thought these guys were supposed to be good?)
Lei Shen with 3 counts of masterminding.

Analysis: So we can see that the main contenders for top mastermind in the Warcraft Universe are Sargeras and the Old Gods. They seem to have orchestrated most of the events in the mythos of the Warcraft story. It is interesting to note that a Burning Legion invasion of Azeroth would be beneficial to the Old Gods, as it would allow them to escape their prisons. (Re: Old Gods if you aren't caught up on the hypotheses). It makes sense to presume that the Old Gods of the planet Azeroth seem to be the grand orchestrators of everything miserable that has befallen the mortal races.

Comments: There were times making this list when I wondered who was the true mastermind behind the events for each character. With characters who deviated from their original allegiances, such as the Lich King and Illidan, who both created their own agendas and abandoned their allegiances, it was hard to pinpoint the blame. In some cases, Sargeras could well have been to blame for many of the Lich King’s doings, and for Illidan as well, but it seemed more acceptable to point the figure at the subordinates, for it was they who carried out their own plans. In such cases, with their own agendas, they are to blame for the misdoings they carried out. Regardless, there is more than likely evidence to argue both ways, so I’ll leave it up to the interpretation of the lore fan. I hope you enjoyed this list and it gave you a brief insight to the inner workings of the turmoil in World of Warcraft.

Notes:
*Due to Old-God blizz-stated or created lore, it is tough to say if all the Old Gods could be grouped together. Some have had more mortal affairs than others, notably N'Zoth and Y'Shaarj, while Yogg-Saron and C'Thun have had less notable impact. From the Dragon Soul raid dungeon manual entry about Warlord Zon'ozz and Yor'sahj, it is stated that "Countless ages ago, Warlord Zon'ozz and his soldiers waged endless war against the forces of C'Thun and Yogg-Saron. Millennia have passed, but the warlord still serves the chaotic might of the Old God N'Zoth. Deathwing has now unleashed this legendary faceless one to crush the defenders of Wyrmrest Temple." So from this we see that all the Old Gods warred against each other, but all were very meddlesome. For the purpose of sanity, I will group all the Old Gods together into one extremely meddlesome and diabolical entity.

[TragedyAnn]

There are some flaws in your chain of logic on a few of these.

For instance, you count the activities of Arthas and all his subordinates as masterminded under Sargaeras, yet none of Illidans. That makes no sense at all, because by the time of WotLK, and indeed WELL before WotLK, the Lich King and the Scourge are their own entity, which no longer has any ties to Sargaeras or the Legion. Just as Illidan and the Illidari were.

It's true the Lich King was created by the Legion to serve them, but that tie was broken LONG ago, by Ner'zhul, before Arthas even took up the mantle. Before Warcraft III even ended, the Scourge and the Legion were no longer allies. Indeed, in the last mission of Warcraft III, Kil'jaeden sends Illidan (on the legion's behalf) to wipe out Arthas and the Scourge in Icecrown (at which he fails).

So to count Illidan as his own mastermind, with his own subordinates, but not Arthas, is just loopy imo. Neither works for Sargaeras by the time of World of Warcraft. They're their own villainous masterminds, with their own underlings.

Which would mean Arthas should get his own counts of masterminding, and all his raid boss underlings (Anub'arak, Kel'thuzad, Rivendare) should all be counted amongst them.

Furthermore, while I'll grant you that N'zoth was responsible for Deathwing's insanity... I think Deathwing still has motives of his own by this point. To attribute everything Deathwing and his underlings have done in this entire franchise to the will of the Old Gods, I feel... would be misplaced. And that's to say nothing of his Children and their underlings... I mean Nefarion was working with the Chromatic Dragonflight, as the progenitor of the Twilight Dragonflight... so one could say he was serving under his father's plans, I suppose. But Onyxia really wasn't masterminding anything in her raid encounter. Indeed... we just walk into her lair and kill her in her sleep for plunder. I know she was manipulating events in Stormwind, in the Alliance attunement quest... but that really didn't have much to do with her very simple raid. So I don't think it's fair to call her an underling of the Old Gods... as a raid encounter.... simply because she's Deathwing's daughter. That would be like saying WE'RE serving the old gods when we help Wrathion... simply because he's Deathwing's son? There's no connection there.

In Vault of Archavon, the way the story is painted... it honestly seems we the players are the jerks. The keepers are more or less minding their business in VoA, and we go in and murder them for cash and prizes. >_> So I wouldn't really say the Titans mastermind anything... they just... made them. And we killed them. Because we're jerks.

I'm honestly not sure on this one: Is Malchezar working for the Legion in Kara, or is he just working independently? How long has he been there? What is his goal? I honestly don't remember. But I will note, there was some debate over whether Malchezar or Nightbane was the final boss, back in the day. I notice you lumped in Algalon and Sinestra, among others, so I think Nightbane is also worth noting, in that vein.

You skipped UBRS. That was originally a small vanilla raid before being nerfed, just like Stratholme. The masters there, I suppose, would be Drakkisath and Rend Blackhand, both serving under Nefarion.

I very very vaguely remember Hakkar having some tie to the Old Gods, though that may have been retconned. It was poorly handled by blizzard, if I recall correctly.

Anyway, those are just my thoughts. Some of the things I mentioned are more glaring than others.

I can't for the life of me figure out why you'd count Illidan as an independent entity and not The Lich King though. They both now control their own armies, for their own agendas. Hell, Illidan at least served the Legion directly, Arthas NEVER served them. Arthas was always performing the will of Ner'zhul, the former Lich King, who was actively trying to BREAK AWAY from the legion at the time, with Arthas' HELP in doing so.

Sargaeras should NOT get credit for Arthas or any of his underlings plans... that makes no sense to me.

[seni]

You make good points in your reply and I will agree with you on your Arthas argument. It becomes confusing when you start to ponder who ultimately is responsible, or rather, who is responsible for why we go kill them. Depending on the question one asks, different answers will result. I originally set out in mind to arrive at who was directly responsible for the troubles.

So, if we do go back and revise the allegiances, Illidan, Arthas, and Deathwing gain quite a few points of their own, which is very fair because they were the main boss of their expansions. The Old Gods and Sargeras would then lose points, but who knows? Perhaps Sargeras and (C'Thun, Yogg-Saron, N'Zoth, Y'Shaarj) will be the center focus for future expansions. I find it all so very interesting!

[Mawnix]

I actually like a thread like this.

One thing though: from what we've seen, the Old Gods don't seem to be in allegiance with one another.

Due to that fact, certain Old Gods are behind certain things.

[Shaley]

16 counts of masterminding, lol

[zoomgpally]

PREDICTED
Garrosh Hellscream, Siege of Ogrimmar
-Son of Grom Hellscream, part of the Hellscream Clan at Garadar in Outland.
-Made overlord of Warsong Offensive in the Northrend Campaign.
-Promoted to Warchief of the Horde after Thrall deemed his devotion to shamansim in the Cataclysm events necessary.
-Consumed by desire to eradicate his enemies, Garrosh seeks to bend the energies of Sha to bolster the Horde's power.
-Some plot twists sees Garrosh consumed by all the negative emotions of the Sha and possessed, thus turning him into a pawn of the Old Gods.
Mastermind? Hellscream Clan, Horde, Old Gods

Im still pretty sure some blue said garrosh was only corrupted by his own lust for power, no outside influences

[Irosol]

Old Gods piggy Backed Sargeras's Summoning to Azeroth to be set free = Sargeras Masterminded Everything.

[apepi]

I thought I heard sarg got corrupted by the old gods, so whatever he corrupts is because of the old gods:O.

[bohapjut]

It's been hinted Hakkar related to the Emerald Nightmare/Old Gods

[Pebrocks The Warlock]

I thought I heard sarg got corrupted by the old gods, so whatever he corrupts is because of the old gods:O.

His reason for turning evil has nothing to do with Old Gods. Okay, maybe 10%.

[Count Zero]

Their gods are not their gods

[apepi]

His reason for turning evil has nothing to do with Old Gods. Okay, maybe 10%.

I think it is 83%.

[Aquamonkey]

I don't think Sargeras was corrupted by the Old Gods. He just had severe PTSD from fighting so long that he became disillusioned with life in the universe.

[TragedyAnn]

As I remember it...

In Warcraft III lore it was a combination of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder from dealing with Demons and War on countless worlds, and the demonic influence of the Eredar when he was in said depressed and vulnerable state, that corrupted Sargeras.

He was tasked with putting an end to Demonic power across the cosmos, and eventually all his demon-policing showed him the seedy underbelly of the universe, which saddened him, and the Eredar took advantage of that to get in his ear and corrupt him.

That however, got retconned in Burning Crusade, when new lore was cooked up tying the Eredar to the Draenai, and it instead became Sargeras who corrupted the Draenai/Eredar. BUT to reconcile the fact that Warcraft III lore still held that SOME demon race from SOME old world had corrupted Sargeras, it was instead changed to the Dreadlords who corrupted him. Maintaining the general lore Warcraft III created for his origins overall, but giving the Dreadlords the influence in his past that the Eredar once had, pre-retcon.

In any event, overall point: The Old Gods didn't have squat to do with it.

[Pebrocks The Warlock]

I think it is 83%.

Please tell me you are being sarcastic.

[Wildmoon]

You could say that Sargeras is not corrupted at all. He just changed his view on things. He used to believe that bringing order to everything in this universe is ultimate truth. He realized that it was BS while he was cleaning up universe. He saw what he thought is "true nature" of the universe which is chaos and it grew on him. He then decided to bring universe to its original chaotic state which mean that he had to undo all the works the titans has done. Storming from the pantheon he set to find his place in the universe and created the Burning Legion.

[Golden Yak]

We recently learned that the doomguard of the Burning Legion were titan creations. I wonder how much of Sargeras' efforts in imprisoning the demon races was him cleaning up the titans' mistakes.

Might be a factor in him turning against the Pantheon...

[khalltusk]

Sargeras was not corrupted by the old gods.

The new doom lord lore looks good though really like where they are going with all of this. (the fact warlocks go to the black temple and interogate demons for info really does link into the next expansion, which WILL be legion based, as per wrathions infernal cutscene)

[Verdugo]

Ossirian was not titanic watcher, he was an obsidian construct that was rewarded with reconstruction because he has slain a powerfull dragon.

[Deleted]

snip

Weren't the Nathrezim enslaved/persuaded by Kil'Jaeden?