It would be pure irony if those very deviances you mentioned would be among the causes for the creation of the Infinite Dragonflight in the "future" (in the subjective "timeline" of the timeless dragons, however that may look like)

I'd have my money on this too; the forging/destruction of the Demon Soul is just as important to the Cataclysm storyline as, say, the culling of Strathholme is to current events.

I'd say it's a safe assumption that the Old gods work in unison. When Deathwing was being corrupted he claimed to hear multiple voices. When Me'dan(Garona's son) is thrown on C'Thun's corpse I assumed he heard similar voices(He said old ones, not old one many times post C'Thun corpse), not just those of 1 old god.

Ulduar victims of Saronite is an exception I believe, they heard only Yogg-Saron, perhaps his close presence being the reason, that he assume more direct control. C'Thun whispers to you, the player while you are in close proximity to him as well.

Think of it this way, the Old Gods are beings that are imprisoned beneath Azeroth in various places, we know for a fact that it was a lie that the Titans destroyed them all at this point, because it would have dire consequences on the planet. The one they did destroy in the Grove of the Ancients(Darkshore) might have been their first attempt to kill the Old Ones, but it didn't turn out to be a good thing for whatever reason. Now all of the Old Gods are imprisoned around the world(fact). The old gods can reach out in unison to draw beings to their power, because it benefits them to have as many followers as possible regardless of the direct loyalty(See Twilight Cult). The closer proximity you are to any particular Old God, the more direct assertion of control that particular god has over you(See Loken/Ulduar Keepers, Twin Emperors/Southern Nerubians).

Agreed on the Old Gods working together and with a mutual goal in mind. The way I see it, their "Hive Mind" looks are more than just coincidence.

As to Yoggi's influence over the Lich King..."it's a crap"! His speech sounds to me more like frustration over the fact that he still doesn't have the power to do more than peeking into, well, pretty much wherever he wants. He's probably hoping the Scourge's (over?)use of his blood somehow corrupts them, but we haven't seen any true effect or fact that shows the God of Screaming having any real influence over the Lich King.

It doesn't in any way diminish his storyline, a frustrated villain is still interesting. My only issue is that Blizzard wasn't more open about it and instead went for the "You can't see it, but he's behind everything happening everywhere...A-ha!" speech. Saron was likely behind Neltharion's corruption - along with his brethren. He was probably involved in Garrona's assassination of King Wrynn - although C'thun seems to take on the lead role in that event. But in both of those cases, we see actual proof of said influence. In the whole Lich King storyline - and in Yogg's vision of his room - there's nothing. Just animosity between the two, one that translates, for example, into a faceless one being imprisoned in a mine. How's that for having the upper hand, Old God?

Reading that quote in-game would be worth that month's subscription fee all by itself.

On CoT:
Dragonsoul tie-in to Neltharion would be good. As would anything related to Azshara (to build her up for next/future x-pac).

On Old Gods:
It could be an issue of scale/perspective, such as the Orz from Star Control II. What we see as multiple Old Gods are all the same entity, possibly even with multiple brains focused on separate, yet interconnected tasks (example: like the autonomic nervous system controls bodily functions outside of conscious thought). As we've jokingly referenced before, we've killed a big eyeball and a big mouth. Neither seems a whole entity.

I wasn't that convinced by your version at first, DeLos, but your arrangement of events actually makes a lot of sense. For example, it still explains how Yogg's speech towards Arthas reeks of grudge and some jealousy.

I was thinking, though, that the Twilight presence at the lower tier of the Old Kingdom was more likely to have been won through a bloody battle.

I kind of doubt it, the Old Gods don't exactly make bargains. They're the kind of manipulators that would fix things so that even if they didn't win the lottery, the entire pot would eventually end up in their hands anyway.

C'thun wasn't nearly as talkative as Yogg, but we know that his defeat didn't really hinder him too much. The defeat of the Qiraji was likely a pittance compared to no longer being sealed behind the Scarab Wall, especially since most everyone thinks he's dead now.

Yogg-Saron's lines and demeanor while he talked suggested that he had a hand in all of his brain room visions, and that his very defeat was pretty much exactly as planned.

"Your fate is sealed. The end of days is finally upon you and ALL who inhabit this miserable little seedling. Uulwi ifis halahs gag erh'ongg w'ssh."

Like I said before, think of them as beings playing a game. The defeat of their avatar isn't exactly the end. Their bodies are just as much a tool as any of their minions, and they have knowledge and wisdom that comes with eons of existence.

"They do not die; they do not live. They are outside the cycle."

"It is a small matter to control the mind of the weak... for I bear allegiance to powers untouched by time, unmoved by fate. No force on this world or beyond harbors the strength to bend our knee... not even the mighty Legion!"

If the Legion aren't a threat, why would Arthas be one? If there was one thing that Ner'zhul was afraid of, it was the Legion.

Taldaram works for Arthas - he's resurrected in ICC. He's a gatekeeper to the section where the Twilight Cultists reside. The top section is covered by Undead Nerubians and Taldaram. Below that is the Herald and the Twilight Cultists.

Taldaram could as easily be guarding/blocking things below coming up as he tries to block us descending. Herald coming from deeper below ground makes perfect sense (even assuming the retcon that Yogg just extends tendrils that far). As to how the Cultists got down there, who knows? Unless they came in, then Arthas sent folks after them to seal it up.

The initial design looks far more like Undead and Twilight were working Hand-in-Glove. Yogg "feuding" with Arthas and not being in AN makes the dungeon look far more fractured.


Tinwhisker:
Old-fashioned (non-ASPCA approved) Racoon trap. Shiny object with nails pointing towards it. The racoon will reach in and grab the shiny (they have quite a bit of dexterity). Fist is wider than open fingers. It will try to withdraw, but the nails prevent it. It will either impale its hand on the nails trying vigorously, and thus be unable to leave the trap, or it will not hurt itself, but still won't release the shiny and stays stuck at the trap. (Probably the only thing I remember from being forced to read Where the Red Fern Grows)

Old Gods "came through" to Azeroth - however they did. Whether entirely, or just the equivalent of a hand. The Titans trapped it there. Until things shake loose it/they would be stuck - can't push more in, can't pull any out.

Which leads to the possibility that "killing" Old Gods frees them from the trap. Eventually it/they are all withdrawn, then can push through into a new place (presumably on Azeroth) full force. Which could be more than ever previously seen.

And, yes, it is awesome. Star Control II is a high bar that many games don't reach.

I think Bolvar was the more the subject of Yogg's ICC vision than Arthas was. Yogg could easily play on people's motivations against the Lich King to bend them to his way of thinking while allowing them to feel like good guys against what they perceive as the most dangerous evil opposing them. Yogg could have bolstered Bolvar's resolve against the Lich King's attempts to break him as a means to get into his head, and now Yogg has a dormant minion wearing the Lich King's helm.

The dungeons aren't really 100% accurate versions of the "real" locations (they're far too small and linear for that), and even if they were, there's clearly another way in to the Twilight area: it's the one the players use to exit the dungeon.

Not to mention the "Huh?" factor. We killed Yogg-Saron. We killed Arthas. Bolvar took over. Bolvar is MCed by Yogg? Wait, what?

Yes, it can happen if Old Gods don't die, etc. But at a rough glance it looks like a lore equivalent of order of operations failure. And to the casual/average player not concerned with lore, it'd just be a big mess.