Absolutely it was the Emperor that tadpoled us. I remember it hit me like a ton of bricks on my second playthrough upon seeing the opening cinematic again. I had found Gortash's letter in my first run but still didn't put it together. But watching that opening cinematic again, I saw the outfit and the dead mindflayers around him and I just thought "That motherf*cker."
I even sided with him the first time. Never again.
