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Earthrealm is one of many realms that was formed after the Elder Gods shattered the One Being. In the Mortal Kombat universe, Earthrealm has been the target of frequent attempts at konquest, because it is thought to be the jewel of the cosmos and an important universal power node. Because of this, the Elder Gods have appointed a deity to protect the realm from harm. For countless centuries this has been Raiden, though other gods such as Fujin also play a role in this. Furthermore, the Shaolin Temple of the Light was formed to train mortals in martial arts and prepare them to defend their world from evil. More recent organisations such as the reformed Lin Kuei or the Special Forces play a similar role. Earthrealm was nearly destroyed millions of years before Mortal Kombat in a war between Shinnok and Raiden, and then verged on the brink of collapse during Shao Kahn's short konquest.
Earthrealm and Edenia are regarded as close allies. Their friendship formed after Earthrealm's warriors helped free Edenia of Shao Kahn's rule. The relationship between Liu Kang and the princess of Edenia has further strengthened their alliance. However, Earthrealm seems to have most other realms against it. Outworld and the Netherrealm are definite foes of Earthrealm and both have had rulers at some point that have tried to conquer it. |
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As its name suggests, the world of Edenia is one closely resembling the garden of Eden. It is a very fertile world, and its inhabitants seem to age much more slowly than normal humans would. They also appear to be preoccupied intensely with magic. It is a feudal monarchy, much like most other realms in the Mortal Kombat universe. Edenia is also notorious for being invaded or annexed numerous times by other realms such as Outworld. Of all realms, it appears to be closest to Earthrealm in terms of environment and population.
The earliest known ruler of Edenia was King Jerrod. His best warriors lost ten Mortal Kombat tournaments in a row to the warriors of Outworld's ruler, Shao Kahn. By the rulings of the Elder Gods, this granted Kahn the power to invade Edenia. Outworld won the subsequent war and Edenia was annexed. To legitimise himself, Kahn forced Queen Sindel into marriage and adopted her daughter Kitana, among other members of the royal household. Edenia would be freed 10,000 years later from Kahn's grasp when his hold on power began to weaken due his failed invasion of Earthrealm. With brief intermezzos of war and abduction by evil forces, Sindel has been Edenia's queen ever since.
Edenians are human in appearance, though they live much longer like the residents of Seido, with whom they share the greatest resemblance. The skin tones of Edenians vary from white to black, but darker skin tones seem to be more prevalent.
There is no doubt since Earthrealm helped free Edenia from Kahn's grasp that the people of Edenia see Earthrealm as an ally. There is some question about the Realm of Order; Edenians seem to consider them an ally. However, they are fully aware of how repressive the Orderrealm can be at times. Because of the konquest of Edenia by Outworld, Edenia is and Outworld are definite foes so long as Kahn remains ruler. The only real attempt seen to make peace occurred during the beginning of Mortal Kombat 4, when Kitana was in the process of trying to organise peace in the realm. Kung Lao's ending in Mortal Kombat Gold shows the only sign that Kitana's attempts at peace were successful. |
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Situated in Taven and Daegon's home realm, this is where the final battle took place between the two brothers in Mortal Kombat Armageddon's Konquest mode. |
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The Elder Gods are the supreme deities of the universe. Whereas other Gods occasionally take physical forms and may have limited powers or an element, the Elder Gods are more ethereal. The vague faces of the Elder Gods seen in Mortal Kombat 4, and the appearance of Shinnok in the same game suggest that they may carry blue-grey skin and a humanoid appearance. Their true nature and the extent of their powers remains a mystery.
Before the realms of Mortal Kombat came into existence, there was the One Being, which comprised all of known reality. The Elder Gods waged war and created the Kamidogu, powerful weapons used to shatter the One Being. The Elder Gods then created the realms from its body, with Earthrealm as the centre of power.
Even though the One Being was shattered, its divided mind plotted through exceptionally powerful individuals. One of these was the Elder God Shinnok, who attempted to take control of the entire universe. Eventually he was defeated by the thunder god Raiden in a battle over Earthrealm, and banished to the Netherrealm. The amulet which Shinnok wielded that granted him immense power was secreted away.
The Elder Gods' rule of non-interference in mortal affairs did not threaten their own existence, which was evident when Shao Kahn, Emperor of Outworld, merged Earthrealm with Outworld in direct violation of the sacred rules of Mortal Kombat. Raiden begged the Elder Gods to stop Kahn, who was required by those rules to win ten consecutive Mortal Kombat tournaments before he could take Earthrealm, but the Elder Gods did nothing.
Their non-intervention nearly cost them their existence when Shinnok escaped from the Netherrealm and attacked them directly. Millennia earlier, they had cursed Shang Tsung to consume the souls of other mortals to maintain his existence, either not knowing or not caring that his need to devour mortal souls would lead to him learning the location of Shinnok's amulet. Eventually that knowledge would reach Quan Chi, who used it to free Shinnok and take the amulet for himself. Thanks to the intervention of Raiden, Fujin, and the champions of Earthrealm, Shinnok was stopped. For this, Raiden was rewarded and made an Elder God himself.
However, Raiden soon shed himself of this status when the Deadly Alliance arose as a threat to Earthrealm. Divesting himself of Elder Godhood to lead his mortal friends into direct kombat, this time Raiden's efforts were thwarted, with all of his allies either killed or disabled. The threat posed by the Deadly Alliance was rendered moot, however, when Onaga appeared at the scene where Raiden had just been defeated by the two sorcerers. For millennia Onaga had laid in wait from beyond death to be resurrected and complete his konquest of the realms. Raiden, Shang Tsung and Quan Chi were unable to stop him. It drove Raiden to realise that he could neither trust the Elder Gods nor his mortal comrades. Most of all, Raiden was furious with the mortal Shujinko who was duped into aiding the Dragon King's return.
Ironically, this time the Elder Gods did interfere. Now aware of a direct threat to their existence (because Onaga had acquired all the Kamidogu and Shinnok's amulet), the Elder Gods summoned Scorpion to act as their champion and destroy Onaga. |
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An arena in which fighting took place during Shinnok's reign in Mortal Kombat 4 and Mortal Kombat Gold. |
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Creatures that are either attuned with or composed of an element, such as air, earth or water. |
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Making his official debut in Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, Ermac has been a controversial and mysterious character in the Mortal Kombat series, whose existence was rumoured since its inception. It is now clear that Ermac is an amalgam of many souls destroyed in Outworld's wars who came to be controlled by Shao Kahn and his shadow priests. Due to the sheer concentration of souls within Ermac, he possesses the gift of telekinesis, and can travel to different realms. However, the depths of Netherrealm drain his powers and souls, weakening him dramatically while there.
He made his return in Mortal Kombat Deception, where he was not only free to choose his own destiny, but also a force of good. To prove this, he decided to help Liu Kang in his own quest.
Ermac is an entity composed of legions of dead souls, dispatched in meaningless wars; the manner in which the souls fused into Ermac is unknown. Shao Kahn, after learning of his existence, brought Ermac under his control, finding his vast skill and telekinetic powers of use. On one mission for Shao Kahn in the Netherrealm, Ermac became acquainted with Shujinko, and was assaulted by Ashrah who believed him to be a demon. Ermac served as one of Shao Kahn's greatest warriors, participating in the invasion of Earthrealm (as recounted in Mortal Kombat 3). However, after Shao Kahn's defeat and subsequent loss of power, Ermac remained under Kahn's control and wandered Outworld without instructions. During the events of Mortal Kombat Deadly Alliance, the wandering Ermac was found by the blind swordsman Kenshi and freed from Kahn's control. To show his gratitude, Ermac taught Kenshi the art of telekinesis.
Ermac's newfound freedom meant he was also free to choose his own destiny. He decided to repent his earlier ways and became a force for good. After making this decision, he met a warrior soul who, like Kenshi, understood his suffering. This warrior soul was that of Liu Kang, who was in need not only of another ally, but assistance in freeing his enslaved comrades. Ermac was eager to help Liu Kang, as this was an opportunity to help him atone for the evil he had committed in Shao Kahn's name. Ermac decided to help Liu Kang, and the two would set out to free Liu's allies (Jax, Johnny Cage, Sonya Blade, Kitana, and Kung Lao) from Onaga's control. They were eventually successful in their pursuit.
In Ermac's Mortal Kombat Armageddon ending, it is said that after he defeated Blaze, the many souls contained inside of him were released and formed new bodies. They were all connected to each other mentally in a collective conscience, making Ermac no longer just a fusion of souls, but an army. |
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A wicked towering structure in Outworld. Liu Kang and Kung Lao battled their way through it to the upper levels during the events of Mortal Kombat Shaolin Monks. |
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Located in Outworld, this arena can be found atop the Evil Monastery. It is a revamped version of the Tower arena first introduced in Mortal Kombat 2. Under the watchful guise of a shadow priest, kombatants could continue their battles outside; those unlucky enough could be knocked off the edge and into a huge portal. |
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| After this year's E3 2010 Expo, what are your thoughts on Mortal Kombat (2011)? |
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