#tarkatan sickness is out there for example

[cienie-isengardu]

Hello, may I bother you for a bit?

This is something regarding Lord Liu Kang. At the beginning of the story mode, he's narrating that he gave everyone free will but later in the story mode, Geras says that Liu Kang forged everyone's destinies and that Shang Tsung and Quan Chi were defying theirs.

Which means that Shang Tsung was destined to live in poverty, Quan Chi was destined to grueling work in the mines and Shao was born sickly child if it weren't for his father's program that shaped him into the warrior he is now.

Which leads me to believe he is deliberately punishing them for things they did not do, all because of the memories of his mortal life.

In one of the intros between Shang Tsung and Geras, it is implied that Shang Tsung also had a horrible childhood.

What do you think?

Hello there and you do not bother me at all!

The destiny vs free will is one of the universal questions that humanity has tried to solve for ages and the answer for sure will vary from one person to another, always colored by religion (or lack of therefor) and culture each of us is part of. However, within Liu Kang’s timeline, I strongly believe destiny and free will aren’t mutually exclusive, because both terms refer to different aspects of a mortal's life.

When Liu Kang says he crafted for each person's destiny, it does not mean there is one and only one script to how things and people’s reaction will play out while he is gonna pretend to be surprised by the turn of events and having fun in the middle of a crisis invented out of boredom eons ago. 

What Liu Kang decided for each character is the setting that no one has choice over and designed role to play - Raiden is destined to be current Earthrealm Champion; Bi-Han, Kuai Liang and Tomas are destined to be Lin Kuei; Mileena is destined to rule Edenia; Shao is destined to serve loyalty to Queen Sindel; Shang Tsung is destined to not have any power whatsoever. None of them must like the circumstances they were born into nor the role bestowed upon them or faced adversity on the way, however how they will use the given time and live their life is greatly up to them. 

Raiden accepted Liu Kang’s training and worked hard to earn the right to represent Earthrealm in the Tournament - if he didn’t dedicate himself to the task, Kung Lao, Johnny or Kenshi would take his place. Bi-Han was trained from childhood to protect Earthrealm but he ultimately rejected the traditional role of Lin Kuei and chose to be loyal only to his clan instead to Fire Lord and the realm. In contrast, Kuai Liang decided to honor father’s teaching and aided Liu Kang, even if that meant going against his own brother - as Geras said, the brothers weren’t destined to be enemies yet both make their own choices that from now on will define their relationship. Tomas was forced by circumstances (Keeper of Time’s choice) into Lin Kuei and raised alongside Sub-Zero and Scorpion by their father, however as his BIO states, “Smoke chose to make the Lin Kuei’s mission his own. But as he lacked his brothers' innate supernatural abilities, he set out to master practical magic. Having done so, he now joins them in Earthrealm's defense” and this implies he wasn’t forced to master smoke powers by his adoptive family and that he was not necessarily considered as a material for Lin Kuei warrior but he made a conscious choice to learn magic so he could join his brothers in their duties. 

Shao and Shang Tsung jumped on occasion to rise in power for their own gain but no one physically forced them to betray the Royal Family or to inflict cruelty on others. According to Liu Kang’s design, they weren’t meant to have the opportunity to take over Edenia and still they could refuse to aid Damashi’s plot when the offer was made to them or at any given time after that. Shang Tsung managed to create a serum that does not heal Tarkatan sickness yet allows to control the unwanted symptoms, thus giving a sick person a chance for more or less normal life. He could share that with sick people or work with other imperial mages to find cure - and go into edenian history as a great hero and savior - but he chose not to, because his own plans were more important to him, than the well-being of other people. 

As a first-born, Mileena inherited the throne after mother’s death yet she still has an option to abdicate if she doesn’t like the burden bestowed on her by fate. 

What Liu Kang chose for each character is not set in stone and can be altered by people’s personal choices, for good or bad. Of course, that does not mean he has never interfere with mortal’s life to steer said person on the path he planed, as it is the best seen with Kung Lao and Raiden unknowingly prepared by Madam Bo for their role of Earthrealm Champions and Shang Tsung’s destiny to have as mediocre life as possible. So yes, Liu Kang is not above his personal favoritism and bias and I suspect it is the result of him being mortal turned into god, not the other way around. He definitely threw some serious obstacles on characters’ path, like sickness for child Shao (though did he plan to keep Shao unfit to be warrior and the outcome was changed by Shao’s father refusing to accept son’s sickness/disability or did Shao was born as sick child so the father could teach him discipline and raise him with an iron fist to become a loyal soldier is up to debate) or death of family for Tomas. However some of the hardship characters faced may as well come from their ancestors' choices alone, be it the dark history of Kenshi’s family that joined the Bakuto, a predecessor of the Yakuza for protection or Nitara’s people slowly starving because of their foolish choices (“The Vaeternians thrived, building a great society. But as their comfort grew, so did their shortsightedness. They overfed on Vaeternus’ creatures, disrupting the natural order. They now starve as it collapses.”, Nitara’s BIO)

In all fairness, the line between Liu Kang’s chosen destiny for characters and choices of mortals affecting the outcome may be pretty thin and in result, not so clear to us. Shang Tsung is the best example of this, because story mode alone gives the impression the man was born into poverty and neglect - he is on his own, using deception to survive in harsh outworld wilderness. Him being so miserable and angry makes sense to jump on the first occasion for anything better than what he has; to cling to the one person offering him not only power but also kindness, a praise for any progress made, be it the progress in the realization of plan or Shang Tsung’s own skills and knowledge.

Yet his official BIO

Shang Tsung grew up in Outworld’s backwaters. Too lazy for hard labor and too shifty for honest work, he eked out a living selling quack cures and fake magic. Though his wares were useless, Shang Tsung’s easy charm always closed the deal. Shang Tsung was resigned to this hardscrabble life. But then one day a mysterious stranger came, promising to make Shang Tsung a powerful sorcerer. Though suspicious of the offer, it was one he couldn’t refuse.

 and intro dialogues 

Shang Tsung: We're both small-town boys at heart. Raiden: Then why is yours so infected with evil? 

or

Shang Tsung: The squalor I endured as a child- Geras: Do not lie. I know the truth.

contradict the idea he was destined to live in poverty or even born in an abusive environment solely because of Liu Kang’s spite. The Bio alone put a blame on Shang Tsung’s own laziness and reluctance to do honest work, Geras calls his claim of bad childhood a lie and for all we know, there were plenty of opportunities for Shang Tsung to take and live his life in peace he turned down for whatever petty reason. The source material is so weirdly contradicting that I still don’t have an idea who we should trust on that one and how much it is Liu Kang’s fault and how much Shang Tsung’s own. 

(I’m gonna hold my judgment for the Quan Chi’s backstory until NRS will release further official material. Working in mines was always a hard job, however it is not clear to me if he was there by force - as enslavement or penalty? - or was he just born in a rural town where everyone worked as miners and he did what his family and/or all townsfolk did for generations.)

Geras saying Shang Tsung and Quan Chi defy their destinies may simply mean they got hold of power they should not have according to Liu Kang’s original plan. At the same time, Liu Kang specifically said to Sindel that Shang Tsung, Quan Chi and General Shao were groomed to be evil again by powers outside his control, so again, the chosen destinies for those three weren’t set in stone, as Liu Kang’s design could be - and was - altered.

For now, until proven otherwise, I will trust Liu Kang’s words that all characters indeed have free will and their choices matters, as supported by intro dialogues

Sindel: Until your revelation, I felt in control of my destiny. Liu Kang: You still are, Your Highness. 

or

Ashrah: I must know, Geras. Is my future set? Geras: There is no fate but what you make. 

or

Geras: Any advice for when I control the Hourglass? Liu Kang: Let all people be masters of their fate. 

but also for the fact alone that Liu Kang did not use his Titan powers to rewind time and alter the last events for his liking, as in making sure bored Titan Shang Tsung did not corrupt his alternative self and the rest of bunch, like Kronika did countless time before.

We will see how future tie-in material will challenge my outlook at this issue, but for now I'm gonna think that Liu Kang's planed destiny and characters' free will to what do with given time co-exist.

[blue-velvet-valentina]

Some Tarkatan HCs about their society

Dispite the looks and extremely tough exterior, they are very family driven.

The elders, young that cannot defend themselves yet, and the pregnant are cared for by the tribe and considered a high priority when danger arises.

It looks like from dialogs that females are socially more important as they have the ability to give birth which is a dangerous endeavor for even human women.

The males have to prove themselves to a potential mate by combat. Even if they win, they can be rejected by the potential mate or her family.

The males can have harems of females, but dispite the implications of misogyny, it's proof they are worthy to be of higher status or even a leader.

They do mate with their partners for life also and everyone in the family works together.

Tarkatans are tough in their parenting style, but they are great parents.

Dispite rumors by Edians, Tartakans are very clean. They even have ritual baths for ceremonies.

Speaking of ceremony, they are very much respectful of the dead. Also will not attack earthrealmers during their afterlife ceremony (like Dia Los Muertos for example) out of possible fear of offending the dead and ensuring the wrath of their own ancestors.

Although they do eat flesh raw, their digestive system is able to handle almost anything and rarely get sick. Those who do get sick are more often the elders and young.

Very strong sercathian rhythm! It takes training and time to make a Tarkatan stay up all night for night watch.

Speaking of sleep; when they do sleep it's not light, but also not "sleep through a thunderstorm". They are aware while sleeping.

They are not tolerant of the cold. They prefer warm to hot weather and not fans of humidity either. That being said, no Florida Tartakans sorry.

Any more to add? Let me know!!

@the-axe-lass

[cienie-isengardu]

Thank you and yes, no matter what the reasoning is, Kuai Liang is not honest toward Syzoth. But in all fairness it can be said the same about the whole Mortal Kombat Tournament, as what Sindel or Liu Kang told in privacy to their champions about the danger of the other realm and what they officially claim the Tournament is (“To continue the tournament that he founded with Lord Liu Kang in hopes that it would foster peace among realms."). Or how Bi-Han in privacy interacts with his brothers as he openly complains about Liu Kang’s behavior toward Lin Kuei and expresses a wish to change the nature of their relationship but up until the betrayal, he does follow Liu Kang’s orders as a good, loyal subordinate should. And let's not start how Sindel is hiding her daughter's sickness while all sick people are treated as a trash on her own orders. Those are examples of dishonesty, but all make sense within the presented story, because all involved characters are politically connected to each other and are forced to do their duty to their realms and families. Which is why I personally give Kuai Liang the benefit of doubt in the mentioned intro between Scorpion and Reptile. As in, Kuai Liang will withhold his own doubts to secure the alliance that Earthrealm needs and/or to not spread doubt between Liu Kang’s supporters toward their leader. Something that their enemies would definitely use against them at any given chance. 

I guess that could be the Lin Kuei upbringing that demands to put duty above inner doubts, but also what taught Kuai Liang and Bi-Han to not share their every personal feeling with outsiders and think “politically”, the way Sindel and Liu Kang secure their realms.

But this is what politics is, I guess. A small diplomacy lie here and there in the name of greater good. Annoying I know, but also a great source material to see how relationships between characters differ depending on who speaks with whom about what. 

How well aware Kuai Liang is about Lin Kuei’s activity is a very good question indeed. Considering he and Smoke are tracking Bi-Han through the Outworld and the trail led them to the capital city of Sindel/Mileena’s empire I think there is a great chance the attack on Tarkatan colony isn't any big secret. Especially since Baraka and Mileena have their working relationship to improve the living conditions of the exiled, sick people while Shirai Ryu maintains their relationship with Empress and her sister. Bi-Han’s attacks are a reason for concern for Mileena and it feels to me as a natural the turn of events she would inform Kuai Liang about his brother’s activity - unless of course they fell out with each other, as Tomas and Kuai Liang refused to bring their brother for Mileena’s judgment. 

I understand your point, as Kuai Liang’s intros can be seen as him being manipulative and narrow-minded - and the way sources present Harumi and Tomas as an addition to Scorpion and not as separate characters with their own goals and character development doesn’t help much change that impression. What makes me think about the possibility that someone could manipulate Kuai Liang’s feelings actually comes from how easily Shang Tsung can play on his anger. This may not be the best example, but hopefully it will illustrate my point, so please, bear with me on this one:

Shang Tsung: It was all too simple, pulling your brother's strings. Scorpion: It sickens me that he was so easily exploited.

This intro gives me an impression that Shang Tsung can go and lie about Bi-Han and Scorpion will swallow the bait, despite personally witnessing Bi-Han’s action. Shang Tsung on purpose annoys Kuai Liang by being smug about Sub-Zero joining him and the sorcerer presents it as some easily done manipulation and/or how he was in control of the situation, right? But the thing is, Bi-Han wasn’t manipulated the way Sindel was, as Shang Tsung’s offer for Sub-Zero was the opportunity that only hastened the thing that would happen at some point anyway. Kuai Liang was well aware about his brother’s desire to break off with tradition he considered enslavement, as was noted in Scorpion’s BIO, story mode and intro dialogues. So Shang Tsung’s “pulling your brother’s strings” doesn’t make much sense to me, as it doesn’t feel like Shang Tsung exploited Bi-Han’s weakness, the way he exploited Sindel’s love for Mileena. Both men used the opportunity for alliance to advance their plans that already were in the motion.

The whole Bi-Han and Kuai Liang’s chapters feel rushed and quite illogical in the way the events were structured (and this is not about the betrayal scene alone but how Lin Kuei are bad at infiltrating mission), but Kuai Liang’s answer really bothers me, like he does not acknowledge that Bi-Han made decision for himself and he would choose to break off from Liu Kang whatever Shang Tsung’s offer happened or not. Dunno, maybe it is just me, but the way he says Bi-Han “was so easily exploited” give the impression as he believe Shang Tsung had or still has control over his brother - and as intro dialogues show, Bi-Han and Shang Tsung’s working relationship is currently rocky, better than what Lin Kuei has with General Shao but still not fully secured alliance. 

Which is why I feel that if Shang Tsung at some point would claim Bi-Han is helping him to weaponize Tarkat sickness, Scorpion would swallow the bait - even if Sub-Zero has no interest in it and if he knew about Shang Tsung’s laboratory before the mission (something that Liu Kang apparently didn’t bother to tell about Lin Kuei) it could affect his decision of joining forces with sorcerer. Maybe I’m reading too much into that intro, but Scorpion is angry at Bi-Han to the point considering everything the worst about him. He literally calls Sub-Zero disgrace to family and clan - a clan that supports Sub-Zero even despite knowing well how it puts them on a collision course against Fire Lord. So I do think that the burning anger blinds Kuai Liang in a way that makes it easy for other people to manipulate him. All they need is just fed up Scorpion's idea of how low his brother fell down from grace. Even if Bi-Han has no real part in their schemes. Would Shang Tsung do so? Sure, lying is his favorite forte and if his alliance with Sub-Zero breaks down for good, he could use Kuai Liang to hunt down and annoy Bi-Han more, as a way of revenge and refocusing Shirai Ryu effort on someone else. 

Hell, even Bi-Han could do that to Kuai Liang, as a way to keep his brother on a false trail and confuse the pursuit. All he needs is either ask one of his allies to lie - and Shang Tsung would do it happily - or fabricate evidence himself. In the case of the latter, attacking Tarkat people who has no strategic importance to Lin Kuei’s plans and spreading rumors about the supposed research how to weaponizing sickness. That could easily lure Kuai Liang to Tarkat colony while Bi-Han and his men could infiltrate Sun Do in relative peace. There are plenty of possibilities that NRS most likely won’t think about. 

But I think it is worth to keep in mind that what Kuai Liang says about Bi-Han may not be an evidence Scorpion is lying on purpose, but him believing in the lies of other characters. Because he is too emotionally involved in the situation to think objectively, the same as Hanzo was in the past.

Oh, thank you for checking that out for me! I always thought Bi-Han isn’t one to lie and manipulate the way, let’s say Shang Tsung is implied to do. But I guess Sub-Zero may be just too done with people around him to bother anymore XD

Kuai Liang is a liar

We need to talk about a Kuai Liang intro I've recently discovered that honestly left me flabbergasted. I have no idea how I didn't come across this intro earlier or why no one else ever talked about it, but the more you look into Kuai Liang's dialogues, the worse it gets. Blatant ableism towards Kenshi, arrogance and disrespect towards his own allies and now this...

Baraka: I wouldn't wish Tarkat upon my worst enemy. Scorpion: Then help me stop Bi-Han from weaponizing it.

What is this? Just what on earth is he talking about here?

Bi-Han never intended to weaponize Tarkat. He wants it extinguished. Not once in the story mode does Bi-Han talk about or show any interest in Tarkat or the Tarkatans, it's not mentioned in his tower ending or any of his intro dialogues with other characters. What Bi-Han wants is an army similar to Shang Tsung's dragon army, so he can take control of a part of Earthrealm. To achieve this, he started the Cyber initiative.

What does any of that have to do with Tarkat? Bi-Han has no need for it. In fact, he made it very obvious what he thinks of those infected with Tarkat.

I looked at every line Bi-Han said in the game that mentions Tarkat as well as all his dialogues with Baraka and Mileena, the two characters that are infected with it.

Sub-Zero: Expect no compassion, freak. Baraka: Such a cold heart, Sub-Zero.

Sub-Zero: Your kind should be exterminated. Baraka: Disease does not make us disposable.

Sub-Zero: Your affliction is divine punishment. Baraka: Actually, it is fate's cruel joke.

Sub-Zero: If your subjects learn your secret -- Mileena: You dare threaten me, Bi-Han?!

What we learn from these dialogues is that Bi-Han wants Tarkat and Tarkatans gone. He thinks their affliction is some kind of punishment, he seems appalled by it, not interested in it. He tries to use Mileena's condition against her only as a method of extortion, but other than that, Bi-Han does not care about Tarkat in the slightest.

Kuai Liang is lying. He's lying to Baraka to turn him against Bi-Han.

How bad can the "bad guy" be if the supposed "good guy" has to lie to make him look worse?

Shang Tsung is the one trying to weaponize Tarkat and yes, Bi-Han was Shang Tsung's ally, but he stopped working with him and told Liu Kang he wasn't aware of Shang Tsung's experiments.

This isn't even the first time Kuai Liang was lying to one of his allies.

Scorpion: Liu Kang's revelation has shaken my faith in him. Raiden: Understandable, given what he chose to hide. Reptile: Am I right to put faith in Liu Kang? Scorpion: He's always proven worthy of mine.

You might remember this dialogue from the second part of my character analysis for Kuai Liang, in which I already talked about how much of a two-faced character he is.

Truth is, Kuai Liang, just like Bi-Han, doesn't hesitate to lie to others when there's an advantage to gain for him. This yet again proves that Kuai Liang has no honor. I don't know how much lower this character can sink and that's not even including the story dlc events. Kuai Liang is a disgrace to the Scorpion mantle. Hanzo might have been a flawed character, but I don't recall him lying and manipulating others to get his way.