The Elder Gods are deities in the Mortal Kombat series.
The Elder Gods are the ruling deities and creators of the universe, only being overshadowed by entities such as the Titans or the One Being. Unlike Titans, whose powers are linked to the governing laws of reality, such as time, the Elder Gods' powers are more related to physical concepts such as life/death and the elements. The Elder Gods are nigh omnipotent deities that have no limits to their jurisdiction, whereas other Gods only have jurisdiction over a single realm and sometimes represent an element, the Elder Gods are more ethereal and have power in all realms in the universe. The vague faces of the Elder Gods seen in Mortal Kombat 4, and the appearance of Shinnok in the same game, suggest that natural born Elder Gods have blue-gray skin and a humanoid appearance. Another different source of their form is found in Deception's Konquest Mode where an inverted dialogue states that, in their purest form, the Elder Gods resembles the Mortal Kombat Dragon logo.
Beings with this form can be seen in Onaga's unused ending picture found in Deception's Krypt, in Armageddon's Konquest, where Taven finds an inscription of his father talking to dragon-shaped figures, that he states to be the Elder Gods, and Captain Marvel's ending in Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe as well as at the end of Mortal Kombat (2011). The exact extent of their powers remains unclear, but they do not appear to be as omnipotent as they seemed in the early games in the series, with the combined power of the pantheon being temporarily resisted by Shao Kahn in Mortal Kombat (2011) and Cetrion being defeated by Jax and/or Jacqui (empowered by Kronika's crown) in Mortal Kombat 11 and by Sindel (with aid from Nightwolf) in Aftermath. Regardless, they remain the most powerful class of beings outside of the Titans, with only the most exceptional of mortals or lesser gods even hoping to challenge them.
Although their duty is to watch over and maintain balance between the realms, the Elder Gods are mostly non-interventionist, caring very little (if at all) for lives of mortals. Most notably, they permitted Shao Kahn to invade and wreak havoc in Earthrealm, despite Outworld having lost both of the preceding tournaments and did not intervene until Kahn tried to merge the realms.
Theme songs[]
A Date and a Destiny[]
Fujin made a surprise appearance within the Wu Shi arena as he challenged and defeated the monks seamlessly, desperately looking for the Champion. He also won over Kung Lao but was very intrigued he can be more powerful than his ancestor! Before the events of MK4, he and Aiko had been training with him at the Wind World, about two years.
Mortal Kombat: Shinnok's Uprising[]
The Elder Gods, along with Raiden and Fujin, had been involved in a lethal scrimmage against Shinnok within the heavens. Legend had it, as revealed by the Saurians, they were also in a fatal battle thousands of years ago which caused the cataclysmic event of an asteroid impacting Earth while Raiden was evacuating the Raptors to Zaterra. It was believed that the extinction was from a fallen God.
Fujin fell during the second battle near the Bayan Har Mountains, as a meteor by bystanders. He was saved by Liu, Kai, Lao, Nightwolf and Aiko from the Army of Darkness. Then he was teleported to the Jinsei Chamber and tended by his brother before Johnny Cage was resurrected and continued their fight.
One of the Elder Gods congratulated Raiden on a job well done on his success over Shinnok. Thus, making Raiden achieve Elder God status! To everyone's despair, excepting a joyous Fujin being downgraded as the guardian of Earth, Raiden bid his final farewell before he left his children behind...
Mortal Kombat: Vengeance[]
Because of the sudden ambush of the Deadly Alliance and upon the abrupt death of Liu Kang, Raiden was disgusted by his peers, thus downgrading back to God status along with Fujin's ranks. Since they'd former Elder God status, both brothers had slight upgrades to their abilities when they approached Outworld; unfortunately, it wasn't enough to best the two sorcerers. When Kung Lao, Nightwolf and Liu won over them, it was declared Raiden shall stay as a lesser god and defend Earthrealm once more.
Return of the Dragon King[]
It was revealed by Raiden in his astral form to Lao in the same state as they traversed in a different time, that the Elder Gods created the Kamidogu after their creation of the realms. Since the One Being was divided, they were believed to be sacred with immense power, but only when they're reunited in the Nexus. This was also created by the Elder Gods as the catalyst of a greater threat in which one who unites the Kamidogu possesses power similar to the One Being, like Onaga. However, the last piece, Shinnok's Amulet, wasn't found. It's most likely some treacherous Elder Gods made it for that purpose.
Final Kombat[]
The Elder Gods had given the sorceress, Delia, visions of Armageddon and in turn passed on the intel to Argus. It was revealed by Raiden as an Elder God and devoted protector of Earthrealm that he was given his own amulet; however, he hardly used it till he began to have night terrors of Armageddon, same with Liu. The amulet was used as a sort of time limit showing cracks then fractures as Armageddon loomed closer. Raiden thought it was a warning for the inevitable.
The fallen Elder God, Shinnok, was found in his Spire but only diffused after the heroes' last encounter with him; after absorbing positive energy created by Nightwolf while shielding Liu Kang's heart, he became overwhelmed and weakened, even when his long-lost memories were restored of his corrupt family. Since then, his doppelganger who was stronger pulled the strings to expedite Armageddon. The original has also created a dark replica of Aiko's heart gem thru the mimickery of her cardiokinesis and has been using it as surveillance onto the Kombatants. He soon lost reception as Aiko noticed his purpose, but it wasn't until the double walker drained more of Shinnok's vitality and stole the black heart for himself. Hanzo arrived minutes later as Armageddon finally transpired, restoring Shinnok's being with the retrieved amulet from the Temple of Elements. With it, the dark heart dissolved out of the doppelganger's hold, much to his rage! Fire God Liu Kang then defeated him in battle before he and the other Forces of Darkness were caught in Blaze's eruption! The two amulets restored Cetrion's essence, and she greatly mourned for the grave losses, restoring the heroes. After Raiden and the merged Liu Kang committed suicide, they too grieved for their heroic sacrifice, causing a healing rainfall onto the southern lands. Shinnok was soon emancipated into Purgatory, as his heart absorbed both darkness and light! He seemed to be reduced to a God but actually closer to Cetrion and no longer posing as a threat.
Kontentment[]
The Elder Gods had still been created by the One Being and won over him after they waged war; even the Titans pitched in to conquer the single celestial from consuming all. The titaness, Kronika, was still the leader of the pantheon, until Fire God Liu Kang wiped her out at the prehistoric era. After he attained the Krown from Shang, he returned to the Chaotian Age, after attaining Kitana, and caved into his weakness due to lack of worship. Kitana expedited the Hourglass and went post-haste to Edenia, thus skipping the development of the Elder Gods. Until Liu defended the realm from Kahn and his forces, impressing Argus, and he escorted him to the heavens standing before them! The Elder Gods knighted Liu as a member of the pantheon as he proved himself, and permanently reversing his curse! They offered his request on bestowing Kitana as a Goddess without the requirement of death. They still remained the same, even after Cetrion pacified them.
Side Stories[]
Of course, they and the rest of the pantheon was under attack by Shinnok, thus the invasion of Earthrealm and the fallen God making the dinosaurs and most of the Saurians extinct.
It was also stated that the Elder Gods blessed Mary and Joseph, impregnating her and giving birth to Jesus in the fall.
Unaliving War[]
The Tribal Elder Gods during the Unaliving roleplay as chosen by Chieftain Liu Kang, Geras, and Chieftess Aiko
After Fire God Liu Kang was corrupted by Darkseid, he went on a conquest to decimate the Elder Gods. He started by converting Aiko, soon to be his chieftess, and then their brethren, the Makeba, and other realms to join their dark cause. As more resistors began to grow, Liu challenged them to Mortal Kombat and most of their forces had fallen! They surrendered and retreated, and Liu warned instead of doing so to begin with, they chose death! Another war was about to commence, until Liu shall confront Darkseid, whom Aiko suspected he may betray.
He then enlisted the top of the Eternal Palace to be the recruiting grounds, aka the fourth Tribal Ceremony, for his revenge over Darkseid and restore balance to the realms.
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