Elder Gods (Mortal Kombat)

The Elder Gods are the silent guardians of all reality in the Mortal Kombat universe. They watch and scheme, manipulating events in the realms to prohibit the return of the One Being. They care nothing for the denizens born of the realms, and only seek to keep the One Being at bay.

History
Long before the realms, there was One Being, who existed by drawing off the life forces of the Elder Gods. In response, the Elder Gods created the Kamidogu, powerful weapons that shattered the One Being. The Elder Gods then created the realms from its body.

One of their own wanted to control the realms, just as the One Being had controlled them. That Elder God, Shinnok, waged a war that nearly destroyed what they had created, and ended with Shinnok imprisoned in the Netherrealm.

They 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.

The Elder Gods' rule of non-interference in mortal affairs that do not threaten their existence was evident when Shao Kahn, Emperor of Outworld, merged Earthrealm with Outworld to reclaim Queen Sindel, in direct violation of the sacred rules of Mortal Kombat. Rayden begged the Elder Gods to stop Kahn, who was required by the sacred laws 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 the Netherrealm and attacked them directly. Most of the Elder Gods were killed, and Rayden and Fujin gathered forces to stop him.

When Onaga was reincarnated, his 50-year mission to gather the Kamidogu through Shujinko was complete with the acquisition of Shinnok's amulet from Quan Chi. Now aware of a direct threat to their existence, the Elder Gods summoned Scorpion to act as their champion and destroy Onaga.