Outworld

Outworld is the evil realm that was once ruled by Onaga, the Dragon King. It is a realm where, although it mimics Earth in many ways (in terms of appearance), is a place of great wonder and great horror. Chaos and destruction lay wihin Outworld. It is a world central to the series of Mortal Kombat, where the supernatural and hideous (and generally evil) warriors come from. Warriors such as Shao Khan, the Dragon King, Shang Tsung, and Bo' Rai Cho are all products of Outworld.

History
Outworld has a very long timeline. In the beginning, the Dragon King and his undefeatable army ruled this realm. The power of the Dragon King was never challenged as his army was not only undefeated and unbeatable, they were also invincible, due to Onaga's power to resurrect the dead. Onaga himself was not invincible, and his advisor Shao Khan poisoned him. With Onaga's death, Shao Khan was able to rule the Outworld although the army, which remained loyal to Onaga, refused to serve him. Thus, they starved themselves to death, with hopes to serve Onaga if he is to be resurected. Shao Khan began his reign as Emperor of Outworld by invading Edenia, killing King Jerrod and taking Queen Sindel as his bride. With Jerrod dead, Shao Khan fused Edenia and Outworld into one massive realm where chaos and the total dominance of Shao Khan would reign supreme. Queen Sindel committed suicide and Princess Kitana would be trained as a personal assassin for Shao Khan, along with her close childhood friend Jade. Mileena would then be introduced into the world when Shang Tsung was ordered to create a grosteque clone of his stepdaughter to spy on her "sister." Since the merger between Edenia and Outworld, the newly spanned Outworld has served as a breeding ground for such creatures like the Tarkatans, Centuarians, and the Shokan.

Shang Tsung was sent to conquer Earthrealm, but its inhabitants challenged him to Mortal Kombat. According to its sacred rules, Outworld's fighters would have to win ten tournaments before the furies would be unbalanced and allow Shao Kahn's invasion. Tsung won nine tournaments before he was defeated by Kung Lao. Kung Lao would remain champion of Mortal Kombat until Shang Tsung brought the Shokan Prince Goro, who crushed Kung Lao and held the title of champion for five hundred years, until he fell to Liu Kang.

Shang Tsung would return to Outworld, facing the death pentalty for his failure and the apparent death of Goro. Shang Tsung begged Shao Khan for one last chance; his latest plan was to lure Liu Kang and his comrades into Outworld for Kombat, where they would meet certain death at the hands of Shao Khan. Kahn provoked Liu Kang into accepting by sending Baraka and his Tarkatan horde to destroy the Shaolin Temple.

Rayden and his champions went to Outworld to compete in the tournament held by Shao Khan, and Liu Kang managed to defeat him. Rayden was successful in destroying Kintaro himself during the tournament. Unwilling to accept his defeat, Shao Kahn summoned his army to chase the Earthrealm warriors, who escaped through a portal.

Shang Tsung placated Kahn's anger by telling him that he could revive Queen Sindel in Earthrealm, allowing Kahn to reclaim her and take Earthrealm at the same time. Rayden and his chosen warriors defended Earthrealm, and Liu Kang again defeated Shao Kahn, forcing him to retreat.

Kitana freed Sindel of the evil taint forced upon her, and with the help of Jade, worked to free Edenia from Outworld. They succeeded.

Frustrated with repeated defeat, Shao Khan waged constant war against the combined armies of Edenia and the Shokan, led by Kitana and Goro. When Shang Tsung presented his ally, Quan Chi, to the emperor, the two sorcerors attacked and killed him.

When the Deadly Alliance defeated Rayden's chosen warriors, they were confronted by the resurrected Dragon King. The combined power of Rayden, Shang Tsung, and Quan Chi could not defeat him, and Onaga reclaimed his position as the original Emperor of Outworld.

With Kitana dead, Mileena assumed her identity to lead the Edenian army with Bo' Rai Cho against the Tarkatan horde, led by King Baraka. Even with Mileena feeding him bad information, Bo' Rai Cho managed to win battle after battle against the Tarkatans, causing Baraka to believe his queen had deserted him. Baraka sent a body double to confront Mileena, who had him killed. Convinced of her treachery, Baraka killed her.

Places of Interest in Outworld

 * The Dead Pool: An arena that is surrounded by highly caustic acid. It was once a place where prisoners where tortured and murdered. (It would later on serve as inspirtation for Shang Tsung's "Acid Bath" stage, found in Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance
 * The Kombat Tomb: An arena where kombatants once fought, and spikes on the roof served as a brutal deathspot for those who get too close.
 * The Wasteland: Baraka's Tarkatan race originated from this hellish badland.
 * The Living Forest: Perhaps one of Outworld's most memorable places, it features forests with faces that on occasion move and speak.
 * Khan's Arena: The torturous place where kombatants are forced to do battle, with the evil emperor watching and enjoying himself.