Earthrealm

About Earthrealm
More commonly referend to just as Earth, this realm has a very deep and rich mythology within the Mortal Kombat Universe. It is home to many of it's heros and even some villians. Looked at by other worlds as a lesser realm, its inhabitants live relatively short lives (70-80 years) and know very little of other realms.

History
Earthrealm is one of many realms that were formed after the Elder Gods shattered the One being. Over time, life began to evolve on this new world and soon it was teaming with life. The Saurion people rose above all to become the dominant species of the realm. Peace lasted for years until the Elder God Shinnok invaded the realm and claimed it as his own. By using an acient artifact, Shinnok's Amulet, he entered the realm and prohibited the other Elder Gods for interfering. As it was with all the realms, guardians were appointed to protect them from outside threats. Earth's protector came in the form of a inexperienced Raiden who met Shinnok on the field of battle. Their war would shake the Earth to its core almost destroyig the realm itself. The Saurions were almost driven to extinction until they found a way out of the realm and into Zattera.

Shinnok was a more than worthy adversary and it looked as if Raiden's defeat was imminent. In the battles final moments, Raiden was able to strip Shinnok of his sacred amulet, allowing the Elder Gods to enter the realm. With their help, Shinnok was defeated and banished him into the Netherealm for his crimes. Shinnok's Amulet remained in Earthrealm to be watched over by the young God. As time went on, life was rekindled on Earth and soon it was repopulated by a species...humans. Raiden called these primitive peole together and comanded that they build a magnificent temple to house the powerful amulet. Soon, the story of Raiden's war and the where abouts Shinnok's amulet were seemingly forgotten, lost in time over the next millennia.

The Human race evolved into a more powerful nation than the Saurions ever were. Relative peace reigned supreme, but as was the case before, peace never lasts. An order of monks recieved visions of a coming threat. Heeding the visions warning, the Shaolin temples were built and they began preparing for the future. Meanwhile in on another realm known as Outworld, Shao Kahn was planning his next conquest...Earth.

Kahn sends his apprentice, the vile sorceror Shang Tsung, to Earthrealm with a mission. Given the task of tipping the scales of balance towards chaos, he chooses a small Shaolin tournament as his means for accomplishing his goal. Earth's greatest warriors had been assembled to take part in this tournament. Ever since the alarming vision recieved by the Shaolin, they have hosted this competition in hopes of preparing Earth. Oblivious to this knowledge, Tsung entered the tournament and blew the competition away. Making it look easy, Tsung gained the title of Grand Champion. The sorceror's plan was simple, by defeating and then consuming the souls of his opponents, the furies of Earthrealm would naturally become more unstable. With Shang Tsung as Grand Champion of Earth, it's fate seemed doomed to live out a chaoic existence. For years, Shang Tsung's presence was like a plauge within the realm, until he met Kung Lao of the Shaolin Order.

The Great Kung Lao, as he would later be known, defeated Shang Tsung in a tremendous display of skill and determinatoin. Tsung lost his title but was shown mercy from the Shaolin Monk. Tsung retreated to the shadows where he would stay for years. Kung Lao would remain Grand Champion until Shang Tsung's return, when the Shokan Prince Goro was introduced into the tournament. Goro and Lao met in a historic battle, but it was the Shokan Prince who would become the new champion. He crushed Kung Lao and Tsung took Lao's soul as his trophy. Shang Tsung seized control of the Tournament from the Shaolin while Goro held onto the title of Grand Champion for the next five hundred years.

The furies had been swayed towards chaos and Tsung and goro were confident Kahn's regin on Earth would soon begin. In his 10th title defense, Goro met Liu Kang in the final battle of the tournament. The Shaolin monk shocked everyone and defeated the Grand Champion. Tsung's plans were scraped as Kangs victory saved Earthrealm from Outworld's imminent threat. Fearing Kahn's rath, he challenged Kang outright, only for him to fall in kombat as well. In the chaos that ensued, Tsung vanished into the Outworld and Earthrealm's defenders returned home.

to be continued...