Portfolio Category: MORTAL

Smoke

Life Status:    Mortal

Friends:    The Lin Kuei

Enemies:    Sub-Zero

Fighting style:    Karate

 

PAST

Very little is known about who Smoke is or where Smoke comes from. It is known that he was stolen as a child and turned into a warrior by the ninja clan, The Lin Kuei, for this is exactly what happened to his former friend Sub-Zero. While his enemy possesses powers to summon and control freezing energy at will, Smoke has powers that are equally as deadly as Sub-Zero’s. Smoke has learned over the years to alter his physical form, and transform himslef into nothing but black smoke. This ability comes in very handy, for he can disguise himslef briliiantly. He may rest at the top of a candle, or roar over an inferno of flames.

PRESENT

Smoke is currently in pursuit of Sub-Zero, for killing one of the masters of The Lin Kuei. Sub-Zero cannot control his physical presence as Smoke can, so he must always be alert and ready, for Smoke can hide in the most devious places. Sub-Zero can run, but he can never hide.

KOMBAT ABILITIES

Attack:
Smoke’s frightening attacks are as stiff as rock and as ruthless as fire. Smoke’s gymnastic abilities do not come close the that of other warriors. But when he fights, his brutal and careless tactics go a long way and result in hefty punishment on his opponent. Smoke is like a battering ram when he attacks, and his foes don’t even get a chance to feel pain before they die.

Defence:
Defense is something Smoke is unfamiliar with. Offence is something Smoke is very familiar with. If he is to block an attack, he will probably use an offensive move to do it. Or he could just take the brunt and proceed to pummel his opponent to the ground.

Tomas

Life Status:    Mortal

Friends:    Taja

Enemies:    Shao Kahn

Fighting styles:    Karate, Kung Fu

Episode:   Twisted Truth

 

PAST

Tomas is a very mysterious warrior, so there is not much known about him. Tomas appered to the Earth warriors out of the blue, saying that he was trained by martial arts master (his name unknown) to fight against Outworld in the Mortal Kombat tournament. When Tomas’s master was sure his apprentice was ready, he sent him out on his own, in search of the legendary Mortal Kombat champion Kung Lao. If Tomas managed to find Kung Lao, he was sure that they would be an unstoppable force together. And if Kung Lao had managed to recruit some other warriors, then that would make the group all the more fierce.

 

PRESENT

Unfortunately, Tomas’s company didn’t last very long with Kung Lao. The day he arrived at the trading post, the emperor of Outworld, Shao Kahn, was immediately informed. The monstrous emperor promtly came up with a brilliant scheme to rid himself of the new threat. He managed to frame Tomas for murdering two innocent women, and when the news got back to Kung Lao, the two fighters clashed in a spectacular showdown. It wasn’t long though, before the true murderer arrived at the scene: Reptile. The leader of Zaterra ruthlessly killed Tomas before disappearing once again into the shadows.

 

KOMBAT ABILITIES

Attack:
Tomas is one of the best fighters ever seen in the series. According to Shao Kahn, he is even more able than his mistaken rival, Kung Lao. He is very quick on his feet, and can shift from a low attack into a high attack effortlessly. His punches come at a rapid pace, jabbing strongly and sharply with a deadly force. His kicks are as hard as nails, and are brilliantly timed to ensure a direct hit. But something that is noticable about Tomas is that most of his punches are aimed at the face and his kicks tend to stay at midsection level. Exceptions are usually made only at genuine opportunities.

Defence:
Maybe not as polished as Kung Lao’s, but still solid nonetheless. Tomas does have a unique trick that none of the otehr fighters have, and that is defending AFTER he has been hit. It works like this: Tomas lets his opponent strike him, leading them to think that they are out of danger. But just after the strike connects, he shifts the attacking limb aside and launches a surprise counter attack.

              

Sub-Zero

Life Status:    Mortal

Friends:    None

Enemies:    The Lin Kuei, Scorpion

Fighting styles:    Tae Kwon Do, Ninjitsu, Karate

Episodes:    Cold Reality, The Serpent and the Ice

 

PAST

Sub-Zero was once a normal person living a happy life with his family. But when he was only a child, Sub-Zero’s family was attacked by a small band of ninjas. They stripped Sub-Zero of his family, leaving them weaping in a painful mess. The ninjas brought Sub-Zero to an unknown place, dark and terrifying. This place was the hideout of The Lin Kuei, a clan of superhuman ninjas. The clan began brainwashing Sub-Zero to make him forget about his family, and then began the training. The Lin Kuei trained him to be a fierce warrior from an early age. It was hard and agonising as he passed from being a child to a teenager to a man. When he was completed, the clan gave him the name Sub-Zero because of his uncanny ability to summon freezing energy and control it in every way he liked. This power was mainly used as a projectile weapon, resulting in his enemies falling to the ground and shattering into pieces. Sub-Zero then began working as one of the main agents for the Lin Kuei. He would fight, he would kill, and he would even die for his beloved masters.

 

PRESENT

The current location of Sub-Zero is unknown, ever since he betrayed The Lin Kuei by siding with the Earth warriors to defeat his supposed-to-be ally, Scorpion. He has no one to turn and everyone to run from. The emperor of Outworld, Shao Kahn, is also attempting to have him destroyed after Sub-Zero broke the alliance with Scorpion, an alliance which he organised to crush the Earth warriors. Even the Earth warriors themselves are not friendly with the superninja. But Sub-Zero is not to be underestimated, for his enemies forget his amazing combat skills and this could cost them dearly. Another enemy to beware of is Sub-Zero’s former companion, Smoke, who has been sent to hunt him down by The Lin Kuei. Sub-Zero is like a cornered fox, but as you know, corned fox’s are rarely classified as defenseless.

 

KOMBAT ABILITY

Attack:
Sub-Zero’s attacks vary widely. One minute he might be wrestling someone to the ground, the other he might be somersaulting off a balcony. Sub-Zero alters his attacks according to the current situation, and adjusts them according to his opponents. His punches are stiff, his kicks are strong, and his all-out assualts are devastating.

Defense:
Sub-Zero is not only brilliant in the attacking department. His defense skills stop incoming moves dead in their tracks. His blocks are so strong that some might recoil. His dodging is so accurate that he would know how to let a kick reach only a thread off his clothes.

                               

Lori

Life Status:    Mortal

Friends:    Kung Lao

Enemies:    None

Fighting styles:    (supposedly) Shaolin, Jujitsu

Episode:   The Festival of Death

 

PAST

Many years ago, when Lori was a young girl, she trained as a martial artist in the Temple of the Order of Light. The monks there were very kind to her, and they trained her extremely well to become a very formidable fighter. She became friendly with a boy her own age named Kung Lao, who also trained at the temple. But Kung Lao was a year older, and when it was his time, he left the temple to start a life. By the time it was Lori’s turn to leave, she had lost contact with Kung Lao and didn’t see him again for a long time.

PRESENT

Lori eventually did catch up with Kung Lao, asking him to train her to become as skilled as him. But at this time, there was a fighting festival after being set up in Zhu ZHin, run by the notorious warrior Qali. It was a tournament, and the winner was said to receive a hefty sum of prize money. Lori jumped at the chance, not knowing that the tournament was a scheme set up by the sorcer Quan Chi to gather new souls. Lori won the tournament, but when Kung Lao, Siro and Taja arrived, hell broke loose and the captured souls escaped. The three Earth warriors managed to escape, while the fiery souls killed everyone inside. Including Lori.

KOMBAT ABILITIES

Lori’s matches in the tournament were not shown in the series, so it’s difficult to tell how she fights. However, since she was trained by the same monks as Kung Lao, it’s very likely that her style is similar to his.

     

Jola

Life Status:    Mortal

Friends:    Shang Tsung

Enemies:    Kung Lao, Siro, Taja, Vorpax, Kebral

Fighting styles:    None. Ability to fight fuelled by the powers of The Black Dragon.

Episode 7:    Debt of the Dragon

 

PAST

Jola is member to an infamous underground clan known as The Black Dragon. The clan is run by her father, a man known as Bannak. Her older brother, Kebral, is also part of this organisation. The two siblings are highest in command of The Black Dragon, second to their father, but it is Kebral who will inherit the throne after Bannak’s death. Jola is extremely jealous of her older brother, and it has lead to great bitterness between them. The throne of The Black Dragon means more to her than Kebral might realize.

PRESENT

The trading post belonging to Kung Lao, Siro and Taja is owed to The Black Dragon. Its previous owner, Baron Reyland, lost it to them by gambling. He is now dead, and The Black Dragon wants what is theirs.

The three warriors refuse to give up the trading post. This leads to an angry feud, with Jola caught in the middle. She badly wants to take the trading post by force, and she also wants to be the first heir to the throne. Remembering the legend of her family’s ancient, albeit dangerous powers, she seeks help from the sorcerer Shang Tsung. He makes a deal with her: if she were to have access to the powers, it would mean the death of Kung Lao. She agrees without hesitation.

With her earth-shattering new abilities of The Black Dragon, she murders her father and her brother, before heading to the trading post to claim the life of her enemies. Jola is completely invincible during her fight with Kung Lao and Siro. However, as Shang Tsung had warned her before, the powers of the Dragon are near uncontrollable. Just as the powers begin to suck the life from Jola, Shang Tsung transports her back to the Cobolt Mines and takes them from her. The sorcerer tells Jola that he will keep her prisoner until she learns to harness and control the Dragon’s powers properly.

KOMBAT ABILITIES

Attack:
Without the powers of The Black Dragon, Jola’s skills are extremely limited. However, when she possesses the Dragon’s unique abilities within herself, she becomes the most unstoppable force. Her strength is hugely increased, especially through her kicks. Through her fight with Kung Lao and Siro you will notice how brutal her kicks can be. Her punches are fast and heavy, leading to tremenously powerful blows, but Jola is too short in height to rely on her fists. Using punches to an extent may put her at a disadvantage. Even when she does get in close, it is much wiser to put her Aikido-like holds to use instead of punches or kicks. Jola does not usually take part in hand to hand combat. Instead she uses her power by throwing fire. Also if she touches someone she can use her powers and kill them.

Defence:
Weak enough, given that she is a master of combat with her newfound abilities. Her blocking is shocking, although in other ways her defense can be effective. And cool-looking too. Jola is remarkably agile when in battle, using well-timed ducks and dodges combined with perfect somersaults and spins. Never before have I seen a fighter air-cartwheel out of an arm lock with such grace.

             

Bannak

Life Status:    Mortal

Friends:    Kebral, Jola

Enemies:    Shang Tsung

Episode 7:    Debt of the Dragon

 

PAST

Bannak is the high ruler of an underground organisation known as the Black Dragon. This group terrorizes the city of Zhu Zin to get what it wants, and has a reputation for being one of the most powerful clans in history.
Bannak knows of the ancient powers of The Black Dragon. It is unclear to all others as to where they originated. These almighty powers are deadly in the hands of someone who does not know how to control them. As a result, no memeber of The Black Dragon has ever summoned them from their chamber – a large heavy amulet in the form of a black dragon. No member, that is, save for one man.
The previous Black Dragon ruler, Bannak’s father, was an exceptional fighter in all arts. However, being one of the greatest wasn’t enough. He wanted to be the best. Bannak’s father summoned the ancient powers of The Black Dragon and bestowed them upon himself. Days later, in the middle of a fight, the powers went out of control. He began to die, and Bannak had to watch as the powers killed him from within.
Bannak took over as ruler of The Black Dragon, and had two children, their mother unknown. There was a son, Kebral, and a daughter, named Jola. Bannak vowed to keep the deathly powers locked away forever, and protect his children from the ungodly evil contained in the amulet.

PRESENT

Kebral and Jola have grown into adults, turning out to be both strong fighters. As Kebral was the first-born child, he is the heir to the throne and will take over from his father. Bannak knows how deeply this troubles Jola, and how much tension it has caused between his two children. He struggles to keep them together as a unit, continually reminding them that they are the heart of The Black Dragon and how weak the clan would become if they came to blows. United they will stand, divided they will fall.
As much as Bannak tries to keep them cool, he can see that Jola is becoming greedy, perhaps even dangerous. He has seen her obsessive interest in the amulet worn around his neck.  However, Bannak is determined: if Jola were ever to reach the powers of The Black Dragon, it would be over his dead body.

KOMBAT ABILITIES

Unkown. We do not witness any of Bannak’s battles.

     

Taja

Life Status:    Mortal

Friends:    Kung Lao, Siro, Rayden

Enemies:    Shang Tsung, Shao Kahn, Vorpax, Kreeya, Qali

Fighting styles:    Freestyle Boxing, Judo

 

PAST

 

When Taja was a young girl in her early teens, she belonged to a family of travellers. They were not a very wealthy family, but they were happy nonetheless. But one day, while her family were setting up camp in the middle of a forest, Taja wandered off exploring, never realizing that she would never see them again.

Taja used the only talent she knew to survive: stealing. Sometimes Taja would have to go extremely out of her way to achieve something. Her youth did not set a limit for her, and she would sneak into a king’s palace if necessary. As she grew up, she became one of the most sly and skillful thieves in the world. But along with stealing, she picked up the ability to fight. Fighting was essential for thieves, for even the most silent of burglars occasionally get spotted.

One day Taja teamed up with another thief in an attempt to mug the local Baron Reyland’s daughter Jen and her bodyguard, Siro. Unfortunately, Siro defeated both of them and even managed to arrest Taja, who was sentenced by the Baron to work as a slave.

Meanwhile, a man named Kung Lao had also been in trouble with the Baron for attempted romance with Jen. The Baron hated the idea of Jen being married to the latest champion of the Mortal Kombat tournament, thinking it an unsuitable lifestyle for his daughter.

In one last attempt to free Kung Lao, Jen freed Taja, seeking her help. Taja defeated all of the Baron’s guards single-handedly, allowing Kung Lao to escape from danger. Things went wrong again, though. A lethal assassin named Scorpion captured Jen in the hopes of luring Kung Lao to a battle.

By this time, Taja had become friendly with both Siro and Kung Lao and joined them on a mission to rescue Jen. While Taja and Siro fought the monks who had been cursed by Scorpion, Kung Lao battled him in the Temple of the Order of Light.

Taja helped Kung Lao and Siro in destroying Scorpion, but the win was more of a loss, as Jen’s dead body lay burned on the floor.

PRESENT

Taja lives with Siro and Kung Lao at the trading post in Zhu Zhin, which once belonged to the late Baron and Jen Reyland. Frequent attacks have been made on the three warriors. As the champion, Kung Lao must be wary as the furious fighters of Outworld try to annihilate Earth’s only hope. Taja’s unique martial arts abilities and sneaky theft skills lend a massive helping hand to her friends as they stand fighting for their realm.

KOMBAT ABILITIES

Attack:
Taja’s range of attacks is surprislingly limited, for she is not as athletic as some other warriors in the series. She ends up being pitted against quite good fighters, and therefore her variety of techniques have little effect on a lot her opponents. But if she were to use her strengths to her advantage, she would make a very formidable foe. Her main strength is undeniably obvious: punching. Taja’s punches may very well be the most devastating of all the fighters. When she nails an enemy in the face with her fist, she immediately gains the upper hand in the fight. But Taja must NEVER try to kick, for it will one day be the death of her. Her kicks are disgustingly weak, and her enemies can see them coming a mile away.

Defence:
I think everyone will agree that Taja’s defense is very poor indeed. Her arrogance while fighting leads her to believe that she can take the impact of the foot slamming into her ribs. Taja’s main motto….’Hit them before they hit you.’

                                        

Siro

Life Status:    Mortal

Friends:    Kung Lao, Taja

Enemies:    The Black Dragon, Scorpion, Shang Tsung, Shao Kahn

Fighting styles:    Tae Kwon Do, Vale Tudo

 

PAST

When Siro was young, his father always encouraged him to compete with his younger brother, Cassar. They would challenge each other over everything, to see who was the better brother. When Siro became engaged to a beautiful woman, Hannah, he thought he had finally won. But Hannah and Cassar had a secret love affair, and when Siro found out, he abandoned his family and set off on his own. On arriving in a city known as Zhu Zhin, he was spotted by the rich Baron Reyland, who hired Siro to act as a bodyguard for his daughter, Jen. After all, Siro was a superior fighter, and the toughest the Baron had ever seen.

While he and Jen were walking once, they were attacked by two bandits. Siro fended them off, and even managed to capture one of them. It turned out to be a woman, named Taja. She was given as a slave the Baron. Meanwhile, Siro learned of this strange relationship between Jen and a man named Kung Lao. Kung Lao was forbidden by the Baron to come near Jen. But he did, and he was sentenced to death. But just as the execution was about to take place, Taja escaped. With the help of Jen, Taja defeated the Baron’s guards. In the midst of the fight though, Jen was kidnapped by a man sent to kill Kung Lao, in a bid to lure him into a trap. Taja, Siro and Kung Lao set out to find her. When they eventually found Jen, Kung Lao fought hard against the kidnapper, a half man/demon, who calls himself Scorpion. Scorpion was defeated, but to Siro’s great dismay, Jen was killed in the process.

PRESENT

With Siro’s harsh history and experience as a bodyguard, Siro is a valuable companion for Kung Lao and Taja to have. He is very stubborn and often aggresive. Sometimes this can be a pain in the ass for his friends, but often a valuable asset in battle. Siro now lives with them at the trading post, where Jen and the Baron formerly lived. Siro lives with the guilt for failing to protect Jen, but does not suffer the same grief as Kung Lao. As the champion of the Mortal Kombat tournament, Kung Lao is a sheep among wolves. Countless enemies have invaded the trading post, hoping to kill him. But the three Earth warriors are always ready for a fight. Siro stands side-by-side with his friends, as they face the inevitable destiny that awaits them.

KOMBAT ABILITY

Attack:
Siro’s main attack technique is kicking. There are no boundaries to the variations of his mind-blowing kicks. The force of a kick to the head from Siro is enough to put anyone down for the count. He can punch when he wants to though, as a fight doesn’t go far without some reference to a standard right hook. Siro does have his problems though, and he knows it. His attacks do become repeditive in long fights and sometimes they are too predictable. But when it comes down to it, Siro is a sensational all round fighter.

Defense:
Siro is very cautious in fights, and he is well aware that there is a need to block. Siro cannot be defending himslef and attacking at the same time, like some fighters. He must either be on the offensive or the defensive. This is a wise decision in Siro’s case. As it makes his attacks stronger and more damaging, it also makes his blocks more accurate and his dodging faster.

There are 2 exactly the same Siro’s faces in the Siro vs Rain video. The other Siro face is just flipped horizontally.