<strong>The Courtyard</strong><br/><br/>The sun rose over the Lost Sea, washing over a lone island fortress with the warmth of its light. Somewhere between the realms, this island would be host to the latest of Mortal Kombat tournaments. Assembled in a courtyard overlooked by an elevated throne, the fighters of Earthrealm stood before an elevated throne overlooking the area. Between the arena and the throne there was gathered an audience of berobed student monks quietly kneeling in attendence. The sun was beating down on everyone as they waited, it seemed like it would be ages before<em>something</em>would break the tension.<br/><br/>From behind the stage that the throne was emplaced upon, an elderly man climbed up the stairs. He had long white hair, withered features and a thin mustashe and goatee. The robed old man was followed by two scantily clad women, raven-haired and beautiful, one fair and the other dark, wearing azure and emerald respectively. The old man went over infront of his throne and addressed the spectators and fighters "Kombatants. I am Shang Tsung! In the coming days each of you will fight. Some are here of their own volition, others were brought here by chance."<br/><br/>From behind the upraised stage, a few of Outworld's fighters took their place amongst the group of Earthrealmers. It was only a fraction of Shao Kahn's delegation, for he had little desire to reveal his entire hand at once. The whole crowd, Earthrealmers and Outworlders both, were flanked by men wielding spears and wearing strange black-and-white diamond-shaped masks. Throughout the entire place there was a pervading sense of hostility, like the urge to just slaughter the men and women of Earth was just barely restrained by the most tenuous of bonds.<br/><br/>As Shang Tsung continued to talk, the Onna-Bugeisha Ayumi turned to the Thunder God Raiden, "Kaminari-sama," She said, turning her chin towards him while keeping her eyes on the sorceror, "Their eyes... They look as if-"<br/><br/><strong>"They will not violate the rules of Mortal Kombat."</strong>Raiden interjected, his voice deep and thunderous with authority,<strong> "They cannot, lest Shao Kahn face the judgement of the Elder Gods. In order to merge Earthrealm with Outworld, he must win only by the rules of Mortal Kombat."</strong><br/><br/>Ayumi looked over her shoulder, her gaze locked first at Gao for a moment before settling on Sucuri and Ajei, "I cannot believe that such strange people live just beyond the sea..."<br/><br/><strong>"They are human, the warriors of Earthrealm."</strong>Raiden said,<strong>"If we are to succeed, you must treat them as your sisters. For you have more in common with them than any of Shao Kahn's outworlders, least of all <em>them.</em>"</strong>He added, looking up at the two women besides Shang Tsung's throne. Ayumi furrowed her brow and asked, "They are not human?"<br/><br/>Raiden shook his head as Shang Tsung continued his speech, "This is the third Mortal Kombat tournament after two Outworld victories to determine Earthream's fate. If you defeat all of your opponents, you will face one final challenge...<em><strong>me.</strong></em>"<br/><br/>Within the crowd of warriors, Ieremia was amongst Outworld's kombatants. In the days prior he met many strange and unusual beings... Overall, few of them were fond of one another, and in many ways that made Ieremia no different than the others. It was a fragile alliance, bound together by hatred, fear, or greed. He had yet to meet the Emperor, but to bring together all these fighters under a common goal- it was a testament to his power. They all seemed too focused on their own problems and rivalries, some of which had been thousands of years old, to give the newcomer much thought... at least until he proved himself. Yamagi was among the group as well, though she wasn't strictly a fighter on<em>either</em>side.