many centuries ago, earth was an enchanting and desirable planet. powerful and rich with natural resources, the vicious megalomaniac shao kahn wanted earth as part of his growing collection of conquered realms known as outworld. to protect earth, mortal kombat was created: a tournament in which the fate of the planet is decided in battles between competitors from earthrealm and outworld. five hundred years in the past, the monk warrior kung lao defeated shao kahn's sorcerer, shang tsung. when kung lao spared his life, kahn imprisoned tsung in the cobalt mines.