Okay, before we do ANYTHING - this would be NOT a topic of religion or anything. There's a never-seen character (at least, within the Midway continuity) where a character named Lucifer was mentioned in Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero and you can discover his name in Mortal Kombat: Deception in the Konquest Mode. It's mentioned that Shinnok did overthrow a god named Lucifer. Lucifer is also mentioned as the god and protector of the Netherrealm. However, I think the naming is rather erroneous and he should've been named something else.
However, if we go by Chinese mythologies, I believe it's a common misconception that Shinnok is based on Yanluo Wang. No, Yanluo Wang (or Yama in Indian) is NOT a bad guy. True, Yama is portrayed to be the fearsome ruler of the Netherrealm but ALL who die will report to this guy. So "Lucifer" in Mortal Kombat is actually King Yama of the Journey to the West. What's this guy's job? He's the ruler and the protector of Diyu or the Netherrealm. He's the judge of all the souls determining their fate depending on how they lived. He would be the one who locks up all the wicked people which would include fallen gods.
So how did Yama enter the Netherrealm? The Journey to the West reveals that Yama is both an Elder God and a damned soul repaying a karmic debt. How this happened is not really explained. It's perhaps that he sometimes gains pleasure in torturing others. Maybe, it's also required of him since he's tainted by the Netherrealm that he's assigned to guard. Regardless, Yama's role in the Netherrealm would be to judge the dead but the wickedness would taint him. Apparently, Yama leaves the Netherrealm to attend the Celestial Banquet but can't do so unless he drinks molten copper to purify himself. So the Jade Emperor (the Supreme Elder God) commands Yama to do penance as a result - something Yama dreads but obeys.
Instead, Shinnok's character was based on the fallen Elder God known as Tongtian Jiaozhu or the Heavenly Grandmaster. The Jie Sect was a cult devoted to the worship of the fallen Elder God Tongtian. It's also said that Tongtian was arrested and eventually subdued to the Netherrealm. It would make sense Shinnok suffers under "Lucifer" when we think of the equivalents. Shinnok is Tongtian and "Lucifer" is Yama. Yama would punish all the bad people and reward all the good people like Hades does in Greek Mythology. Hades as said is NOT a bad guy but a neutral god who decides the fate of the dead. In the TV series Legend of the Eight Immortals - Tongtian was eventually betrayed by his right-hand man, a free-roaming sorcerer known as Pan Golin. It's interesting that the series came after Mortal Kombat 4 was released. Pan Golin's counterpart would be Quan Chi. One could also consider that Tree Demoness could be an inspiration to Cetrion in MK11.
So, how would this fit in Mortal Kombat lore? So "Lucifer" (or I prefer to call him Yama) himself was in-charge of containing Shinnok along with other dangerous elements. Shinnok actually is more Luciferian having been thrown out of the Heavens. Yama himself was the protector of the Netherrealm. So, Yama (referred to as Lucifer) is NOT a villain in contrast to popular belief. In fact, it's possible that Yama provided Ashrah her way of redemption. Yama would be so tainted by Shinnok's sins that he would need to drink molten copper every now and then.
So how could Quan Chi eventually assist in the downfall of Yama? Maybe, Quan Chi was just waiting for the time when Yama would need to drink molten copper. This would give some damned souls the opportunity to finally rebel as Shinnok would lead. Shinnok having been an Elder God would be at the same level as Yama himself. Yama would totally be defenseless when he's drinking molten copper to purify himself. This would allow Shinnok to temporarily take over the Netherrealm but couldn't be free without the Sacred Amulet. In Journey to the West - Sun Wukong did put the Netherrealm into serious disarray which could've also allowed Tongtian's freedom giving way to the story of The Eight Immortals. How Yama would be after certain events - he's never mentioned again even under his alias as Lucifer. In MK Armageddon it's revealed that Shinnok still rules the Netherrealm. Why the Elder Gods didn't decide to restore Yama back to his position is just stupid.
I also thought MK11 would've been an excellent opportunity to bring "Lucifer" but this time call him Yamaraja or Yanluo Wang. Yamaraja would be the true ruler of the Netherrealm. I would make it to a point that Liu Kang and Kitana end up as his subordinates with the other Revenants to make them pay off their sins. Liu Kang and Kitana are tasked to bring Shinnok's head into the incarceration chamber and Yama now rules his rightful place. However, Kronika causes a ruckus and causes Liu Kang and Kitana to rebel against Yama in favor of her son Shinnok. A bone temple is created and Yama is forced to become the source of power for the temple. However, Kronika's reassembling of the Bone Temple allows Yama to escape. Yama would later aid the forces of good and talks about their history with Kronika and the One Being. Yama would also be offering his ship and guidance to the heroes to defeat Kronika.
In the Aftermath expansion pack, I think Yama can also get an extended part as a non-playable character. He would be back in the Netherrealm to make sure that no damned soul will escape. I would have it that Shang Tsung would try to get Sindel. At this point, Yama is unable to do anything because he's performing his mandatory penance since the souls of the Netherrealm are tainted. My next possible role for Yama as the god of Hell would be to help stop Kronika and restore the Elder Gods that Cetrion disposed of. I would probably have Fire God Liu Kang's origin slightly altered due to time travel. Since Shang Tsung had stolen the souls of Raiden and Fujin - Yama would be the one to turn Liu Kang into a fire god. However, there would be a more twisted version as Liu Kang's transformation into a fire god is so he could atone for his sins he committed as a Revenant. He would later pick up whatever Revenants were defeated. He would also give Liu Kang the ultimate chance of the ultimate redemption by defeating Shang Tsung. This would be that Liu Kang becomes a fire god but because it's Yama's power - Liu Kang is still tainted. Liu Kang eventually redeems himself but the other Revenants must continue to pay for their sins by serving Yama until they are truly freed of their debt.
Also, part of my story is that Yama also allowed Shang Tsung to absorb Kronika's soul for a reason. I would probably still have Sindel as her original self. Maybe, still have it that Sindel only agreed to kill Jerrod because Shao Kahn bewitched her. I'd have it that Sindel tries to end Shao Kahn's tyranny but fails. Shang Tsung absorbs both Shao Kahn's and Sindel's souls. Kronika's soul will be next and Yama reveals that he allowed it. I'd probably have it that after Shang Tsung is destroyed - Yama appears and congratulates Liu Kang. Yama would collect Shang Tsung's, Kronika's, and Shao Kahn's dark souls for punishment. He also states that the other Revenants are yet to pay for their sins in the Purgatory section of the Netherrealm. Liu Kang, however, is told that maybe he could reduce their time in Purgatory with his new status.
Just my thoughts!
However, if we go by Chinese mythologies, I believe it's a common misconception that Shinnok is based on Yanluo Wang. No, Yanluo Wang (or Yama in Indian) is NOT a bad guy. True, Yama is portrayed to be the fearsome ruler of the Netherrealm but ALL who die will report to this guy. So "Lucifer" in Mortal Kombat is actually King Yama of the Journey to the West. What's this guy's job? He's the ruler and the protector of Diyu or the Netherrealm. He's the judge of all the souls determining their fate depending on how they lived. He would be the one who locks up all the wicked people which would include fallen gods.
So how did Yama enter the Netherrealm? The Journey to the West reveals that Yama is both an Elder God and a damned soul repaying a karmic debt. How this happened is not really explained. It's perhaps that he sometimes gains pleasure in torturing others. Maybe, it's also required of him since he's tainted by the Netherrealm that he's assigned to guard. Regardless, Yama's role in the Netherrealm would be to judge the dead but the wickedness would taint him. Apparently, Yama leaves the Netherrealm to attend the Celestial Banquet but can't do so unless he drinks molten copper to purify himself. So the Jade Emperor (the Supreme Elder God) commands Yama to do penance as a result - something Yama dreads but obeys.
Instead, Shinnok's character was based on the fallen Elder God known as Tongtian Jiaozhu or the Heavenly Grandmaster. The Jie Sect was a cult devoted to the worship of the fallen Elder God Tongtian. It's also said that Tongtian was arrested and eventually subdued to the Netherrealm. It would make sense Shinnok suffers under "Lucifer" when we think of the equivalents. Shinnok is Tongtian and "Lucifer" is Yama. Yama would punish all the bad people and reward all the good people like Hades does in Greek Mythology. Hades as said is NOT a bad guy but a neutral god who decides the fate of the dead. In the TV series Legend of the Eight Immortals - Tongtian was eventually betrayed by his right-hand man, a free-roaming sorcerer known as Pan Golin. It's interesting that the series came after Mortal Kombat 4 was released. Pan Golin's counterpart would be Quan Chi. One could also consider that Tree Demoness could be an inspiration to Cetrion in MK11.
So, how would this fit in Mortal Kombat lore? So "Lucifer" (or I prefer to call him Yama) himself was in-charge of containing Shinnok along with other dangerous elements. Shinnok actually is more Luciferian having been thrown out of the Heavens. Yama himself was the protector of the Netherrealm. So, Yama (referred to as Lucifer) is NOT a villain in contrast to popular belief. In fact, it's possible that Yama provided Ashrah her way of redemption. Yama would be so tainted by Shinnok's sins that he would need to drink molten copper every now and then.
So how could Quan Chi eventually assist in the downfall of Yama? Maybe, Quan Chi was just waiting for the time when Yama would need to drink molten copper. This would give some damned souls the opportunity to finally rebel as Shinnok would lead. Shinnok having been an Elder God would be at the same level as Yama himself. Yama would totally be defenseless when he's drinking molten copper to purify himself. This would allow Shinnok to temporarily take over the Netherrealm but couldn't be free without the Sacred Amulet. In Journey to the West - Sun Wukong did put the Netherrealm into serious disarray which could've also allowed Tongtian's freedom giving way to the story of The Eight Immortals. How Yama would be after certain events - he's never mentioned again even under his alias as Lucifer. In MK Armageddon it's revealed that Shinnok still rules the Netherrealm. Why the Elder Gods didn't decide to restore Yama back to his position is just stupid.
I also thought MK11 would've been an excellent opportunity to bring "Lucifer" but this time call him Yamaraja or Yanluo Wang. Yamaraja would be the true ruler of the Netherrealm. I would make it to a point that Liu Kang and Kitana end up as his subordinates with the other Revenants to make them pay off their sins. Liu Kang and Kitana are tasked to bring Shinnok's head into the incarceration chamber and Yama now rules his rightful place. However, Kronika causes a ruckus and causes Liu Kang and Kitana to rebel against Yama in favor of her son Shinnok. A bone temple is created and Yama is forced to become the source of power for the temple. However, Kronika's reassembling of the Bone Temple allows Yama to escape. Yama would later aid the forces of good and talks about their history with Kronika and the One Being. Yama would also be offering his ship and guidance to the heroes to defeat Kronika.
In the Aftermath expansion pack, I think Yama can also get an extended part as a non-playable character. He would be back in the Netherrealm to make sure that no damned soul will escape. I would have it that Shang Tsung would try to get Sindel. At this point, Yama is unable to do anything because he's performing his mandatory penance since the souls of the Netherrealm are tainted. My next possible role for Yama as the god of Hell would be to help stop Kronika and restore the Elder Gods that Cetrion disposed of. I would probably have Fire God Liu Kang's origin slightly altered due to time travel. Since Shang Tsung had stolen the souls of Raiden and Fujin - Yama would be the one to turn Liu Kang into a fire god. However, there would be a more twisted version as Liu Kang's transformation into a fire god is so he could atone for his sins he committed as a Revenant. He would later pick up whatever Revenants were defeated. He would also give Liu Kang the ultimate chance of the ultimate redemption by defeating Shang Tsung. This would be that Liu Kang becomes a fire god but because it's Yama's power - Liu Kang is still tainted. Liu Kang eventually redeems himself but the other Revenants must continue to pay for their sins by serving Yama until they are truly freed of their debt.
Also, part of my story is that Yama also allowed Shang Tsung to absorb Kronika's soul for a reason. I would probably still have Sindel as her original self. Maybe, still have it that Sindel only agreed to kill Jerrod because Shao Kahn bewitched her. I'd have it that Sindel tries to end Shao Kahn's tyranny but fails. Shang Tsung absorbs both Shao Kahn's and Sindel's souls. Kronika's soul will be next and Yama reveals that he allowed it. I'd probably have it that after Shang Tsung is destroyed - Yama appears and congratulates Liu Kang. Yama would collect Shang Tsung's, Kronika's, and Shao Kahn's dark souls for punishment. He also states that the other Revenants are yet to pay for their sins in the Purgatory section of the Netherrealm. Liu Kang, however, is told that maybe he could reduce their time in Purgatory with his new status.
Just my thoughts!
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