Quan Chi

Template:Mortal Kombat character Quan Chi is a character in the Mortal Kombat fighting game series.

About Quan Chi

Originally a demon, Quan Chi became the most powerful sorcerer and necromancer in the Netherealm. Quan Chi combines both cunning and brute force in his neverending ploys to overtake not only Earthrealm, but all of reality. He is an opportunist and will ally himself with anyone who can help him further his own goals. He is notable in particular for his ruthlessness and pragmatism.

Storyline

Details of Quan Chi's past are unknown, except that he was once an Oni from the Netherrealm, who transformed when he learned sorcery. He became a free roaming sorcerer, with the ability to traverse the realms at will. While in the Netherealm, he came upon Shinnok, who was under torment from the realm's then-ruler, Lucifer. In exchange for power, and a place at Shinnok's side, he assisted the fallen Elder God in overthrowing his tormentor and helping him ascend to become the new ruler of the Netherealm. Their victory achieved, Shinnok honored his word and imbued Quan Chi with incredible power, making him arch-sorcerer of the Netherealm.

When Shang Tsung took possession of the Great Kung Lao's soul after his defeat at the hands of Goro, he learned the location of Shinnok's long lost amulet. Tsung traded this information with Quan Chi. In return, Quan Chi would help to revive Sindel and enable Shao Kahn to take control of Earthrealm at a later date. Although Shao Kahn's invasion failed, it gave Quan Chi the opportunity to make his move.

Before the last Mortal Kombat tournament, the sorcerer proposed a deal with the Lin Kuei - he would destroy the their rival clan, the Shirai Ryu, in exchange for the assistance of one of their warriors. Quan Chi convinced the elder Sub-Zero to retrieve the amulet for him. Sub-Zero did so (and killed Hanzo Hasashi in cold blood in doing so), unaware of Quan Chi's motives. Once the Lin Kuei warrior acquired the amulet, Quan Chi claimed it, and explained its origins before leaving to give the amulet back to Shinnok. Unknown to the fallen Elder God however, Quan Chi had replaced the amulet with a useless imitation, and kept the real one for himself. Shortly afterwards, Sub-Zero, who had been ordred to reclaim the amulet by Raiden, confronted Quan Chi, and defeated him temporarily, with assistance from Sareena. Quan Chi would spend the following years assisting Shinnok in preparation for his forthcoming assault, as well heading the cult of the Brotherhood of the Shadow.

It would occur during the time of Mortal Kombat Gold. Believing he would need a powerful warrior to defeat the younger brother of the original Sub-Zero (who had since been destroyed by Scorpion), Quan Chi informed the ninja specter that this younger Sub-Zero had killed his family and clan, and allowed him access to the outer realms once again. Scorpion's rage enabled him to defeat the Lin Kuei warrior, but as he prepared to finish his enemy, Quan Chi appeared and revealed that he was the actual murderer. Enraged, Scorpion grabbed him as the sorcerer made a move to send the ninja to the Netherealm, and the both of them were sent back down to the depths.

In the Netherealm, Quan Chi was tortured by Scorpion until the Oni Drahmin and Moloch found them. The Oni protected Quan Chi from Scorpion, and in return, Quan Chi promised to bring them back with him when he eventually escaped the Netherealm. Upon discovering a portal that led to Outworld, he fled without them, leaving them determined to destroy him. The portal led Quan Chi to the tomb containing the mummified remains of the long forgotten Dragon King. Reading the writings on the king's sarcophagus, Quan Chi realized that the army was invincible, and could be revived. With an idea in mind of the individual who could assist him in his aims, he journeyed to Shang Tsung's palace.

The sorcerer was still not be safe from Scorpion, however. The specter had pursued him into Outworld, and they fought, gaining the attention of Shang Tsung. Dispatching Scorpion temporarily, and impressing Tsung, Quan Chi described his plan to his fellow sorcerer; Quan Chi would open a "soulnado" to the heavens, providing Tsung with infinite souls, and Tsung would help him revive the army of the Dragon King. Together, they would embark with determination to achieve absolute domination of all realms, forming the Deadly Alliance.

But before they could enact their plans, they had to eliminate the only two people who could oppose them. They began with the current ruler of Outworld, Shao Kahn, still weakened from his failed invasion of Earthrealm, and waging a war against joint Edenian-Shokan forces. Tsung introduced Quan Chi to Kahn, and they pledged their loyalty in a false show. They then quickly sprang their attack, killing Kahn (in actuality, a clone, although they had no way of knowing this). Kano, Kahn's acting general who had witnessed the murder, pledged his own support to them. Soon after, using a portal known only to sorcerors and deities, they then headed to Earthrealm's Wu Shi Academy, where the Mortal Kombat champion Liu Kang was practicing a kata. Under the guise of Kung Lao, Tsung snuck up on, and battled Kang. Quan Chi attacked Kang from behind with a skull fireball attack, taking him completely unawares and weakening him. Tsung took the opportunity to break his old adversary's neck and consume his soul.

Returning to Outworld, the Deadly Alliance commanded Kano's troops to force a small Outworld village to construct a new palace around the tomb to house the Soulnado. When one of the citizens, Li Mei, attacked Kano, they offered to free her village if she could win a tournament they would hold. About the same time, they approached Mavado, offering him a deal as well; he could earn the right to fight and kill Kano, in exchange for eliminating Kenshi, an old enemy of Tsung's who had recently been spying on him.

File:Quan Chi Armageddon (Roster Render).PNG

Quan Chi's apparent appearance for Mortal Kombat: Armageddon.

Quan Chi had no way of knowing, but Tsung had made a side deal with Drahmin and Moloch, who had recently escaped from the Netherealm as well; once his own part of the plot was completed, and the army resurrected, Tsung would allow the two to have their revenge on Quan Chi. Mavado, in the meantime, mortally wounded Kenshi, accomplished his mission, and the Alliance granted him his wish. Li Mei, having won the local tournament, demanded her reward, but her soul instead began to be transferred to a mummified soldier of Onaga's army. It was at this time that the forces of Earthrealm, led by Raiden, attacked. Li Mei was rescued by Bo' Rai Cho, who escaped with her, but the remainder of the warriors assaulted the Alliance.

Their attack was in vain. Quan Chi and Shang Tsung struck down Kung Lao, Sonya, Jax, Johnny Cage, and Kitana. Only Raiden remained, and the Alliance confronted him together before the soulnado. They defeated him, but their victory was short-lived. Quan Chi had harbored his own suspicions on Tsung's part, namely that his ally wanted Shinnok's amulet for himself. He was correct. With all their enemies defeated, they turned on each other. Quan Chi emerged victorious, but could not savor his victory: Onaga, the Dragon King, newly reborn, entered the chamber. Tsung awakened, as did Raiden, and together, the three attempted to stop him. In desperation, Raiden released his essence in a blast that destroyed everything in the vicinity, but Onaga alone arose from the ruins, unharmed.

Possible future

Quan Chi is believed to be dead, though he was seen running away during the final moments before the blast. Dead or alive, he is scheduled to participate in Mortal Kombat: Armageddon.

Memorable moves

• Air Throw: Quan Chi grabs his opponent in the air and throws him to the ground. (MK4, MK Gold)
• Tele-Stomp: Quan Chi teleports above his opponent and stomps him. (MK4, MK Gold)
• Flying Skull: Quan Chi fires a skull of green magical energy at his opponent. (MK4, MK Gold, MK: DA)
• Slide Kick: Quan Chi slides and kicks his opponent. (MK4, MK Gold, MK:DA)
• Weapon Stealer: Quan Chi steals his opponent weapon using telekinesis and can use it (MK4, MK Gold)

Fatalities

• Leg Rip – Quan Chi rips off his opponent's leg and beats them to death with it. (MK4, MKG)
• Copy – Quan Chi copies one of his opponent's fatalities. (MK4, MKG)
• Neck Stretch – Quan Chi mounts his victim's shoulders, grabs their head, and stretches their neck to giraffe-like proportions with a cartoony sound effect. This is generally considered by fans to be one of the worst fatalities in Mortal Kombat history. (MK: DA)

TV appearances

File:QUAN CHI.jpg

Quan Chi on Conquest (Adoni Maropis)

Quan Chi made his debut in the animated series, Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm, which aired a year before the Mythologies game. In the episode "The Secret of Quan Chi", he used his sorcery to turn everyone on Earth against each other, creating pandemonium and chaos that Earth's heroes were forced to overcome.

Quan Chi also had substantial guest appearances on Mortal Kombat: Conquest, in which he was played by Adoni Maropis. Mostly inspired by his Mythologies incarnation, this Quan Chi employed three female Netherealm assassins for his services in Zhu Zin. Though evil for the most part, he did assist Kung Lao after an alliance with Shang Tsung went sour (an interesting prelude of things to come).

Trivia

• Quan Chi was also going to appear in the climax of Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, but his scenes were cut from the final print.
• He was supposedly inspired in Destro, a character from G.I. Joe.
• He was the first non-Shokan character to use a teleport-stomp attack. (MK4/MKG)
• Quan Chi appears in Mortal Kombat: Deception's Konquest mode, in which the player must fight him as Scorpion.
• There is a scene at the end of Shaolin Monks where Quan Chi takes Shinnok's amulet from Shao Kahn's remains. This is non-canonical among the MK fanbase, as Quan Chi had the amulet since the end of Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero.
• In a conceptual art piece for Quan Chi's Deadly Alliance look, he is seen holding a staff with a grotesque head at the end, which is able to spew green mist and dozens of flies from its mouth. For unknown reasons, this "living weapon" was elaborated on, and became its own character, Drahmin.