Quan Chi

Warlock and Necromancer

Born and raised in the bleak Netherrealm town of Xhoth, Quan Chi harbored a burning ambition – to become one of the most powerful sorcerers in existence. He excelled as a Warlock of Xhoth, rapidly rising through their ranks. However, Xhoth's dark arts, while potent, failed to quench his insatiable thirst for knowledge. Rumors of Shinnok, the fallen Elder God imprisoned within the Netherrealm, seeking a worthy champion, fueled his ambition.
Leaving Xhoth, defying their strictures against leaving the town, Quan Chi embarked on a perilous journey. Years were spent delving into the Netherrealm's darkest secrets, unearthing forbidden knowledge from forgotten crypts and learning the ways of its demonic denizens. His relentless pursuit led him to the long-abandoned Bone Temple, where he discovered the secrets to inter-realm travel etched upon its walls. More importantly, he found Shinnok's Amulet, a powerful artifact radiating with dark magic.
With newfound knowledge inscribed onto his very skin, Quan Chi became a free-roaming sorcerer, a force undetected by even the Elder Gods. Impressed by his ambition and ruthlessness, Shinnok took notice. He offered Quan Chi the coveted position of Arch-Sorcerer of the Netherrealm, on one brutal condition: eliminate all rival warlocks.
Quan Chi returned to Xhoth, a place he once called home. Twisted by his pursuit of power, he displayed no remorse. He enslaved the other warlocks, manipulating the townsfolk, turning them against each other in a horrific display of dark magic. Shinnok reveled in Quan Chi's savagery, his delight solidifying their dark pact.
As a reward, Shinnok bathed Xhoth in infernal flames, forever etching the ashes of the dead onto Quan Chi's skin, turning it an unnatural shade of white. Reborn as Shinnok's Arch-Sorcerer, Quan Chi dedicated himself to mastering forbidden magic and building a formidable army for the fallen Elder God.
His quest for knowledge led him beyond the Netherrealm. In Outworld, introduced by Shinnok, he encountered Onaga, the Dragon King, another powerful entity in the grand scheme of conquest. Quan Chi's journey had only just begun, his manipulations and thirst for power forever intertwined with the fate of the realms.
Quan Chi's ambition wasn't limited to just acquiring power; he craved control as well. He recognized the potential within the Netherrealm's demons, but their monstrous appearance hindered their ability to operate subtly. To address this, Quan Chi used his dark magic to craft a solution – the Sisterhood of Shadow. These weren't mere demonic warriors; they were meticulously crafted beings, their grotesque forms reshaped into alluring women.
Sareena, Jataaka, and Kia became the first members of this deceptive group. Their beauty masked their true demonic nature, allowing them to infiltrate other realms and sow discord undetected. However, Quan Chi's motivations weren't entirely altruistic. Rumors swirled that he used these attractive women for his own twisted pleasures, a dark secret that simmered beneath the surface of the Sisterhood.
One member, Kia, dared to defy Quan Chi's ruthless control. Her fate served as a chilling reminder of his cruelty. She vanished without a trace, replaced by Ashrah, a new member whose loyalty remained unquestioned (at least for a time).
While Quan Chi reveled in manipulating the demons of his own realm, his true focus remained fixed beyond the Netherrealm. Shao Kahn, the ruthless emperor of Outworld, fascinated him. Shao Kahn had conquered the Dragon King, Onaga, a seemingly impossible feat. This power, coupled with Shao Kahn's uncanny ability to cheat death, piqued Quan Chi's interest and fueled his worries.
Shinnok, with Quan Chi's support embarked on a meticulous plan – to elevate the Netherrealm while simultaneously weakening the other prime realms, paving the way for Shinnok's return. This intricate scheme would take years to unfold, but the prospect of wreaking such death and destruction filled both Quan Chi and Shinnok with sadistic glee.
The first pawn in the game involved Sindel, the queen of Edenia. Conquered and forced to become Shao Kahn's wife, Sindel was the perfect candidate for the first move. Quan Chi, ever the opportunist, sensed that Sindel had become severely depressed in her time married to Shao Kahn. He noticed that she became suicidal upon learning of her pregnancy. Unwilling to birth Shao Kahn's child, she planned to end her life but instead, Quan Chi murdered Sindel in cold blood and birthed the child's soul into the Netherrealm. The child of Sindel and Shao Kahn was an unexpected twist in the plan but a good play to hold onto. Quan Chi staged her death as a suicide, manipulating the narrative to serve his own purposes.
The "suicide" served a dual purpose. Publicly, it weakened Shao Kahn's position by portraying a disloyal wife and creating a magical barrier around Earthrealm, hindering the emperor's ambitions. This illusion was in fact crafted by Shinnok himself, a secret he kept meticulously hidden.
Sheeva, Sindel's loyal bodyguard, harbored suspicions. She believed she witnessed Quan Chi near Sindel's chambers the night of her death, but lacked any real proof to incriminate him. Quan Chi raised Reiko, Sindel's unborn son to be a true weapons master.
Quan Chi then manipulated Raiden, the Earthrealm protector, into hosting a Mortal Kombat tournament. This tournament, supposedly sanctioned by the Elder Gods, would allow Raiden to defend his realm. However, Quan Chi and Shinnok knew the truth – the Elder Gods remained indifferent, content to wait until the very end. The tournament, orchestrated by Quan Chi's deceit, became the stage for the first act in their grand, malevolent play.
Recent Events:
The Earthrealm Tournament: The Netherrealm has produced many vile beings, but none rival the Arch-Sorcerer Quan Chi. In lieu of Netherrealm demons, he prefers to resurrect deceased warriors for use in his sinister plans. Foremost among them is the tortured Shirai Ryu ninja Scorpion, who is Quan Chi's personal assassin. Quan Chi is building an army of such specters--the purpose of which has yet to be revealed. Another mystery is the sorcerer's involvement in the Mortal Kombat tournament. The Netherrealm has no stake in its outcome, which leads some observers to question his presence...
The Outworld Tournament: Quan Chi begins to resurrect Sindel
The Invasion of Earthrealm: Quan Chi watches from the sidelines as part one of Shinnok's plan comes together.
The Netherrealm Revenants: Quan Chi tests his armies
The Deadly Alliance: Quan Chi and Shang Tsung join forces to defeat Liu Kang once and for all.
Outworld Civil War:
Twenty-five years ago, Quan Chi helped Shinnok escape his hellish prison. Together they waged war on an Earthrealm weakened by the conflict with Outworld. When Shinnok was defeated, Quan Chi was driven underground. He continues to manipulate events from parts unknown.