Baraka (Mortal Kombat)

Latest revision as of 06:22, 26 November 2023

Baraka is a male demonic video game character who features in Mortal Kombat.

Biography

Original Timeline

Barak was a male member of the nomadic mutant Tarkata race who served as savage warriors in Outworld that lived in the wastelands. He had a notable skill in combat that led to him being recruited into the army of the Emperor Shao Kahn. The Emperor came to dispatch Baraka along with his horde to cross over into Earthrealm to attack the Shaolin temple after the first Mortal Kombat Tournament. This attack resulted in luring Liu Kang going into Outworld in order to get revenge with this being part of the Emperor's plan. When Kahn was defeated, Baraka disappeared into the wastelands of Outworld where he successfully ought an uprising of a renegade race from the realm's lower regions. This resulted in him being recruited once more and took part in the invasion of Earthrealm. When Shao Kahn was defeated again, Baraka set forth on his own where he operated as a drifter for sometime. Afterwards, he was sent to quell an uprising from a renegade race within the lower regions of Outworld. Following a victorious battle, he and his nomadic warriors returned to the service of Shao Kahn where he was sent to fight the formidable forces of Earthrealm. Once again, Baraka returned to his nomadic lifestyle where he spent much of his time wandering the realm. One of these journeys led to him going to Edenia where he was offered a chance to rule the realm at the side of Quan Chi. The Tarkata was quick to accept and return to the battlefield under a cause though had his own goals separate from the Netherrealm sorcerer. Quan Chi offered Baraka a chance to rule the realm at his side if he agreed to join the army of Shinnok. Eager for battle, he readily accepted. Once again Baraka planned to betray his new masters, but after Shinnok was defeated by Liu Kang, his opportunity was lost once again.

Later on, Outworld went through a period of upheaval when Onaga the Dragon King was resurrected and took the throne of the realm. Baraka and the Tarkata came to serve him where they considered their new master to be invincible. The Dragon King's strength was a power that Baraka had great deal of faith in which was why he served Onaga. After freeing Mileena from her prison, Baraka recruited her to Onaga's ranks. She posed as Princess Kitana, using her position to misdirect the Edenian forces into combat against the Tarkatan raiding parties well away from Onaga. This was intended to give the Dragon King the time he needed to complete his schemes. However, she gave command of Kitana's army to Bo' Rai Cho. From inspiration by Liu Kang's spirit, his forces defeated many Tarkatans, which angered Baraka. Although Mileena agreed to meet him in the Beetle Lair, Baraka decided to send another Tarkatan in his place. This proved to be a wise choice, as the Tarkatan he had sent was killed by Mileena. Baraka joined the Forces of Darkness in the Battle of Armageddon. He was seen battling Kung Lao and later on being sent flying by Shao Kahn while trying to get to the Pyramid of Argus. He was later killed by Kung Lao's Razor-Rimmed Hat.

Reboot Timeline

During the Armageddon, Shao Kahn ultimately won where all of creation faced destruction but during the last moments of Raiden he managed to his past experiences back to his younger self. This created a change in the timeline as the younger Raiden was guided by the scattered visions of the future where he sought to avert this dark future.

Baraka entered the first tournament in order to help Outworld win over Earthrealm so that his master, Shao Kahn, could conquer it. Baraka was first seen during the first Mortal Kombat tournament alongside Shang Tsung, Jade, and Kitana. He fought Johnny Cage in the second round of the tournament, but was defeated by the actor. Shang Tsung then ordered Johnny Cage to kill Baraka for his failure, but Cage refused to do so. Later on, Baraka and Sheeva were ordered by Shang Tsung to kill Cyrax, a Lin Kuei warrior that had been discussing personal matters with Raiden and was therefore considered to be a potential threat the emperor's plans. Baraka and Sheeva followed Cyrax to the Pit, where they intended to terminate him for breach of contract. After defeating the Shokan, Cyrax tried to leave the area, only to have Baraka stand in his way. Cyrax taunted Baraka for his defeat at Johnny Cage's hand before he himself engaged the Tarkatan warlord in combat, and defeated him. After the tournament had ended, Baraka, Kitana, and Reptile brought Shang Tsung to Shao Kahn for the sorcerer's trial. Following orders from the emperor, Baraka led his Tarkatan hordes in the attack on the Wu Shi Academy, killing many monks and kidnapping Sonya Blade in the process. This prompted Raiden and his allies to venture into Outworld to defeat the emperor.

In this time, Kronika the fabled Keeper of Time decided to bring balance to the realms by changing the timestream to create a new universe that she called the New Era. Her machinations caused changes in the timeline that brought people from the past into the present. Among those brought into the present was Baraka who remained loyal to the emperor Shao Kahn who had similarly been brought into this point in history. They came to learnt that Kahn had been killed in a failed bid to claim Earthrealm and that Outworld had fallen to the rule of Kotal Kahn. Baraka came to learn that his people had been exterminated under the new Kahn's rule but that the changes in the timestream had brought them back to life and this made him dedicated to Shao Kahn. The Titan Kronika had offered Baraka and the Tarkata a place in the New Era if they aided her with the Tarkatan warrior agreeing to the deal.

New Era

Overview

Personality and attributes

He was well known for his unpredictable actions and wild fits of rage.

It was said that he did not like ghosts.

He did acknowledge the strength of another where he agreed to hear out Kitana after she defeated him in kombat.

Powers and abilities

As a Tarkata, he was a member of a savage race of nomadic warriors that were bred from denizens of Outworld with demons of the Netherrealm. His refined senses allowed him to be able to pick up the scent of particular people such as Tarkatan blood. He had greater stamina and fighting power than a normal human, along with his trademark weapon - the Tarkatan blades that extend from his forearms. He is also shown in many cases to have a highly acute sense of smell, as he can tell the true identity of targets by their scent, and a potent healing factor.

He was known to carry a War Banner with him that he could place on the battlefield.

Baraka was noted for being the leader of the Tarkata nomads.

Notes

• Baraka was created by John Tobias where he made his first appearance in Mortal Kombat II (1993).

In other media

Television

• In Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm, Baraka appeared in the setting of the animated television series.

Films

Video games

• In Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, Baraka appeared as a playable character in the setting of the crossover fighting video game where he was voiced by actor Dan Washington. He confronted Sonya Blade in the Wu Shi Academy temple on her search for Liu Kang, though was defeated by her. He later joined with Shang Tsung and Quan Chi's Forces of Darkness, reappearing after Scorpion had captured Kitana for Quan Chi in the ruins of Metropolis, where Baraka suggested they kill her, though he was ignored. When the necromancer spotted Captain Marvel, he ordered Baraka and the other two to confront the superhero in the Netherrealm.

Appearances

• Mortal Kombat II:
• Mortal Kombat 11:

External Links

• Mortal Kombat Wiki Entry
• Wikipedia Entry

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