I don't think it was ever mentioned where he came from, but if I'd assume it had to be Earthrealm. He is a sorcerer, and can be killed.. much like Shang Tsung, except he resides in the Netherrealm. If I had to guess he's probably from ancient Babylonian region (like Kan-Ra from Killer Instinct). That's just a guess though.

It was specified somewhere in the 3D era that he was originally an Oni demon from the Netherrealm who learned the power of sorcery and became the sorcerer we all know and love/loathe.

Yeah we really don't know much about his past or where he originates from (assuming the Netherrealm) some people say he is a demon, some people say he is (or was) an Oni, and some say he is just a sorcerer of unknown origins. I am pretty sure I remember reading somewhere that he was an Oni from the Netherrealm like somebody above said, only issue is I cant remember where I read it lol

this is why everyone should sign the petition for a Mortal Kombat Lore Encyclopedia

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/553/418/526/mk-fans-unite-we-want-an-mk-lore-encyclopedia/?taf_id=13672050&cid;=fb_na#sign

That's Shang Tsung's origin. Quan Chi's is that he was a Sorcerer who learned how to travel between dimensions, and because of this is place of origin is totally unknown.

He's one of the engineers from prometheus

That is the common belief, but it was never "specified".

In my head, he's hundreds of thousands of years old, so it really doesn't matter what he originally was, all info about him is mostly myth now.

I still imagine him as a former Edenian Count or Royalty, because of his manners and behavior.

An Encyclopedia wouldn't be that good, it would probably give a silly origin.

*Waits for Razor to post and drop the MK lore hammer*

Incorrect.

Shang Tsung HAD a demonic form artwork, what was eventuallz ditched and not used, thus it is non-canonical. Shang has always been from Earth since MKDA. Check Konquest. MK9 absolutely makes it clear that he is from Earth.

Quan Chi does indeed hail from the Netherrealm as an ex-demon.

Did nobody read Quan Chi's bio for MKX...?

"Originally a Netherrealm demon, Quan Chi evolved into one of the most powerful sorcerers in the realms. He serves the High Lord Shinnok, who was imprisoned in the Netherrealm by his fellow Elder Gods..."

Case closed.

That... totally contradicts the origin Raiden gives for him in MK9. Get your shit together, Netherealm.

MK9's bio says he's a product of the Netherrealm as well...

My own totally fan-canon theory is that Quan Chi is, in secret, either a creation of the infamous and unseen "Blood God" or perhaps a mortal form of him.

One doesn't obtain the ability to literally control life and death itself without some sort of amazingly grotesque backstory, though....

The Blood God is one of Outworld's gods. Just as Raiden and Fujin are gods of Earthrealm.

The explanation Raiden gives is that he was a wizard that could travel between realms, and that is how he found Shinnok. I think "Turning into demons" is just something people who travel to Netherrealm, do. just as Bi-han's soul became the Demon Noob Saibot.

Loathe most certainty loathe.

There's a difference between a manufactured revenant/wraith/specter (like Scorpion or Noob) (or even Drahmin) and a native demon/oni (like Sareena and Quan Chi.) Actual demons derive from no place other than the Netherrealm and are naturally grotesque in appearance (rather than overtly humanoid.)

Demonic entities can alter their appearances to look human.
Sareena's form is not naturally that of an attractive woman, though she appears to be thanks to Quan Chi's magic.

Why does him being a sorcerer/wizard immediately contradict him being a Netherrealm demon? The MKX bio pretty much states he was exceptionally intelligent, found the means of sorcery, was able to gain a human form, and went on to cross paths with and pledge his service to Shinnok. That's nothing new.
And, like Garlador said, the MK9 bio says he was produced in the Netherrealm, too.

What exactly did Raiden say in MK9 that causes you to think this is retconned, then?

Who said anything about retcon? I don't see any reason they can't be true simultaneously, as the games repeatedly call Noob a "Demon of the Netherrealm" despite him being born in Earthrealm. That's the biggest detail suggesting Doomed souls turn into "natural inhabitants of the Netherrealm".

You said (in reference to his MKX bio:)
Again, what was contradicted?

Here's my question:

If Bo Rai Cho is fom Outworld and does not participate in the MK tournament because that would count as a victory for Shao Khan.

Then why does Shang Tsung, if he's from Earthrealm, participate in MK tournament in MK1 for Outworld? Isn't by that logic the victory should go to Earthrealm?

I think, according to Razor, Shang Tsung had his soul willingly bound to Shao Kahn in order to receive training in dark magic.
Therefore, his victories would work toward Outworld rather than Earthrealm.

Thanks to MK9's many follies, Earthrealmers and Netherrealmers fight in the MK1 tournament, in actual matches on Outworld's behalf, rather than sneakily ambushing people outside of the tournament.
So stupid.

They were enforcers, they just had to eliminate their opponents, not win the tourney.



Ka-Tra

If that were the case, why didn't Bo' Rai Cho "enforce" for Earthrealm, then step out and let someone else win? He's been living there for centuries and lamenting that he can't compete or he'd be working against Earthrealm.

Good point, Lin Kuei, and Sub-Zero technically originate in Outworld also.



Ka-Tra

Sub-Zero's ancestors (the Cryomancers) were from Outworld, but he's an Earthrealmer, with a human mother.

According to the Sky Temple portraits in MKX, his paternal grandfather (or whatever) was also an Earthrealm hero.

The real question is, was Quan Chi ever a cute, and innocent baby?