Possibly but I am leaning more towards him simply being a follower/thrall of some sun deity at the moment rather then him being said deity himself.

I think he is Outworld's Sun God. Yeah, he does have the War God and Blood God variations but I think, based on what was said between he and Raiden as you pointed out, that he is the Sun God.

And as I said I think he is from Outworld. Remember, according to Shao Kahn's backstory he was from the same race of beings as Raiden, was the protector God of Outworld as their God of War, and was a close adviser to Onaga when he ruled the realm. Then he betrayed him and became Emperor. I think Kotal Kahn has replaced Shao Kahn as the protector of Outworld, except I think he is most likely a Sun God instead of a War God. I believe the War God variation could just be a nod to Shao Kahn.

GREAT topic and questions, bro.

I definitely want to know what Kotal is a god of and where he's a god of. He just looks SO much like something from a real world Earth culture that I'd be disappointed if he's from Outworld or something. Unless he left Earthrealm for another realm at some point.

I don't think he's necessarily the god of the sun though. He was using his Sun God variation right? Maybe that's what Raiden was commenting on. That's probably how NRS is getting so much mileage out of intros, variations may play a part in that.

Hmmm, hadn't thought of that. Is it possible for him to just be a "God" without being a God of something specific?

I do like how the intros seem to play a bit bigger role in this game.

Well most of the gods we've seen so far have a theme. ALL the Earthrealm gods are themed around elements but we haven't seen very many gods outside of the Elder and Earthrealm variety.

We've seen Argus but he doesn't seem to have any theme and we've seen Shinnok but the games he was in were low on characterization but he has some skull related powers but that may be because he's trapped in the Netherrealm.

Kotal may just be a god without a theme but since all his variations and his design borrows so heavily from Aztec culture that might be enough. It all depends on where he comes from.

Shinnok doesn't have a theme because he's an ELDER God and Elder Gods aren't gods OF things, they're all gods of EVERYthing, they all have the same powers. But he's an Ex-Elder God, all of his old powers are gone and until he conquered the Netherealm, he didn't have any. Now, because he controls the throne of Hell, he has powers over the Netherealm and the dead. He even explains to Taven in Armageddon that his powers come from the throne.

We just don't know what Argus's theme was because he was an NPC and never did anything.

In other words - - - - > the cosmology of the MK universe is basically making up bullshit bullshit as we go on.

I think "Kahn" is more of a title that gets attached to a name when they achieve a certain stature.. Like in Starwars. All the great Sith have Darth added to their name.. So I can see Kotal becoming the new out world protector and taking the Kahn title.. He could have followers in the Earth Realm as well such as the Aztecs and might have similar followers in out world too.

Welp, we can see that the events of MK9 took a toll on Raiden's judgement and sanity I would guess Raiden will be playable in the earlier parts of the story mode, because I remember in MK4 it wasn't until after Shinnoks defeat he commissioned Fujin as the new Protector of Earth.

Then it'd be a tradition that started with Shao Kahn. Onaga was never Onaga Kahn.

Well seeing how thunder is associated with cloudy or stormy weather.....kinda makes sense.

Oh I completely get where they're coming from with that line. However, I also know thunder can be present with sunlight. The line just doesn't make a lot of sense.

Yeah, it's like "Thunder take you". Like take me where motherfucker? It's meant to be threat but it's like....we still get UV rays through clouds you know? Like it's still daylight lol.

I don't think Kotal Kahn has a lot to do with Raiden tho.

Their conversation is too random for that, if they were big enemies or allies then their converstation would have been less random comparison.

Which is one of the series' greatest strengths.

Maybe he's Shao Kahn's version of what Fujin is to Raiden? Next god in line to become designated protector of that realm?

And maybe Kahn is the word used to designate protector gods of Outworld.

About his main theme, I guess he probably is mostly known as a sun god but is also related to blood sacrifices and war. Some mythologies have gods representing different concepts at the same time.

@Oracle... It wouldn't be started with Shao Kahn.. If Kahn was a title that went to the protector of out world, it wouldn't have gone to Onaga because he was just the ruler.. Shao Kahn was the realms protector and his advisor.

Then why keep the name after rejecting his duty and usurping Onaga?

Haha to show how powerful he is? I don't know I'm just theorizing. Boon already said there's no family relationship to Shao Kahn.. So there has to be a reason they would give two characters the same last name.

Sun/War/Blood God, all in all he is a god. I really enjoyed him in the Raiden reveal. The spiked paddle and his sun torch move are insane! Thus far, Kotal is one of my fave newbies, right behind D'Vorah. Ferra/Torr come in third as Cassie comes in 4th.

Agreed! I really liked him in the reveal.. And the more I see of him the more I like.

A god of sun from Outworld? but there is no sun in outworld!!! lol

Well from the looks of the Outworld Market arena, I would say it's daylight.

I think it will be an odd twist to Kotal. After Shao's defeat, now there will be a sun in Outworld. But where the sun often symbolize an object of light and good, Kotal is evil.