Taven

Taven is a character from the Mortal Kombat fighting game series. He made his debut in Mortal Kombat: Armageddon as the main character and protagonist of Konquest mode.
Taven made his first appearance in Mortal Kombat: Armageddon as the game's protagonist. He is a half-god and son of the Protector of Edenia, Argus, and of a powerful sorceress who has the ability to see into the future, Delia.
Like his brother Daegon, Taven has the ability to control fire (unlike his half-brother Rain, who controls water).
During his early character development, Taven was referred to as "Hero" and "Bob", but those names were later dropped, and the Midway team decided to name him Taven.
== Final Kombat ==
Taven had been finally awakened as he busted out of his monolith. His guardian dragon, Orin, greeted him, although he was dumbfounded as to why he slept for so long and why he rose in Earthrealm instead of Edenia. Orin explained Argus had left some weapons and armor for him and Daegon at his temple in preparation for his quest. Orin conjured the portal, and Taven arrived in the Botan Jungle. He followed the dirt road until he met Kitana who challenged to see if he was the destined demigod. He defeated her easily and she was on a secluded journey to find and recruit warriors for the ultimate battle. She left Taven underway, and he heard his father's voice instructing him to touch a monolith, which transported him inside an obelisk.
While there, he was able to hone his skills, even learning the ground pound and basic pyrokinesis. As he succeeded, he was within the village near the temple, where he wiped out Red Dragon zealots. He managed to avoid the death traps until he arrived at the altar, but only to find no weapons nor armor. Just speaking to Argus again before he was knocked out by Sektor!
He wound up inside the Tekunin warship where he was being tortured to know what the leader missed during his pep talk! Until the ship was bombed as Gen. Blade forced the klan to surrender! Taven escaped as he fought off Sektor and his followers, while also salvaging some lost treasure, before it crashlanded onto the jungle below! Evacuating from the fiery forest, Taven decided to visit Orin again. He and his friend were disappointed, although with the inclination of Sektor, Orin conjured a portal to Arctika to find some more answers.
He arrived there and wound up against swarms of the vicious Tengu klan before he came across a monstrous Ice Beast. His pyrokinesis and Drakesword were on par, but he was growing weary upon the second yeti. Thanks to a sudden ambush by Smoke, he and some Lin Kuei offered to take him in from the blizzard into their base. Familiar with outcasts, Kuai greeted him, although the ninjas knew nothing of Delia's temple, not even the ethernet'd give them much intel. He soon spotted a monolith as the storm cleared where he was teleported inside another obelisk and was trained by a Delia's hologram against hordes of Snow Ninjas, even when he was poisoned. Luckily, he was cured as he cleared out the wave and was back at the tundra. The Lin Kuei guided him toward the looming palace, till they scattered by Rain. Taven was barely able to best him amongst his crippling hydro and electrokinesis, and avoided the traps and dealt with the guardsmen. He soon found the Ice Scepter and several missing relics, till Sub-Zero confronted him; he was confused there were two, but when he defeated him, he was Bi-Han. He was impressed his bro relocated to the snowlands and he recognized the tattoo which matched the engraving. He unlocked it and found a suit of armor. The ninjas informed the Red Dragons were on the rise, at the Charred Mountain, before he returned to Orin.
Orin was curious as to whether or not Taven was ready to fight off Blaze, but he wasn't as he discovered its headquarters and was still on the hunt for the missing weapon from Argus' Temple. Taven was then sent there, only to be ambushed by higher ranks of the Red Dragons. He even found some relics laying around the tepid landscape, and he never noticed Fujin who spied on him, nor the mysterious Oriental who actually froze the Wind God! Taven was able to breach the base, even recollecting another maneuver allowing him to stop time; this was proven useful against more of the malicious troops! Taven was then startled as he reunited with Daegon, who seemed...older somehow. Turned out he aged a lot more than him, and the roles were reversed since he went on his parents' quest earlier! He then stated he created the Red Dragons....as a ploy to destroy Taven! Daegon desired to attain the prize, as Rain did, on decimating Blaze! Awestruck, Taven was ambushed by Mavado! He was a formidable opponent until they were caught in a crossfire, as the base exploded from a firebomb!! Taven narrowly escaped with his life as he retreated back to the Krimson Forest! He wondered if Daegon managed to escape too... Disheartened, he returned to Orin with the sad news....
He was soon found within Shinnok's Spire at the Netherrealm, cleaning house for the fallen Elder God. Raiden was dismayed he'd assist the anarchist, never knowing that Shinnok was banished after warring with the Elder Gods. Despite the tiff, Aiko and Kung Lao were swayed by the sudden omnipresence and spotted Shinnok in his fractured self. Taven listened in on his plight involving his exile, the war in the heavens, even when he was discarded by his mother, Kronika, and Cetrion, his sister that was blindly loyal to her. Taven seemed to keep a clear head, despite bashing thru numerous monsters, including some of Shinnok's illusions of fighters, and discovering Armageddon. He then traveled with the heroes to Earthrealm for some respite and looked after the weakened Caro.
Taven and company went to Caro's side, although Raiden separated the group moments later to give him Jinsei energy. He then offered to escort Aiko and Caro to the Grotto for recovery and Lao and Taven offered to tag along, although the latter had a change of heart after Caro confessed that Daegon has become more evil than they recognize, even killing their parents as he was upset about the quest. Waking him up prematurely had some unforeseeable effects and he kept on blaming himself, despite Raiden forgiving him and believed his intentions are still good after saving Aiko and assisting the team. Taven wanted to discuss matters with Orin, and he went to his cave. He noticed that Orin's gone and he scuffled over a buried sheet of parch paper; he'd written that the Oriental elemental saved his life after he was attacked by Quan Chi and then taken to the Yin Yang Island, and he'd always watch over him as he'd continue his parents' quest. He actually heard Orin telepathically speak to him from afar, and he was slightly disheartened he lost his family over Daegon's treachery, being hunted by the Red Dragons, and being a setup. Orin actually warned that his journey had been a trap involving Blaze and Armageddon to which Taven listened closely since Orin was his only family left...
He believed that the quest was a setup, to have him and Daegon war against each other in order to have the last brother standing to decimate Blaze and attain his corruptive flames; Orin failed to mention since he was only tasked to watch over Taven till his time of awakening. Although Orin was assured that everyone has a right to their own destiny. He watched Daegon head to Outworld, and Taven was determined to follow him there. The Oriental and Edenian grew worried of the suicide mission, and he hoped Taven would find stragglers to assist him and reason with Daegon.
Taven arrived at Kahn's Fortress and spotting the intruder, his nameless troops unleashed several traps to prevent him from entering. Eventually, he outmaneuvered them and soon came across Mileena! She was easily bested in battle, then a Saurian stopped her before he finished the half breed; Taven was skeptical on sparing her life, as she wanted to be escorted back to Edenia and reunite with her family. Khameleon offered to teleport out as she was too nervous to spy on her enemies. But as soon as he got to Shujinko's cell, Hanzo was there to stop him, explaining all of his travesties as he failed to stop him from resurrecting Onaga; he advised he can't be trusted despite having incredible mimickery. After Hanzo gave him a taste of his word, Taven just scuffed at him as a foolish old man. They soon reached the topmost floor where several overlords were planning to attack in the Edenian Southernlands. However, thanks to a disturbance, they noticed the intruders and they needed to skedaddle! Watching over the calamity, they were saved as Caro emitted a portal to safety! Hanzo offered for Taven to rendezvous at the Palace, during the soiree, while he makes his final moments with his "son," Takeda.
He soon met up with the host, Baraka, who made all the exotic meats the Knights admired. He was surprised he had no means to attack him, and he served for the Edenian Resistance as a stark contrast to his ravenous clan. Before there'd be tension, Taven was taken aback reuniting with Bo' Rai Cho! He was actually appalled Taven never knew of his older half-brother, Rain, the assailant he encountered claiming to be prince in Arctika. Bo' stated Rain was a bastard, being abandoned as a boy by his father, Argus, to hide his affair with his mom, Amara. Commoners took him in, but after realizing his heritage and discard by his parents, he became just as rogue as Daegon; Bo' mentioned only Orin and Dellia were the innocent members of his family, even though she and Argus were slain. Taven was irritated his whole family was one big hoax after finding out kept secrets from Argus' cheating, Daegon with the quest, and Rain with his abandonment! Bo' assured only the guardian dragons are his only family left, and he must prepare for the Battle of Armageddon and to defeat Daegon and Blaze.
He was with the heroes as they boarded the Netherwing en route to the southern crater, then he suddenly vanished off deck. He wound up at the Edenian Ruins where he met up with Daegon. He was outraged his brother admitted on killing their parents, just because Shinnok's doppelganger coaxed him about Blaze's flames to make him attain godhood. Before a fight ensued, Blaze informed the quest was corrupted and he failed to convince the brothers to continue. Taven was at first struggling from Daegon's agility and lethal throw, even his dual Drakeswords since he beat him to their family's weapons. Taven fell in bettle, but thanks to Aiko's heart gem was revived. He strategized to counter and move, even knocking Daegon's swords out of his grip. Enraged of all the turncoats, Taven slain Daegon. Blaze lamented the loss, but Taven must complete the quest which he never wanted to be a part of... Blaze stated his defeat would result in a coin toss; one brother shall kill all the warriors while the other strips them of their powers. Taven wondered which side he was, but Blaze remained dissonate. Instead, he challenged Taven to Mortal Kombat atop the Pyramid wielding Daegon's sacred sword. Taven went thru the portal which triggered its emergence. He observed the fight below and soon joined the heroes, even when he startled of Fire God Liu Kang's merger! He stuck with him, Lao and Fujin while the others made a lethal race to the top massacring each other. They were teleported by the Saurians and the trio stood by for intruders and assistance while Liu took on Blaze alone.
Taven noticed Liu was trying to talk to Blaze thru his pyrokinesis and Blaze told him everything; Liu tried to convince Blaze he doesn't have to destroy everything and everyone he held dear, but he only knew his orders of his creator, Delia. Taven threw up the legendary weapon and Liu took him on! By his defeat, with Liu barely hanging on, he performed a desperation attack! Taven feared he'd explode and destroy all life! Never wanting it to happen, Liu decided to change its trajectory aloft.
Taven, Fujin and Lao rushed up knowing Liu and Raiden were sacrificing their lives for all life! He forced them down as he redirected Blaze's detonation, but his strength won't hold. As a last attempt, he made a burst of flames, only...it was a flame shield, protecting his allies from Blaze's which was rumored to erase Kombatants from existence!! The firestorm raged from the Pyramid making everyone lose consciousness from the volatile impact! Liu and Raiden managed to utter their last words in unison, "I, must win..." Before he was never seen again... 
Taven recovered, courtesy of Cetrion's and the Elder Gods' tears. He met up with Kung Lao atop the decimated pyramid mourning for Liu's and Raiden's grave loss...
Taven was reflecting on the grave turmoil his quest caused as he looked over the Edenian Ruins. He was still grateful on having the dragons and his new friends spared, but it was still a heavy burden. Orin met up with him, assuring it wasn't all in vain, then the Edenian warriors arrived congratulating him as Edenia's new Protector God. Jade even gave him a peck on the cheek, symbolizing Taven as her love interest. Later on, he made a slightly emotional farewell to Caro at the Yin Yang Island before he made the time-travelling journeys with the elder Kitana and Liu Kang.
Several years later, as the new Protector God, Taven joined the Special Forces and other allies against Kotal and his vicious Outworld army!
Ikran's theme song: Hazulkhen's Castle (Drakkhen)
Symphony of Destruction (Megadeth) - Taven vs. Daegon
== Kontentment ==
A younger Taven was seen along with Daegon, Orin, Caro, Delia and Argus as they defended Edenia from Shao Kahn and his forces in the first Mortal Kombat tournament.
== Trivia ==
* At first, Ikran wasn't sure who'd voice Kung Lao in Final Kombat, until she watched the first part of Konquest Mode; she then decided that Lao shall be voiced by Will Jun Lee from her last epic, while the og VA, Joe Yau, would portray Taven! He nearly sounded identical to Lao in Shaolin Monks.
* Ikran was outraged from the results of Taven's quest, and so she decided for him to be a love interest to Jade and become Edenian's official Protector God. He still remains as a crucial ally to Earthrealm and its protectors.
* In the oneshot, Kontentment, Caro unveiled that Fire God Liu Kang assisted him, Orin, Argus, Delia, Taven and Daegon during the first tournament against Shao Kahn, before Liu erased all of his deeds due to the tragedy of the Great Kung Lao. It was thru that experience in which he and Kitana recognized the dragons and the Edenians, thus saving Orin and Caro in Final Kombat and assisting Taven in Armageddon!
== Gallery ==
File:Taven sleeping rock.webp|Taven sleeping in his rock before Armageddon
File:Taven awakens.webp|Taven awakens
File:Taven og armor.webp|Taven's original armor
File:TavenVersus.webp|Taven's VS pose (MKA)
File:Taven versus alt.webp|Alt kostume
Taven's Close-up.webp|Taven klose-up
File:Taven MKA.webp
File:Taven MKA 007.webp
File:Taven MKA 006.webp
File:Scorpion and Taven MKA.webp|Scorpion and Taven meet
File:Taven vs Rain.webp|Taven vs Rain
File:Taven kameo MK9.webp|Taven's kameo in Raiden's vision (MK9)
File:Takeda and Kenshi Free Taven.webp|Takeda and Kenshi awaken Taven
File:Taven seen in Kenshi ending MKX.webp|Taven seen in Kenshi's ending
File:MKA Konquest.webp|Taven vs Daegon in MK Konquest title
File:Taven's Drakesword MK11.webp|Taven's Drakesword reference (MK11)
File:Taven in the Netherrealm.webp|Taven in the Netherrealm
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