White Lotus Society

The White Lotus Society is a fictional organization within the Mortal Kombat universe.
The White Lotus Society was jointly founded by Raiden, the immortal protector of Earthrealm, and the Shaolin Order of Light sect, following the death of the Great Kung Lao at the hands of Goro in Mortal Kombat. Since the sorcerer Shang Tsung had finally defeated the longtime champion with a recruit from Outworld, it became apparent that Earthrealm was vulnerable to attack, not just by native enemies, but those from foreign worlds as well. To that end, the thunder god and the monks agreed to hand select a group of champions from among the best fighters in Earthrealm. This group would dedicate their lives to learning and understanding how to defend the independence of Earthrealm from the threats of other worlds.
The society's existence is kept secret from the uninitiated, leading to rumors spread by the population. Therefore, many people are unaware even of the existence of other realms, knowing only the Order of Light and its involvement with Earthrealm.
Recruits into the White Lotus need not to be monks of the Order of Light, and commitment to the society is not for life. Members may leave of their own will at any time, and thus, the society's numbers have never been known, but are presumed small. Members of the society identify each other by a white headband bearing the Buddhist symbol of an eight-petaled lotus. Their martial skills may be acquired from native or foreign sources, but the fighters themselves must be originally from Earthrealm.
== In video games ==
Mortal Kombat: Deception's Konquest mode reveals that Shujinko was an early recruit into the White Lotus Society. Eager to prove himself a worthy defender of his home, Shujinko is ordered by the recruiting Master Shen to rid the surrounding area of a band of mysterious warriors who have invaded Earthrealm from another world. His success would increase his likelihood of being nominated to represent the White Lotus in the Mortal Kombat tournament, fulfilling his childhood desire. Although Shujinko succeeds in driving off the foreign invaders, Master Shen realizes that his soul is tainted by an unexplainable evil which prevents him from representing the goodness and purity of the White Lotus in the tournament. Shujinko is nonetheless made a member of the Society for his efforts. He attempts to rid his soul of the evil taint, but the process takes many years, by which time the tournament has concluded without his involvement. In his senior years, Shujinko is, at last, able to access the White Lotus Society's stronghold in the eastern mountains, where the spirit of Mortal Kombat champion Liu Kang waits to pass on his skills.
The White Lotus Society is nonetheless involved with the history of the Mortal Kombat series. Liu Kang, Kung Lao, and Kai were all members of the Society at one time but left for unknown reasons. All three, as well as Shujinko, have continued the tradition of defending Earthrealm from foreign attackers. Liu Kang represented the White Lotus Society in Kung Lao and Shujinko's place in Mortal Kombat and was the first and only Society member to successfully fend off Outworld in the tournament by defeating the reigning champion Goro at last.
However, the victory would prompt Outworld emperor Shao Kahn to order the Tarkatan hordes to raid the Shaolin Temple in Liu Kang's absence. Many monks of the Order of Light were slaughtered in the massacre, and all of the White Lotus Society's members, save for Kai, were eliminated. It is not known whether Kai had already left the Society at this time, but he took to wandering the world in the aftermath.
Liu Kang and Kung Lao have attempted to rebuild the ranks of the White Lotus several times over the years while expanding the Order of Light since the massacre. But their plans have been interrupted by threats from Shao Kahn, Shinnok, and others. While the Order of Light regained its numbers, the White Lotus Society has not featured an active member for many years, save Shujinko. The resurrection of Raiden with a much stronger intolerance of threats to Earthrealm, and his ambitions to take matters into his own hands, makes the current need for the Society ambiguous.
== Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks, Part II ==
Of course, the White Lotus Society still existed, and the main members, Liu Kang, Kung Lao, Raiden, and several monks remained intact, even Liu Kang's grandfather. It was possible Chan Kang was also a member, before he was killed by Shang Tsung. It was still attacked by Tarakatan forces after the first tournament as Sonya and Johnny received their congrats with the other warriors, and thus became distant allies. Contrary to the games, though, it was able to recover even when Lao was showing Aiko the rounds, as well as the kid, Kung Jin. It was afterwards bombarded by Kahn's extermination squads; however, Lao and Raiden were able to lead most of its members to safety in the Dragon Grotto. Its fate remains to be seen if the Konquerer shall be exterminated once more, and Earthrealm and Outworld saved.
Aiko was also considered to be a would-be member, though she was reluctant. However, she was very relieved that fornication is forbidden, and celibacy is one of the top priorities. Lao shown her that there are peaceful monks anointed there, as well as Raiden, and it was created after the original tournament 500 years ago.
== Mortal Kombat: Legends and Vengeance ==
It was mentioned by Sindel that she was trained by the White Lotus. And she learned the arts of open palm kombat. She even taught Aiko the same, especially if their weapon should be knocked out of their hands by an enemy.
In Vengeance, Bo' taught the same techniques to her instead.
== Final Kombat ==
It was mentioned briefly the Shaolin was alerted via Aiko's heart gems of the upcoming Battle of Armageddon even preps for it including the Test Your trials orchestrated by Raiden and Fujin. They soon stood by as their warriors marched into battle, with some staying in the Edenian Palace during its soiree. They prayed for their safety and success and were awed by the sudden solar flare which turned out to be Blaze's eruption! Aiko soon informed that Liu and Raiden sacrificed themselves although the other warriors would make a safe return.
Eventually, Kung Lao informed Jin that when he turns 18, he'd be a proud member of the Society.
== Koherence ==
The White Lotus was visited by Kenshi and Aiko during the second day of Lao's, Liu's, Raiden's and Nightwolf's absence; the duo wasn't around during the first day since he was training her personally. They were performing the usual warmup exercises before Fujin introduced them to Kenshi. They headed to the meeting chambers and left off with the discussion Kenshi and Aiko missed, her issues involving the Makeba and the enticing effects of their drums. Ever since they heard of the misadventures with the Deadly Alliance and Onaga, they sympathized with her plight. They believed the Makeba were the ancestors of all the African and Indian tribes of Earthrealm. They were also greatly concerned of their dwindling numbers as the Shaolin abandoned enlightenment since meditation was rekindling their demons; Kenshi said that personal demons are the worst, even more than the Netherrealm.
The Society's welfare became Aiko and Kenshi's upmost priority as they brainstormed on how to restore their hearts, even when they climbed the tall monastery where the rip to Edenia was pinpointed. Eventually, they hatched a plan to create a small band and a riveting number to safeguard her heart and uplift the Shaolin. They, Goro, Jerrod and Fujin volunteered for it to learn it and play it in the Sky Temple.
== Members ==
* Liu Kang
* Kung Lao
* Raiden
* Kung Jin
* Shujinko
* Fujin
* Shaolin Monks
* Kai
* Liu Kang's grandfather (Shaolin Monks, Part II)
* Chan Kang (deceased, Shaolin Monks, Part II)
*Aiko Krackle (Shaolin Monks, Part II)
*Nightwolf and Kiba (Shaolin Monks, Part II)
*Queen Sindel (Mortal Kombat: Legends)
=== Allies ===
* Special Forces
* Kitana
* Bo Rai Cho
* Madam Bo
* Geras (Mortal Kombat (2023))
*Sindel
*Jerrod/Ermac
*Asgaarth
*Jade
*Taven (Ikran's Khronology)
*Caro and Orin (Ikran's Khronology)
* Lin Kuei (after Sub-Zero's reformation)
* Elder Gods
* Shirai Ryou (alternate timeline)
* Matoka
* Outer World Investigation Agency
* Ashrah (Ikran's Khronology, Mortal Kombat 1 (2023))
* Baraka (time displaced, Ikran's Khronology; Mortal Kombat 1 (2023))
* Syzoth (Mortal Kombat 1 (2023))
* Edenian Resistance
* Li Mei
* Saurians, Chameleon and Khameleon (Ikran's Khronology)
=== Enemies ===
* Shang Tsung
* Shao Kahn
*Goro (formerly in Ikran's Khronology)
*Kintaro (formerly in Ikran's Khronology)
*Motaro
* Shinnok
* Quan Chi
* Reiko
*Tanya
* Kronika
* Onaga
* Outworld
* Netherrealm
* Brotherhood of Shadow
* Kahn's extermination squads (Shaolin Monks, Part II)
*Kano and the Black Dragon
*Red Dragon
*Blaze
*Revenants
*Shokan (formerly, Ikran's Khronology)
* Centaurians (formerly, Ikran's Khronology)
== Trivia ==
* The White Lotus is one of the 5 selectable factions in Mortal Kombat X's online "Factions" mode.
* There was an actual White Lotus organization in China.
* The White Lotus Society is mentioned in Injustice 2 during many of Raiden's in-game dialogues.
* In the Darkseid War, there's its evil counterpart from the Netherrealm known as the Dark Lotus Society, formed by Evil Emperor Liu Kang and Empress Aiko.
== Gallery ==
File:White Lotus Old.webp|Old logo
File:White Lotus Logo PNG.webp
File:White Lotus Emblem.webp|White Lotus headband
File:Consumable WhiteLotusChallengersMedallion0.webp|White Lotus Medallion in MK11
File:WhiteLotusSocietyMKX.webp|White Lotus Society (MKX)
File:Dark Lotus koncept logo.jpg|Dark Lotus Society
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