Lin Kuei

"A Lin Kuei's flame is not easily smothered." - Mortal Kombat 1The Lin Kuei (林鬼) is a faction from the Mortal Kombat fighting game series. The clan includes assassins such as the Elder Sub-Zero, the Younger Sub-Zero, Cyrax, Sektor, Smoke, and Frost.
The Lin Kuei is loosely based on the ancient Chinese clan of the same name, much like the infamous Black Dragon Society (Kokuryūkai) of Japan was used for Kano's Black Dragon clan. They are one of the most prominent and well-known factions within the Mortal Kombat universe, having played a major role throughout the history of the series franchise as a whole. Though it has gradually shifted from being a sinister force into a friendly power, the Lin Kuei has always remained very reclusive. To gamers, its history has always been intertwined with the adventures of both Sub-Zero brothers. According to one episode of Mortal Kombat: Conquest, friendship is forbidden in the Lin Kuei, as they consider it a warrior's flaw and thus, trust is only given to the group not the individual sum. Also in that same series, wanting to leave the clan is equivalent to treason and is punishable by death.
Somewhere in the northern most parts of Asia, there exists a secret clan of assassins and thieves known as the Lin Kuei. This group has existed for centuries and thrives on the evil intention of the people who pay for their services. Its warriors are chosen at birth to be raised apart from the workings of day-to-day civilization and are stripped of their former lives. Only the clan knows their existence. Each of them possesses certain skills and abilities that set them apart from normal men. These abilities are passed on from generation to generation and honed throughout the experiences of life. Certain Lin Kuei warriors possess supernatural abilities including those that commune with nature.
They had two rivals: smaller assassin clans in the icy lands of Arctika called the Tengu clan and Snow Ninja.
== Members ==
* Sub-Zero (Bi-Han and Kuai Liang's grandfather)
* Bi-Han (Formerly deceased - Reborn as Wraith)
* Kuai Liang (Current Leader)
* Smoke (Formerly deceased - Reborn as Revenant)
* Sektor (Deceased)
* Cyrax (Deceased)
* Frost (Formerly, was exiled and became cyberized)
* The Grandmaster (Former Leader)
* Unit 5
* Sareena
* Shujinko (Formerly)
* Triborg (Formerly)
* Ice (Non-canon Character)
* Hydro (Non-canon Character)
* Oniro (Non-canon Character)
* Yong Park (Non-canon Character)
== Types ==
* Lin Kuei Archers
* Lin Kuei Assassins
* Lin Kuei Saboteurs
* Lin Kuei Warriors
== Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks, Part II ==
The Lin Kuei sent out Cyrax and Sektor to hunt down Kuai and Smoke. Fortunately, while the young Sub-Zero was looking for his surrogate brother, Raiden teleported him away before Earthrealm started to merge with Outworld! At the Appalachian Mountains, he woke up, and the Thunder God warned him to stay away from the accursed organization. They spotted Smoke within the range and Oniro was onto him!! Nightwolf, Kung Lao and Aiko noticed the ice trails while following the darkness, so they assisted the duo discreetly. Aiko recommended for Lao to sneak in with his new Cheetah Animality against Oniro's transformations, but they didn't last. Vulnerable, he forced Lao off a cliff...
Only to catch him off guard since the cunning monk can teleport!! He kicked Oniro down and he narrowly escaped in his hawk form! Enraged, Lao conjured a Tornado to trap the bird, while Aiko, remembering the enemy attempting to submit Sub-Zero to be a Cyber, exploded his heart!! Kuai and Smoke decided to join the cause, and the cardiokinetic recommended to stick with his armor.
In the NY streets, the assassins split up; Kabal and Stryker chased after Cyrax to the Bank and he ransacked the place! Kabal took the call to arms and outmaneuvered his acidic net and explosives making him leak oil! He was then forced off the Roof, and he wandered aimlessly to a desolate desert. Sektor joined in the fray and Smoke took him on! Kung Lao and Nightwolf encouraged Aiko to disable his heart plate and succeeded with their help on empowering her skills! Sektor was about to self-destruct, but Sub-Zero froze him while Smoke took him to the skies to avoid collateral damage! Both assassins were eliminated!
After the invasion, Sub-Zero became the Master, not Grandmaster since the Dragon Medallion hasn't been found....
== Shinnok's Uprising ==
Sub-Zero and Smoke were still the Lin Kuei's masters, but when they saw the meteor land near the Bayan Har Mountains, the cryomancer offered the half-Cyber, half-human to stay while he investigated. The procedure of robotomy surgeries had been falling out of favor, even though Nightwolf was lucky to revert Smoke to his human self; despite this, he wanted to keep half and half, and while it was optional, members revolted against it as it costed subjects' lives and finances. Kuai may find some answers leading to the mystery of his brother and his errands for Quan Chi.
Turned out the rumors were true after Nightwolf shown the wrathful Scorpion of the Lin Kuei's machinations with the demon sorcerer. It turned out that thru the data, the necromancer himself killed off Hanzo's family and clan as payment while Bi-Han was searching for Shinnok's Amulet within the Temple of Elements. From the shocking revelation, Hanzo was anxious on massacring Quan and no longer had a grudge with Kuai nor his surviving clan. They were successful on restoring the real Amulet at the Temple which disabled Shinnok as he didn't know he used the duplicate! Raiden and Fujin decimated him, and while the war was going on, Smoke wandered to the Appalachian Mountains and found the Dragon Medallion! He confirmed Oniro dropped the pendant upon his assassination and gifted it to the Grandmaster!
After that, Kuai relocated his clan to the Northern Pole, Arctika! Hanzo wished him a safe journey and relieving him from the eternal curse!
== Mortal Kombat: Vengeance ==
The Lin Kuei was now stationed in Arctika, where a small tournament took place, hosted by the new Grandmaster, Sub-Zero! Frost, one of their newest members, became Kuai's prodigy. Fujin warned him that Quan Chi and Shang Tsung had returned from the Netherrealm and partially killed Liu Kang! Sub-Zero immediately took the call to arms, while Frost volunteered to prove herself as a true warrior. Kuai was reluctant, until Smoke decided to hold the fort before they should head to Shang Tsung's Island and soon Outworld...
About a week later, Kuai and Frost returned victoriously, with the Grandmaster announcing the Deadly Alliance is no more. They had a moment of silence to honor Liu Kang and Kuai announced he was grateful to have Frost as his promising apprentice and an integral part of their mission. Some bystanders, including Tomas, could've sworn they saw the cryomancers kiss and embrace each other!
== The Return of the Dragon King ==
The Lin Kuei was first found within the Temple still stationed in the Chinese mountain range. Shujinko found out that new recruits were being anointed and Damashi advised him to go there for its sacred relic. The guardsman was impressed on the teen's determination and valor as he defeated the Grandmaster (Sub-Zero predating Kuai and Bi-Han) and shown him the Dragon Medallion in which Bo' Rai Cho lost. He was soon recruited as one of the ninjas, and it wasn't long for him to find their treasured artifact keeping it away from the Red Dragons, the Earthrealm Kamidogu. Shujinko needed to skedaddle away before the ignorant ninjas would spot him as he made the portal to the Nexus.
In the present, they're still in Arctika, and the subordinates of the Grandmaster, Kuai Liang, addressed to him they came across a girl who turned out to be a demon named Sareena defecting from the Netherrealm. Everyone was surprised by this, even when she told Kuai of his brother's fate when he was resurrected as the wraith, Noob Saibot, by Quan Chi! Kuai eventually collected himself as he gave himself. Smoke and Frost took on the salvage mission to deal with the evil incarnate. They also didn't know that the Deadly Alliance was successful on reviving Onaga.
== Final Kombat ==
The Lin Kuei first spotted a stranger in yellow garb fight off a couple Ice Beasts; they and Smoke assisted him as he shot it with a rocket. They began to take in Taven to the Lin Kuei base and the Grandmaster stood before him. They offered him to seek shelter till the storm passes, and he spotted a familiar monolith. As the blizzard dissipated, he went and was teleported into an obelisk! They were startled, even with Raiden's sudden appearance as he wanted to regroup their finest warriors. They awaited Taven and escorted him to Delia's temple, only to be ambushed by Rain. Thanks to his skills, they were able to plow thru the archers and flame cannon launchers. And soon confront Bi-Han. They soon received word that their old enemy, Sektor, had risen from the dead and made his new klan, while the Red Dragons rose in numbers. They counted on Taven before they informed him of their base in Charred Mountain.
The trio of Lin Kuei ninjas were able to escort Bi-Han back to their base, much to a startled Kuai, Smoke, Frost, and the rest of the clan. Kuai was reluctant although Frost was more enthusiastic about recruiting the elder Sub-Zero! Smoke was more casual with his astonishment. Bi-Han was impressed they'd changed so much once his younger brother guided them, possessed the Dragon Medallion, overthrew the cyber initiative, and even found and recruited Sareena! Since it wasn't an irritating bounty-hunting mission and as long as Scorpion won't interfere, Bi-Han took the offer to assist the clan to stop Armageddon and defeat Blaze!
Bi-Han actually lied and stole one of the small portal generators as he went on the hot pursuit for Hanzo. Luckily, he was reasoned by Kenshi and soon by Sareena and Ashrah. They soon reunited though kept a keen eye on the backstabber until they boarded the Netherwing and prepared for their last battle. The Lin Kuei's main opponents were Sektor and Oniro amongst others. All members survived as their enemies were scorched by Blaze's and Liu's firestorm! They were fully healed from Cetrion's tears causing the downpour. Bi-Han set aside his discrepancies with Hanzo, as stated by Sareena, as the Lin Kuei accepted his redemption at Delia's temple. The Lin Kuei still remains at Arctika and are one of the crucial defenders of Earthrealm, even against Kotal's new army.
== Gallery ==
File:LinKueiArcher.webp|Lin Kuei Archer
File:LinKueiCryomancer.webp|Lin Kuei Cryomancer
File:LinKueiSkirmisher.webp|Lin Kuei Skirmisher
File:CyberLinKueiProtect.webp|Cyber Lin Kuei Protect
File:CyberLinKueiDelete.webp|Cyber Lin Kuei Delete
File:CyberLinKueiOverload.webp|Cyber Lin Kuei Overload
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