—Tanya in an intro dialogue with Mileena in Mortal Kombat 1 |
Biography
- Mortal Kombat 1: "Chosen as an infant from Outworld’s first-born daughters, Tanya was raised by the Umgadi’s priestesses. She’s never known her birth family. As she grew older and saw other initiates wash out, Tanya feared that she would share their fate. But that fear spurred success; after many attempts, Tanya passed her trials and became a full Umgadi. Over time, Tanya became one of the order’s most trusted members. She was the obvious choice when it needed to choose a new leader for the royal family’s personal guard. As an Umgadi, Tanya is sworn to piety and chastity. That is why her bond with Princess Mileena, were it known, would cause a scandal. By following her heart, Tanya risks not only her position but also her life."
Storyline
Mortal Kombat 1
In Liu Kang's New Era, he graciously stripped Tanya of the traitorous characteristics that had defined her previous incarnations, granting her a new chance at a better life.
Tanya is a member of the Outworld warrior priestesses known as the Umgadi, who are sworn to protect Outworld's royal house. Following the resignation of Li Mei, who had left in disgrace after the assassination of Emperor Jerrod, the Umgadi's Matron Superiors appointed Tanya in her place. Tanya formed a particularly close and loving bond with Princess Mileena, despite the latter contracting Tarkat and the Umgadi's strict prohibitions regarding romantic relationships. She would be introduced to the sorcerer Shang Tsung, who was able to ease Empress Sindel's concerns for her daughter by procuring a Tarkat suppressant for Tanya to hold onto and use during Mileena's episodes.
Tanya is introduced in the story as she and her Umgadi accompany Mileena and Kitana to the Earthrealm portal gate in Sun Do, awaiting the arrival of Liu Kang and his champions for the Earthrealm-Outworld tournament. When they arrive, Tanya watches as Liu Kang introduces his champions to the princesses, with Raiden in particular being Earthrealm's contestant. Tanya and her Umgadi then escort the princesses and Earthrealmers to the Sun Do palace via carriage, momentarily stopping in their tracks due to an accidental roadblock by Li Mei, who had become First Constable after leaving the Umgadi and was directing Tarkat-infected citizens out of the city.
During the evening's banquet, Tanya checks in on Mileena to make sure her stomach troubles were not the cause of a potential Tarkat breakout. Raiden, who had been on a winning streak in the tournament, wonders if he would have to face Tanya in the next day's rounds. Liu Kang denies it, since Umgadi would not be participating as per tradition, though he remarks that as an Umgadi, Tanya would be a tough opponent to face.
Sometime later, Tanya and High Mage Rain escort Mileena to Shang Tsung's laboratory in order for her to receive a new Tarkat suppressant. However, Shang Tsung's administering of the cure is interrupted by an intrusion of the three other Earthrealm champions - Kenshi Takahashi, Kung Lao, and Johnny Cage - who mistakenly believe that Shang Tsung is infecting Mileena with Tarkat (Johnny in particular insults Tanya with an Alien reference that no one present understands). Though Tanya and Rain stand against them, the champions managed to defeat them. However, Mileena's Tarkat surfaces, and Kenshi's eyes are irreparably damaged by the rabid princess in an attempt to save Johnny's life. As Shang Tsung manages to inject Mileena with the new suppressant and the Earthrealmers are subdued by General Shao and Goro, Tanya bears witness to the arrival of Quan Chi, another sorcerer seemingly aiding Sindel by prophesying that Liu Kang plots to conquer Outworld. Tanya and Rain are tasked with helping Kitana carry Mileena out of the laboratory, with Tanya and Kitana completely unaware of Shang Tsung, Rain and Shao's true intentions and more or less Quan Chi's prophecy after the day's events.
During the Sun Do festival, Tanya and her Umgadi once again guard the princesses as they entertain the partygoers. Mileena and Tanya have a flirty exchange, in which Mileena asks Tanya to fetch water for her and Kitana, and Tanya complies with a smile before sashaying away, much to Kitana's concern as she warns Mileena about the consequences of Tanya breaking her oath. Mileena is less than thrilled with the Umgadi's rules, as well as Kitana for reminding her, and she leaves her sister by herself. Later, several hanging lanterns begin catching fire, terrorizing the partygoers. Tanya grabs Kitana's arm and tells her to leave for her safety, but Kitana wrestles her arm away, willing to stay and fight the culprits, so Tanya remains by Kitana's side.
Eventually, the culprit is revealed to be a Zaterran named Syzoth, an ally of the Earthrealmers who created the distraction so they could get closer to the portal gate. Syzoth manages to defeat Li Mei and Reiko, so an irritated Kitana charges him, with Tanya in hot pursuit as she worries Kitana might be hurt by the Zaterran. True to her concerns, Syzoth (assisted by a disguised Kenshi) manages to get the better of Kitana, defeating her without causing serious injury. An incensed Tanya continues the fight with Khameleon assisting her, declaring she will take Syzoth's life for daring to lay his hands on the princess. However, Syzoth again prevails, knocking out Tanya. Despite General Shao arriving with reinforcements, Syzoth's group manages to elude capture and escape to Earthrealm.
Tanya remains stationed at the palace to continue defending the royal family, anticipating a conflict with Earthrealm. She soon catches word that Liu Kang has recruited Li Mei to his side and that she and her constables are escorting him to the palace to meet Sindel personally. Tanya and Khameleon confront the pair in the gardens, and though Li Mei tries to explain herself, Tanya believes her to be easily taken in by Liu Kang's "lies", remarking that Li Mei has once again proved herself incapable of keeping the royal house safe. However, Li Mei defeats Tanya in kombat and manages to temporarily convince the other Umgadi that she and Liu Kang truly mean no harm to the empress.
The Umgadi escort Li Mei and Liu Kang to the palace, with a hand-tied Tanya in tow. Tanya questions why Li Mei didn't kill her after beating her in battle, but Li Mei assures her that she and Liu Kang mean her no harm, and Liu Kang adds that leaving Tanya alive should affirm their good faith to Sindel. Upon reaching the throne room, Tanya watches as Li Mei attempts to talk Sindel down, before seizing the opportunity to put the constable in a surprise chokehold with her bonds. The throne room erupts into kombat, but Tanya fares no better against Li Mei than before, especially with her hands tied. She assists Kitana against Li Mei and Liu Kang, but both are swiftly defeated again. Mileena attempts to fight Li Mei in their stead, but is overcome by another episode of Tarkat and nearly kills Sindel in the process. Li Mei manages to throw the princess off of Sindel and subdue her, allowing Tanya to administer the suppressant to return Mileena to her normal state. When she comes to, Tanya praises Argus with relief, and realizes the truth of Li Mei and Liu Kang's actions.
Tanya and her Umgadi accompany Liu Kang and the royal family to Shang Tsung's real laboratory, located underneath his false laboratory. She observes as Liu Kang summons Geras and reveals the truth of his position in their reality - that he was once Keeper of Time, and crafted the realms and their people with his own hands, by means of a celestial object known as the Hourglass. The history lesson is cut short by the arrival of General Shao and his cohorts, who hold the group at bay with the Amulet of Shinnok. Though Tanya, Kitana, Mileena and Geras are all captured by the amulet's power, Li Mei, Liu Kang and Sindel avoid the blast and begin fighting Shao's troops in the laboratory. Liu Kang tells Sindel that Tanya and the others can still be saved, though they need to retrieve the amulet to free them. Fortunately, a surprise kick from Li Mei knocks the amulet out of Shao's hands and allows Sindel to grab it. The battle proceeds upward into the false laboratory, with Sindel and Liu Kang ultimately prevailing over Shao and his forces. Using Shinnok's amulet, Liu Kang frees Tanya and the others from its clutches.
While the other Umgadi remain behind in Outworld, Tanya and royal family aid Liu Kang and the former Lin Kuei Scorpion and Smoke in a preemptive attack on Shang Tsung and Quan Chi at Ying Fortress, their base of operations in Earthrealm. Infiltrating the fortress, the group splits up to deactivate the multitude of soul stealers scattered around the battlements. Tanya and Mileena form a group and move to take out a soul stealer, but are stopped by the arrival of Ermac, a soul construct under Quan Chi's control. Tanya tells Mileena to stay behind her, but Mileena refuses, saying that they will fight together. Their initial efforts prove futile, however, as Ermac bombards them with telekinetically-launched chunks of rock and throws them over a wall, causing Tanya heavy rib damage. The Umgadi thinks they may be broken, but asks Mileena to help her up nevertheless so they can face Ermac together. However, Mileena urges her to stay down and recover, declaring that it is her turn to protect Tanya.
Tanya watches as Mileena beats Ermac, inadvertently causing Quan Chi's spell over the construct to break. She is helped up by the princess, and remarks how impressed she is by her fighting skills, claiming that she is skilled enough to have been Umgadi in another life, though Mileena tells her "dearest Tanya" that she prefers her current life. Before the two can walk off, Jerrod's soul is able to take priority within Ermac and calls them back for an emotional reunion with Mileena. He explains that Ermac was constructed using souls from the Living Forest, which is why he was able to return. Jerrod also questions Tanya's new position as Umgadi and learns about Li Mei's plight, but reveals that his murder was not Li Mei's fault. Before he can explain further, Mileena insists they can discuss it another time, and Jerrod levitates them all so they can regroup with the others. Afterwards, the heroes proceed deeper into the fortress.
Tanya participates in the ambush on Shang Tsung and Quan Chi, but is taken aback along with the others upon discovering Shang Tsung's benefactor is an alternate Shang Tsung, who originated from the previous timeline along with Liu Kang and battled him for the Hourglass, with their clash resulting in time's fabric being torn apart and their mutual victories in newly separated timelines. After "Titan" Shang Tsung and Dark Geras depart, Tanya joins the others in an uphill battle against Dark Sindel and Dark Raiden, who prove themselves difficult opponents. Mileena defeats Dark Raiden and kills Dark Sindel with Tanya's help, but not before Dark Sindel mortally wounds Sindel in a duel. Unfortunately, Tanya can only watch as Sindel passes, but before she does, Sindel also crowns Mileena empress. After Jerrod uses Ermac's powers to safely store Sindel's soul within the construct, reuniting the couple in death, the group flees the fortress.
The current Tanya is not seen again in the main story afterwards, but she presumably participates in the second Battle of Armageddon. Several other amalgamations and versions of Tanya also appear, including one allied with Titan Shang Tsung, a version of Tanya with Raiden's powers called Shock Priestess, and many more. Additionally, Titan Kitana mentions the villainous characteristics of the Tanya from her timeline. Another version of Tanya can be selected as the final warrior who aids Liu Kang in defeating the Titans Shang Tsung and Quan Chi, before being sent back to her respective timeline.
The current Tanya returns to her role as the leader of the Umgadi, and, now knowing the truth about Li Mei, was able to uncover the cowardice of the Umgadi's Matron Superiors regarding Jerrod's murder and how they used Li Mei as a scapegoat to divert attention from their own mistakes. Though Mileena wanted to disband the Umgadi for their actions (and potentially also to more safely maintain her relationship with Tanya), Tanya was able to convince her that the order could be reformed. Mileena would ensure the reform was done properly by putting Tanya in charge of the process as the new Matrion Superior.
Endings
- Mortal Kombat 1 (Canonical): "Until recently, I hadn’t met Li Mei, but I had heard the stories. How the Umgadi’s Matrons Superior blamed her not for preventing Jerrod’s murder. How she quit in disgrace rather than accept punishment. But those stories didn’t fit the women I now knew. Li Mei would never have been so negligent. Eventually, I uncovered the truth, the failures and mistakes which led to the emperor’s murder. They resulted from poor decisions made by the Matron Superiors themselves. They made Li Mei their scapegoat. When the Empress found out, she wanted the Umgadi disbanded. But I convinced her that it could be reformed. To make sure it did, she put me in charge. I am humbled by this sacred responsibility. The Umgadi, my sisters, they are my life. I will not let them be brought down by the acts of a selfish few."