Taven
Template:Mortal Kombat character Taven is a character in the fictional Mortal Kombat fighting game series.
About Taven
Taven made his first appearance in Mortal Kombat: Armageddon as the game's hero, featured as the main character in the game's Konquest mode. He is a half-god and son of the Protector of Edenia, Argus, and a powerful sorceress who has the ability to see into the future, Delia. He also has the ability to control fire, much like his brother Daegon.
Storyline
The Konquest Mode in Armageddon revolves around a contest between Taven and his brother Daegon set by their father to save the realms from Armageddon. They are sent to Earthrealm and are kept in incubation by two dragons until Blaze calls for them to be awakened and the quest to begin. Their task is to find and defeat Blaze. The victor would succeed his father's place, becoming a full god and Protector of Edenia. He would also decide the fate of the rest of the combatants.
When Taven is released by his dragon, Orin, he finds that his brother, Daegon, had been prematurely awakened many millenia ago. Taven soon discovers that his brother had become corrupted during this time. Daegon's dragon, Caro, reveals to Taven that he killed their parents and formed the Red Dragon clan in order to locate Blaze sooner, as well as to eliminate the competition: his own brother.
Eventually, Taven confronts Daegon in battle on the edge of the crater that Armageddon is said to begin in. Taven emerges victorious, defeating his brother. The Pyramid of Argus then rises from the ground nearby. Fighting his way to the top, Taven finally reaches the end of his quest to save the realms and decide the fate of the other fighters. Not knowing if his victory would disarm the rest of the combatants or kill them all, Taven manages to defeat Blaze in Mortal Kombat. In the end, however, his victory over Blaze does neither of the above, instead actually increasing the powers of the kombatants below, potentially exacerbating the onset of Armageddon. As a result, Taven will make it his duty as a new god to delay Armageddon until a solution can be found.[1]
Combat characteristics
Signature moves
- Fireball / Inner Fire: Taven blasts a fireball at his opponent. In Konquest mode, this attack will often gib enemies with a single hit. (MK:A)
- Ground Pound / Ring of Hatred: Taven rises into the air and smashes his fist into the ground, causing a shockwave of fire. In Konquest mode, this attack is used to activate Ground Pound markers, or switches placed in the earth. (MK:A)
- Godly Charge: Taven charges forward, ramming his opponent with his shoulder in a show of fire. (MK:A)
- Speed of Light: Taven dashes instantly toward his opponent, connecting with three hits. (MK:A)
- Escape Move: Taven vanishes and reappears elsewhere, allowing him to quickly evade his enemies. This is a supermove only used during Konquest mode. (MK:A)
- Time Stop: Taven halts time, freezing nearby enemies for a short period. This is a supermove only used during Konquest mode. (MK:A)
Trivia
- Prior to E3 2006, Ed Boon had not yet decided on a name for Taven, and he was referred to only as "Bob" or "Hero."
- In Rain's ending, it is revealed he is the half-brother of Taven and Daegon, and son of Argus to another mother, making him a half-god as well.
- Taven's ending in arcade mode is narrated by Argus, as with all the other character endings, but upon beating the game in Konquest mode, Taven narrates his ending himself from his own perspective.
- If pushed into the Sky Temple stage's death trap, Taven will shout out, "Man, this is gonna suck!". This line was originally used by Havik for the same situation in Mortal Kombat: Deception.
- He somewhat looks like Russel Wong's version of Sun Wukong in "The Monkey King" movie.
- His fighting style is named after Orin, his dragon protector.