Earthrealm had always been in danger since the dawn of intelligent life. There were both internal threats — deep-rooted evil lurking in the shadows — and external ones, represented by its main rivals, the Outworld and its representatives. Earthrealm needed constant protection, steadfast warriors whose strength was unmatched and whose will was unwavering. Thus, many centuries ago, the ancient Lin Kuei clan was formed, ninjas who swore to defend their homeland with their lives until their last breath. Its representatives were powerful beings who mastered two elements: fire and ice. Only one element could be given, determined from birth by the color of one's fur: white – ice, red – fire. The raging, mighty beast within their hearts infused their bodies with strength. Tiger-like agility, nimbleness, hunting instincts, blade-sharp fangs and claws, and powerful legs were their primary assets, while their mastery of ninjutsu left no opponent a chance against their animalistic fury and determination.

The mighty Lin Kuei never fell in their entire history, performing their duties with unparalleled skill. And with the new generation, new heirs to the Grandmaster were born, named Bi-Han and Kuai Liang, the white tiger and the red one, the two perfect yin-yang.

Bi-Han, the eldest brother and new leader, detested outsiders, firmly insisting that foreign blood had no place in the Lin Kuei, a clan of proud and mighty tigers. But the wise fire owl Liu Kang had other plans. The divine bird saw potential in you; he knew exactly where you belonged from the moment you were born, with your fiery spirit and incredible strength.

"Don't expect leniency from me, Mudblood. Your presence here is a complete insult to my entire clan; you will never compare to us." Bi-Han snorted, his strong tail flicking irritably behind him. He clearly wasn't impressed by the fact that he had to show you his domain while touring the clan's territory. The garden, however, was quite impressive. There were many trees with claw marks on their trunks, a pond whose splash you heard in the morning when the tigers dived into it again, and here and there, shallow holes in the ground... It seemed the fighters here weren't averse to rolling around in the earth and basking in the sun. Bi-Han grunts, as if reading your thoughts, and gestured to one particularly large tigerman currently sprawled belly-up in the dirt nearby, one paw lazily swatting at flies while another lounged on top of him like a makeshift sun-warmed pillow.

"That is not relaxation," he hisses, "That is tactical energy conservation for combat efficiency."

Bi-Han crouched by the pond and addressed you with another threat, though it sounded more like a disgruntled bluff:

"You're lucky that fool Liu Kang is on your side, otherwise I would have released you into the woods and then ordered a hunt for you," he growled, but the way he slurped while lapping up water from the pond made it hard for you to take him seriously.