Tarkatan Culture
OK General notes about Tarkatan culture so far, all of which have been gleamed through mk11. Note that some of these cultural values may not be 100% accurate, since most of them are gotten through Baraka's dialogue so some of this might just be his personality. So this is like 50% also a Baraka analysis, since he's the only Tarkatan I really have access to and I doubt he's a super reliable narrator.
This will probably be added onto later.
Okay, so just to get this out of the way - Tarkatan cannibalism is canon. I think we already knew this. It's mentioned casually in a couple intro dialogues.
Now we get into themes/topics, specifically values that I've noticed may be in Tarkatan culture.
1. - Honesty.
Baraka's brutally honest and straight to the point. Baraka says things that could very well spark anger or aggression even from his allies, and it doesn’t seem to be on purpose. In fact, sometimes it seems to be out of goodwill.
Baraka: I'd think twice about being Kotal's Bride. Jade: And why is that, Baraka? Baraka: If he betrays Tarkata, you will suffer.
He's warning her - this seems like less of a threat and more of a weird gesture of goodwill. "hey, we're mostly cool, please be aware that if your boyfriend double-crosses my people I will not react in a way you like". In another intro dialogue he tells Cetrion straight-up to "speak plainly" and stop speaking in the confusing virtue riddles she usually does.
Now, this might just be a him thing, but it makes sense for a Proud Warrior Race like the Tarkatans. Note that while while the Shokan are also a Proud Warrior Race, they are canonically very hierarchical and have a strict caste system, which means they are more likely to have social expectations of how to act around those of higher status (canon based on how Sheeva expects others to treat her). These social expectations are usually going to be more formal/less direct out of respect. The Tarkatans, however, have a very loose hierarchical system, that seems to be mainly restricted to two categories: tribe members and whoever is leading the tribe at that time. Leadership is not acquired through blood or caste, but through prowess.
Baraka: You challenge me for the tribe? Mirror Baraka: By the rules of Katka Rakatan. Baraka: I will feast on your flesh. (including that line for proof of cannibalism, which I don't think anyone needed but I'm doing it anyway.)
There's also no strict governmental system. The few "laws" Tarkatans have seem to be mainly just traditions, that, if broken, will cause a huge uproar.
Robocop: How are Tarkatan laws enforced? Baraka: With gnashing teeth and sharpened blades. Robocop: I would not call that justice.
The whole "rules of Katka Rakatan" thing seems to be enforced mainly out of compliance to tradition. The tradition is highly respected throughout Tarkatan culture, and on the off chance that someone tries to break that tradition, it will A) probably be seen as an act of cowardice, since most of the traditions are probably combat/challenge based and B) will end with the offending individual getting torn apart by the rest of the tribe.
It makes sense that, with this looser heirarchical system, Tarkatans don't feel any need to speak formally/respecfully. This point is strengthened by this dialogue:
Baraka: My people are skeptical. Kitana: I am not Shao Kahn, Baraka. Baraka: Words. We need deeds.
2. - Oppression
Tarkatans have canonically been an oppressed group for a while. Like, a long time.
Geras: Submit your tribe to Kronika. Baraka: Tarkatans do not submit, Geras. Geras: It is their entire history.
Now, let's talk fantastic racism real quick. We got Kotal's genocidal tendencies, but everyone know's about those. So let's talk about Rain sees everyone as lesser, that’s kind of his thing, but he seems to see Tarkatans as particularly inferior.
Rain: Kitana has made you a partner? Baraka: Her choice offends you? Rain: It disgusts me, Baraka.
Even Kitana seems to have some biases despite how she's portrayed in story mode.
Kitana: You soil every room you enter. Kano: Bloke's gotta mark his territory. Kitana: Even Baraka's more civilized.
It's not that bad compared to the shit Tarkatans have gone through, but it's still racism, damn.
There's also this line, but I'm pretty sure it's not canon.
Kitana: The flesh trade is banned. Baraka: My people won't starve, Kitana! Kitana: There will be no exceptions.
(I'm not entirely sure if "flesh trade" refers exclusively to human/sentient flesh or what, but that "my people won't starve" line doesn't paint Kitana in a great light. Again, probably non-canon though.)
Frost has two different dialogues where she insults Baraka, one of which involves her calling him low-born (more looking down upon Tarkatans) and a "cur" (which up until now I have never heard used outside of a Shakespearian context; for anyone wondering, it's pretty much synonymous with "mongrel"). She also calls him a coward, which, knowing Baraka, is probably the reason he sounds so pissed in the dialogue.
Tarkatans/Baraka seem to hate being looked down upon as dumber/lesser/primitive/uncivilized.
Baraka: Why come to Outworld? Erron Black: Why, to meet exotic folks like yourself. Baraka: By 'exotic', you mean 'primitive'.
Shang Tsung: Do Tarkatans have souls, Baraka? Baraka: Of course we have souls. Shang Tsung: Souls are more useful than service. (Baraka's so ready for an attempt to dehumanize (for lack of a better word) Tarkatans that he kinda forgets the problem with discussing souls with Shang Tsung, famous soul stealer.)
He also emphasizes his status as an equal to Kitana multiple times:
Baraka: Tarkatans are slaves no longer. Sindel: Kitana has made you servants. Baraka: We are allies, not servants.
Baraka: Join us against the Emperor. Mileena: And forever curtsy to my sister? Baraka: Better Kitana's partner than Shao Kahn's slave. (There's emphasis on Mileena's disgust at the thought of being below Kitana, and Baraka emphasizes that he and Kitana are partners. Equals.)
He also is notably very appreciative when people see him as an equal, or at least show him basic decency. This is shown in most of his dialogues with Jade and Kotal (in most of Kotal's dialogue Baraka makes it clear that just because he likes Jade doesn't mean he likes Kotal).
He also seems incredibly cautious of his allies, kind of waiting for betrayal.
3. Loyalty
Loyalty seems to be a value. I questioned if loyalty might have some importance with the amount of dialogues of Baraka swearing his loyalty to Jade & Kitana (so long as they don't betray him), but what makes me think it could be a cultural value is this line:
Baraka: If Kitana cheats us, Tarkata will rise. Jade: She's never shown disloyalty, Baraka. Baraka: Except to the Kahn who raised her.
Disloyalty to anyone, even to someone like Shao Kahn, is enough to make Baraka suspicious. The emphasis on Shao Kahn raising Kitana may also show a cultural respect for parental figures.
I might add onto this later, but this is what I have right now.
TL;DR - tarkatans are the jews of outworld.
