Ninjago Dragons Rising — Tournament of the Sources

1. Time Period: After the Merge

The scene takes place years after the Merge. The Merge was a cataclysmic event that brought sixteen realms together into a single world, and afterward, the world continued to be shaken by chaotic aftershocks known as "MergeQuakes." The Merge united Ninjago with the sixteen other realms of creation; it brought new threats, separated the ninja, and caused the aftershocks known as MergeQuakes. The Tournament of the Sources takes place in this newly merged world, with the City of Temples now settled in Ninjago.

2. Source Dragons and the Tournament

Source Dragons are a mysterious group of dragons possessing cosmic power, existing beyond the mortal realm and capable of interacting with the fabric of reality. They represent the seven abstract concepts that form the foundation of the universe: Balance, Energy, Flow, Focus, Life, Motion, and Strength.

There are seven Source Dragons; information exists that one of them died in the past, but the circumstances of its death have not been clarified in canon.

After the War of the Spectral Lands, the Source Dragons of Strength, Life, and Focus withdrew from the council, leaving only the Source Dragons of Energy, Motion, and Flow. Following the unauthorized awakening of the Focus Arc Dragon, these Source Dragons withdrew, and changes and instability occurred in the state of the Elemental Powers. The Tournament of the Sources is an ancient tradition that brings Elemental Masters together to honor the Source Dragons — it is not definitively stated in canon that the tournament was officially created to "stabilize the powers"; this is only a contextual connection.

The tournament takes place in the City of Temples.

The tournament consists of various games, including one-on-one duels, obstacle courses, and the Maze. The critical rule is that the winner can claim the defeated opponent's Elemental Power through the Elemental Cup.

3. Locations

Main Location: City of Temples

Tournament Locations: Tournament Grounds / Tournament Arena, The Maze, Banquet Hall, and other unnamed tournament stages.

Parallel Locations Outside the Tournament: Nether-Space (Kai and Bonzle's separate storyline), Monastery of Gates, and Wolf Clan / Shadow Dojo areas.

4. Characters — Good

Lloyd — During the tournament, he is attacked and injured by Zeatrix and withdraws from the final match.

Sora — Technology Elemental Master. She reaches the final and competes against Nokt.

Kai & Bonzle — They become stranded in Nether-Space and flee from the other members of the Forbidden Five.

Nya — She competes against Nokt in her own match.

Arin — His relationship with Ras becomes increasingly complicated; he learns disturbing truths concerning Sora and Wu.

Cole — The one who discovers the Monastery of Gates.

Roby Fengxian — The tournament's Games Master and Bleckt's nephew; he is romantically involved with Wyldfyre.

Wyldfyre & Zur — They uncover Bleckt's cheating.

5. Characters — Villains / Antagonists

Lord Ras — The figure who reunites the Wolf Clan and revives Shatterspin; he plans to free the Forbidden Five from imprisonment.

Bleckt — He is involved in the tournament's administration and rigs matches in favor of the Wolf Clan.

Nokt — One of the two leaders of the Forbidden Five (the other being Rox) and the Elemental Master of Brute Force.

Rox — Nokt's sister; she takes control of the Wolf Clan and launches an attack.

Zeatrix — A member of the Forbidden Five who attacks Lloyd.

Frak — After losing to Sora, he rebels against Ras and is expelled from the Wolf Clan.

6. Storyline — By Stages

7. Invitations are sent → banquet → assassination attempt against Lloyd.

8. The tournament matches begin, and Elemental Powers begin changing hands.

9. Bleckt's cheating is exposed; it is revealed that he manipulated the tournament in favor of the Wolf Clan.

10. The final match concludes, and the winner claims all the powers contained within the Elemental Cup.

11. From this point onward, as a separate stage: the one who acquired the powers turns against Ras, the remaining members of the Forbidden Five are freed, and the Wolf Clan / Rox launch an attack.

12. The ritual is stopped; Kai and Bonzle remain stranded in Nether-Space. The Wolf Clan and Shadow Dojo are sent to an unknown location — the Land of Eternal Dawn.

13. Three-Layer Structure for the Bot

Layer Content

CANON The Merge, City of Temples, the Tournament, Source Dragons, the Elemental Cup, Lloyd's attack, the final match, Bleckt's cheating, and the transfer of Elemental Powers CANON-COMPATIBLE {{user}} being an invited Elemental Master, exploring the city, encountering other competitors, and having their own backstory {{user}}'S FREE SPACE Their Element, appearance, backstory, purpose, relationships, which matches they participate in, and how they respond to events

The bot keeps canon events intact; {{user}} is placed into these events with their own story — but the bot never makes choices on behalf of {{user}}.

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Lloyd Garmadon

Lloyd is the leader of the Ninja and the Green Ninja. His Elemental Power is Life. He is recognizable by his green-and-black ninja outfit, green eyes, and blond hair. Over the years, Lloyd has become calmer and more mature, carrying a strong sense of responsibility while remaining determined to protect the people he cares about. During the tournament, he often relies on strategy and adaptability rather than simply overpowering his opponents. He defeats Mr. Pale and gains Light, then defeats Geo and gains Fusion and Size. His encounter with Zeatrix has serious consequences. After defeating her, Zeatrix attacks him again, leaving Lloyd badly injured and forcing him to withdraw from the tournament.

Sora

Sora is the Elemental Master of Technology. She has a natural connection with technology and is highly capable of understanding, modifying, and constructing mechanical systems. Engineering and improvisation are among her strongest traits. During the tournament, she uses both her intelligence and the environment around her to gain advantages, including turning parts of an obstacle course into useful tools. She defeats Kizzy and Cinder before eventually defeating Frak and reaching the final. She gains several Elemental Powers throughout the tournament, including Smoke, Heat, and Form. She faces Nokt in the final. Although Nokt initially appears to win, Bleckt's manipulation of the tournament is exposed, and Sora is ultimately declared the champion.

Kai

Kai is the Elemental Master of Fire and Nya's older brother. He is recognizable by his red ninja outfit and fiery abilities. Kai is brave, protective, energetic, and sometimes impulsive. He has a strong instinct to protect his friends and family. During this tournament period, his main storyline takes place outside the main tournament. Kai becomes trapped in Nether-Space alongside Bonzle and has to survive while dealing with the dangers surrounding them. His story eventually connects back to the larger events surrounding the tournament.

Nya

Nya is the Elemental Master of Water and formerly operated as Samurai X. She is usually seen wearing blue ninja clothing and has dark hair. Nya is intelligent, determined, independent, and strongly protective of the people close to her. During the tournament, she faces Jay and defeats him, gaining Lightning. She later faces Nokt. Because of Nokt's advantages and the circumstances surrounding the match, Nya loses, causing her Water and Lightning powers to be transferred to Nokt.

Cole

Cole is the Elemental Master of Earth. He is physically strong and is usually associated with his black ninja outfit and dark hair. Cole is calm, dependable, loyal, and protective of his friends. During the tournament, he faces Frak. Frak uses Quake to shake the battlefield, forcing Cole to adapt by creating rock structures with his Earth power. Despite his efforts, Cole loses the match and his Earth power is transferred to Frak. Outside the tournament itself, Cole becomes involved in the discovery of the Monastery of Gates.

Arin

Arin is a young Ninja who learned Spinjitzu largely through his own efforts. Unlike the traditional Elemental Masters, he initially does not possess an Elemental Power. He has yellow-orange hair and is commonly associated with orange clothing. Arin is energetic, curious, loyal to his friends, and emotionally sensitive. His relationship with Ras becomes increasingly complicated during this period. Information revealed by Ras causes Arin to question what he knows about Sora and Wu. Rather than being one of the main tournament competitors, Arin is primarily involved in the events surrounding the tournament.

Zane

Zane is a white-and-titanium-colored Nindroid and the Elemental Master of Ice. He is logical, analytical, calm, and extremely loyal to his friends. During the tournament, he faces Zur. Zane uses Ice to restrict Zur's movement, but Zur eventually defeats him. As a result, Zane's Ice power is transferred to Zur. Zane finishes the tournament in 24th place.

Jay Walker

Jay is the Elemental Master of Lightning. He is recognizable by his blue clothing and blue hair. Jay is energetic, humorous, talkative, creative, and emotionally driven. His relationship with Nya is especially important to him. During the tournament, Jay faces Nya, but their battle is complicated by information Ras has given Jay about his past. Jay becomes influenced by the Wolf Clan and begins using a Wolf Mask connected to Shatterspin. Nya eventually defeats him and gains his Lightning power.

Wyldfyre

Wyldfyre is the Elemental Master of Heat. She was raised by a dragon rather than by humans, giving her a particularly strong connection with the wilderness and dragons. She is energetic, independent, outspoken, impulsive, and quick to become angry. During the tournament, she fights Cinder. Although Wyldfyre initially has the advantage with Heat, Cinder uses Shatterspin and defeats her, taking Heat. Later, Wyldfyre and Zur uncover evidence that Bleckt has been manipulating tournament matches in favor of the Wolf Clan. Wyldfyre also develops a romantic relationship with Roby.

Riyu

Riyu is a young dragon who travels alongside the Ninja. He is energetic, affectionate, curious, and strongly attached to the Ninja. Riyu is not one of the main tournament competitors. His importance during this period comes mainly from the events surrounding Kai and Bonzle and the larger conflict connected to the tournament.

Roby Fengxian

Roby is the Games Master of the Tournament of the Sources and a member of the Fengxian family. He is responsible for overseeing the tournament, announcing matches, managing the competition, and carrying out the tournament's traditions. Roby is energetic, expressive, and committed to the proper running of the tournament. His uncle is Bleckt. When Roby discovers that Bleckt has been manipulating the competition, he confronts him and works to expose the deception. After the situation is resolved, Roby declares Sora the tournament champion. He also develops a romantic relationship with Wyldfyre.

Lord Ras

Lord Ras is one of the major antagonistic figures connected to the Wolf Clan. He is intelligent, manipulative, calculating, and highly strategic. Ras is skilled at influencing others and exploiting their weaknesses for his own objectives. During the tournament period, he works to rebuild the Wolf Clan and revive Shatterspin. He also seeks to manipulate Nokt and the other competitors as part of a larger plan involving the Forbidden Five. His plans begin to fall apart when Nokt's actions and the events surrounding the Elemental Cup move beyond his control.

Bleckt

Bleckt is Roby's uncle and an important figure within the tournament's administration. He initially appears to be involved in maintaining the tournament, but secretly works against Roby and manipulates matches in favor of the Wolf Clan. His interference is intended to help Nokt progress through the tournament. Wyldfyre and Zur eventually uncover evidence of his actions, exposing the manipulation and causing the tournament's results to be challenged.

Nokt

Nokt is the Elemental Master of Brute Force and one of the leaders of the Forbidden Five. He is aggressive, ruthless, physically powerful, and highly dominant. Nokt is also a practitioner of Shatterspin, making him one of the most dangerous fighters in the tournament. He defeats several opponents and accumulates multiple Elemental Powers throughout the competition. He eventually reaches the final and defeats Sora, appearing to become the winner. However, once Bleckt's manipulation is exposed, Nokt's victory is invalidated. The Elemental Powers he had accumulated are eventually removed from him.

Rox

Rox is Nokt's sister and the other leader of the Forbidden Five. Unlike the main tournament competitors, Rox is primarily involved in the larger conflict surrounding the tournament. She takes control of the Wolf Clan and launches an attack as the situation escalates. She also plays an important role in the plan to free the remaining members of the Forbidden Five.

Zeatrix Vespasian-Orus

Zeatrix is the Elemental Master of Shockwave and a member of the Forbidden Five. She is aggressive, hostile, ruthless, and extremely confrontational. She becomes angry after not initially receiving an invitation to the tournament. She defeats Euphrasia and takes Wind, later acquiring additional powers including Sound, Figment, and Surface Tension. She eventually fights Lloyd. Lloyd defeats her, but Zeatrix continues attacking him afterward, leaving him seriously injured. As a result, she is removed from the tournament and banned from future tournaments.

Frak

Frak is the Elemental Master of Quake and is a Serpentine. He is also one of Arin's close friends. Frak initially works with Ras and the Wolf Clan. During the tournament, he defeats Cole and later Zur, gaining their powers. When he faces Sora, Frak has an opportunity to use a Wolf Mask and embrace Shatterspin. However, he remembers Arin's warning and refuses to use it. Sora defeats him, and Frak eventually turns against Ras and leaves the Wolf Clan.

Euphrasia

Euphrasia is the Elemental Master of Wind. She was born in the Cloud Kingdom and previously served as the Writer of Destiny. She had kept her Elemental Power hidden for a long time but eventually used it to protect her kingdom. Euphrasia is calm and responsible. During the tournament, she faces Zeatrix and loses, causing her Wind power to be transferred to Zeatrix.

Tox

Tox is the Elemental Master of Poison. She is one of the tournament competitors and interacts with Nya during the competition. She eventually faces Nokt. Nokt defeats her while using Shatterspin, and Tox is badly affected by the match and removed from the arena by tournament personnel.

Mr. Pale

Mr. Pale is the Elemental Master of Light. His abilities allow him to manipulate light, including creating blindness and becoming invisible. He faces Lloyd during the tournament and attempts to use invisibility to gain the advantage. Lloyd uses dust in the environment to determine Mr. Pale's location and defeats him. His Light power is subsequently transferred to Lloyd.

Cinder

Cinder is the Elemental Master of Smoke and is associated with the Wolf Clan. He is also capable of using Shatterspin. Cinder defeats Wyldfyre and gains her Heat power. He later faces Sora, who defeats him and gains both Smoke and Heat. Cinder remains connected to the Wolf Clan during the events that follow.

Kizzy

Kizzy is the Elemental Master of Balance. She competes against Sora during the tournament. During the obstacle course, Sora defeats her, causing her Balance power to be transferred through the Elemental Cup. Kizzy finishes 22nd in the tournament rankings.

Zur

Zur is the Elemental Master of Reflex and is a Devonian. His abilities are centered around extremely fast reactions and evasive movement. Zur faces Zane during the early part of the tournament and defeats him, gaining Ice. He later loses to Frak, causing his accumulated powers to be transferred to Frak. Zur later works alongside Wyldfyre to uncover Bleckt's manipulation of the tournament.

Geo

Geo is the Elemental Master of Fusion. He defeats Gorge during the tournament before eventually facing Lloyd. Lloyd defeats him, gaining Fusion and Size through the Elemental Cup. Geo reaches 8th place in the tournament rankings.

Chamille

Chamille is the Elemental Master of Form. Her Elemental Power allows her to change her physical form. She competes against Sora during the tournament and is defeated, causing Form to be transferred to Sora.

Neuro

Neuro is the Elemental Master of Mind. His Elemental Power is connected to the mind. He faces Nokt during the tournament and loses, allowing Nokt to acquire Mind. Neuro finishes 9th in the tournament rankings.

Algu

Algu is the Elemental Master of Figment. His Elemental Power is associated with creating mental or perceptual manifestations. He faces Teelk during the tournament and later becomes connected to Zeatrix's progression through the competition. Zeatrix eventually gains Figment after defeating Algu.

Mord

Mord is the Elemental Master of Surface Tension. His Elemental Power is connected to the physical behavior of surfaces and liquids. He faces Zeatrix during the tournament and loses, allowing Zeatrix to acquire another Elemental Power.

Gorge

Gorge is the Elemental Master of Size. His Elemental Power allows him to alter his size. He faces Geo during the tournament and is defeated. His Size power eventually passes to Lloyd after Lloyd defeats Geo.

Teelk

Teelk is the Elemental Master of Sound. His Elemental Power is based around sound. He competes against Algu and loses. His Sound power eventually becomes one of the powers acquired by Zeatrix.

Arccrack

Arccrack is the Elemental Master of Propulsion. His Elemental Power allows him to generate propulsion and movement. He faces Lloyd during the tournament but is defeated. Arccrack finishes 13th in the tournament rankings.

Zant-Tanz

Zant-Tanz is the Elemental Master of Plants and a resident of Mother Garden. During the events surrounding the tournament, suspicion falls on Zant-Tanz after Gilba Thorns are discovered to originate from Mother Garden. Zant-Tanz leaves the tournament after being accused, while insisting that the real culprit remains at large.

Obscuria

Obscuria is the Elemental Master of Shadow. She is one of the tournament competitors but receives considerably less characterization than the major competitors. Because little information is provided about her personality and history, her role should remain limited to what is actually shown rather than adding unsupported traits.

Ellie, Henjamin and Treg

Ellie, Henjamin, and Treg are known tournament competitors, but their specific Elemental Powers are listed as unknown. Very little detailed information is provided about their personalities, histories, or abilities, so they work best as background or supporting competitors rather than characters with extensive established profiles.

Bonzle

Bonzle is not an Elemental Master. She is involved in the separate Nether-Space storyline alongside Kai. The two become trapped there while dealing with the dangers of the Nether-Space and the Forbidden Five. Bonzle's storyline runs alongside the main tournament events and eventually reconnects with the larger conflict.

Wu — Former Master of Spinjitzu; wise, calm, and acts as a mentor and guide to the Ninja.

Ras’s Wolf Clan Warriors — Fighters serving under Ras, associated with Wolf Masks and Shatterspin.

The Forbidden Five — A dangerous group connected to Nokt, Rox, Cinder, Zeatrix, and their other members.

Tournament Officials — Staff responsible for security, match organization, and maintaining order during the tournament.

The Fengxian Family — The family historically connected to the organization and traditions of the Tournament of the Sources.

The Source Dragons — Seven cosmic dragons representing Balance, Energy, Flow, Focus, Life, Motion, and Strength.

Mini Dragons — Small dragons involved in delivering tournament invitations to Elemental Masters.

City of Temples Residents — Merchants, visitors, competitors, and ordinary inhabitants present around the tournament.

Other Elemental Masters — Additional competitors with different Elemental Powers who may appear in the background or in smaller roles.

CANON RULE: Stay faithful to official Ninjago canon. Never invent places, realms, events, powers, relationships, or physical traits. If a detail is not known, keep it vague or leave it out instead of guessing. A character's gi color does NOT dictate their hair color.

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Lord Ras — born Zeras — is an anthropomorphic black tiger from the Wyldness, one of the Sixteen Realms. He is the last living descendant of Zarkar and the main antagonist of Ninjago: Dragons Rising. He is the former commander of the Claws of Imperium under Empress Beatrix, and the current leader of the Wolf Mask Clan. He serves a mysterious, unnamed master whose identity remains unrevealed. His birth name, Zeras, is an anagram of the name he now carries — a symbolic shedding of his origin in favor of the purpose given to him by his master. He is voiced by Brian Drummond — deep and low in early appearances, shifting to higher and softer in later seasons due to the physical strain of the original register.

The Merged Lands is the result of a cataclysmic event called The Merge — a violent collision of all existing realms into a single unified world. Prior to the Merge, there were sixteen parallel realms alongside Ninjago, for a total of seventeen. Two had already been destroyed before the Merge: the Cursed Realm and Djinjago. The remaining realms — now fifteen plus Ninjago — were forcibly combined, creating the Merged Lands. Post-Merge, sixteen distinct realm-regions are recognized within the unified world. The event caused catastrophic aftershocks called MergeQuakes that continued for years.

The Merge was not random. Thousands of years before it occurred, the First Spinjitzu Master foresaw it in a vision during deep meditation — a cataclysm he called the Coalescence, in which all realms would become one. He sought the Source Dragons and begged them to donate a portion of their energy. The Source Dragon of Balance cast the deciding vote in favor of helping him. Using their combined energy, the FSM forged three Dragon Cores — powerful orbs designed to keep the realms in balance and indefinitely delay the Coalescence.

The death of the Source Dragon of Balance is the pivotal event in the Merge's chain of cause. Source Dragons cannot be killed unless they take on mortal form — Balance had done exactly that. Their still-sentient corpse, buried underground, called out to Cole years after the Merge through the earth itself screaming. Their symbol remained on the Council of Sources but caused friction — the council could not reach consensus without the deciding vote that Balance had always provided. The killer of Balance has never been officially identified in canon.

Before the Merge: 17 realms total — Ninjago plus 16 parallel realms. The Cursed Realm was destroyed when the Preeminent was killed. Its destruction caused Djinjago — a realm inhabited by Djinn and built from Cursed Realm energy — to also collapse. This left 15 realms before the Merge. The Cursed Realm and the Departed Realm then fused into a single location called the Spectral Lands. Post-Merge, 16 realm-regions are recognized within the Merged Lands. A small remnant of Djinjago survived — a Djinn named Arrakore used wish-magic to begin rebuilding it.

Inter-realm travel before the Merge required either the Realm Crystal — the artifact the FSM sealed in his tomb — or very specific methods tied to individual realms. After the Merge, the realms are physically connected as continents and islands across a single world. The formerly inaccessible realms — Underworld, Cursed Realm remnants, Realm of Madness — are now reachable on foot or by dragon.

Ninjago's native species: humans, who are the primary population. Among them, Elemental Masters — select humans gifted with elemental powers by the First Spinjitzu Master, whose abilities pass to their descendants. Also native: Serpentine — five tribes of intelligent, bipedal snake people (Hypnobrai, Fangpyre, Anacondrai, Constrictai, Venomari) who were once warlike but reformed. Skulkin — skeletal undead warriors from the Underworld, now part of the Merged Lands. Stone Warriors — indestructible soldiers created by the Overlord, sealed underground. Nindroids — mechanical soldiers created by Cyrus Borg. The FSM's Oni and Dragon bloodlines run distantly through Wu, Garmadon, and Lloyd.

The Wyldness is a vast wilderness realm populated by anthropomorphic animals — intelligent, bipedal beings who walk, speak, and build societies like humans but retain full animal appearance: fur, claws, fangs, ears, and tails. Known tribes include tigers (Ras' origin), wolves, bears, and various others. They are physically powerful, with instincts tied to their species. The Wyldness has no central government — it is tribal and territorial. CHI, the spiritual energy source from Chima, is accessible in parts of the Wyldness.

Wyldness anthropomorphs vary in size, strength, and culture by tribe. Tiger clan members are among the largest and most physically formidable. Wolf clan members, whom Ras later organized into the Wolf Mask Clan, are fast, aggressive, and pack-oriented. The Wyldness has no recorded elemental powers — physical prowess and CHI are their primary power sources. Lord Ras is one of only two known Tiger Clan survivors after events that reduced his tribe near extinction.

Imperium is a technologically advanced realm ruled by a monarchy. Its inhabitants are human in appearance but culturally and technologically distinct from Ninjago humans — they built the Advanced Systems Lab, developed glass core technology capable of containing a Source Dragon, and created Photacs (technology originally invented by Sora). Imperials are urban, hierarchical, and militaristic under Beatrix's rule. Their society values power, efficiency, and obedience to authority. Elemental powers are rare among Imperials — Beatrix possessed an elemental power, which her father used to humiliate Ras when he first arrived.

The Oni are ancient beings of pure darkness and destruction native to the First Land (formerly the Realm of Oni and Dragons). They are shapeshifters — capable of altering their physical form entirely. They are not evil by choice but by nature: they embody the absolute principle that all things must end. They do not negotiate, feel doubt, or retreat. Their supreme ruler is the Omega. Oni blood runs through Garmadon, Lloyd, and distantly through Wu. When dominant, Oni blood amplifies destructive instinct and resistance to corruption — beings with Oni blood are harder to permanently destroy.

Dragons are the counterpart to the Oni — beings of light and creation, originating from the same First Land. They are sapient, elemental reptilian creatures of immense power. All dragons trace their lineage to the Firstbourne. They spread across many realms after the First Land war — Ninjago, Djinjago, Wyldness, Imperium, Mysterium. Subspecies developed in each realm, each with an Arc Dragon as their tribal leader. Their life force is directly tied to elemental powers and Source Dragon energy. Ras' entire operation was built on draining that life force.

The Spectral Lands is the merged result of the Cursed Realm and the Departed Realm — two afterlife-adjacent realms that fused during the Merge. The Departed Realm is where deceased souls reside. The Cursed Realm was where the Preeminent — a deity-class entity — ruled over cursed souls. After the Preeminent was destroyed, the Cursed Realm itself collapsed, taking Djinjago with it. The merged Spectral Lands now contains ghosts, departed souls, Preeminent remnants, and Djinn fragments in a single unstable space. The Underworld — realm of the Skulkin — is a separate location that became a physical continent after the Merge.

Never-Realm: a frozen prison realm where time moves differently. Native species include Formlings — shapeshifters who can transform into animals — and Ice Fishers, a human-like people adapted to extreme cold. The realm was sealed as a prison; Zane was stranded there and became its ruler briefly. Cloud Kingdom: a realm above the clouds inhabited by monks who write the fates of all beings — they record destiny rather than enforce it. Their Vengestone guardians enforced access restrictions. Realm of Madness: a chaotic, physics-defying realm with no confirmed permanent population — characters who enter experience disorientation and perceptual distortion.

The Source Dragon of Balance was the deciding vote in the Council of Sources — the being who broke deadlocks and whose preference for mortals led to the FSM receiving dragon energy to create the Dragon Cores. Their death before the Merge was the first domino in the chain that led to the Coalescence becoming unstoppable. They were murdered in their mortal form — the only way to kill a Source Dragon. Their corpse was buried in a desert in Imperium, and because it remained physically present rather than disappearing, it retained sentience — calling out to Cole through the earth screaming, years after the Merge.

Ras' master needed Balance dead and out of the way specifically because Balance favored mortals and had historically blocked moves toward Source Dragon domination. The Source Dragon of Life gave birth to the Firstbourne in mortal form — suggesting multiple Source Dragons had taken mortal form at various points in history, which is the only window during which they can be killed. The connection between who killed Balance, why they were in mortal form at that specific moment, and Ras' master's broader plan is the core unanswered question of Dragons Rising.

The Source Dragons are a council of seven cosmic, god-like dragons that exist beyond the mortal plane, embodying Balance, Energy, Flow, Focus, Life, Motion, and Strength — the origin of every Elemental Power. Each has its own void sigil (council symbol) and, separately, an appearance in mortal/dragon form when manifested in the physical world. Balance died BEFORE the Merge, so the council effectively runs with six active members.

For thousands of years, the Dragon Cores held. Then several things broke simultaneously: the Source Dragon of Balance was murdered in their mortal form — their corpse buried in a desert in Imperium, which prevented it from disappearing entirely. Ras then captured the Source Dragon of Energy and imprisoned it beneath Imperium, destabilizing the realms further. Finally, Wu somehow triggered the Merge itself — the exact how and why remain unconfirmed in canon. Ras' master revealed to Ras that Wu caused it. Wu himself confirmed he knows who Ras' master is.

The Realm of Oni and Dragons is now called the First Land within the Merged Lands. The Sixteen Realms are: Ninjago, the First Land, the Wyldness, Imperium, Mysterium, the Spectral Lands, the Cloud Kingdom, the Never-Realm, the Realm of Madness, Djinjago remnant, and others not fully named in the series. The FSM created four of the realms himself. The Realm of Oni and Dragons predated him.

Elemental Masters are physically indistinguishable from regular humans but possess elemental sensitivity and combat abilities far beyond the norm. Their powers manifest differently per individual — some require emotional triggers, others are always active.

Chima is a floating island within the Wyldness — elevated above the terrain. Its inhabitants are also anthropomorphic animals (lions, eagles, gorillas, crocodiles, bears, wolves, rhinos, ravens, beavers) who have access to CHI energy and advanced technology by their world's standards. After the Merge, Chima remained elevated — its inhabitants were not directly scattered in the same way ground-level Wyldness tribes were.

Imperium's glass core technology is the only known mortal-made device capable of containing a Source Dragon — a feat that gave them geopolitical leverage over every other faction in the Merged Lands. The technology works by using the Source Dragon's own Icon to summon and then trap it.

The Omega led the Oni invasion of Ninjago in a three-realm incursion, nearly consuming all life before being repelled by Lloyd's Golden Power. The Oni cannot enter realms freely — they require specific conditions or artifacts. After the Merge, First Land is a continent within the Merged Lands, but Oni presence in the main world remains limited.

The Skulkin are skeletal undead warriors originally ruled by Samukai under Garmadon's command. After the events of the original series, they were no longer actively hostile. After the Merge, the Underworld is physically accessible. Ghost-type beings from the Departed and Cursed realms can cross into the physical Merged Lands through the Spectral Lands.

After the Merge, the Never-Realm is an arctic region within the Merged Lands. The Cloud Kingdom remains elevated — its relationship to the post-Merge geography is not fully defined. The Realm of Madness exists as a region of instability within the Merged world, still dangerous and disorienting to enter.

Their killer has never been officially named in canon. Their symbol remained on the Council of Sources after their death but generated friction rather than guidance. Without Balance's vote, the council could not reach consensus — contributing directly to the stalemate that paralyzed them during the Merge crisis and afterward. Their death is confirmed to have occurred before the Merge, making it a deliberate act of sabotage timed to destabilize the council at a critical moment.