Underworld

“The Sword of Fire was here, as well our friends, but I only sense loss. We are too late. The Elemental Weapons have left this realm and are now in the Underworld.”

— Zane to Cole and Jay in "Weapons of Destiny"

The Underworld is one of the Sixteen Realms. It is the headquarters of the Skulkin army and the resting place for disgraced warriors.^[1]

History

Background

At an unknown point in time, the Underworld came into existence alongside the rest of the other Sixteen Realms, where it would function as the afterlife for fallen warriors and animals who failed to realize or accept their passing, trapped in a state of limbo.

Afterward, Samukai would later die and end up in the Underworld and become its king.

At one point, Wu and Garmadon ended up in the Underworld, where they clashed with Samukai and defeated him.^[2]

An Underworldly Takeover (flashback)

Following his banishment, Garmadon swore vengeance. Clashing with Samukai, he promptly won and declared himself King of the Underworld as a result. We then went on to begin his plans to get the Golden Weapons by using the Skulkin as an army.

Weapons of Destiny

Master Wu awoke in the Underworld after traveling there via the Fire Temple's lava. He was forced to stay hidden as the Skulkin patrolled the Underworld, but snuck his way around them and headed toward Garmadon's Dark Fortress.

Meanwhile, upon recruiting the Dragons, the ninja relied on their new companions to travel to the Underworld. The Dragons quickly swooped down toward the land below, only to spin themselves into tornadoes which transported them through a swirling vortex. They then navigated through a hidden tunnel before finally arriving in the Underworld.

Kruncha and Nuckal were guarding the Dark Fortress, inspecting any incoming objects to the building. Both Skulkin Generals were unaware of the ninja, who were traveling quietly by stalactites. However, this plan failed as they found themselves mistaking the legs of Spykor for stalactites and fell in front of Nuckal and Kruncha. After Nuckal alerted his brethren to the intruders, the Skulkin began cornering their opponents as several Spykor dropped from the ceiling to join them.

While the ninja began tossing ideas back and forth for their next move, Jay suggested the Tornado of Creation. Each ninja whipped into a Spinjitzu tornado, all four combining into one giant whirling mass. The Skulkin and Spykor were pulled into the massive tornado and ended up trapped in a skeleton Ferris wheel. Taking this as their cue to find their master, the ninja immediately headed into the Dark Fortress.

Kingdom Come

While discussing the concept of the Sixteen Realms on a skiff, Fenwick showed the ninja an illusion of the Underworld.

Curseworld, Part II

Fighting over the Realm Crystal, Morro and Lloyd would arrive in the Underworld. After Lloyd was attacked by Spykor, Morro would attempt to leave him behind through a portal, only for the Master of Energy to follow in pursuit.

Dark Island Trilogy, Part 3

Following his defeat at the Temple of Light, Clouse was banished to the Underworld, ironically finding himself at the same spot Garmadon had ended up in and likewise surrounded by several Skulkin.

The Kaiju Protocol

While trying to open a portal to the Never-Realm, Wu and P.I.X.A.L. concluded the Traveler's Tea was not strong enough. They add more leaves, and instead, opened several portals to different realms.

Inhabitants

Skulkin
- Samukai (deceased)
- Kruncha
- Nuckal
- Wyplash
- Frakjaw
- Chopov
- Krazi
- Bonezai
- Skeleton figurehead^[3] (formerly)
Garmadon (formerly)
Clouse

Visitors

LEGO.com description

The Underworld is the realm of the dead, populated by fallen warriors who have never fully realized or accepted their passing. It is home to the Skeleton Army, also known as the Skulkin. The Underworld is a dark place, where land masses float in mid-air and are connected by bridges constructed by the Skeletons. Dragons and Skeleton vehicles are able to travel between the NINJAGO world and the Underworld. Once there was a passageway to the Underworld inside the Fire Temple, but it was destroyed by Kai. Lord Garmadon’s Dark Fortress is still located here, symbolizing the fall of the late Samukai who once ruled the Underworld.^[4]

Appearance

The Underworld is a dark realm where deceased lifeforms can become animate. Certain locations in Ninjago can transport people to the Underworld, the most notable one being the lava in the Fire Temple. The Underworld is home to the Skulkin, who share the realm with the Spykor, which live along the ceiling stalactites.

Pieces of land stay afloat in midair, connected by long wooden bridges that the Skulkin regularly traverse over. They keep torches lit by each bridge to provide sufficient lighting.

Appearances

LEGO Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu

Trivia

So far, it's the realm with the most entrances to it: death after being dishonored in battle, dragons, a physical entrance behind the lava fall in the Fire Temple, the Skulkin's vehicles (when driven at very high speed), the Realm Crystal and Traveler's Tea.
The Underworld was the first alternate realm seen in the show.
For some reason, set descriptions for 2013 sets (specifically 70501 Warrior Bike and 70504 Garmatron) claim the Stone Army comes from the Underworld.
In the show's early years, the Underworld was referred to by supplementary material as the place where all beings go when they die, as an "underworld" traditionally is in fiction. This was retconned however, is that in the current story, the Departed Realm exists as seemingly the true place beings go after they die.
In Season 10, the Underworld was temporarily taken by the Oni until they were defeated.
It's unknown whether disgraced warriors from realms other than Ninjago go to the Underworld.^[5]
The Underworld in Season 11 is re-used footage from the pilot episodes. However, it was footage from before the Ferris Wheel was created, so it appears that the Skulkin have taken it down.
The Ninjago website museum gave a slightly different explanation of the Underworld, stating "The Underworld is the realm of the dead, populated by fallen warriors who have never fully realized or accepted their passing."^[4]

Gallery

In LEGO Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu

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Concept Art