Tanya made her debut in Mortal Kombat 4. As the daughter of Edenia's ambassador to new realms, she appears to be an ally in the war against Shinnok. However, it is eventually revealed that she was secretly serving the fallen elder god.

Before the events of Mortal Kombat 4, Tanya is given permission to invite a group of refugees fleeing their own realm into Edenia. However, the refugees were actually Shinnok, Quan Chi, and Shinnok's Army of Darkness. By granting entry into Edenia, Tanya allowed Shinnok and his forces to wage war against the gods. During this time, Tanya attempted to lure Liu Kang into a trap, but was unsuccessful. Liu Kang eventually defeats Shinnok, and Tanya flees to Outworld.

Years later, Tanya resurfaced and began serving the Deadly Alliance. She ruthlessly served the two sorcerers, imposing their will on the inhabitants of Outworld. However, when the alliance began to crumble, she decided to return to Edenia. Along her journey, she was discovered by Baraka, who threatened her with death if she did not serve the newly resurrected Onaga. She accepts and learns that the Dragon King is searching for ancient incantations that would allow him to fuse the Kamidogu artifacts. Believing that such information could be found in Edenia, she leads Onaga to her home realm.

However, Onaga is eventually defeated by the Earthrealm warriors. In the events leading up to Mortal Kombat: Armageddon, she learns that warriors are gathering in a secluded area of Edenia, with the victor receiving god-like power. She decides to travel to this place in the hopes of defeating the other warriors and taking the prize for herself.