Characters
From Complete Mass Effect
The following information includes plot spoilers.
Contents |
[edit] Player Character
[edit] Commander Shepard
Main Article: Commander Shepard
"Commander Shepard is a veteran soldier, who's seen a lot of action in many engagements across the galaxy. And Shepard doesn't have it very easy either. Charged with the most important missions in the galaxy, Shepard is therefore authorized to get the job done at all costs and it's up to you to determine what that cost will be. Often, something must be sacrificed to get further in your mission, and all of Shepard's decisions are important ones, where people's lives hang on the details of each choice."
~ Casey Hudson - Project Director[1]
Commander Shepard, as the main protagonist and the character created and controlled by the player, may have whatever physical traits the player creates during character generation. Shepard may be created as male or female, and every line of his/her voice work is recorded by a voice actor/actress. Shepard's first name is customizable, as is a choice of option's deciding his or her pre-service history and psychological profile. Shepard is voiced by Canadian actor Mark Meer(for male players) and Jennifer Hale (for female players)
Recently, a trailer for Mass Effect 2 was released. The trailer has confirmed that Commander Shepard has been killed in action. The trailer listed all the things Shepard had accomplished in the first Mass Effect, which at the end of the trailer reveals Shepard's status: Killed In Action.
Update "Oh, and I’ve heard some rumors that Commander Shepard is dead. Better not be. We had a lot of big plans made, so if someone’s gone and killed Shepard then things are going to take an unexpected turn…" ~ Casey Hudson, Project Director Mass Effect/Mass Effect 2 [1]
[edit] Squad
[edit] Ashley Williams
Original Location: Eden Prime
Main Article: Ashley Williams
A female soldier, whom Shepard recruits early on in the game. Ashley is a bluntly spoken and capable, if somewhat inexperienced, squad leader. Her rank is Gunnery Chief. For most of her military career she has been posted on distant 'backwater' posts, and has longed to be where the action is in order to regain the honor her family once held. Events soon into the beginning of Mass Effect, however, have her being drawn into conflict in a way she most certainly did not desire. Ashley's Grandfather was the only Admiral during the First Contact War to surrender the post he was defending in order to save his crew. Though this seemed a thoughtful act at the time, worthy of some commendation, Admiral Williams lost whatever respect and dignity he had. Since then, the Williams' otherwise perfect military records have been blemished by this fact. This is one of Ashley's main drives to be the best soldier possible. Due to her 'backwater' posts, Ashley can be very blunt and straight to the point, and sometimes even aggressive towards civilians. Ashley has three sisters: Lynn, Abby, and the youngest, Sarah. [2]
Ashley is a potential romantic interest of Shepard's, should the player choose to create a male character. Ashley is voiced by Kimberly Brooks
[edit] Garrus Vakarian
Original Location: Citadel
Garrus is a Turian, like Saren and Nihlus. Garrus has a particular dislike of Saren, and is often first to suspect him of wrong-doings, even before they are generally acknowledged by his superiors. His relationship with Saren is unknown, but his distrust is absolute.
Like most of his kind, Garrus prefers a direct, no-nonsense route to problem solving. He is hard to shake from a course of action he has set, and will set mission goals above the needs of others, as sacrifices for the common good. Though he sees the 'big picture,' his methods of getting there can sometimes be questionable.
Garrus is a security officer, and in-game his skill set is approximately that of an infiltrator, although he, like most other joinable NPC's, has a customized class. It is titled Turian Agent.
He used to work for C-Sec as an officer of the law, but he felt the rules and regulations were hampering his abilities so he quit to become more of a freelance agent so he could do things his way. Garrus was also selected as a Spectre candidate, one of 1000 picked, but his do-things-by-the-book father made him turn down the offer. Garrus is voiced by Brandon Keener
[edit] Kaiden Alenko
Original Location: Normandy
Kaiden's class is that of a sentinel, proficient in both biotics and the use of technology and omni tools. Not much is known yet of his history or personality, other than that he was born with biotic potential due to being exposed to Element Zero during his mother's pregnancy. As multi-talented as he is handsome, Kaidan is a female Shepard's romance subplot option. When Kaiden was younger, he participated in a biotic conditioning program on Jump Zero taught by an authoritative, resentful Turian named Commander Vyrrnus who pushed the potential students far too hard. In the end, Kaidan killed him when the man pulled a knife on him. After Vyrrnus' death, the biotic program was shut down. Kaiden is voiced by Raphael Sbarge
[edit] Liara T'Soni
An asari scientist and doctor. She has a strong adaptation to Biotic powers; her character class is Adept.
Liara is a possible love interest for a romance side-plot, at the end of that plot it is possible to have sex with her. Though she appears female, the asari have no gender. But due to their appearance they are generally referred to as an "all-female" race. Liara, as it turns out, is a pure blood- the offspring of two asari rather than an asari and a Non-Asari as is the norm. Liara is shy and withdrawn and prefers to work with computers rather than people. She was working in the Artemis Tau cluster on the planet Therum at a Prothean excavation site until Commander Shepard and crew rescued her from Saren's clutches. Cool and collected, Liara will offer her wisdom in any situation if she feels it is beneficial to the mission. Liara is voiced by Ali Hillis
[edit] Tali'Zorah Nar Rayya
Original Location: Citadel
Main article: Tali
A quarian nomad. Much like the rest of her race, she roams the galaxy due because her race was exiled by the geth. Therefore, she has a deep opposition to the geth. Despite the fact that she uses salvaged equipment, Tali has quite the understanding for technology. Her class is Engineer. Tali has a knack for understanding whatever technology she comes across. She is particularly impressed by the Normandy's advanced element zero drive core. She hopes to find geth technology independent of Saren's control she can bring back to her people for study at the Migrant Fleet. Tali is voiced by Liz Sroka
[edit] Urdnot Wrex
Original Location: Citadel
- Main article: Wrex
One of the last krogan Battlemasters, Wrex has been working as a mercenary, bodyguard, etc. Wrex was a leader of a small tribe of the Urdnot clan in his young years on his home planet, Tuchanka; an unheard of honor to his prowess in battle, at his age. However, after being betrayed by his fellow people and his own father Jarrod, a rival clan chief, Wrex became aware of the true nature of most of his species: they had abandoned the ideals of old, of honor, of glory through battle. Instead, they imitated and misinterpreted those ideals as unprovoked violence, something all too common in krogan nature. Wrex has since moved on, doing oddjobs to get by. He never takes what is not his and never glorifies pointless slaughter. He only does his jobs with incredible efficiency. He believes that the krogan species could better profit through talks of peace, rather than war.[3]. Wrex is voiced by Steven Barr
[edit] Major NPCs
[edit] David Anderson
Original Location: Normandy
Place of Birth: London
Date of Birth: 2137 [4]
In 2165, Staff Lieutenant David Edward Anderson, as the Executive Officer of the SSV Hastings, is given a mission of great importance to humanity's place in the galactic community. He is six foot three and his features are predominately African, though like most humans he has multicultural heritage.
Anderson fought in the First Contact War, which started within months of his graduation from the N7 Specialist Training Program on Arcturus in 2157. Rear Admiral Grissom was the guest speaker for the graduation and recommended Anderson as a valuable officer.[5].
During his assignment to the SSV Hastings in 2165, his assault team was made up of:
Gunnery Chief Jill Dah, Corporal Ahmed O'Reilly, Private Second Class Indigo Lee, Private First Class Dan Shay
After coming to the assistance of a raided Alliance base on Sidon in Mass Effect:Revelation, Anderson was unwittingly thrust onto a long and arduous journey to discover who was behind the attack, leading him to a Batarian Mercenary group on Camala along the way, he encountered Saren for the first time and quickly learned how ruthless the turian Spectre could be. Along the way, young Commander Anderson also met a woman named Kahlee Sanders on Elysium, whom he almost became romantically involved with. It is not known if he has been in any relatiionships since.
Before his mission with Saren, Anderson was married to a woman back on earth, but that fell apart when he began to spend to much time off-world. Anderson is voiced by Keith David
[edit] Saren Arterius
Main Article: Saren Arterius
Saren Arterius is a turian. He followed turian tradition and entered the military at the age of 15. After only 1 year of training, in the year 2155, he was promoted to active service. The Spectres saw Saren as intelligent, cunning, and capable and, in the year 2159, accepted him as the youngest turian ever accepted into the Spectres. He has since become the longest serving turian member of Spectres, serving for 24 years. His long service has earned him a reputation for ruthless efficiency. Several rumors have surfaced about his brutality, though no one can deny the results he gets. As of now, his loyalties are for the Council.
Saren opposes human expansion believing the Systems Alliance has become overly aggressive in establishing themselves as a dominant species in Citadel space. Some fear Saren will soon take matters into his own hands. Saren was indoctrinated by Sovereign.
Saren runs into conflict with Staff Lieutenant Anderson in 2165, then Commander Shepard in 2183.
[edit] Matriarch Benezia
Original Location: Peak 15, Noveria
Mother of Liara T'Soni, Benezia is an asari Matriarch, well respected amongst her own people. Over 1000 years old Benezia, was a strong voice among the asari that encouraged their further involvement in interstellar events and activities. Upon coming into contact with Saren, she made the decision to follow him with the intent of encouraging him to pursue a less violent and destructive goal. She gave her followers the option of leaving or following her with Saren. Unfortunately, her plan backfired. Exposed to the indoctrinating effects of Sovereign, she became yet another tool of Saren, as did all of her unlucky followers.
After arriving at Noveria to oversee the development of rachni soldiers for Saren at Binary Helix complex Peak 15, she is killed by Commander Shepard, but not until she manages to break free from the indoctrination for a moment in order to help the Commander find the Mu Relay. Matriarch Benezia is voiced by Marina Sirtis.
[edit] Doctor Chakwas
Original Location: Normandy
Chakwas is the doctor on the SR1 Normandy. She seems to also know a lot about Kaiden, and reserves an almost motherly attitude towards him, perhaps because she admires brave young soldiers on the front line of humanity's defenses. She is best known for this quote:
"Earth always seemed boring to me; too safe; too secure. I figured the colonies were teeming with exotic adventure. I wanted to travel the stars, tending the wounds of tough soldiers with piercing eyes and sensitive souls."[6]
[edit] Navigator Pressly
Original Location: Normandy
Navigator of the Normandy, Pressly is tasked with ensuring that the crew of the Normandy reaches their intended destination safely with geographical data. He was involved in the defense of Elysium and got his officer's commission shortly before being assigned to the Normandy. Pressly has had issues with working with other aliens due to "old school thinking" as a habit picked up by his grandfather in the First Contact War. Pressly serves as Executive Officer of the Normandy when Commander Shepard assumes command of the ship. His exact rank is never specified.
[edit] Chief Engineer Adams
Chief Engineer of the Normandy, Adams is tasked with ensuring the Normandy functions correctly and also carrying out various maintenance work. He has served on at least all types of Alliance ships at one point, with the last ship being the Tokyo, prior to being assigned to the Normandy. Unlike some other human members of the crew, he appears to have no issues with the alien races aboard and is highly impressed with the skill Tali displays.
[edit] Nihlus Kryik
Original Location: Normandy
Main article: Nihlus Kryik
One of the Citadel Council's most decorated turian Spectre. Unlike Saren, he is dutiful and, to an extent, pure. His motives are for the council and not for personal gain. Nihlus was born in a small mercenary outpost outside Hierarchy space. He lived a tough life; with his father dying when he was 16. His mother force him to join the turian military. Though he was always at the top of his class, his peers and superiors never truly accepted him, making life difficult.
Nihlus is a skillful soldier with an attitude that got him in trouble. With good instincts, Nihlus has disobeyed several direct orders in favor for what he thought was best. His instincts usually proved right. Once he was reprimanded for recklessness even after he single-handedly routed an enemy patrol, and saved his squad from ambush. His military career seemed to stall before it even began.
Cool under pressure, Nihlus has an uncanny ability to find an enemy's weakness and exploit it. Though his methods aren't as brutal as Saren's, he will not hesitate to efficiently and thoroughly eradicate anything or anyone that stands in his way. [7]
[edit] Jeff "Joker" Moreau
Original Location: Normandy
Jeff Moreau is the pilot of the SR1 Normandy. Moreau remains with Shepherd throughout the game. Despite his cocky attitude, he is an ace pilot, possibly the best there is. He was a genius in flight school, making the top of his class. He often also says he's earned his rank and status, not having them as charity for the fact that he has Vrolik Syndrome. His nickname was given to him by a teacher because he rarely ever smiled. Joker is voiced by Seth Green.
[edit] The Old Growth
The following information includes plot spoilers.
The Old Growth, or "Subject 37", is an ancient Thorian who has survived for over 50,000 years and is responsible for the strange antics of the colonists at Zhu's Hope. Apparently it had made a deal with Saren, but at some point their dealings went sour and the Thorian was betrayed. Saren sent an army of geth to Feros in order to kill this powerful being.
[edit] Ambassador Udina
Original Location: Citadel
Donnell Udina is the ambassador for the Systems Alliance, to the Citadel Council. He is notedly stubborn, with a brash nature.[8]
The Ambassador harbors some resentment towards Captain Anderson, who only seems to cause him grief. Ever the politician, Udina rarely supports anyone, especially Commander Shepard, unless he sees some gain for either himself or humanity at large.
[edit] Sovereign
The following information includes plot spoilers.
Sovereign is both a highly advanced warship and an incredibly intelligent and egotistical A.I. Sovereign is actually one of the Reapers who participated in exterminating the Protheans over 50,000 years ago, and countless other species even before that. Sovereign either willingly stayed behind or was accidentally left behind the last time the Reapers left for deep space. Using a bizarre form of mind control known as "indoctrination", it bends Saren and many others to its will.
[edit] Minor NPCs
An alphebetical list of all minor NPCs is listed here
[edit] Artificial and Virtual Intelligence Characters
[edit] Avina
Avina is what is known as a Virtual Intelligence (VI): an advanced information and database program which can manifest itself as a visual image, usually via a hologram. Avina has the form and personality of an asari and acts as a guide and directory to newcomers on the citadel; a tour guide of sorts. As a VI, however, Avina is more like an interactive encyclopedia of sorts, rather than a 'tour guide'.
[edit] ExoGeni V.I.
This rather simple-minded Virtual Intelligence unit is charged with keeping all the company's records and secrets and is willing to divulge some of them to whoever has the appropriate I.D. to retrieve it.
[edit] Vigil
The following information includes plot spoilers.
Vigil is a badly damaged Prothean Vitual Intelligence (VI) left behind on Ilos from the last time the Reapers attacked. After monitoring the communications of Shepard and his crew while they explore the planet, he is able to translate the Prothean language into one that the player can understand, and is a vast source of knowledge about the Protheans, the Reapers (or what is known of them), and the last cycle of extinction.
Vigil explains how and why the Conduit was built, as well as how to stop Saren from unleashing the super-advanced machine race on the Galaxy.
[edit] Mass Effect: Revelation Characters
[edit] Jon Grissom
Rear Admiral Jon Grissom is the most famous man on Earth. His long service to the Alliance and his leading the first human team through the Charon mass relay brought him a level of fame most soldiers don't handle well. He is smart, tough, and demanding. When not on duty, Grissom is moody, sullen and very pessimistic due to his years of being in the spotlight. [9]
Grissom handpicked David Edward Anderson and a few others from the N7 program at Academy at Arcturus. Grissom was also the keynote speaker at Anderson's graduation. Rear Admiral Grissom later retired from his military career on the planet Elysium in 2160. [10]
By 2183, there is a system called Grissom, most likely named after the admiral. The system can be found in the Armstrong cluster while battling the geth.
[edit] Edan Had'dah
The following information includes plot spoilers.
Edan Had'dah was one of the wealthiest batarians in 2165 A.D. Edan lived on Camala and enjoyed a comfortable lifestyle wearing the latest fashions. He gained his wealth in a number of shady as well as legitimate deals. Edan was an investor and always looked for anything no one else had. He even employs people to search for undiscovered Prothean technology he could profit from. [11]
Edan considers himself a great negotiator; he enjoyed making deals almost as a game. One side always trying to get the upper hand and trying to figure out a bluff from a truth.
[edit] Shu Qian
The following information includes plot spoilers.
Dr. Shu Qian led the illegal research at the top secret human research facility on Sidon. He was the galaxy's foremost expert on artificial intelligence. His brilliant research methods went largely unquestioned by his research team. His research and persona changed however after he came in contact with an advanced alien artifact that predated the Protheans.
Dr. Qian became obsessed with this artifact even to the point of working with a powerful and wealthy batarian named Eden Had'dah. At the direction of Edan, Qian arranged the attack at Sidon which led to the complete destruction of the human research facility and the murder of all but one of his research team.
Dr. Qian died held up with Eden Had'dah at Dah'tan Manufacturing. The two of them bunkered down in the depths of the manufacturing plant with protection from the Blue Suns mercenary group. However, the Spectre Saren Arterius found Qian and killed him. Qian died from a single shot in the forehead.
[edit] Kahlee Sanders
The following information includes plot spoilers.
Kahlee Sanders is a major character in the Mass Effect Revelation Novel. At twenty-six, she was one of the Alliance's top computer and systems technicians. She worked closely with Dr. Shu Qian on advanced A.I. technology. Sanders and Qian were the only two survivors after the attack on the human research base on Sidon. She survives an assassination attempted with the help of Lieutenant Anderson and Saren Arterius, but is ultimately kidnapped to assist Dr. Qian in researching an advanced alien artifact. Lieutenant Anderson rescues her before she endures heavy torture. In the end Sanders is promoted and assigned on another top secret research project in a classified location.
[edit] Skarr
The following information includes plot spoilers.
Skarr was a particularly ruthless Krogan biotic mercenary and bounty hunter hired by Edan Had'dah to kill Khalee Sanders. He would have succeeded had Captain Anderson (at the time a Commander) and Saren not driven him off. Later, he does capture Kahlee, killing a number of Alliance marines in the process. Anderson tracks him to the facility where Edan Had'dah is keeping Khalee and kills Skarr during the mayhem caused by Saren's simultaneous attack.
[edit] References
- ↑ http://www.gamer20.com/gamehub/mass-effect-x360/previews/645/
- ↑ http://masseffect.bioware.com/galacticcodex/ashley_part1.html
- ↑ http://masseffect.bioware.com/galacticcodex/krogan_wrex.html
- ↑ page 2 (third paragraph) and page 14 (last paragraph of Mass Effect: Revelation
- ↑ page 13 & 14 of Mass Effect: Revelation
- ↑ Character Spotlight, Part 2
- ↑ http://masseffect.bioware.com/galacticcodex/nihlus.html
- ↑ http://au.gamespot.com/video/930279/6180455/mass-effect-official-movie-4
- ↑ Mass Effect: Revelation by Drew Karpyshyn ISBN: 978-0-345-49816-8 pg10
- ↑ Page 86 of Mass Effect: Revelation
- ↑ page 74 of Revelation
