Genius Conjurer's subskill: Arcane Medieval Armory activating…
Analyzing battle, enemy, and host. Generating unique skill…
Thorian's Domination (Level 0 Base):
Effect: Conjures a Helmet with multiple small feelers, akin to the Thorian's original feelers.
Effect: Grants 10 SPR + 2 SPR per level.
Effect: Increases Defense against mind-altering or mind-controlling Effects by 50% + 5% per level
AURA Cost: 10 AURA to conjure + 10 AURA to use 'Unleash Spores'
Helmet Duration: 15 Minutes + 3 Minutes per level
Helmet Durability: 10 + 2 per level
Subskill: Last Resort
Effect: If the user is not Conjuring Thorian's Domination and falls under the control of someone else, Thorian's Domination will automatically activate if enough AURA is available.
Subskill: Unleash Spores
Effect: Unleashes a cone of spores, using the feelers on the helmet. The spores have a high likelihood of confusing any enemy hit.
Effect Strength: 50 + 5 per level
Effect Duration: 30 Seconds + 3 per level
Effect Range: 10 meters + 2 per level
Note: The Essence of an ancient being with immense mind-controlling and telepathic abilities.
[Hidden Quest Completed
Mission: Save as many colonists as possible! Colonists saved: 31 / 33
Reward: Additional World Fragments, Increased Fame, 1 Soul Crystal (Medium), 3 Soul Crystal (Small)]
Nice!
Alex, still kneeling on the ground, smiles as he sees the new ability window appear before him.
Without taking a single second to rest, he quickly speaks through the comms, "Everyone, I think I killed that thing! Are the Creepers still active?"
"This is Shepard speaking. Confirming that all Creepers have ceased movement! Good job, Kerber. Stay put—we're returning to you."
Alex, using the last dregs of his AURA, jumps up toward the Thorian's massive body, landing on top of it. He distorts his face, then starts checking its surface for loot.
No item? No reward? According to the original plan, we were supposed to destroy its tendrils and let it fall into the abyss… but we actually killed it. This is so rare and unexpected, there should be a reward! Come on, system!
Still suspicious, Alex uses En briefly. Immediately, he senses something pulsing from inside the Thorian's core, surrounded by a lot of Aura.
He sighs.
This is disgusting, but for loot, I'd almost do anything….
Canceling En—since he's nearly drained of AURA—he prepares himself mentally and pushes inside the Thorian's maw. His suit light illuminates the slimy interior... and a faint glow.
Nestled deep within is a small, walnut-sized object pulsing softly with golden light.
[Thorian Core]
World: Mass Effect
Type: Plant-Core
Quality: Deep Gold
Effect: Permanently increases SPR by 3 points. Can only be used once per player.
Effect: The Player consuming this item will go through a SPR check; upon failure, they will suffer one or more permanent negative effects. If SPR is the user's primary stat, there is a chance of obtaining a permanent positive effect.
Note: Ancient wisdom—the knowledge of a being powerful enough to dominate the minds of countless beings.
Note: Weak minds will be driven mad! Use it at your own risk.
Insane.Also, this item is… tradable! I'll have to think about this. Use it myself, or sell it?
Three stat points would be nice, but that permanent boon? That's the real treasure and the reason why this item is Deep Gold, I presume.
Yeah… I better keep it for now.
Alex exits the Thorian's body and jumps back down towards the ruins floor from where he jumped earlier, just in time for Shepard and the others to arrive.
"Good job, Kerber! What the hell did you do to kill that thing?!" Shepard yells, clearly impressed.
"Grenades," Alex replies dryly. "Normal ones. It also caught fire pretty easily. Still smells burned, honestly."
Liara steps closer, looking toward the ruins in the distance. "I hope the colonists are safe now," she says, her voice serious.
"Shepard, you've got a decision to make," Alex adds, nodding toward the massive corpse. "You can let it disappear forever… or donate it to 'research.'"
Shepard crosses her arms, thoughtful.
After a pause, she replies: "I think we're just handing it over to the damn corporation and letting Udina and his aides do the rest. I'm not going to go against orders without any reason or benefit."
Suddenly, movement draws everyone's attention.
In the distance, a large, organic capsule, resembling a pod, bulging and plantlike, pops open with a disgusting squelch. Viscous green liquid spills out, and a figure falls limply from the pod.
An Asari.
But not like the ones they fought before.
This Asari looks exactly like the ones they fought earlier, but is not green, but extremely dark blue instead. Her skin tone is much darker than Liara's, as Alex notes.
Everyone, aside from Alex, raises their weapons and aims at the Asari.
She suddenly gets up and says, "I am free… I suppose I should thank you for releasing me!"
"Who are you? Are you trying to trick us?!" Shepard responds, her gun still pointed at her.
The Asari shakes her head, "This is no trick! I can feel the Thorian is dead, and I'm myself again. My name is Shiala. I serve… no I served Matriarch Benezia. When she allied herself with Saren, so did I. Benezia foresaw the influence Saren would have. She joined him to guide him down a gentler path, but Saren is compelling. Benezia lost her way."
"Eden Prime was very gentle indeed," Alex mumbles.
"She is the enemy," Ashley says, even Kaidan stares at her, lifting his gun just a little higher.
Shepard holds up her hand. "You chose to side with Saren. So did Matriarch Benezia. You just admitted that!"
Shiala responds, looking a little desperate, "Benezia underestimated Saren, as did I. We came to believe in his cause, in his goals. I can't explain it properly… but the strength of his influence is very troubling. He has ways to influence people, bend them to his will."
Liara responds, looking pained, "Benezia sought to turn the river and was swept away…. Mother, what happened to you?"
Wrex shakes his head, "My experience tells me that Asari Matriarchs are not easy to control."
"You are right Wrex," Shepard says, "They are among the most intelligent and powerful beings in the galaxy. How could one fall under Saren's control?"
Garrus chimes in, "he certainly doesn't look very persuasive to me, or trustworthy!"
Shiala explains, "Saren has a vessel. An enormous warship, unlike anything I've ever seen. He calls it Sovereign. It can dominate the minds of his followers. They become indoctrinated to Saren's will. The process is subtle. It can take days, weeks, but in the end, it is absolute. I was a willing slave when Saren brought me to this world. He needed my biotics to communicate with the Thorian, to learn its secrets."
"Saren offered me in trade. I was sacrificed to secure an alliance between Saren and the Thorian."
"That's what you get for trusting Saren," Shepard smirks.
"Saren is quick to betray his followers and his allies. Once he had what he needed, he ordered his Geth to destroy the Thorian. He couldn't do it right away as the Thorian was careful and only allowed Saren and me down here."
"Can we be sure she is not still indoctrinated?" Alex asks.
"Good question," Shepard acknowledges Alex's point.
"As far as I can tell, she is free. The Thorian took total control of her. Mind control is always straightforward. Two beings can't control the same target. She should be free from Saren; her willingness to cooperate and provide information is good enough proof for me," Liara explains.
Shiala then continues, "Saren knows you are searching for the Conduit. He knows you are following his steps. He attacked the Thorian, so you could not gain the Cipher!"
"What's the Cipher? And why did Saren need it?" Shepard asks.
"The Beacon on Eden Prime gave you visions. But the visions are unclear, confusing. They were meant for a Prothean mind. To truly comprehend them, you must think like a Prothean. You must understand their culture, their history, their very existence. The Thorian was here long before the Protheans built this city. It watched and studied them. When they died, it consumed them. They became a part of it."
"Just give me some plain answers, dammit!" Shepard responds.
Liara chimes in, "She could probably share the Cipher with you, Shepard, she's an Asari. She probably also did it for Saren, right?"
"Yes, you are correct, my young friend. Now that I look at you, you indeed resemble the Matriarch. I can transfer the knowledge from my mind to yours, Commander, as I did with Saren." Shiala explains, stepping forward, despite Shepards gun.
"Kaidan just whispered that he's jealous. Enjoy the experience, Commander," Alex jokes.
"Alenko, you're in for some punishment later. Okay, let's do this!" She says, putting her gun away.
Kaidan looks visibly annoyed but stays silent, watching the scene with interest.
Shilia then concentrates and whispers, "We are all connected. Every living being united in a single, glorious existence. Open yourself to the universe, Commander! Embrace Eternity"
Suddenly, her eyes turn black, and Alex sees how she's establishing a connection with Shepard.
A few seconds later, Shiala says, "The ancestral memories of the Protheans are yours now."
Shepard shakes her head, slightly annoyed, "All I saw were more weird visions. It still didn't make much sense!"
"You have been given a great gift: The experience of an entire people. It will take time for your mind to process this information." Shiala explains.
"We should get you back to the ship, Commander," Liara says.
Shepard continues questioning Shiala for a while and then says in a cold voice, "You were allied with Saren. For all I know, you still are, despite Liara's opinion, there is no proof. I can't just let you walk away!"
"Your suspicions are understandable, but you freed me from the Thorian, and from Saren. I am on your side now. If you allow it, I would like to stay here with the colonists. They have suffered greatly, and I played a role in their suffering. I would like to make amends."
She is innocent….
"You know, when you are so far brainwashed that you willingly sacrifice yourself to… that, I don't think you are responsible for your actions," Alex comments, looking at the Thorian.
"I agree," Liara chimes in.
"She is responsible for Eden Prime! How can you even think of sparing her?!" Ashley screams.
"You change sides too often!" Shepard says, "The next time I'll personally make sure to put a bullet in your head! Do not disappoint me. I'll make sure, you'll be supervised by the colonists!"
"Thank you, Commander, you won't regret it!" She says, looking genuinely relieved.
Alex sighs, slightly surprised he managed to steer Shepard toward this decision.
Looks like I managed to convince her! By now, she's no longer pure Renegade. I like her character much more now.
"Does this new information change anything?" Alex wonders aloud. "If Saren can mind-control his victims… perhaps the Thorian might be of use after all."
"This will, without a doubt, be used for many questionable things," Shepard replies. "However, Kerber—you are correct. It's an ingenious thought, now that I think about it. She managed to overcome the Indoctrination with the help of the Thorian. This research certainly sounds promising."
She pauses, then nods. "I'll call in Anderson. The Alliance will personally secure this thing to make sure ExoGeni holds up its bargain. To combat Saren, we need any advantage we can get."
The group leaves the ruins and returns to Zhu's Hope, where Shepard quickly contacts the Normandy and relays orders for the Alliance to send in a secure retrieval team. Meanwhile, everyone on the Normandy rushes into the colony to provide first aid and help the surviving colonists.
Alex, however, stays quiet, lost in thought, thinking about the [Thorian Core] in his inventory and his newly acquired Conjuration, Thorian's Domination.