There isn’t much we know about Saren and Nihlus from canon, and even less about their relationship, other than Saren’s declaration that “Nihlus was a fellow Spectre, and a friend,” and the deceptively relaxed tone of their encounter on Eden Prime before the fateful shot.
The first game in the series begins by explaining that a decorated Space Marine with the Earth Systems Alliance, a certain Lieutenant Commander Shepard, is to be promoted into a position of special authority and become a Council Spectre.
Asari are the most developed spacefaring society. They were the first to discover space travel and reach the Citadel. All asari are biotics, presumably because their home planet, Thessia, is extremely rich in eezo.
In the year 2148, explorers on Mars discovered the remains of an ancient spacefaring civilization. In the decades that followed, these mysterious artifacts revealed startling new technologies, enabling travel to the furthest stars. The basis for this incredible technology was a force that controlled the very fabric of space and time.
They called it the greatest discovery in human history.
The civilizations of the galaxy call it… MASS EFFECT.
This is an introduction to the setting of Mass Effect (hereafter ME), intended for people who have not played the games, but still wish to read fanfiction. Well, primarily my fanfiction. Which is why I won’t make an attempt at any sort of exhaustiveness. Instead, I’ll focus on characters and events that are important for the stories I’ve written and intend to write.
One hour before the attack on Therum.
“Left or right?”
Dolneon’s impatient voice echoed rudely in the ancient hallway and Liara winced.
“Hush,” she said. “I need a moment.”
Everybody stilled. She looked around, chasing the patches illuminated by their flashlights, moving about at random. These floors had not been walked for more than fifty thousand years. These walls had not seen light since the Exodus. The last creatures to breathe this air had been living Protheans. Goddess!