Mass Effect/Races
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[edit] Known sapient species
[edit] Asari
The Asari are a bipedal species that have a seat on the Citadel Council. They are gender neutral, but most closely resemble human females. Their bodies can adapt greatly, allowing them to mate with any other species or gender, with whom the offspring is always female. Their homeworlds name is Thessia. Of all the species in Council space, the Asari are the most widespread, powerful, and respected. This is due in part, to their being the first species since the Protheans to achieve interstellar flight, to discover and learn how to use the Citadel, and their position as a founding member species of the Citadel Council. Despite this, the Asari are open in their service to others, to the point where there is no cultural stigma attached to performance arts, even sexual ones. Of all the galactic species, they are the most economically powerful, their culture, products and entertainment dominating the galaxy. They are governed by a loose democracy, known as the Asari Republic, and are known to be politically neutral, favoring stability that is conducive to cultural and economic development. The Asari can live for a thousand years going through three stages in life.
[edit] Growth and Traits
A typical asari individual has a blue and/or green complexion. In the place of head hair, the asari possess wavy folds of sculpted skin. The asari are the closest species aesthetically to humans. Asari are only female, and reproduce by a sort of parthenogenesis, whereby they attune themselves to the nervous system of any other life form; sex, species, and sentience do not factor in. This method of reproduction also gives them superhuman empathy. On Citadel Station, one can visit a the Consortium, where clients pay to be in the company of asari, who can satisfy almost any desire or need.
[edit] Politics and Economics
The asari political orginization is known as the Asari Republics. It is a loose society governed by a democracy, and informed by aged asari matriachs. The asari possess the largest economy out of all the known species, giving them enormous importance, and they prefer a neutral centrist political stance. Their military is small, comparitively less powerful than certain other species, but efficient. Despite their small military size, their flagship, the Destiny Ascension, is the most powerful warship ever constructed.
[edit] Batarians
The batarians are a species that are socially not unlike humans, with large numbers in the crime syndicates throughout the galaxy, and who have a political rivalry with the human Systems Alliance, with whom they compete for unclaimed territory. The batarians have a slimmer build than the average human but are about the same height, on average, as a human. They have four eyes, one inner set located approximately where that of a humans would be, and a second pair stemming from "stalks" on the side of their heads. It is implied in Mass Effect: Revelations that they are capable of sexual relations with humans, and cross-breeding. According to the Mass Effect: Revelation novel, batarians have slits for noses and no lips. Batarians used to have an embassy on the Citadel, but they closed it in protest to the council's decicion to allow human colonization to continue in the Skyllian Verge, an area that the batarians considered within their interests. Despite the race playing a major part of the storyline in the novel, Casy Hudson of Bioware has recently revealed they will not appear in Mass Effect itself. (Though they have appeared in the "Bring Down the Sky" DLC)
The batarians are a typically "seedy" fictional species with large numbers in the crime syndicates throughout the galaxy in the video game series Mass Effect. They play a major role in the Mass Effect: Revelation novel, but will not be appearing in Mass Effect itself. Whether they will appear in the next two games has not been revealed.
[edit] Growth and Traits
The batarians have a slimmer build than the average human but are about the same height, on average, as a human. They have four eyes, one inner set located approximately where that of a humans would be, and a second pair stemming from "stalks" on the side of their heads. Also, they hold a great importance on social caste. In conversation, they will sometimes tilt their heads to the left or right, signifying different emotions or acknowledgments depending on the circumstance. These can vary from acceptance to assertion of another's inferiority.
[edit] Attitude towards Humans
The Batarians are extremely antagonistic towards the Systems Alliance, Humanity's governing body. Early in mankind's colonisation efforts, they attempted to drive the humans away from what they saw as theirs, including falsifying planetary surveys to bankrupt human corporations. This eventually boiled over when the Systems Alliance began colonising the Skylliean Verge, which the Batarians had claimed as their own. This led to the events of Mass Effect: Revelation
[edit] Elcor
A territorial species governed by the Courts of Dekuun. A conservative species, they often take years to formulate decisions, based upon analysis of previous experience, following the recommendations of their Elders, and consulting large records of past experience. They are generally slow, but biologically strong enough to carry weapons that would ordinarily be limited to vehicles, and are extremely resistant to damage due to a thick hide. They often employ near-intelligent weapon systems. Economically, they are highly developed, with little need for trade with the rest of the galactic economy due to an abundance of resources, and follow highly structured development programs.
Little is known about elcor history, although extensive records are kept, and pored over by the elcor during their slow decision making process.
[edit] Growth and Traits
The elcor are massive and muscular, but cannot move quickly. They possess a tough hide, and incredible strength. The speech of an elcor is monotonous and devoid of emotion, because of this some Elcor state the tone of voice that they wish to speak in before conversing with others.
[edit] Politics and Economics
The elcor are governed by the Courts of Dekuun, and follow the recommendation of Elders. Their economy is small but developed and rigorously planned in advance. They possess everything they need, and have little need for trade with the galactic economy, leaving their economy insulated from economic shocks.
[edit] Geth
The geth are a bipedal, humanoid race of networked AIs that reside in the Terminus Systems (possibly a reference to the Foundation series by Issac Asmiov). The geth were created nearly 300 years ago by the quarians as laborers and tools of war. When the geth began to question their masters, the quarians attempted to exterminate them. The geth won the resulting war and reduced the quarians to a race of nomads. The example of the geth has led to a legally enforced, systematic repression of artificial intelligences in galactic society. It was feared that after they drove the quarians from their homeworld, the geth would turn on the rest of the galaxy, but this never happened, and they followed a pattern of isolationism. The geth now seem to have formed some sort of relationship with Saren. It is later revealed that the geth know about the Reapers, and believe them to be gods, having formed an alliance with them.
The geth were created nearly 300 years ago by the Quarians as laborers and tools of war. Over the years, the Quarian masters gradually improved their programming to the point where it was difficult to differentiate between a high-level Virtual Intelligence, or a primitive Artificial Intelligence. When the Geth began to ask their masters questions like "What is my purpose?" and "Am I alive?" (thus displaying the first signs of becoming self-aware) the Quarians attempted to exterminate them by broadcasting a shutdown command. The Geth responded with violence, and thus the rebellion began. The geth won the resulting war and reduced the Quarians to a race of nomads.
The example of the geth has led to a legally enforced, systematic repression of artificial intelligences in galactic society. Over time, the geth have evolved into numerous sub-forms - from the diminutive but highly agile "Hoppers", to the gigantic, lumbering geth "Colossus". It should be stressed, however, that in all forms the geth are to be approached with extreme caution as they are universally violent.
Continuing the events of Mass Effect: Revelation, using an ancient alien artifact thought to predate the Protheans, the rogue Spectre agent, Saren, has taken control of an army of geth in an effort to take over Citadel space and exact revenge on humanity. They also believe the Reapers to be gods, and have decided to aid them in their task to destroy all advanced organic lifeforms
[edit] Growth and Traits
The geth can learn and grow intellectually, but they progress far more slowly than an organic being. Still, the story of the geth's creation and evolution serves as a warning to the rest of the galaxy of the potential dangers of Artificial Intelligence.
The closer geth physically are to each other, the more intelligent each one becomes. Effectively, they "share" brainpower. An individual geth has only a basic intelligence on par with animal instincts, but in groups they can reason, analyze situations, and use tactics as well as any of the organic races.
Geth also come in a variety of builds or species, from simple troopers such as the Geth Primes and Geth Shock Troopers, to unique "Gecko" style geth that often snipe and drain energy. There are also the four legged Armatures and the heavily armored Juggernauts. It is unknown if the geth Space craft qualify as a "Breed" of Geth or are simply a vehicle.
[edit] Previous Thoughts
The geth were formerly thought to be the genocidal machine race that existed beyond the portal, but since then have been distinguished as a different (and probably less dangerous) race of rogue machines.
[edit] Hanar
The hanar are a species resembling jellyfish on Earth. Hanar stand slightly taller than a human and have 3 fingers at the end of each of their tentacles. They are governed by The Illuminated Primacy, a theocracy that worships the Protheans as mythological "Enkindlers", although they are tolerant of other creeds. For this reason, they have difficulty seeing the Protheans as an extinct biological species, instead tending to view them as components of their religious mythology. Their extreme cultural obsession with politeness leads to problems interacting with other species, who may not understand their rules and manners. Financial interaction with the galactic economy is limited, and hanar space has few facilities designed to provide bipeds with a means to operate equipment such as computer terminals, contact generally being limited to border trade stations. Being an oceanic life-form similar to a jellyfish, they cannot support their own form in standard gravity, instead using mass effect contra-gravitic levitation packs.
[edit] Humans
Humans in Mass Effect are generally similar to those in modern day life, although more technologically advanced. A recent addition to the galactic stage when the game is set, human society (called the Systems Alliance) advanced significantly with the advent of interstellar travel, made possible with the discovery of lost Prothean technology. Humans quickly expanded outwards and established more and more colonies on uninhabited planets. This fast expansion brought them into contact with the turians, with whom they quickly had conflict. The human-turian First Contact War brought humans to the attention of the species of the Citadel Council, who wasted no time in ending the war. In the brief decades since their "discovery", humans have quickly risen to prominence. In addition, humans have recently been given an embassy at the Citadel Council (as distinct from a seat on the Council).
Humans are generally seen as intelligent, aggressive, and highly adaptable. Their brisk population growth and rapidly developing military strength have led to resentful speculation that the newcomers will soon be given an invitation to join the ranks of the Council itself. Despite their rising military strength, they are limited by the Treaty of Farixen, which limits the Alliance military to 1/5th the number of dreadnaught warships the turians possess. The Alliance agreed to this to gain an Embassy on the council.
[edit] Keepers
This race is known only to exist on the Citadel Station, and are suspected to be remnants from the Prothean era. The keepers were on the station upon the arrival of the asari many years back. They resemble large aphids and it is debated as to whether or not they are actually an intelligent species, being incapable of any conversation. Some citizens on the station believe them to be organic machines, designed only to serve and perform tasks given by masters. No matter how many of them perish, their numbers are mysteriously maintained, perhaps from within the bowels of the Citadel station. Attempts to capture and study them result in a sort of self-destruct, in which acid is released, dissolving the keeper into its constituent molecules. It is revealed that they were either created by the Reapers or enslaved. They operate through the signals released by the Citadel, including the Signal to turn the Citadel into a Mass Relay to the Reaper Fleet in Dark Space.
The keepers are assumed to have been genetically engineered as biological androids or bioroids by the Protheans before they disappeared, to maintain the Citadel. When the asari discovered the Citadel, keepers were still performing their duties, and ignored the new occupants.
The Keepers were used by the Reapers to activate the Citadel mass relay to allow the reapers into our galaxy. As they've always been there to maintain and let the reapers into our galaxy, one could hypothesize that the keepers are what is left of the first organic life form to live in the Citadel.
[edit] Growth and Traits
Their numbers are mysteriously maintained, with replacements arriving from an unknown location. New keepers may originate from the unexplored core of the Citadel. Attempts to communicate with them have been fruitless, and they seem to be genetically programmed to carry out complex tasks. It is unknown if they are sentient. Upon capture or analysis, they release fatal acid destroying themselves. This has hampered any study of their biology or genetics.[1]
[edit] Protection
Citadel law states that The Keepers are not to be disturbed during their work, and C-sec can arrest people trying to tamper with them. This leads the races of Mass Effect to know little to nothing about what the Keepers really are.
[edit] Krogan
The krogan are a species of large reptilian bipeds native to Tuchanka, a world known for its harsh environments, scarce resources and over-abundance of vicious predators. Once hailed as the saviors of the galaxy, the krogan are now a shadow of their former prominence. Due to the hostile environment of their home world, natural selection has caused them to evolve various adaptations that make them a hardy species. Krogan naturally reproduce and mature at an extremely high rate, but due to a biological weapon unleashed on them called the genophage, only 1 in 1000 krogan births is successful. Because of this, the krogan are a dying species; faced with this slow extinction, many krogan have become very self-centered. The large shoulder humps on a krogan individual store fluids and nutrients, which enables them to go for long periods without food or water. Krogan also possess multiple instances of major organs, in which secondary organs serve as backups should a main organ be damaged, including four testicles. A krogan individual possesses a thick hide, which is extremely hardy and very resistant to cuts, scrapes, and contusions. Krogan are also highly resistant to radiation, poisons, and extreme temperatures. Biotic individuals are rare, though those who do possess the talent are typically quite strong in their abilities.
Four thousand years ago, at the dawn of the krogan nuclear age, battles for the small pockets of habitable land on Tuchanka broke out and escalated into a global conflict. Nuclear weapons were deployed in such numbers that the krogan created a nuclear winter and transformed their planet into a radioactive wasteland. The krogan were reduced to primitive, warring clans. Two thousand years later, the salarians "culturally uplifted" the krogan by giving them advanced technology and transplanting them to a new (and non-radioactive) world. This was in an effort to use the krogan as soldiers to combat the rachni, who were winning a war against the Council at the time. Within two krogan generations, the krogan had the numbers to not only defeat the rachni for the Council, but also push them back to their home world and commit genocide on the species.
However, the salarians' gamble backfired when the krogan population, uncontrolled by natural predators or harsh environments, exploded. Facing a population crisis, the krogan extended their dominion to other planets. As a result the previous inhabitants were forced to leave. These so-called Krogan Rebellions continued for nearly three centuries, and it seemed that despite massive casualties, the krogan birth-rate would allow them to prevail. The Council reacted by turning to the recently encountered Turian Hierarchy for aid. The salarians unleashed the genophage on the krogan, a biological weapon which caused near-total infant krogan mortality. This forced the krogan to accept the turian terms of surrender.
[edit] Growth and Traits
Due to a biological weapon unleashed on them called the genophage, only 1 in 1000 krogan births are successful. Because of this, the krogan are a (possibly) dying species; faced with this agonizingly (possibly) slow extinction, many krogan have become very self-centered. The large shoulder humps on a krogan individual store fluids and nutrients, which enables them to go for long periods without food or water. Krogan also posses multiple instances of major organs, in which secondary organs serve as backups should a main organ be damaged. Krogan also have four testicles which reside in three distinct sacks, one primary and two secondary. A krogan individual posses a thick hide, which is extremely hardy and very resistant to cuts, scrapes, and contusions. Krogan are also highly resistant to radiation, poisons, and extreme temperatures. Biotic individuals are rare, though those who do possess the talent are typically quite strong in their abilities.
[edit] Quarians
The quarians are a nomadic species of humanoid aliens. Quarians are generally shorter and of slighter build than humans. They dress in a scavenged assortment of materials, hiding their faces behind visors, goggles, or breathing masks. It is possible the quarians are cybernetic, a blend of machine and biology that can survive for a time in the vacuum of space. Due to living upon completely sterile spaceships for their whole lives, quarians have virtually no immune system, and cannot remove their life-support systems until returning to their fleet. Due to their limited amount of resources, quarian families are only allowed one child.
Approximately three hundred years ago the Quarians created the geth, a species of rudimentary AIs, to serve as an efficient source of manual labor. However, when the geth began to ask certain existential questions, thus displaying the first signs of self-awareness, the Quarians panicked, and broadcast a shutdown signal to all the geth. Unfortunately, the geth rebelled against their quarian masters and drove them into exile. Now the quarians wander the galaxy in a flotilla of salvaged ships, secondhand vessels, and recycled technology. Other species tend to look down on the quarians, seeing them as scavengers and condemning them for unleashing a dangerous synthetic life form on the rest of the galaxy.
[edit] Growth and Traits
Quarians are generally shorter and of slighter build than humans. Their hands consist of a thumb and only two fingers, while their feet have only two large, prominent toes. They dress in a scavenged assortment of materials, hiding their faces behind visors, goggles, or breathing masks. Having no natural world to call home, living abord sterile starships, the Quarians have virtually no natural immune system.
[edit] Salarians
Salarians are a species renowned for their technical skill as well as their high aptitude for espionage. Salarians have a very high metabolism rate, lowering their life expectancy to about 40 Earth years. The salarians have a seat on the Citadel Council. In the interstellar community, they have created many of the major technological advances that now fill the galaxy. They favor political liberalism, making them a counter-balance to the conservative turians and neutral asari on the Citidel council. The Salarian Union is largely governed by a group of dynastic families. Of the three council species, their economy is the smallest, but still substantially larger than that of the human Systems Alliance.
The salarians have a seat on the Citadel Council. In the interstellar community, they have created many of the major technological advances that now fill the galaxy. They are one of the earlier races to join the Council.
The Salarians played a significant role in the development of the Krogan species. The Salarians provided the Krogan with advanced technology and a new, tranquil home planet (in order to manipulate the Krogan into eradicating the Rachni for the Citadel). The peaceful home planet and better technology put less strain on the Krogan as a species; they no longer had to worry about simply surviving on a dangerous planet with primitive technology, as they did before contact with the Salarians. This comparatively easy life allowed them the time and energy to spread, aggressively, through Citadel space, claiming formerly allied planets as their own. In order to end these "Krogan Rebellions" the Salarians engineered a genophage that effectively sterilized the Krogan.
[edit] Turians
The Turians were the last of the Citadel species to join the Council. The Turians gained this position after defeating the Krogan for the Council during the "Krogan Rebellions". To defeat the Krogan, the Turians employed a biological weapon called the genophage which virtually eliminated the possibility of new Krogan births and caused that species to go into a steady decline. Turian features are avian, making them resemble Terran birds or raptors. They have a reputation for skill and bravery in combat, but they are not known to be bloodthirsty. A rigid code of honor and strict discipline are the hallmarks of any Turian officer. This includes humane treatment of prisoners and conquered enemies. A Turian unit will never willingly leave behind one of their own, no matter what the cost of going back to retrieve their comrade. Their species is governed by the Turian Hierarchy, and of the three council races, they possess the largest military force, even if they are not as powerful as the technologically, diplomatically and economically superior Asari.
The turians, a military based government, gained the position on the Council after defeating the krogan for the Council during the "Krogan Rebellions". To defeat the krogan, the turians employed a biological weapon called the genophage, which virtually eliminated the possibility of new krogan births and caused the species to go into a steady decline.
[edit] Growth and Traits
Turian features are avian, making them resemble humanoid birds or raptors. They have a reputation for skill and bravery in combat, but they are not known to be bloodthirsty. A rigid code of honor and strict discipline are the hallmarks of any turian officer. This includes humane treatment of prisoners and conquered enemies. A turian patrol unit will never willingly leave behind one of their own, no matter what the cost of going back to retrieve their comrade.
Turian society is highly regimented and very organized, and the species is known for its strict discipline and work ethic. Turians are willing to do what needs to be done, and they always follow through. They are not easily spurred to violence, but when conflict is inevitable, they only understand a concept of "total war." They do not believe in skirmishes or small-scale battles; they use massive fleets and numbers to defeat an adversary so completely that they remove any threat of having to fight the same opponent more than once. They do not exterminate their enemy, but so completely devastate their military that the enemy has no choice but to become a colony of the turians. Their discipline as warriors is conveyed through the saying "You will only see a turian's back when he is dead." That is, Turian units never break under fire, and even retreats are orderly, fighting withdrawls. Turian fleets and armies are the largest of all known Citadel species, and they are generally regarded as Citadel's peacekeeping force.
Other species see them as "men of action," and they are generally regarded as the most progressive of the Citadel races. Since their culture is based on the structure of a military hierarchy, changes and advances accepted by the leadership are quickly adopted by the rest of society with minimal resistance.
Some Turians harbor an animosity towards humans, with whom they had a bitter war following humanity's first contact, their first with an alien species. That bitterness was exacerbated when the Council intervened on behalf of the humans.
[edit] Saren Arterius
A turian Spectre agent gone rogue, Saren Arterius was best known for 'getting results' through any means he deemed necessary. Most of them pertaining to violently or sadistically interrogating suspects then eliminating them, and anything else that may have inhibited his ability to complete his work. After the events described in Mass Effect: Revelation, Saren takes command of an army of Geth. He serves as the primary antagonist of the video game.
[edit] Nihlus
A turian Spectre that Commander Shepard shadows in the beginning of the game. He is later killed near the end of the first half of the first level by Saren. Nihlus (being Saren's friend) let his guard down around Saren and turned his back, where then Saren shoots him in the back instantly killing him.
[edit] Garrus Vakarian
A turian party member that accompanies Commander Shepard through out the game. His class is Turian Agent, closely resembling the Infiltrator class, though he has access to Assault Rifles instead of pistols.
Garrus was a former Turian C-Sec Officer who was responsible for the investigation of Saren after the Geth attack on Eden Prime. After Shepard's accusations of Saren's alleged rogue status, Garrus was assigned to find evidence to prove or dismiss Saren's involvment in the Eden Prime attack.
Due to the highly classified nature of the Spectre's Mission logs, Garrus had no luck in finding concrete evidence of Saren's guilt.
Garrus, like many Turians, was a believer in action; getting the job done by any reasonable means. He was considered for the Council Spectres, but refused the offer because of his father's dissaproval towards the Spectre's general disregard of law. Instead, he enlisted as a C-Sec officer, the equivalent of a police officer for the Citadel.
After assissting in finding evidence of Shepard's accusations towards Saren, he left C-Sec and became a member of Shepard's crew, intent on bringing down Saren, who he considered a disgrace to his race and the Spectres. Garrus provides Shepard with tactical input as well as combat, technical, and first aid skills. He can give a side-quest to Shepard in the form of a culprit he was never able to capture. If talked to after this, Garrus says he will re-apply for Spectre training, having decided that he will do things his way from now on.
[edit] Volus
Little is known to date about the volus, but their pressure suits and breathing masks are necessary when away from the much thicker atmosphere of their home world. Their home planet's gravity is 1.5 times that of Earth's, with a high-pressure atmosphere, making their bodies short and almost spherical, and requiring them to wear protective suits. Their political independence was given up to the Turian Hierarchy in exchange for military protection and stability, making them a client state or protectorate. They are known to be prolific traders, and possess an economy far larger than their territory would suggest.[1] In addition, Volus in the game refer to the player-character as "Earth-Clan" possibly indicating a clan-like social hierarchy.
The history of the volus is dominated by trade of land, resources and tribal members. They have emerged within the galactic economy as traders.
[edit] Growth and Traits
The Volus evolved in an ammonia based ecology, making them intolerant to many of the things present in the environment of carbon based life such as humans. Their home planet also has a high-pressure atmosphere. For this reason, they must wear a protective suit to be able to breathe, and to prevent the internal pressure of their bodies from causing them to explode.
[edit] Politics and Economics
The Volus are part of the Vol Protectorate, a client-state of the Turians. In exchange for military protection from the Turian Hierarchy, they pay taxes, defer their external policy to the Turian government, and contribute auxiliary troops to the Turian armed forces. Due to their expertise in trade, their economy is very large for such a small state, much like merchant city states on earth.[2]
[edit] Other species
Other than the afore mentioned, there are also dozens of other sapient species occupying Citadel station and Citadel space and also in the rivalling Terminus systems, but no further information on these has yet been made available. They also do not appear in the first game, though they are mentioned in it.
[edit] Species of unknown classification
[edit] Species 37
Also known as Thorian, a plant life-form capable of taking over the bodies of non-synthetic life-forms through the release of spores. This life form outdates the Protheans. It stayed hidden, watching and learning, while civilizations grew and fell. It is the only life form left in the galaxy that can understand the Prothean language, if not more of the extinct races' languages. The Thorian gives Commander Shepard and Saren the vital knowledge they each need to understand their 'visions' and find the Prothean Conduit.
[edit] Extinct or missing sapient species
[edit] Protheans
The Protheans are a supposedly-extinct alien species that was extremely technologically advanced. It is said without the technology that is credited to them, most of the galaxy's races would still be confined to their star systems. According to the novel, Mass Effect: Revelation, the Protheans were wiped out approximately 50,000 years ago, long before humanity had developed interstellar travel. Despite their complex technology, the Protheans were methodically wiped out in the last cycle of the Reapers. Though the species was decimated, a select few surviving Protheans managed to leave a series of clues and warnings of the Reapers' impending return which are discovered over the course of the game. It is revealed on the planet Ilos that the Protheans created the Conduit, a replica Mass Relay between Illos and the Citadel, and were able to shut down the signal that allows the Citadel to become a Mass Relay to the Reapers in Dark Space.
[edit] Rachni
The Rachni are an extinct insectoid species that threatened to defeat and overthrow the Citadel Council roughly two thousand years ago. They were defeated and completely eradicated by the Krogan, who had been groomed by the Salarians to perform this act. This indirectly caused the Krogan Rebellions much later. However, a Rachni egg was found by a science team on a derelict ship and brought to the Noveria research lab. The Rachni were effectively and inadvertently brought back from the dead.
The Queen discovered on Noveria subtly suggests the Rachni's capacity for extreme belligerence was not in their nature, but rather influence from Sovereign. It is up to the player to decide whether the Queen lives or dies.
[edit] Reapers
The main villains of the Series, this cybernetic race appears every 50,000 years to harvest all sentient organic life, and by the first Mass Effect game, the time of their return is approaching. The term "Reapers" is not actually a self designation, according to Sovereign (A sentient shipboard AI created by them), but a Prothean name given to the sentient machines.
The main force of Reapers lay in Dark Space, in the empty space beyond the outer edge of the Galaxy, leaving one Reaper alone in the Galaxy each cycle to acting as a vanguard to activate the Citadel Mass Relay every 50,000 years. At the time of the first Mass Effect, this vanguard is Sovereign.
To facilitate this invasion, the Reapers built the Citadel and the Mass Effect relays, so organic civilization, as Sovereign claims, would advance along the lines beneficial to the Reapers. Specifically, the Citadel creates a centralized government at the point of invasion from Dark Space and the Mass Effect relays keep organic life dependent on long term travel which can quickly be taken away.
Upon invading through the Citadel, the Reapers quickly destroy organic civilizations capital and leaders, crippling their ability to react. Furthermore, the Reapers are able to isolate each system by controlling the Mass Effect relays and hunt down organic life at their leisure by the vast records galactic civilization keeps at the Citadel.
The motives for this genocide, the Reapers origin and their habitation in Dark Space are all unknown, even at the very end of the game. The Prothean Construct Vigil suggests they go into hibernation to preserve energy and do so in the void between galaxies so organic species will not stumble upon them when sleeping. No explanation is offered for the cycle upon which the Reapers seem to exist, Vigil suggesting that while it may be something simple like a need for slaves, it is likely an alien and unknowable synthetic goal.
