Asari

The asari, a naturally biotic species native to the planet Thessia, are often considered the most influential and respected sentient species in the galaxy, and are known for their elegance, diplomacy, and biotic aptitude. This is partly due to the fact that the asari were among the earliest races to achieve interstellar flight after the Protheans, and the first to discover and settle the Citadel.
A mono-gendered race, the asari are distinctly feminine in appearance and possess maternal instincts. Their unique physiology, expressed in a millennium-long lifespan and the ability to reproduce with a partner of any gender or species, gives them a conservative yet convivial attitude toward other races. Favoring compromise and cooperation over conflict, the asari were instrumental in proposing and founding the Citadel Council and have been at the heart of galactic society ever since.

Basic Information

Anatomy

The Asari are symmetrical bipeds standing upright on hind legs, with two arms ending in five-fingered hands, and two eyes. Their skin tones range from blue through to purple, including light and dark hues, and some asari have varied skins (for instance, a purple overall body colour which shades to blue around the face blue skin tones can extend to a greenish aqua hue, but pure green skin is an extremely rare genetic variation and regarded as strange. Asari skin has a scaled texture, but in many cases the texture is so fine as to be virtually invisible beyond close inspection, with skin appearing at a glance to be perfectly smooth. Skin tones can vary as a physiological response, with flushing often producing a slightly shift towards the purple end of the skin tone spectrum. Some asari use the phrase "turning fuchsia with envy" but this is a colloquialism only, with no physical basis. Various stereotypes have been known to be attached to particular skin tones, although these typically originate in alien cultures; asari do not hold skin colour (which can vary even within families) to be of particular significance. Asari blood is purple in coloration. Many asari sport naturally-developing patterns on their faces and/or scalps, which are often (but not invariably) a darker shade of their natural skin tone. However asari with plain faces are not uncommon, and both asari with and without natural markings often employ makeup, or in some cases tattoos, which augment or replicate the colours and/or patterns typical to innate markings.

Although asari have no ears, the tympanic membranes occupying the same area, visible as a series of fine ridges extending from beneath the sides of the scalp, serve the same function. These are often referred to and translated as 'ears' in common speech for simplicity's sake, although some asari prefer the term 'aurals'. The ear ridges/aurals, and the soft ridges covering the back of the head beneath the scalp and merging with the back of the neck, are highly sensitive areas; they are also known in some asari to display more vivid colouration than the surrounding skin.
The asari scalp is a multi-layered arrangement of semi-flexible cartilage structures. Contrary to a persistent myth, the tendrils of the scalp, though possessing a small degree of flexibility, do not 'flop around'. The purpose of the scalp is thermoregulation, employing direct radiation in concert with an unconsciously generated weak pseudo-biotic field. During infancy, the scalp is still in the process of growing to its final form, with the inner layers initially exposed, and covered by a protective layer of skin which is later shed as the outer tendrils lengthen and thicken to cover the entire top and sides of the head; the shedding process being harmless, but uncomfortable. Some asari have textures, including ridges, and prominent scale patterns, on their scalp tendrils (sometimes augmented by cosmetic implants) while others have scalps appearing as smooth as the rest of the skin.

By comparison with other land-dwelling species, asari emerged late from the oceans in their evolutionary development, and even while air-breathing and possessing virtually all of their current adaptations to life on land, proto-asari continued a semi-aquatic existence, with coastal and island settlements based around hunting and farming of sea flora and fauna. The modern asari is still biologically optimised for an aquatic environment in many ways, including a natural affinity for three-dimensional positioning and movement (a trait shared by the aquatic hanar), and sweat that serves as a lubricant to reduce resistance when swimming.

Genetics and Reproduction

Melding (also sometimes known as 'the joining') is a process by which asari can create a state of synchronicity between their nervous system and that of a partner. Melding allows participants to share thoughts, emotions, and experiences; the process also serves to 'map' the genome of a partner, which serves as the catalyst for asari conception (see Genetics and Reproduction). Melding is achieved via electrical impulses conducted through skin contact, creating sympathetic feedbacks between the nervous system of the asari and her partner which slowly draw the two into a state of synergy. The natural ability of asari to precisely control their nervous impulses is critical to the process, and while the elementary process of a meld is controlled subconsciously, there is considerable scope for asari to learn to control and direct melding, for various applications. An asari can meld in this manner with any biological sapient being, regardless of species; the discovery that melding could be achieved with 'aliens' had a profound impact on asari culture and species psychology. A notable outward sign of melding is the darkening of the eyes, reaching almost complete black at the height of a meld.
During a reproductive meld, the asari uses this connection to 'map' her partner's genes, which forms the basis for a randomisation of one set of the asari's genes, passed on to the offspring along with the mother's unaltered genes. No genetic material is actually transferred from 'father' to child, and the offspring is always 100% genetically asari. Conception via melding is a voluntary act on the asari's part; it is possible however (though quite rare) for an asari, particularly if inexperienced, to be so affected by the experience of melding with a potential partner that she may initiate conception even if that was not her wish prior to the meld. Contraceptive products exist, generally in the form of drugs that introduce a minor fluctuation into the electroneural process of 'scanning' a mate's genetic code, causing the scan to fail and thus prevent conception without affecting the meld in any other manner noticeable to the participants.
While the decision to have a child (or, in rare cases, accidental conception, if the child is born and raised) is generally the mark of a maiden's transition to matronhood, asari are biologically fertile during the maiden stage, and fertility extends well into the subsequent Matriarch stage as well.

Growth Rate & Stages

Asari pass through three climacteric life stages, marked by biochemical and physiological changes:

The Maiden stage begins at puberty and is marked by the drive to explore and enjoy new experiences. Most young asari are curious and restless, and it is not uncommon for many to try their hand at dancing in bars or working as mercenaries during this time.
The Matron stage of life begins around the age of 350, though it can be triggered earlier if the individual melds frequently. This period is marked by a desire to settle in one area and raise children.
The Matriarch stage begins around 700 years of age, or earlier if the individual melds rarely. Matriarchs become active in their community as sages and councilors, dispensing wisdom from centuries of experience. Their knowledge and guidance may be one reason why Matriarchs are rarely seen outside asari space.
However, it should be noted that each stage can be started whenever an asari feels that she has reached the correct level of maturity. While each stage of life is marked by strong biological tendencies, individuals do make unexpected life choices. For example, there are Maidens who stay close to home rather than explore, Matrons who would rather work than build a family, and Matriarchs who have no interest in community affairs.

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

All asari are biotic, the result of Thessia's pervasive element zero content; although some asari are biologically capable of exerting more biotic power than others, asari with no ability at all are extremely rare, and this is regarded as a medical abnormality rather than the natural low end of the scale of ability. Prior to the development of biotic technologies such as implants and amplifiers, asari biotic ability was limited by modern standards - 'strong' biotics undertook decades of training to hone their skills before being able to create effects of a magnitude regarded as common today, and pre-tech huntresses developed many forms of biotic-assisted martial arts, using their biotics to augment armed and unarmed combat techniques for maximum effect. While modern asari use similar amplifiers to other species, their implants are much more limited, functioning primarily as an interface between the asari and the amplifier - this does not denote a limiting of capability, since much of the complexity and pervasiveness of implants in other species is to artificially simulate the natural behaviour of an asari nervous system. Since asari implants are less far-reaching the procedure to install them is much less complex and taxing; asari typically receive implants (if they so choose; some elect not to) as part of the transition from childhood to the maiden stage (see Growth Rate and Stages), and the procedure is considered safe and commonplace.

Pictured: Jaleseka and Lynelzea T'Dovus, Sisters and Joint Owners of T'Dovus Menageries, a popular Thessia-based company. Both are Asari in the Matron phase of their lives.

Lifespan

1000+ years

Average Height

5 feet to 6 feet

Average Weight

150 to 180 pounds