Thessia
Homeworld of the Asari
Thessia was the homeworld of the asari, a wealthy and stable world rich in element zero that was long regarded as one of the most prosperous in the galaxy. Its peaceful republics were shattered by the Reaper assault during the war of 2186.
Thessia was the homeworld of the asari, a prosperous and long-stable world that had been called the crown jewel of the galaxy and the apex of democracy. Its fortunes rested on a wealthy economy backed by colonies and vast reserves of element zero, until they were upended by the Reaper assault during the war of 2186. The world featured prominently in the galaxy's affairs through the influence of the asari on the Citadel Council and in Commander Shepard's search for a way to defeat the Reapers.
A prosperous and stable world#
Thessia was widely regarded as one of the finest worlds in the galaxy, called by some the crown jewel of the galaxy, the apex of democracy, and the beating heart of galactic love. Its republics enjoyed a remarkably low incidence of war, disease, violent crime, and famine, sustained by a stable economy that drew on wealthy colonies and the planet's vast reserves of element zero. So abundant was the substance that traces of it were common in the water and soil, and most life on Thessia had adapted to its constant presence, a circumstance that shaped the asari themselves and their widespread aptitude for biotics.
Thessia was the cultural center of the asari, with a distinctive fashion sense that attracted patrons even from other species. Food and drink on the world were customarily served with small amounts of element zero, of no benefit to non-biotic visitors, who were advised to keep to a separate menu; one drink, called elasa, could be safely enjoyed by asari and outsiders alike. Among the world's known native plants was the common irssal, a blossom that smelled of honey, whose seeds were prized enough to be carried across vast distances. Thessia served as a terminus on the shipping lane to Illium, anchoring the asari in the commerce of the wider galaxy.
The Reaper assault#
Thessia's long fortune was undone by the Reaper invasion. The communications infrastructure that formed the backbone of its electronic democracies was eliminated, and millions of asari were left without power, water, or food. This was a deliberate part of the Reaper strategy: by crippling the population's infrastructure, the Reapers sought to coerce the asari into widespread surrender, since their husks alone struggled to subdue or capture a population so heavily endowed with biotic ability. The fall of so prosperous and proud a world stood as a stark measure of the scale of the Reaper threat during the war of 2186.
Frequently asked questions
- What is Thessia?
- Thessia was the homeworld of the asari, a prosperous and long-stable world that had been called the crown jewel of the galaxy and the apex of democracy. Its fortunes rested on a wealthy economy backed by colonies and vast reserves of element zero.
- Why was Thessia so prosperous?
- Thessia's republics enjoyed a remarkably low incidence of war, disease, violent crime, and famine, sustained by a stable economy that drew on wealthy colonies and the planet's vast reserves of element zero. The substance was so abundant that traces of it were common in the water and soil, and most life on Thessia had adapted to its constant presence.
- What was Thessia known for culturally?
- Thessia was the cultural center of the asari, with a distinctive fashion sense that attracted patrons even from other species. Food and drink were customarily served with small amounts of element zero, and the world served as a terminus on the shipping lane to Illium.
- What happened to Thessia during the Reaper War?
- During the Reaper invasion the communications infrastructure that formed the backbone of Thessia's electronic democracies was eliminated, leaving millions of asari without power, water, or food. This was a deliberate Reaper strategy to coerce the asari into surrender, since their husks alone struggled to subdue a population so heavily endowed with biotic ability.
Sources
- WikiThessia — Mass Effect Wiki entry
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