Liara T'Soni
"You have been marked by the beacon on Eden Prime - you have touched the working Prothean technology. That’s why I find you so interesting."
[cut]
Race:
Asari
Date of Birth:
2077
Age:
108 years
Mother:
Matriarch Benezia
Occupation:
Information Broker
Combat Specialization:
Asari Scientist
Dr. Liara T'Soni is an asari researcher who has spent the last fifty years of her life studying Prothean technology and culture, specializing in Prothean extinction. She was born in 2077, and at the time of the events of [Mass Effect](/games?search=Mass Effect), she is "only" 106 years old - slightly older than a child by asari standards. She already has deep knowledge of the Protheans and highly trained biotic abilities. She is a potential romantic interest for both male and female characters.
Profile
After Captain Shepard learns that Liara is the daughter of Matriarch Benezia, he sets out in search of answers and her. Searching through the Tau Artemis cluster, Shepard ultimately finds her imprisoned in a force field, at the ruins of Therum, a mining world in the Knossos system. The Geth pursued her right up to the barrier, trying to kill Liara or force her to help Saren Arterius find the Conduit. After being rescued from the collapsing ruins, Liara joins the Normandy crew, subsequently becoming available as a squad member. She uses her telepathic abilities to help Shepard understand visions, broken into pieces and obtained from Prothean Beacons, to uncover Saren's plan and thwart it. She is astonished by Shepard's revelation about the Prothean extinction due to the Reapers but believes it to be true, as there is surprisingly little evidence of the existence of the ancient race – as if something or someone did not want the mystery of their disappearance to be discovered.
Liara dislikes being the daughter of Benezia and has renounced her mother's life, an important figure in galactic affairs. Benezia's position means everyone around Liara has high expectations for her, and she chose a career in archaeology to avoid the pressure of being the daughter of such an exceptional woman. Due to the nature of her work, Liara spends most of her time alone. She is modest and unaccustomed to lying, a character trait that Ashley Williams is tempted to take advantage of – "Want me to ask about her love life? It's bound to be fascinating."
The Normandy crew looks upon Liara with suspicion due to her connection to Benezia, even though she hasn't spoken to her mother for many years. However, she knows her mother well enough to be amazed by her working with Saren, and does not believe that she is assisting him of her own accord. Shepard can talk to Liara about her mother and discuss what reasons Benezia might have to assist Saren, as well as general discussions on asari culture and the misconceptions surrounding her race.
Later, Liara explains that she does not know who Benezia chose as a partner, only knowing that her "other parent" was another asari. Breeding between two asari is taboo in their culture, which may affect Liara and lead her to consider herself an outcast of society; it is speculated that her "father" refuses to reveal his identity due to the social stigma surrounding “pureblood” offspring. Whatever the reason, Benezia never revealed the identity of her partner to Liara – whether this is significant enough to study in the future remains unknown. As a result, Benezia raised Liara alone; however, this is not uncommon among asari due to their long lifespan. From a young age, Liara became fascinated by the Protheans, seeing them as wonderful, mysterious beings.
Liara was drawn to Shepard from the very beginning because the Captain had touched Prothean technology on Eden Prime. Unfortunately, Liara is used to loneliness for extended periods and admits that she feels like she always says awkward things around other people. When Shepard jokes that Liara talks as if she wants to dissect him in her lab, Liara becomes flustered and states that she actually meant Shepard would be an interesting specimen for deeper study, becoming increasingly embarrassed as the conversation goes on. Liara has diligently read Shepard’s service history to learn more about him, afraid of appearing foolish by directly asking the Captain.
Even if Shepard has a relationship with Ashley Williams, Liara still cares for the Captain, empathizing with the nightmares that plague Shepard, caused by the beacon. Liara is very compassionate – she even feels sorry for Saren because he lost his mind due to indoctrination. If she is in the squad during the mission on Noveria, she will advise Shepard to forgive and set free the Queen of the Rachni. However, she is used to defending herself in remote digs – which are constantly raided by scavengers wishing to steal artifacts – and in battle, she is a powerful ally due to her almost complete focus on biotic arts.
If Liara accompanies Shepard on Ilos, she, unlike all other squad members, finds the planet fascinating rather than depressing, due to her interest in the Protheans. She never expected to land on Ilos and hopes to return after defeating Saren. She is very excited during the descent into the archives, imagining what secrets lie inside – at which point the second squad member reminds her that they are here to stop Saren and that sightseeing can be postponed. After the Guardian transmits its message to Shepard, Liara wishes to stay and talk with the VI a little longer, claiming that this might be their only chance to learn from the Guardian what happened to the Protheans. Shepard can express his opinion about Liara's sense of priorities.
Romance
There’s something irresistible about you, Shepard.
If Shepard begins a romantic relationship with Liara, she will eventually reveal that she has never been physically intimate with anyone before, and finds the idea a bit daunting, but as her trust in the Captain increases, she feels that they share some kind of special bond. While the Normandy is docked, she comes to Shepard to comfort the Captain, and they almost share a kiss, but they are interrupted by Joker.
When the Normandy makes its escape and is en route to Ilos, Liara comes to see Shepard in his personal quarters, stating that she wants to spend the night with him, fearing she might never see Shepard again, fully confident that she is ready for a close relationship.
Missions and Assignments
During the mission on Noveria, Gianna Parasini mentions to Shepard that Matriarch Benezia is visiting Peak 15. If Liara has already been rescued but is not present at the time, a squad member will suggest that Shepard bring her along for a confrontation or perhaps a conversation with her mother. If Liara accompanies you during the time in the Peak 15 lab, there will be additional dialogues in this mission. After a brief return of consciousness, the Matriarch reveals that she has always been very proud of Liara and before her own demise calls her "Little Wing." Liara mourns her mother but finds some solace in realizing that Benezia tried to stop Saren, regardless of how her attempt turned out. She resolves to remember the Benezia that she once was.
Two turians and a batarian heading to Omega discuss their asari passenger, noting that it has been a month since the Normandy was destroyed and Captain Shepard has gone missing. When their passenger, who turns out to be Liara, asks if they are close to the station, they refuse to let her go and threaten to demand more credits "for docking." With disgust, she refuses and uses her biotics to put them to sleep. Then, Liara personally docks the ship, letting the docking bay staff know that her visit is business and personal, and that she needs to "meet someone."
Later, at the Afterlife club on Omega, Liara speaks with an elcor informant regarding Shepard's whereabouts, only to hear that he has not seen "...anyone that fits your description here - none of those among those I searched for." The two discuss news reports stating that the Citadel is still recovering when they are interrupted by a mysterious drell hiding his face under a hood. Liara recognizes him as her informant, whom she was supposed to meet, and inquires about Shepard. The drell, named Feron, agrees to talk to her, but only when they get outside. Feron informs Liara that Shepard is dead. Liara is shocked by the news and asks Feron to show her the body, when they are ambushed by mercenaries from the Blue Suns. The mercenaries themselves are ambushed by Cerberus operatives, and Liara and Feron are given a chance to escape, although they are ultimately captured by Cerberus, where they meet Miranda Lawson. Liara meets with the Illusive Man to discuss Cerberus's motives; Shepard represents humanity, and Cerberus wants his body back in human hands. The Collectors hired the Illusive Man, who in turn hired the mercenaries from the Blue Suns, to find and deliver Shepard's body to him. The Illusive Man tasks Liara with uncovering why exactly the Collectors want Shepard's body. Liara agrees, but for Shepard, not for Cerberus.
Two years after the events of [Mass Effect](/games?search=Mass Effect), Shepard encounters Liara after arriving on Illium and discovers that she has become an information broker. She cannot speak freely with the Captain, as all her conversations are likely being monitored. Liara's demeanor has become darker and more hardened, shown by her willingness to break the law and threaten people to succeed in selling information. She even quotes her mother, Matriarch Benezia, when intimidating a client. The changes in her personality are later explained by her hatred for the Illusive Man and her determination to kill him for all the troubles he caused her. After certain dialogue topics, it is possible to break through her shell and see the real Liara, but only for a moment. After offering her help, Shepard will be tasked with tracking down the Illusive Man's agent known as The Observer. She is also willing to provide the Captain with information about potential squad members' whereabouts.
Romance
If she was Shepard's romantic partner in [Mass Effect](/games?search=Mass Effect), she is seen on Normandy 1 when the ship is under attack by an unknown enemy. By Shepard's orders for evacuation, she boards an escape pod and safely departs from Normandy before its destruction. After Captain Shepard is resurrected through the Lazarus Project, the Illusive Man informs the Captain that Liara is likely now working for the Illusive Man, and if that is indeed the case, she cannot be trusted.
During their first meeting on Illium, she greets Shepard with a kiss. Afterward, Liara admits to feeling guilty – she realized that Cerberus would use him for their own purposes, but still, she handed the Captain's body over to the Illusive Man because she couldn’t lose Shepard. She fears that Shepard will hate her for it and apologizes. Shepard can comfort her, assuring her that she did the right thing, as the current mission is extremely important. Alternatively, Shepard can accuse her of personal betrayal. Liara retorts, saying that she had no choice but to do it, and if she hadn't, the Captain would have remained dead, adding that the choice was only between Cerberus and the Collectors. She says that Cerberus was the best choice she could make and again apologizes. After handing over Shepard's body, Liara remained on Illium, fully dedicating herself to hunting down the Illusive Man, and she expresses regret that she cannot go with Shepard. Onboard Normandy 2, in the Captain's quarters, her photograph will be on the desk next to the personal terminal. If Shepard remains faithful to their relationship, before passing through the Omega 4 relay, the Captain will take the photograph in his hands, look at it carefully, and smile.
The Illusive Man's Lair
In the DLC pack for [Mass Effect 2](/games?search=Mass Effect 2), "The Illusive Man's Lair," Liara and Captain Shepard unite to confront the Illusive Man.
Cerberus provides Shepard with information regarding the Illusive Man and asks him to deliver it to Liara. The information allows Liara to pick up the trail of the Illusive Man and also provides evidence that Feron, her friend captured by the Illusive Man, is still alive. She asks Shepard to meet her at her apartment to discuss plans concerning the Illusive Man, but when Shepard arrives, the apartment is cordoned off, and Spectre Body Vazir is investigating the disappearance of Liara. Vazir orders the police to leave, and with Shepard's help, conducts a full search of the premises. After discovering that Liara had gone to the office of Baryan Frontiers in the Dragon Trading Center to meet an informant, Vazir, Shepard, and the squad proceed to find her.
Liara was supposed to meet the informant on the third floor when upon Shepard's arrival, Vazir, and the squad, a series of explosions rocked the building. Shepard and the squad fought their way up from the bottom while Vazir landed on the roof of the building and continued down. When Shepard reaches the office of Baryan Frontiers, Vazir is already there, and the informant is dead. Vazir asks if Shepard found Liara's body, but before he can respond, Liara herself appears from the shadows and aims her weapon at Vazir. She states that Vazir was one of those who tried to kill her and that Vazir has a disk containing the coordinates of the Illusive Man's location that she took from the dead informant.
Shepard and the squad then aim their weapons at Vazir, who shatters a window and throws glass shards with her biotic power to distract the Captain and make her escape successfully. Liara creates a biotic shield to protect the squad, and Shepard knocks Vazir through the shattered window. After a brief skirmish, Liara also jumps through the window, using her biotics to slow her fall, and while Shepard and the squad fight their way through the Trading Center, she pursues Vazir, ultimately catching up with her on the landing pad outside the building.
When Shepard and the squad arrive, Vazir, now outnumbered, calls for her X3M (taxi), jumps into it, and speeds away. Liara grabs another taxi and joins Shepard. Shepard drives the transport while Liara keeps an eye on the obstacles and Vazir. They eventually catch up to her, and Vazir tries to ram their vehicle in midair. However, Vazir collides with another transport, and subsequently crashes on the roof of the Azure Hotel. Shepard lands the taxi on the roof and Liara joins Shepard in the pursuit of Vazir. They fight their way through the Illusive Man's agents that ambush them at the hotel, until they finally catch up with Vazir at the plaza.
Vazir takes a hostage, and Shepard tries to persuade the Spectre to release her. However, words are of no use, and Vazir engages in combat. They fight against Vazir, ultimately killing her near one of the plaza walls. Liara approaches her first, grabs the disk, and heads off to analyze it while Shepard speaks with Vazir before she dies. When Shepard returns and asks if the information is what they need, Liara replies that it is exactly what they need and now she can finally track down the Illusive Man and destroy him for the good of all, with Shepard's help. If pressed, Liara is very grateful to Shepard for helping her again. She recalls how Shepard saved her on Therum two years ago, how Shepard always does good things, and now they are together again, doing good again. If pressed further, Liara will mention that their plan and her desire involves the return of Feron, and informs Shepard of her plan to attack the Illusive Man.
Liara joins Shepard in storming the Illusive Man's base. The forces of the Illusive Man attempt to hold them back, but they fight their way to the door. Liara uses a door hacker that is illegal even on Illium, allowing them to open the door and lead the squad inside. From there, they fight their way through the ship, ultimately discovering the prisoner cells. Here, Liara finds her long-lost friend. Feron, however, cannot be freed without dying himself, as he is trapped in a torture machine, which will fry his brain if he tries to escape. He informs the squad where to disable it, and the squad proceeds to free Feron and take out the Illusive Man once and for all.
When they finally arrive at the Illusive Man's office, they discover that the Illusive Man is actually a yahg, a representative of the outcast race in the galaxy. The Illusive Man shows his awareness of the situation and comments on how Liara is simply floundering in the dark. However, Liara demonstrates that she knows more than the Illusive Man thought she did. In rage, the Illusive Man flips his desk and engages in battle with Shepard and Liara. After an extended fight, with their combined efforts, Shepard distracts the Illusive Man while Liara drops a liquid that was contained in the ceiling above the Illusive Man on him. The liquid causes the Illusive Man's shields to overload and he perishes in the ensuing explosion.
As the team recovers, the electricity goes out for a brief period, allowing Feron to escape and he breaks free from his containment. In the Illusive Man's office, agents of the Illusive Man begin to inquire about the interrupted signal. Liara approaches the large computer terminals, and after a few seconds, contacts the agents using the Illusive Man's voice and provides an explanation that the electricity went out temporarily while they were updating their equipment. While this happens, Feron bursts into the office, waving his weapon, but lowers it when he sees what has occurred. Feron and Shepard ask if this is what Liara wanted, and she replies that yes. Feron goes to check the power systems, leaving Shepard and Liara alone.
Liara takes over the position of the Illusive Man, along with all his agents who have never seen him in person, and promises Shepard that she will completely change the organization. She also points out that she can now provide Shepard with more information, thanks to the Illusive Man's networks. She vowed to use the Illusive Man's resources for good; to assist Shepard in the fight against the Reapers. She and Feron remain on the Illusive Man's base ship. Liara assures Shepard that he can return anytime. Shepard can also invite Liara onboard the Normandy to show her the ship and continue their relationship.
Romance
"I spent two years mourning you. If we're going to be together, I need to know that you will always come back."
Throughout the Illusive Man's mission, Shepard has the opportunity to try to clarify his relationship with Liara before the assault on the Illusive Man's base, telling her that he is upset by how Liara is using him just to find the Illusive Man. Liara answers that she cannot "forget two years of grief." After Shepard defeats the yahg and Liara becomes the new Illusive Man, Shepard asks her if this is what she wanted. Liara begins to enumerate the ways she can help Shepard using her new position, but then bursts into tears, unable to believe that two years of her vendetta are over. If Shepard chooses to comfort her, he will say that she will be alright now. She will continue to say that they are now completely different people than they were once. If Shepard chooses to comfort Liara one more time, the Captain kisses her and assures her that together they will be alright.
Later, Shepard can ask Liara if she had a romantic relationship with Feron, but Liara assures Shepard that she and Feron are "just friends" and that she directly told Feron that she is "as you humans say, busy." Then Liara states that she misses Shepard but does not want to pressure the Captain. Shepard can remain friends with her or enter into a relationship again. Regardless of the response, Shepard can invite Liara for a drink on the Normandy, but if they decided to continue the romance, the conversation in the following cutscene will focus on Liara asking Shepard about their future. If Shepard chooses the “long and happy” response, Shepard laughs about settling down, marriage, and “a bunch of blue babies.” Liara states that she cannot live with the thought of losing Shepard again and asks him to promise that he will always come back. Shepard teases Liara, saying that she is asking for too big a promise, and the Captain tells her that they need something special for his return and that she should accept his offer. Liara responds that she is open to suggestions, then pulls Shepard closer. Her eyes turn black, and the cutscene ends, after which Liara informs him that she would be especially grateful if he would come back to her on the Illusive Man's base ship.
Trivia
• Liara T'Soni is voiced by Ali Hillis, and her face is modeled after actress Gillian Murray.
• It is not difficult to achieve the companion achievement with Liara, but you must avoid completing assignments on the Citadel until she is found and becomes your permanent companion.
• If Liara is not rescued before the very last pre-Ilos mission, her dialogue on Therum changes. When Shepard finds her, a small comedic scene unfolds in which Liara thinks that Shepard and his squad are hallucinations.
• When Shepard first meets Liara in [Mass Effect 2](/games?search=Mass Effect 2), she is speaking with a client and says: "Have you ever met an asari commando before? Few people have met one of your kind." In [Mass Effect](/games?search=Mass Effect), the exact same line is spoken by Liara's mother, Matriarch Benezia, when the Captain finds her on Noveria.
• BioWare revealed at GDC 2009 that originally Liara T'Soni was meant to be on the mining planet Caleston along with several additional assignments in a game section comparable to the size of Feros. Due to restructuring and programming issues, Caleston was drastically cut during development of [Mass Effect](/games?search=Mass Effect), until all of its functions were fully transferred to Therum. Originally, it contained a human mining station, serving as a hub (like the Citadel); most of this station's architecture was transferred to the final combat location of the DLC Bring Down the Sky.
• Like all squad members, Liara has unique dialogues that can be heard in various locations, throughout missions or assignments, or if a special squad member is chosen to be in a team with her.