Star Wars: Aliens, Asari

Asari

Attribute Dice: 12d

DEXTERITY: 3d/5d

KNOWLEDGE: 2d/4d

MECHANICAL: 1d+2/3d+2

PERCEPTION: 2d+2/4d+2

STRENGTH: 1d/3d

TECHNICAL: 2d+1/4d+1

Special Abilities:

Attractive: Asari are usually attractive to many species. There are numerous theories as to why, including neurochemical or telepathic theories. Regardless, Asari enjoy a +2 bonus to all social interaction rolls. 

Story Factors: 

Female: From a human point of view, all Asari are female in appearance. However, they are functionally pansexual. They form a neural link called melding to reproduce with any other species or gender.
Long Life: Asari are long-lived and live up to 1,000 years. They go through three life-staged: up to 350 years is the Maiden stage, followed by the Matron stage (up to 700 years), and finally the Matriarch stage which lasts until they die.
Siari: The Asari know the Force as Siari and practice a method known as biotic. This method is seen as a manipulation of neural impulses. 

Move: 10/12

Size: 1.5 to 2.0 meters

The asari are a purely female-appearing humanoid race. A typical asari individual varies among blue, teal, or purple complexion; some asari have facial markings, which are unique color patterns that vary for every asari. Some of these facial markings are associated with eyebrows, freckles, or tattoos by humans, but the asari do not think of the markings as such themselves. In the place of head hair, asari possess semi-flexible, cartilage based scalp crests that grow into shape.

All asari are biologically mono-gendered, although they display, from a human point-of-view, female characteristics and maternal instincts, with the ability to bear and nurse children. Concepts of male and female have no real meaning for her species. The asari are sexually female, and not asexual like single-celled life, and could be considered xenophilic and pansexual, as not only are they indiscriminate in regards to the races and genders of their mates, but prefer to mate with other races and sexes, believing that the genetic and racial traits of other species, when combined with asari genetic make-up, is of benefit to the asari race as a whole. Their dual reproductive and nervous systems allow them to mate with any species or gender, with whom the offspring is always another asari. Lines of descent are matrilineal. The asari are capable of participating in and enjoying physical sexual contact, but such recreational activities offer no reproductive value. To produce offspring they form a neurological connection with their partners, and by doing so draw genetic material, resulting in an offspring that is primarily asari in genetic makeup, however may possess recessive traits from the "father" species.

During melding, an asari consciously attunes her nervous system to her partner's, sending and receiving electrical impulses directly through the skin; effectively, the asari and her partner briefly become one unified nervous system. This unique means of reproduction is the reason asari are all talented biotics; their evolved ability to consciously control nerve impulses is very similar to biotic training. The partner can be another asari, or an alien of any gender. This reproductive process has led to confusion among non-asari, who might expect offspring with "mixed" genes. Asari do not draw genes or mix it with their own (an asari can never inherent a krogan "father's" resistance to diseases); they provide to copies of their genes, and any inheritance of traits, or even personality, is an urban legend. The offspring is pure Asari with no alteration to their species, even though "father's" DNA may or may not influence randomization. Conversely, they tend to attach a stigma to those born "pureblood" between two asari, as they believe that nothing is gained when two asari procreate (although most are too polite to openly speak of their prejudices). The mating of two asari also seems to increase the chance that the offspring will be an Ardat-Yakshi, a sterile individual with a genetic disorder that kills mates during melding, rather than a gentle linking of nervous systems.

It is implied that asari are considered attractive to many species and genders, which would prove useful considering their method of reproduction.

The asari can live for a thousand years, going through three stages in life; the Maiden stage (lasting to 350 years), an energetic phase in life in which an asari is considered a youth and setting the initial course of its life; the Matron stage (lasting from 350–700 years) where an asari draws back to a more deliberative phase and begins to lay the foundations of a family and its place in society (though some asari have been known to start families as early as 100 years old), and finally the Matriarch phase (700-1,000 years) where the asari takes its place among the elite in society, participating more in cultural and political affairs and generally leading the next generation to fruition. 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.

The asari were one of the first contemporary race to achieve space-flight and discover hyperspace. The asari owe their high level of technological advancement to a Prothean VI, Vendetta. This information is kept highly classified by the asari government, as it would discredit the virtually universal belief that the asari became the most powerful race in the galaxy on their own merit. The Protheans protected the asari from an asteroid strike at some point in history. They also defended the asari from a race known as the oravores, who wanted to exploit Thessia for its vast resources. Furthermore, they were responsible for every asari having biotic abilities by shaping their genome.

Because of their long lifespan, asari tend to have a "long view" not common in other races. When they encounter a new species or situation, the asari are more comfortable with an extended period of passive observation and study than immediate action. They are unfazed that some of their investments or decisions may not pay off for decades or centuries. Matriarchs can seem to make incomprehensible decisions, but their insight is evident when their carefully-laid plans come to fruition. In interstellar relations, this long view manifests in the unspoken policy of centrism. The asari instinctively seek to maintain stable balances of economic, political, and military power.

Of all the galactic species, the asari are the most economically powerful; their culture, products and entertainment dominate the galaxy. They are governed by a loose democracy, known as the Asari Republics, and are known to be politically centrist, favoring stability that is conducive to cultural and economic development. Politically, they practice a form of direct democracy that could only be described as an e-democracy, where citizens contribute to the general consensus via a huge interconnected network. However, they also have a matriarchal council that heeds the will of the people and make decision for their welfare accordingly. Traditionally, asari spread their influence through cultural domination and intellectual superiority. They invite new species of advanced development to join the galactic community, knowing that their ideals and beliefs will inevitably influence the existing culture. The asari tend toward communal, consensus attitudes among themselves too: for example, they prefer to live in shared spaces aboard starships even if there are alternatives available.

Asari are well aware they tend to be attractive, and are comfortable expressing their sexuality, as witnessed with asari erotic dancers, and many young males and females of all races tend to have a fascination with asari. As a result of the age difference, and the social matrifocal family structure, many asari raise their daughters alone, especially if the "father" species is short-lived. Despite their partner's death, a part of them will live within their other. Asari accept that they will almost inevitably outlive their partner (with the notable exception of the krogan, who have a similarly immense longevity). They apply their philosophical "long view" to relationships as well, savouring the time they spend with their partners rather than focusing on their inevitable loss.

The pantheistic mainstream asari religion is siari, which translates roughly as "All is One." The faithful agree on certain core truths: the universe is a consciousness, every life within it is an aspect of the greater whole, and death is a merging of one's spiritual energy back into greater universal consciousness. Siarists don't specifically believe in reincarnation; they believe in spiritual energy returning to the universal consciousness upon death will eventually be used to fill new mortal vessels. Siari became popular after the asari left their homeworld and discovered their ability to "meld" with nearly any form of life. This ability is seen as proof that all life is fundamentally similar. Siari priestesses see their role as promoting unity between disparate shards of the universe's awareness. Before the rise of siari pantheism, asari religions were as diverse as their political opinion. The strongest survivor of those days is the monotheistic religion worshipping the goddess Athame. Like the asari, the goddess cycles through the triple aspects of maiden, matron, and matriarch. Asari often swear "by the goddess", though this may be a cultural legacy rather than reflecting an individual's belief.

Their homeworld of Thessia, known as the Asari Republics, is composed of an interconnected system of city-states; the asari came late to the notion of world government. For centuries, their homeworld of Thessia was dotted with loose confederacies of great republican cities. Since the asari culture values consensus and accommodation, there was little impetus to form larger principalities. Rather than hoard resources, the asari bartered freely. Rather than attack one another over differing philosophies, they sought to understand one another. Only in the information age did the city-states grow close; communication evolved into an 'electronic democracy'. The asari have no politicians or elections, but a free-wheeling, all-inclusive legislature that citizens can participate in at will. Policy debates take place at all hours of the day, in official chat rooms and forums moderated by specially-programmed virtual intelligences. All aspects of policy are open to plebiscite at any time. In any given debate, the asari tend to lend the most credence to the opinions of any Matriarchs present, nearly always deferring to the experience of these millennia-old 'wise women'.

The asari military resembles a collection of tribal warrior bands with no national structure. Each community organizes its own unit as the locals see fit, and elect a leader to command them. Units from populous cities are large and well-equipped, while those from farm villages may be only a few with small arms. There is no uniform; everyone wears what they like. The asari military is not an irregular militia, however; those who serve are full-time professionals. The average asari warrior is in the maiden stage of its life and has devoted 20–30 years studying the martial arts. Asari choose to be warriors at a young age, and their education from that point is dedicated to sharpening their mind and body for that sole purpose. When they retire, they possess an alarming proficiency for killing. Warriors fight individually or in pairs, depending on the tactics preferred in their town. One-on-one, a warrior is practically unbeatable, possessing profound tactical insight, a hunter's eye, and a dancer's grace and alacrity. Biotics are common enough that some capability is a requirement to be trained as a warrior; lack of biotic talent excludes a young asari from military service.

While fluid and mobile, asari can't stand up in a firestorm the way a krogan, turian, or human could. Since their units are small and typically lack heavy armor and support weapons, they are almost incapable of fighting a conventional war, particularly one of a defensive nature. So asari units typically undertake special operations missions. Like an army of ninja, they are adept at ambush, infiltration, and assassination, demoralizing and defeating their enemies through intense, focused guerrilla strikes. As a popular turian saying puts it, "The asari are the finest warriors in the galaxy. Fortunately, there are not many of them."