Mass Effect: From the Ashes

Placeholder page for a future Mass Effect game using the Shadowrun 5th Edition rules.

The Citadel and Galactic Governance

The Citadel

The old Citadel structure remains in Earth's orbit as a monument and commemoration to all those who died during the Reaper War. A new structure, built in a similar style, was constructed using many of the techniques learned in the construction of the Crucible. This time, the 'leaves' of the Citadel number six: one for each of the new Citadel Council seats. Each 'leaf' is a sector, named after one of the Council Member races. The Presidium, a shared sector where embassies and other high-wealth individuals congregate to be closer to the seat of power, live and do business.

The Citadel Alliance

The Citadel Council as it existed prior to the Reaper War has reformed. The balance of power has shifted and the now-named Citadel Alliance has replaced the old Citadel Council as the pan-galactic forum and governing body.

The Council is an executive committee composed of representatives from the galaxy's major powers. Though they have no official power over the independent governments of other species, the Council's decisions carry great weight throughout the galaxy. No single Council race is strong enough to defy the others combined, and all have a vested interest in compromise and cooperation.

The Citadel Alliance now has two deliberation bodies to give a platform for all member races a voice on the galactic political stage.

The Citadel General Assembly houses ambassadors and representatives from all member states and may pass resolutions voicing their collective opinion on galactic affairs. Non-state organizations are sometimes invited (or negotiate) for a representative and a vote in the General Assembly. The most notable of these is the Corporate Council's representative.

The Citadel Council is comprised of the major powers to come out of the Reaper War and they have the power to veto any resolutions coming from the General Assembly. The Citadel Council members currently include:

• Councilor for the Systems Alliance (Humanity)
• Councilor for the Salarian Union
• Councilor for the Asari Republics
• Councilor for the Turian Hierarchy
• Councilor for the Krogan Dominion
• Councilor for the Rannoch Concordiat (Quarian Republic and the Geth Consensus)

Council Races Factbook

Krogan

With the cure of the genophage and a renewed effort to rebuilding Tuchanka, the Krogan people are undergoing a renaissance unseen since their pre-flight days.

Urdnot Wrex still leads the now-named Krogan Dominion. He governs over a uniquely krogan government system best characterized as ‘federalized-feudalism’. Some local control has been turned over to clan chiefs who run their regions as they wish, subject to oversight by Clan Urdnot. Government institutions are slow to develop but there is a renewed emphasis on restoring Tuchanka and establishing a relatively peaceful co-existence with the galaxy’s powers. Wrex’s power is bolstered by the clear signs of krogan prosperity and family-building under his reign.

Krogan Honour Names

Among the krogan, a new naming practice sprung up after the Reaper War: the honor name. With the cure of the genophage, many children born to previously sterile mothers were given a third name to remind them and all krogan why they were able to live at all. Males receive the name ‘Mordin’ while females receive ‘Shepard’. Clan Urdnot and those closest to them follow this naming convention the most and, while not universal, has quickly gained traction to become a new krogan custom.

The custom has even spread to adult females who adopt the name ‘Shepard’ as their honor name after their first viable brood. It began with shamaness Urdnot Bakara Shepard, the first to be cured of the genophage and from whom the cure was manufactured. She is revered as both the godmother to all krogan children born after the genopage and as the spiritual leader of the krogan people at large. As such, she is able to temper the voices of those krogan who desire to steer them back to their pre-Krogan Rebellion days and provide both support for Wrex’s progressive policies.