A/N: Thank you to everyone who read this story and stuck with me through all the times, both hard times and good times. I hope I've you've all enjoyed the world and the characters I've written. If you're reading this, just know that I've now gone back and made all of the corrections and edits that were needed, as well as made everything look more uniform and aesthetically pleasing. I hope if you choose to reread through the story, you enjoy the changes.
These are the compiled CODEX ENTRIES from the entire story, and if you wish to use them in your own story, please credit and let me know so I can read it! Also, if you've read the story, let me know if I missed something that should be in the Codex.
CITADEL CODEX ARCHIVE (Sorted alphabetically by subject)
Art
Down with the Sickness | Art | Music
A rather crass song in the human Heavy Metal genre from the band known as "Disturbed." It came out in the year 2000 CE on the album "The Sickness." Considered a human classic, it was translated only a few short years ago by a Disturbed cover band known as "Shattered" into Galactic Common, where it had a popular run on the Citadel. It is still one of the number one song requested by krogan to Citadel radio broadcasters.
Keelah Leylorah | Art | Music
Keelah Leylorah is a song of longing and yearning to be reunited with long lost families torn apart by war. Sung by the Son'Keelah vas Torba, a great ancestor of the quarian people, its performance was so powerful that it seemed to break the fighting spirit and anger of both sides of a civil war that destroyed his village of Torba. In more modern times, quarians can sometimes be heard singing it if they have family on pilgrimage, or who are away from the fleet on potentially dangerous missions.
Na'saat | Art | Music
An instrument used by quarians before the fall of Rannoch. It typically has a wooden frame with strings tied from one section of the frame to another and is meant to be played over the lap. Some extravagant ones were made as well, and had to be held up by legs, and played by multiple people.
Astronomy
5 Kiloparsec Ring | Astrology | Galactic Bodies
The 5 Kiloparsec Ring is sometimes referred to as the border to the galactic border. While its borders are nebulous and ever moving, colonization efforts and other attempts to expand throughout the galaxy avoid this border entirely, as the amount of radiation and gravitational force that radiates from the galactic core has a harsh, life sterilizing effect.
Biology
Bloodlust | Biology | Krogan
Similar to bloodrage, krogan men and women both experience a trance-like state where they lust after others, often leading to passionate copulation. It was originally believed that this was due to a release of pheromones by one of the krogan until studies showed that the biological reaction was consistent even among krogan with non-krogan partners. Unlike with bloodrage, krogan regeneration is actually slowed during bloodlust and they do not receive a strength boost, making the occurrences markedly different.
Hock | Biology | Quarian, Turian, Salarian, Krogan
Sometimes called the gambrel, the hock is the joint between the tarsal bones of the foot and the tibia of the upper leg on any species with digitigrade style legs. Sometimes colloquially referred to as a "backwards knee" by some plantigrade species, this joint configuration allows for faster running and harder kicks in the species that have them.
Lumiline | Biology | Asari
Unlike other species who have adrenaline-based survival responses, asari instead have what's known as lumiline. When the fight or flight response in an asari is triggered, lumiline is pumped into their system which enhances the strength of biotics while also making them less stable. Unlike with adrenaline, where the effects are much more hidden, an asari experiencing fight or flight will sometimes be unable to contain the biotic aura around them, making them look threatening to potential attackers.
Petrification | Biology | Asari
Unlike human skin that begins to wrinkle and sag as it gets older, asari skin has the reverse effect. Starting soft and supple, it will continuously harden throughout their life. Near the end of their impressive lifespan, their skin will have smoothed to the texture of glass, causing them immense pain with each movement and making it impossible for them to do anything other than prepare for their inevitable return to galactic dust. Many asari attempt to buy products that will make their skin softer for longer, but none have shown to have any tangible effect.
Seasons | Biology | Asari
Similar to some humans, asari often compare their aging process to the seasons of their planetary year, or more specifically, the aging of their skin. Newborn asari skin starts pebbled like a snake's scales, but soft and supple to the touch. This lasts throughout their childhood and maiden phase. It will start to shift after the matron stage begins. The older the asari gets, the less textured their skin feels. Eventually, nearly every inch of their skin will succumb to petrification, making it nearly as smooth as marble. However, this process also makes it nearly impossible for them to move without pain. Once this occurs, the asari is considered to have entered their final season and will begin to prepare for the end of their life.
Songs | Biology | Rachni
Unlike most intelligent races throughout the galaxy, the upper ranks of rachni have a rare ability to read the brainwaves of other beings. The few who have had the opportunity to explain the ability says that they appear as music, each wave giving off a faint sound and color. As such, these beings are typically able to discern exactly what someone else is thinking but may not be able to translate it well to others.
Spurs | Biology | Turian
On the gambrel of a turian's digitigrade legs are a naturally occurring evolutionary advantage that develops during childhood. Once old enough, a turian's spur will puncture through the softer skin on the back of their leg. This bone-like spike is covered in a mild venom that attacks the nervous system of anyone it hits. Most turians only experience minor sedation and nausea when injected, but other species have been known to experience anaphylactic shock as a result. Due to the placement of this deadly natural weapon, most turian fighting styles involve kicking.
Body Language
Loop | Body Language | Turian
Due to their arm rotator cuff connecting directly into their hardened, plate-like torso, turians do not have the same mobility and freedom with their shoulders as other species do. This has resulted in much more of their body language developing in rapid movement of their hands and talons. The turian 'loop,' or the movement of their hand in a rapid circle, is the equivalent to a human shrug and can simply mean "I don't know."
Clothing
Class C Uniforms | Clothing | Human/Asari
Despite being created to integrate with armor in order to be more effective at combat in space, the Systems Alliance began manufacturing civilian class fatigues and shirts that resemble the same style of the military uniform, but do not require the same attention to detail of a service uniform as they are visually different without the usual digital camouflage patter of the Systems Alliance ACUs. The purchase of these clothes helps to fund the Systems Alliance's advancement in space.
Corporation
NIA | Corporation | Noveria
Standing for Noveria Internal Affairs, it's a small wing of the Noveria Development Company that was created with the purpose of making sure all companies on Noveria and dealing with Noveria were working together fairly. Often deployed when criminal activity against the board is suspected, they investigate, sometimes for weeks or even years, until a criminal is either found, or the investigation brings up no evidence.
Culture
Bubble Suit | Culture | Quarian
Due to their constant growth, quarian children aren't given suits that fit their body sizes. Instead, they are given suits with room to grow into that sometimes resemble early human astronaut suits. These suits are intentionally spacious inside, with the helmets looking like a mirrored bubble to allow children of a young age to grow and develop without making constant modifications to their more permanent suits.
Crossed Arms | Culture | Salarian
In early salarian culture, it was believed that when Surakesh pulled your soul free from your body after death, your body was vulnerable. In this state of vulnerability, lost souls could take host over the body, leading to an awakening of the dead much like the human concept of zombies. This belief came from the salarians misunderstanding of their own cold-blooded biology that makes them hibernate deeply when put into environments that are too cold, mimicking closely the traits of death, before awakening again once found. It was believed that crossing the arms over a dying salarians chest would prevent lost souls from inhabiting the body, and while it's rarely used in the modern age for this literal purpose, it is still seen as a sign of respect for those who have passed on.
Dabba | Culture | Krogan
Given the rarity of motherhood among modern krogan, it is even rarer for a krogan mother to raise her child by herself. Instead, children born are raised by the community, including other krogan women who are not the birth mother. These nurse mothers are simply called "dabba," a krogan word that means "cranky one."
Embrace | Culture | Asari
As common as a human handshake or turian wrist clasp on Thessia and asari colonies, the embrace is a greeting born of the asari, a species that are less modest with innate biotics. The embrace consists of two people placing their hands on each other's hips and pressing their foreheads together. The simple touch of foreheads allows enough extrasensory touch in order to show their joy in meeting. Asari who are not thrilled with who they are meeting often forgo the embrace and use less intimate greetings from other species.
Finger Tap | Culture | Quarians
The quarian finger tap is a greeting where two quarians hold up their hands and touch the tips of their three fingers together briefly. Sometimes colloquially called the 'shyfive' by other species, the minimal amount of touching is a quintessential part of quarian culture. Other species such as humans and asari who have more digits than quarians do can mimic the greeting by simply holding some of their fingers together as if they were one digit.
Garden | Cultural | Quarian
Due to their unique immune deficiency, quarians must spend time around one another in order to effectively eliminate any side-effects of being around their own family and crew mates. The areas they use to do this on each ship are called gardens, and typically consist of recreation areas, kitchens, and living areas. In this gardens, quarians can commonly be seen without their helmets and suits, playing together, talking, or eating in order to allow their bodies to grow more familiar with those closest to them.
Hanar Bow | Culture | Hanar
When the hanar integrated into galactic society, it was found that their translators did not convey much emotion. So, any apology from a hanar would sound insincere at best, and dismissive at worst. As a result, hanar have adapted by showing their emotion through movement. To apologize, hanar commonly lower themselves onto the ground and fold their limbs above their head, trying to mimic the apologetic stance used by drell who bow and press their hands above their head.
Heated Pool | Culture | Salarian
Salarians, being one of the only two species in the galaxy that are cold blooded, need constant and subtle heat in order to stay active. If they are exposed to temperatures less than 15 degrees Celsius, their body becomes sluggish and their mind clouded. If temperatures drop below this mark, their bodies begin to shut down and go into hibernation. Given this necessity of heat, salarians, who have never truly left the ocean from whence they were born, build small pools similar to a human hot tub that regulates their body. These pools are extremely common in salarian households all over the galaxy and are even built in public for community get togethers.
Jor | Culture | Volus
Jor Danus Zoltus was an ancient Irunite figure who was considered by the volus to be the one true king that they ever had. He was a figure revered for bringing all the tribes of Irune together to survive an ice age event that nearly wiped them out. After his rule, the tribes split again, but they never forgot his incredible leadership.
Kesh'lan | Culture | Quarian
A simple game of speed, the concept was created by quarian teachers. The goal of the game is to get from one end of the ship to the other as fast as possible. While fast runners typically won, some became creative in their maneuvering methods and ended up with the victory. The game was created as a method of teaching quarian children to familiarize themselves with the ship they were on and training them to be able to react to a potentially dangerous situation that may be in another part of their ship.
Nest | Culture | Turian
Turian anatomy makes the comfortable flat surfaces that humans sleep on rather difficult. Instead, due to their more rigid, convex torso, they favor concave shapes that allow them to lay on their back. These beds commonly resemble the nests of avian and reptile creatures, thus leading to their colloquial nicknames.
Paint | Culture | Asari
In asari culture, painting one's face is a sign of status. While some asari have forgone tradition and don't wear paint as asari politics melded into galactic politics, it is still common to see asari with their faces painted in this traditional matter. It is also a way of identifying an asari's position in society. The more paint an asari has on her face, the higher her social status. These paints also come in a number of colors depending on which social class they rank in, with white being government, red being military, and purple being civilian.
Pointing | Culture | Quarian
Being a very introverted society, even the most outgoing quarians hate drawing attention to themselves or others with them. Anything that may bring unneeded attention to someone could be considered an insult by quarian standards, whether arguing, shouting, confronting people, or especially pointing directly at them.
Rachni Worker | Culture | Rachni
A small insect-based lifeform, usually no larger than a common house cat that does most the work of the rachni colony. Despite their small size, they do the majority of the heavy lifting, including tunneling for underground colonies, gathering food, tending to the young, and even fighting when necessary. The unfortunate side-effect of a worker fighting, however, is that its only form of defense is destroying itself and covering its target in small amounts of acid that it contains within its body. While a single worker likely won't kill an attacker, a swarm of the creatures could easily overwhelm and destroy anything in their path.
Rachni Queen | Culture | Rachni
The mother of all rachni, a queen of the rachni is the ruler of all of her children. Unlike the usually democratic structure of most sapient species, the rachni are strictly monarchical, with queens bred from eggs to rule over their young. Even inside the egg, the queens immediately telepathically attach themselves to their mother queen in order to learn and grow until the day that they hatch and begin their own colony, typically through parthenogenesis, or replace their expiring mother. Often seen as the most dangerous of the rachni, the queens have powerful biotics that match even the most powerful of asari and can spit a corrosive acid that can melt through krogan armor in seconds. After the rachni wars, it was believed that all of the rachni eggs remaining in the galaxy had been annihilated by the war-like krogan.
Rachni Warrior | Culture | Rachni
In rachni society, the warriors are a class that are only outnumbered by the workers. Their main job when not in combat is assisting builders with nest duties. However, when a queen is in danger, they spring into action and fight ruthlessly to protect her. They have minor biotic capabilities, allowing them to lift and throw enemies, and have inherited a minor amount of the queen's telepathic powers, making it possible for them to harass and disorient enemies mentally. Finally, their most destructive attack comes from acid that can be spit at a distance of several yards. This corrosive substance can eat through even the thickest of armors in seconds.
Rite of Passage | Culture | Krogan
The Right of Passage is a trial of adulthood given to krogan whelps. Once a whelp reaches an age of maturity, they are thrust into a combat arena and forced to fight whatever wildlife haunts the surface of Tuchanka. Rites have been known to contain battles against the native feral varren, the flying harvesters looking to implant their eggs into a new host, and the burrowing klixen who are fiercely territorial. The types of enemies one faces during the Rite of Passage often depends on the region in which the rite takes place. Some unlucky krogan have even had the pleasure of fighting a thresher maw, those of which were usually killed as a result of corrosive spray, being swallowed whole, or blunt force trauma due to the collapse of nearby structures. Once the Right of Passage has been successful, the krogan and their krant often celebrate with vigorous amounts of alcohol and visits to the female clan for reproductive activities.
Paint | Culture | Asari
In asari culture, painting one's face is a sign of status. While some asari have forgone tradition and don't wear paint as asari politics melded into galactic politics, it is still common to see asari with their faces painted in this traditional matter. It is also a way of identifying an asari's position in society. The more paint an asari has on her face, the higher her social status. These paints also come in a number of colors depending on which social class they rank in, with white being government, red being military, and purple being civilian.
Sayna | Culture | Asari
Loosely translating to 'beloved one,' the word is commonly used in asari Alai language when referring to someone that is particularly special in a relationship. Despite the tendency for asari to have multiple partners due to their culture, they still often devote most of their time to one other person. This person is known as the sayna, and their attention takes priority over the others, known as vayna.
Shadow Dance | Culture | Quarian
A common teaching method used by quarians to teach or instruct in environments of extreme danger. Using holographic technology, the instructor or teacher will project themselves into an environment they are unable to access, allowing a visual demonstration to those already in the environment. It's commonly used for emergency situations on the Migrant Fleet where bulkheads have sealed off certain areas of a ship.
Soak In | Culture | Salarian
Meaning to ruminate or think about. Similar in fashion to the human use of the word "marinate" in the same context, it comes from the long-standing cultural use of thinking pools, which are small pools of heated water that salarians use to help themselves think more clearly.
Soksoa | Culture | Asari
Very few occurrences in asari society can get someone labeled with this title. Its literal translation is 'unliving,' or undead. Many cultures have this type of word in its lexicon, each with a different description. In this case, when an asari has done something so heinous or horrific that they are no longer accepted by asari society, they are considered soksoa. This means that all but the most basic of rights are taken from them, leaving them with no property or material objects. Any titles and possessions that they owned are passed to their successor, and all future right for them to buy or own property is stripped, making them destitute. Oftentimes, asari declared soksoa will leave asari space and try to make a new life elsewhere or go to repent in one of the many Goddess Monasteries throughout Thessian colonies. Children born to soksoa parents are not held to this stigma and are accepted back into asari society when they become of age.
Spur Sheath | Culture | Turian
With the turian's militaristic culture, turians take out a lot of their aggression and anxiety through sparring with one another. But, in sparring the goal is to exhaust and train oneself, not to kill or maim. So, the turians developed sleeves that fit over their spurs that prevent potentially poisoning their partners with a misplaced kick. This is a common safety feature in turian sparring gear.
Strings | Culture | Rachni
Before the rachni wars, a common pastime of the rachni was music. Stringed instruments were a particular favorite. Due to the cultural parallel between thoughts and music being a foundation in rachni culture, it was common for rachni to refer to their brain or mind as the strings of an instrument that created music.
Surakesh Blessing | Culture | Salarian
A remnant of old salarian religion. This greeting came from a common depiction of the salarian goddess Surakesh holding a circular object in her left hand and covering it with her right. This was a display of the common salarian mythology of the wheel of life. The depiction of what she holds depends on region, with some showing her holding a salarian egg, while others a crystal orb, and others still show her holding a simple wheel. Despite this, the greeting is the same regardless of what planet or colony the salarian comes from.
Tadlet | Culture | Salarian
Newborn salarian children are born very small with no limbs at all outside of a small tail used to flutter and swim around in the warm pool they are born in. They stay in this state for around six weeks before finally growing their limbs and climbing out of the water to grow to their full size. This first stage of childhood for salarians has been colloquially called the "Tadlet Stage."
Tal Vas | Culture | Turian
Turian marriage contracts are segregated into three different categories. Tal Vas, the lowest tier of the three, is a simple contract signed by the parents of the two individuals acknowledging their courtship, or the individuals themselves if they are adults, notifying others that they are no longer available. This contract is little more than a declaration of engagement and is oftentimes given to turians who are family courted and paired together. The only thing needed to annul the contract is the signature from one of the two parties involved.
Vayna | Culture | Asari
A word of affection in the asari Alai dialect that doesn't translate easily to other languages. The best that can be offered for a translation is 'special one.' Due to the asari's polyamorous relationship structure, this word is used to describe those who have a close, intimate relationship with someone, but whose priorities and needs are superseded by another. Humans have colloquially called this the 'third wheel,' in reference to human culture where polyamory is less common.
Whelp | Culture | Krogan
Whelp, or whelpling, is a term referring to the early stages of a krogan's long life. Typically, in the age range from birth to the age of one hundred Tuchanka cycles, the true evolution from this life stage only begins once the whelp in question has gone through the Rite of Passage. This often includes copious amounts of violence, bloodshed, and alcohol.
Wrist Clasp | Culture | Turian
Turians, in similar fashion to a human handshake, express their respect for one another by using this gesture. By reaching their talons forward, they both wrap their fingers around the others' wrist and grip them firmly in a show of treating them as equals. The origin of the gesture also included a turian style blade in the opposing hand; adding to the gesture that the two trust each other not to used the blade while their other hand was locked in a clasp.
Yranessa | Culture | Asari
In asari corporations and families, there is always one person who leads. The person is often selected due to their historical success and judgement. For family estates, the title of this household leader is known as the Yranessa, otherwise translated as "one who enlightens our path." These titles are given to only those who wield vast power, connections, and influence on asari space.
Zan | Culture | Volus
When speaking to a volus with respect, this is often added to the front of their name. The closest translation of the word has come to mean "honored one," and is frequently used between volus who do business with those higher on the corporate food chain.
Derogatory Linguistics
Bosh'tet | Linguistics | Khelish
A bosh'tet is a simple, all-encompassing insult towards other people. The name comes from a rodent native to Rannoch. When making a nest, this rodent often uses the dung of other animals to build, and even feeds off them for nutrients. However, its ability to produce entire litters of newborn were its only survival mechanism, as the creature is often dumb enough to mistake simple rocks as food and attempt to feed of them.
Chicken | Derogatory Linguistics | English and Galactic Common
A creature from Earth, usually cultivated for its meat or eggs. Sometimes used by humans as a derogatory term for turians.
Chodot | Derogatory Linguistics | Lanesha
Salarians, by cultural law, do not have any insults for females, as their society revolves around a female dominated culture. To a salarian, insulting a female, even of another species, can seem egregious and damning, causing some colonies to have laws against the very idea. Chodot is a term aimed specifically at salarian males who were unable to get a mating contract, deeming them by society to be useless. It's an insult that doesn't translate well to other species but is used regardless to keep from putting themselves in an undeniably uncomfortable position with the salarian authorities.
Leh'tat | Derogatory Linguistics | Khelish
A profane word that refers to one's anus. It is only used in a derogatory manner, and never for medical or clinical needs.
Lucen'ka | Derogatory Lingustics | Asari Alai
This curse is fairly straightforward and could be translated as "Lucen's breasts." It is very rarely used by any asari who wishes to have a public career, because while few actually still believe in the mythology of Athame and their twin disciples, Lucen and Janiri, insulting the goddesses is taken as a very serious offense.
Near-Sighted | Derogatory Linguistics | Kar'Salk
In the languages of other species, this can commonly mean lacking the ability of foresight. But to batarians, whose culture evolved around their eyes, near-sightedness is an insult with a range from calling someone stupid, to outright calling them brain dead. It's one of the few insults that never made it into common slang, meaning that if you're called this by a batarian, they assuredly meant it as an insult.
Shakas | Derogatory Linguistics | Batarian Kar'Salk
A curse commonly used by batarians that refers to their hellish God, Shakas, a large tentacled monster that pries the eyes from the unclean, leaving their soul to rot in their corpse.
Pussle | Derogatory Linguistics | Rayloc
A pussle is a small parasite native to Tuchanka that enters a host through the anus and feeds off the excrement the host provides while giving nothing in return. The insult is commonly given to those the krogan deem to be parasites on their society. Sometimes it's simply given to those who they do not respect.
Entertainment
Dream Session | Entertainment | Asari
Being a biotics-based species, the asari had many forms of entertainment and pleasure that they brought to the table when a galactic society was formed. Through the use of biotics, a Dream Guide can instill very realistic dreams into a sleeping individual's mind while they sleep. This has been used for millennia on Thessia as a form of therapy, and many people throughout Citadel Space use it as a way of experiencing things they would otherwise be incapable of experiencing in reality.
Food
Apha | Food | Palaven
The turian equivalent of coffee made from the leaves and seeds of the Apahtala plant native to Palaven. It provides a minor stimulant to dextro species who sometimes use it as a dessert due to its sweeter flavor.
Lissa | Food | Thessia
A ripe melon grown from the eezo-rich soil of Thessia, giving a unique appearance that makes them easy to see. The outer shell of the melon has splotches that glow a dim eezo blue and have a consistency like mangoes. Commonly used in salads and juices among asari worlds, and less so around other worlds due to the misconception around eezo grown food.
Nightbell | Food | Thessia
A wine from Thessia created from the lissa fruit with small trace amounts of element zero dust inside that gives the liquid a dim glow.
Nolto | Food | Palaven
Nolto is an alcoholic beverage with the potency of human wine. It's made from brewing the bark of the rocca trees native to Palaven once it has been infested by the nol insect. It's brewing gives it a cloudy green appearance that makes it relatively easy to distinguish from other turian drinks. The word nolto is translated as the turian word for 'ghost town,' referring to the hollowed out look of the trees once the insects burrow inside.
Tara Fruit | Food | Palaven
The tara fruit is a popular food native to and commonly grown in the Zevaros region of Palaven. It's well known for its sour taste and is commonly used in vegetation rich dishes such as salads, as the taste often compares to dressings used on Earth.
Tofa | Food | Rannoch
Originally a plant borne of the planet Rannoch, once the quarians had joined the galactic community, it became a fast favorite of turians. It's a root vegetable grown in the ground sometimes called the quarian potato that is commonly boiled into soups, stews, or even simply eaten as is. It has become so wildly popular with turians due to its flexibility in cuisine and its ability to easily store that its proverbial roots on Rannoch are sometimes forgotten.
Government
UNE | Government | Earth
The UNE, which stands for United Nations of Earth, is a coalition of countries that was hastily put together during the First Contact War. Having realized that there is alien life, and having seen the hostility on Shanxi, the countries of Earth quickly put together a ceasefire with each other and focused on the imminent threat from space. While it is known as the United Nations of Earth, not every country signed the treaty, and a few have decided to opt out after the threat of the turians was over. Despite this, the United Nations of Earth is the largest and most powerful government body on Earth.
Holidays
Kacsetra | Holiday | Quarian
A holiday founded prior to the Morning War that celebrated the ancestors of old. In the days before the flight from Rannoch, this holiday would be met with celebration, praise, family gatherings, and most importantly, food. However, due to the scarcity of food on the Migrant Fleet, family gatherings are met more with fasting as a sign of respect for the ancestors.
Linguistics
Asari Alai | Linguistics | Asari
The Alai dialect is the most common language out of three spoken on Thessia. Due to oceans covering 90% of Thessia's surface, asari society has been relatively small. After passing through millennia of old languages, Thessia's current day spoken languages are known as Alai, Le'eya, and Y'Valtic, with asari being able to speak all three fluently due to the use of melding to teach.
Galactic Common | Linguistics | NA
Galactic Common was a language founded by the asari and salarians after the turians ended up joining the Council. While translators did fairly well cross species, it was also understood that a common language that any and all were able to read and speak was necessary as translators often had difficulty translating many of the intricacies that came with speaking a language.
Iperian Volus | Linguistics | Volus
The ever-changing language of the volus. Due to their culture of absorbing clans and splitting again, the volus language has always been almost completely consistent from one nation to another. One volus on the other side of Irune would be able to talk without issue to another from any nation on the planet due to this culture of constant melding and splitting again.
Kar'Salk/Kar'Toka | Linguistics | Batarian
Two similar, but very distinct batarian languages used commonly in its caste system society. Every citizen of Kar'Shan knows both, and always uses one or the other depending on who they speak to. Kar'Salk, the higher-class language, is only used by individuals when speaking to someone of lower class. Said person would then respond respectfully in Kar'Toka as a sign of acceptance of their place. Were two individuals of equal station to speak, they would speak in Kar'Toka, as two individuals speaking Kar'Salk to one another is considered a challenge of authority.
Turian Common | Linguistics | Turian
Given the rigid militaristic nature of turians, it comes as little surprise that Turian Common is not only the most commonly spoken language among turians and their colonies, but it is the only language used in any business regardless of any colony they may be on. While the turians do have other languages, and some even speak the other languages, they are all fluent in Turian Common by military law.
Location
Aephus | Location | Hierarchy Space
Aephus is well known as the home to the turian Hierarchy's second largest ship construction facility, next to the Palaven moon, Nanus. It's a garden world where turians can walk freely in open air. Other species too are able to freely roam, as the atmosphere is protected by a similar magnetosphere to Earth's, blocking the majority of all solar radiation, unlike Palaven. Its surface area is 82% ocean water with the land areas covered with exotic jungles and rainforests.
Hall of Valor | Location | Palaven
The Hall of Valor is one of the most visited places on Palaven. Originally its location was near the capital building in Cipritine, however due to its ever-expanding nature, it was moved out to a remote location, which eventually facilitated the creation of a new city. The hall is ever growing, and any turian that serves a minimum of twenty years in service to the Hierarchy's Armed Forces and attains a specific rank, are due to get a painting of them in uniform put into the museum. Very rarely are paintings removed for acts of dishonor, but the number grows as turian society progresses.
Hollows | Locations | Tuchanka
Considered holy ground by the krogan, it was the last remaining place on Tuchanka that had been untouched by the industrialization and militarization that led to nuclear winter. As such, the Hallows are a rare sight on Tuchanka, an oasis of greenery and plant life in the middle of a world racked by nuclear fallout. After nuclear winter fell over the planet, plant life all but vanished from the Hollows, making it a haunting visage of the krogans' past.
Niflheim | Location | Alliance Space
An Alliance sanctioned prison colony for prisoners who are too dangerous to allow into the normal prison colonies of Earth. Each prisoner is put in an isolated cell with little to no communication to the outside world. The world its located on is hostile to all live, having a frozen surface that would freeze anything that lingered too long outside of the mass effect fields generated by the colony, with the only ships coming to and from the colony being for supplies, or transport of prisoners and staff who require extremely high access to classified intelligence.
Military
Praetor | Military | Palaven Hierarchy
The equivalent of a 1st lieutenant in the Alliance military, they are typically put in charge of small squads that are utilized for specialized missions that require them to be away from the Hierarchy's main forces.
PT | Military | General
A military acronym meaning Physical Training. It's used to describe the constant exercises that the military makes their soldiers do on a typically daily basis. This particular colloquialism is used by the Alliance, however all militaries have this same training regimen required by their units. Specific clothing is often given for this training, and are commonly referred to as PT uniforms, or simply PTs.
TAD | Military | System's Alliance
An acronym in the Systems' Alliance that stands for Temporary Additional Duty. It's a special assignment given to soldiers under specific circumstances that allows them to participate in a specific mission outside of normal Alliance duties.
Mineralogy
Thessian Yvalice Crystal | Mineralogy | Gemstone
A biproduct of Element Zero, these crystals are formed when Element Zero is heated to its melting point. The steam and evaporated liquid that rises from the molten eezo, and once the temperature cools again, the liquid biproduct pools together and forms into crystals similar to quartz. These crystals are hailed on Thessia as fine jewelry due to their rarity and the fact that they glow brightly when in contact with biotic dark energy.
Mythology
Spirit of the Normandy | Mythology | Turian
Turians commonly believe in spirits, not just of individuals, but groups as well. The 'spirit of the team' is the force that holds them together, and can be strengthened through teamwork, or damaged through dishonor. The spirit of the team is often used as a gauge on how well a group of people works together, with a strong spirit referring to a good team.
Surakesh | Mythology | Salarian
Pre-modern era, salarians believed in reincarnation. They believed that once somebody died, their soul was taken from the body and pulled towards the great wheel. Surakesh, the salarian goddess, sits in front of this wheel, gently measuring the greatness of souls and sending them to be reborn elsewhere in the galaxy. Despite the strength of the mythology leading pre-space flight salarians to name their home world after her, not many in the modern age believe in the idea of a goddess.
Organizations
Lystheni | Organizations | Salarian
A group of rogue salarians that are not welcome in Council Space nor salarian space. Well known for destruction and theft of property, the Lystheni are a faction of salarians who are obsessed with technological advancement. Similar to batarian slavers, they use mind control technology implanted into the minds of their members to do everything from spying on the Sur'Kesh government to carrying out terrorist attacks on those who oppose them.
Planetology
Alethira/Kalesta | Planetology | Asari Space
Alethira is the larger of the two moons of Thessia, while Kalesta is smaller. Due to Alethira being further away from the planet than Kalesta, the optical illusion of them being the same size had them dubbed as twins in ancient times, and both given names of the twin goddesses of night. From the surface of Thessia, the two appear green in the sky due to the atmospheric composition mixed with high concentrations of Chlorite in the crust of each moon, leading asari scientists to believe that they were both one body billions of years ago before a high impact event destroyed the original body that then formed into the two moons of modern day.
Technology
Hanar Crown | Technology | Translator
The hanar do not have voices or vocal cords as most species do, and instead use flashes of low, infrared light from their body to talk to one another. This makes it extremely difficult for species who communicate through voice to talk to hanar. In order to communicate with the more audio-based species, the hanar wear a crown that acts as a translator. It uses photosensitive readers to measure the light from the hanar's body and translates it to galactic common, or whatever languages the hanar have it programmed for. It works the opposite way as well, translating nearby soundwaves into small flashes of light that the hanar can read in order to understand what is being said to it.
Holographic Blur | Technology | Intelligence
The omni-tool was created for the comfort of everyone who used them. They were designed with voice commands, interactive displays, and arm-mounted for comfort. One thing they did not have, however, was privacy when it came to those standing nearby. Due to the omni-tool being mounted on the wrist and projected onto the forearm, those within eyeshot could easily see the displayed information. As a result, the private intelligence sector created a holographic interface that covered the omni-tool's own projection, allowing only those looking directly at the display to see it, while all others only see a blur.
Hornets | Technology | Military
Used typically for stealth ops, these are controlled nano-technological tracking devices typically released in a cloud formation. Any ship flying through this cloud is guaranteed to have at least a few grab onto them and track their position, sending the information back to an information beacon of the user's choosing. They can be controlled to hide more efficiently, or even detonated to keep from being detected. If the user is proficient enough at using them, they can also be used to sabotage machinery by swarming into important components and overwhelming or outright destroying them.
Multi-vision | Technology | Military
A visual indicator that scans on multiple frequencies at the same time, including thermal, x-ray, and sound vibration. Usually saved for the most secretive of infiltrators, it can only be fooled by the very best gear known to the galaxy.
Omnigel | Technology | Medical
Adhesive in nature, omnigel is a salarian creation used primarily for vehicle and suit puncture repairs. It fills every available space at the injection site before hardening and becoming nearly indestructible. Removing it requires a neutralizer which is commonly sold with omnigel. From 2180 to 2183, omnigel was commonly used by thieves who would inject it into an electronic lock. The adhesive gel would fry locking mechanisms, causing it to go into its neutral state of unlocked. Locking technology from 2183 and on switched the protocols inside the locks, making their neutral state to be locked, thus nullifying the usefulness of omnigel as an unlocking agent.
Spider Boots | Technology | Equipment
Technology that comes standard in most military armors that relies on suction. When one boot is secure on the ground, it sends a signal throughout the armor that uses the power of suction to keep the boot anchored, and then releases the suction from the other boot allowing the person using the armor to walk functionally in zero gravity. Recommended only for use on space stations or ships, as the suction requires flat surfaces in order to create enough of a void to hold someone in place. They also have a magnetic mode that allows limited use on mineral rich asteroids.
Suicide Capsule | Technology | Medical
Sometimes simply called the kill pill, technology has improved greatly since the days of cyanide hidden in a false tooth. Used by terrorist organizations, cults, and tyrants as a method of controlling their followers and slaves, it's a small capsule explosive planted either in the brain or in the heart. If activated for whatever reason, it's intent is to kill the host as punishment or to keep information from getting out of captured units.
Tomkah | Technology | Vehicle
A tomkah as a massive, six-wheeled vehicle made by the krogans. It was designed as an all-terrain vehicle and was fitted with an up armored cabin in the front to make ramming a viable option. It often comes with automatic weapons mounted on the roof for enemies the krogans deem too annoying to fight in straight combat.
Terminology
500XC | Terminology | Astrophysics
The term XC is an indicator of how fast a spacecraft is going beyond the speed of light. C represents the speed of light, while X stands in as the multiplier. Meaning that the phrase '500XC' means that the pilot is going 500 times the speed of light.
AWOL | Terminology | Military
AWOL is a military acronym commonly used in the Alliance that stands for Absent Without Official Leave. Without Alliance sanctioned leave, the act of leaving one's post or not following orders to return to a post can be considered desertion, which carries with it a minimum of 5 years is military prison and a dishonorable discharge from the Alliance military.
R&R | Terminology | Military
Standing for Rest and Recreation, R&R is commonly used in the Alliance military to refer to vacation time where Alliance crewman are allowed to take trips back to Earth or colonies of their choice. It is considered highly important to the morale of the Alliance.
SITREP | Terminology | Military
Short for 'Situation Report,' it's a phrase commonly used in the military to describe a briefing about a mission or project.
Wet Work | Terminology | Military
Wet work is a colloquial term used for instances of paid murder or assassination. The term alludes to the spilling of blood during such an encounter and is often used as code when someone doesn't want to talk outright about assassination.
Translations
Baak talak | Translation | Batarian Kar'Salk
"Do not shoot!"
Charn | Translation | Batarian Kar'Salk
The literal meaning is "unknowing," or "unable to be known."
Keksasokah | Translation | Old Khelish
Drawn from old Khelish borne of Rannoch, the phrase means "their presence brings us fortune."
Lah'saat'delas | Translation | Old Khelish
Quarians, being relatively isolated from the rest of society, have yet to try to translate this unusual saying from the extinct Old Khelish language. It's a saying that's only used in highly specific situations where someone is extremely grateful for life-altering news or events. It is sometimes used as a way of thanking a captain for accepting them as a member of the crew after a pilgrimage has been finished.
Masahai t'yan kassa | Translation | Asari Alai
While it has no 1 to 1 translation with any other languages, it can be summed up as saying, "Blessed be these souls." Often used during weddings, it is an asari cultural saying that is often used when two asari who share an absolute love for one another are bound together. In asari religion, it is believed that once one dies, their spirit is returned to the universe to further nourish life. It is the hope of many asari couples who have this blessing that their spirits become one upon their death, and they return to the universe together for eternity.
Moon Crazy | Translation | Turian Common
An expression meant to imply someone is working late at night. Given the similarity of the two phrases, translators commonly mistranslate this expression as the derogatory insult "lunatic" from human languages.
Nah'savo s'a… | Translation | Asari Alai
Asari Alai is a language filled with stop and flowing letters common to only one other species in the galaxy, humans. Their compatibility with language was startling when it was first discovered. This greeting translates as, "You may know me as," implying that the person is giving you their current name. Asari names commonly change over the course of their lives, so this greeting is appropriate.
Padal vilosc | Translation | Turian Common
A phrase common in Palaven Common that translates to 'spirit healed through honor.' It's commonly associated with turians who either dishonored themselves or felt that their honor had somehow been compromised by their work redeeming themselves through an undisputable act of honor. Padal vilosc can never be claimed by the one performing the act but must be given by a witness.
Padwa | Translations | Iperian Volus
A simple term of affection used publicly that means "beloved."
Sandbagging | Translation | English and Galactic Common
A common phrase among humans used to describe someone who intentionally drags something out. Whether it's work, a project, or something they need to do in daily life, sandbagging indicates that the person in question is intentionally lengthening and procrastinating finishing whatever it is that needs done.
Se'la? | Translation | Asari Alai
This word is the equivalent of a human asking, "And you?" It can be used in many situations, whether asking someone for their opinion on something, or asking someone to reciprocate an offering of names.
Talassa vak lovask | Translation | Turian Common
A phrase that translates to "we are one," but carries with it the implication of more than just group structure. It's used in instances of families formed from unrelated parties, whether a combat group, ship's crew, or a group of people who consider each other more important than simple blood ties.
Tosva 'a lavassa | Translation | Asari Alai
If an asari ever offers this gesture in your direction, be assured she is not speaking highly of you. The Tosva is a yak-like animal native to Thessia that is slow to move, but powerful. However, in asari society, it is common practice to call people perceived as stupid "Tosva brains." This word is synonymous with ignorance in Asari Alai.
Weapons
Naitara Blade | Weapon | Asari
A blade created millennia ago and used to harness the asari's innate biotic abilities. Though commonly used for ceremonial purposes, many on Thessia and asari colony worlds are still taught to use them. The blade, straight and double-sided, is commonly made of titanium and inlaid with yvalice crystals. The sheath itself is made almost entirely of the crystal substance. Historically, an asari using the weapon would use both the blade and sheath as weapons, the blade to cut and impale, and the sheath to enhance biotic melee attacks.
Spurblade | Weapon | Turian
An armor adaptation used by turians. The turian body has bone-like spurs that stick out from their gambrel. These spurs ooze with a venomous toxin that can sedate other turians and cause anaphylaxis in other species. When in armor, these natural defense mechanisms are useless, so turian armor often comes with blades installed over the spurs to make kicks more effective, and more deadly.
Zoology
Bektos | Zoology | Rannoch
The colloquial name given to geth ships that look similar to a large, armored insect from Rannoch. This insect burrows itself into the ground to rest and lay its eggs, leaving only its hard armored shell exposed to the world, making it extremely difficult for predators to attack. With their size being as large as modern vehicles, the tank-like insect's hardened shell can even deflect shots from some mass accelerator weapons.
Chatika | Zoology | Rannoch
Another small furry rodent native to Rannoch with an elongated body, large, orb-like eyes, and claws for climbing trees. Unlike the bosh'tet, this one was seen as adorable by the many residents of the world and was vastly smarter as well. As such, they were commonly kept as pets. These pets, however, were left on Rannoch after the Morning War, and the citizens of the Migrant Fleet often make toys in their image as a remembrance of their lost home.
Gnarshrat | Zoology | Tuchanka
A large and vicious rodent from Tuchanka that somehow miraculously thrived in the nuclear winter brought on by the krogans' destructive war. They have fur that they matt into armored plates with mud and are territorial. They are so aggressive that oftentimes larger predators, even krogan themselves, think that it's not worth fighting them.
Nathak | Zoology | Palaven
A nathak is a pack creature native to Palaven that thrives in the cold mountainous north of the planet. While typically they are one of the most difficult animals in the known galaxy to domesticate, they are often used as exterminators for other species in other cold habitats. Turians have used them to get rid of pests for centuries and even introduced them into the environments of other worlds to act as territorial guard dogs and pest control.
Raltae | Zoology | Palaven
A large, ground-based predatory avian from Palaven. Like ostriches and emu from Earth, they have large, dangerous legs that can kick and kill easily with blade-like talons for tearing. Despite their predatory nature, they are farmed and eaten for their high protein qualities.
Yasha | Zoology | Palaven
A large, lumbering animal that roams the temperate grassy plains of Palaven. Sometimes compared to the Terran bison, it lacks the thick fur or horns, and instead is well known to attack with the large, nearly razor-sharp plates on its thick tail. An evolutionary adaptation, these plates are often sharpened against rocks and used to cut down trees in order to access their foliage. Turians regularly herd these animals on ranches and farm them for their meat and eggs.
Zavis | Zoology | Palaven
Looking like a large red hornet, these Palaven native insects are the size of a common sparrow. Due to their inability to pierce a turian carapace, many turian farmers and ranchers encourage the growth of colonies of the insect around the edges of their farms and ranches to deter other creatures from coming near with their stingers and quick to anger attitude, as well as to eat away at a rapidly growing fungus notorious on Palaven for withering crops.