All three Samara's kids? Edit

So according to whoever added it, all three living Ardat-Yakshi are Samara's children? Is that something that she tells you later on during dialogue onboard the Normandy? If so, that would explain why it's news to me: I went with Morinth on my first playthrough! SpartHawg948 06:23, January 31, 2010 (UTC)

I don't believe all three Ardat-Yakshi are Samara's children, only Morinth. During the different conversations with Samara, she will reveal that she had morinth roughly 440 years prior, and makes no other mention of her children. If all of her children were Ardat-Yakshi(s(?)), why wouldn't she have stopped having children after her first daughter, since it is implied that Morinth is the youngest? Tantalus91 15:54, February 2, 2010 (UTC)

When asked about Ardat-Yakshi she says there are three known to exist currently. She later says she has three daughters, and confirms Shepard's unsaid question. So yeah, I'd say she heavilly implies all three of her daughters are sex vampires - 83.13.234.242 16:12, February 2, 2010 (UTC)

All three are implied to be Samara's daughters. "I have three children, and three Ardat-Yakshi are in existence today. It is as it seems." The condition doesn't manifest itself until the age of 40 or so, which is why someone can continue to have children and not realise there was an issue, as in Samara's case.

How to safely have sex with an Ardat-YakshiEdit

The question occurred to me of how you could prepare someone to endure mating with an Ardat-Yakshi. Since the main cause of death seems to be cerebral hemorrhaging, or bleeding in the brain, the first option that comes to mind would be to strengthen the walls of the blood vessels. But, this may be a symptom rather than a cause of death. The bond may destroy the mind before the hemorrhaging actually kills it. There are three confirmed effects of an Ardat-Yakshi mating. One is that the Ardat-Yakshi becomes stronger in her biotic powers, sharper of mind, and faster (effectively, she becomes more adept at surviving). The second is that the person is left "empty," which is noted by Aria during Samara's loyalty quest. The third is that there can't be a transfer of genetic information from the victim as Ardat-Yakshi are confirmed to be sterile. The third is interesting, because it is mentioned in Blue Rose of Illium (in a completely unrelated conversation) that Asari don't actually "copy" the mate's genetic information and attach it to an egg, like a human female, but instead use some of it in certain parts of their own DNA sequence to create a fertilized egg. This is why Asari can only have Asari children no matter who they mate with - that portion of their DNA is never touched by the mate's sequence. Ardat-Yakshi can't do this, which means it must happen after the pleasure or at least takes longer than the brief amount of time it takes the Ardat-Yakshi to kill her victim (see romance between Morinth and Shepard). The first and second knowns suggest that there is a transfer of some sort of "life-force" from victim to Ardat-Yakshi. Thane Krios mentions that his son has separated his soul from his body, saying that his body will commit a crime even though his soul won't will it. This seems to suggest that he is actually speaking literally, even though it is perceived to be figurative. Unfortunately, not enough information is known about this transfer of "life-force" to start developing a way to impede it, so I would propose that there is not enough information to create a cure, at least not enough known to players.

No, Thane was definitely speaking figuratively... or maybe ecclesiastically would be a better way to term it. He can't really have been speaking literally, as before he would be able to do so, one would have to be able to literally separate the soul from the body. There has been no indication that the drell, or any other race, for that matter, have any such ability. Additionally, while you imply that the data suggests "there is a transfer of some sort of "life-force" from victim to Ardat-Yakshi", the Codex tells a different story. "Ardat-Yakshi electro-chemically ravage their partners' nervous systems, in extreme cases leaving victims as vegetative invalids or corpses." No mention of life forces, just that the Ardat-Yakshi's "overcharged" nervous systems unleash an electro-chemical assault on that of their victims, leaving them vegetative or dead. Finally, is there any reason that this came up? The Codex itself states quite clearly "There is no known cure.", making this whole long pseudo-scientific spiel redundant. SpartHawg948 10:11, February 20, 2010 (UTC)

While I agree that this was a fairly pointless spiel, it still isn't explained why they get stronger/smarter/etc. Namfuak 23:55, February 21, 2010 (UTC)

Most importantly, Mass Effect is a materialistic universe, and discussion of immaterial souls or life forces or whatever goes contrary to the spirit of the setting. - Sikon 18:57, August 19, 2011 (UTC)

How many Ardat-Yakshi exist Edit

Although Samara clearly says that there are only 3 known A-Y living (her children), other speeches in the game contradict this. I can't recall precisely where, but once in a while there are references particularly to A-Y monasteries where certain booze is made. If I discover this again soon, I'll mention it in the article; but does anyone else remember hearing such lines? AnotherRho 04:11, September 22, 2010 (UTC)

Well you have to figure that just because there are AY monasteries where certain booze is made (if this is the case, as honestly I don't recall hearing it), that doesn't mean that there must therefor be A-Ys there. Think of it this way: If the only people at the monastery are AYs, who keeps them from escaping? Self-discipline? Chilling thought, that. And what if the last known one dies? It's still a condition that could crop up again with little or no warning. Are they just going to let the monastery go to crap and fall to pieces? It seems likely that there are non-AY staff, caretakers, and likely guards at these "monasteries", which seems supported by the conversation between Samara and two of her AY daughters from the Shadow Broker dossier. One daughter mentions having to live in a "dark fortress", and they are not permitted to have personal communication devices, but must instead use communal ones. I doubt that (given their obvious unhappiness with this arrangement) they are keeping themselves there. Someone else is more than likely keeping them there. SpartHawg948 04:39, September 22, 2010 (UTC)

Good point about the "guards" or whatever they might be called. Was thinking that Trappist monks brew Trappist brews. Anyway, the lines exist in game, but I don't recall if it's the game salesman, an ad, or a description of one of the drinks at Aethyta's bar. I'll check it next time I send Shep to Eternity, which will probably be in about 10 minutes. AnotherRho 04:45, September 22, 2010 (UTC)

Well, nothing in Aethyta's drink menu about it. Driving me nuts that I can't remember where I heard/read about the A-Y monasteries. AnotherRho 18:44, September 23, 2010 (UTC)

I think the A-Y monastary brew is mentioned in that cooking store on the Citadel, where you can buy provisions for the ship. I think the Turian mentions it to the human. I am not 100% sure however. Spartan 112 19:07, September 23, 2010 (UTC)

Yes, you're right there. The turian finally capitulates and offers asari Honey Marinade, made by those "poor blue souls" at an A-Y Monastery. That may be the only reference; certainly all I've found recently. --AnotherRho 19:56, September 28, 2010 (UTC) ---- Edit: idiot am I. The trivia sections on this very page, as well as Zakera_Cafe, mention this!

The Codex entry says that around 1% of the population are somewhere on the scale, and have imply they are not all necessarily lethal. In ME3, at the Monastery there are definitely references to other asari, and at least 2 Matriarchs are charged with their care. That and all those Banshees had to have come from somewhere, being that Banshees are alle converted from asari with a 'predisposition to being Ardat Yakshi'. So why Samara claims there are only 3 and those three are her daughters is confusing, unless she means only three deadly A-Y are in existence. 138.251.255.2 06:57, April 13, 2013 (UTC)

Mating / melding Edit

I am not entirely sure about this but the article mentions intercourse is what kills you when being with an ardat yakshi, but it is the melding that kills you, intercourse i believe could be fairly safe, of course she needs to meld with you due to her addiction, but maybe editing the article to separate them and provide more accurate information if i am correct? Specifying the melding of minds is what will kill you, as the intercourse itself unless asari forcely have to meld when having it, would not.

Implication Edit

Considering all the many parallels between the Ardat-Yakshi and human myths of Vampires and Succubi, I got the distinct feeling that the implication was that rogue Ardat-Yakshi (such as Morinth) could have give rise to the aforementioned myths. Was this just me? And is it even possible? --Looq 00:46, October 8, 2010 (UTC)

Only if asari visited Earth way way back thousands of years ago to inspire the myths. And there is absolutely no indication that this is the case. SpartHawg948 00:52, October 8, 2010 (UTC)

Mating With Eachother Edit

Is it possible for two Ardat-Yakshi who are equally or near-equally to mate with one another? I mean, death only comes because the Ardat-Yakshi overwhelms their partner so would two of them cancel that out in a way?

Ask the writers. Nothing is ever said about it in-game, and given that, near as we can tell, the only known Ardat-Yakshi in existence at the time of ME2 are sisters, I doubt we'll be finding out any time soon. SpartHawg948 05:42, November 11, 2010 (UTC)

Given what's known, my guess is that they'd fry each other's brains, but that's just speculation. - Sikon 18:58, August 19, 2011 (UTC)

And this isn't the place for that kind of discussion. Talk pages are not the appropriate place to post speculation or theories about these kind of things. Take those to a blog or a forum. Lancer1289 19:00, August 19, 2011 (UTC)

Military Service Edit

Should it be mentioned that ardat-yakshi are allowed to refuse the monasteries if they entered military service? Or is that one commando, Neiara(?), from Tiptree the sole exception and it shouldn't be bothered with? --GodzillaMaster 05:27, March 18, 2012 (UTC)

That's really speculation. We don't know if the military knew about Neiara's condition. It seems clear that she and the commando who talks about her were quite close, so it may be possible that it was an intimate secret between them both (as it was the reason they could not bond to each other). It certainly seems that the condition is far more common than even Samara knew, given the number of banshees.

Plus, we don't actually know how Ardat-Yakshi disorder, we just assume it's not clear until after their victim is dead. If the Asari in question cannot be linked to the body, she may not be discovered. We know the condition is addictive, but we also know that Samara's other daughters aren't kept in complete seclusion. That suggests that killing once may not be too problematic for the willpower of the ardat-yakshi, allowing (undetected) ones to function in society. Though that's also just speculation. Idiggory 07:13, March 22, 2012 (UTC)

"600 year difference" Edit

I'm kinda a noob at Wiki-talking, so I will probably screw up something at least about posting it. I do question this content: "(...)despite the 600 year difference between them. ".

So, Samara's youngest daughter, Falere, is 473 years old and Morinth is likely about to or have just passed the 500. Samara says she's "almost a thousand years old" herself, which makes it more reasonable to edit it to say 500 year difference.

I'm just nitpicking here, and will not edit the wiki-page, so if it gets changed, at least another person agrees. EDIT: Why is this put into a text-area-box instead of just being a new post? EDIT2: Found out, appearently it was due to indentations in the beginning of paragraphs. 128.39.43.207 20:39, June 5, 2012 (UTC)

Maybe a little "Trivia"? Edit

I just read the Codex again and was wondering, if noone else realized, that the AY-Article somewhat reads like several reallife psychologic definitions. I hate it when Wikias mentioned absurd and farfetched references(oh yes, saying that you should fight in the shadow on Haestrom is a reference to 300- clearly. Next time, someone sits down on a bench, I accuse him of making fun of Forrest Gump...), but forumlations like "the AY-Spectrum" etc sound as if you took a definition from the DSM and just switched the real name with AY.