Matriarch Benezia
Asari Matriarch

Matriarch Benezia is a very powerful asari biotic and spiritual leader among her people. She is also Liara T'Soni's mother, though the two have not spoken in years. When the evidence that proved Saren Arterius was responsible for the Eden Prime attack also proved Benezia was working alongside him, it surprised those who knew her, as Benezia's actions seemed to be completely out of character.

Matriarch Benezia is voiced by Marina Sirtis.

Contents 1 Dossier 2 Tactics 3 Trivia

Dossier Edit

Given her status as a matriarch, Benezia must have lived for almost a millennium. She was known and revered as a teacher of religion and philosophy. When she was in the 'matron' phase of her life, Benezia had a daughter, Liara T'Soni. Unusually Benezia mated with another asari, considered a faux pas in their society. (After discovering their ability to mate with any species, asari consider producing offspring with their own kind as wasteful because "nothing is gained" from pureblooded asari offspring.) Liara tells Commander Shepard that she doesn't know who Benezia chose as her partner; she and her mother never discussed Liara's second parent, and Liara believes Benezia may have been ashamed of her choices. She raised Liara alone - not an uncommon occurrence in asari society - and was amused when Liara chose to study Prothean archaeology, a minor rebellion against her forward-thinking mother.

According to Liara, Benezia felt that the asari should have a greater role in shaping galactic events. She was Saren Arterius' executor and a fellow Binary Helix investor. Somehow Benezia discovered Saren's plan to aid the Reapers, and decided to try and guide him down a less destructive path. Benezia gave her followers a choice - only those who were willing had to accompany her. Many refused because they thought her plan was too dangerous, but others, including Shiala, believed in her. With their help Benezia tried to dissuade Saren from his insanity.

But the influence of the Reaper Sovereign was too powerful and Benezia became enslaved to Saren's will, along with her retinue of guards and commandos. Benezia's position became something between Saren's advisor and his second-in-command. Saren knew Benezia's value; even when she enraged him by bringing the news that Shepard had accidentally used the Prothean Beacon, he restrained himself from attacking her and ordered her to ensure the Commander was eliminated.

Through Binary Helix, Benezia funded a secret project on Noveria to breed rachni from a newly discovered egg. They were intended to form part of Saren's army, but when Binary Helix removed the brood from the Rachni Queen's presence, the rachni went rogue. Benezia went to the lab at Peak 15 to investigate the situation and to gain information from the queen's genetic memory about the location of the Mu Relay. She was accompanied by her escort of asari commandos and caused a stir at Port Hanshan when she arrived, telling the authorities she was there as Saren's representative. Lorik Qui'in told Shepard that "Lady Benezia was dressed for her role. An asari matriarch in a pin-striped suit set tongues wagging amongst the younger male employees... so to speak."

Benezia, aware that Shepard was on Saren's trail, brought geth in crates to Noveria with her and left them to guard the garage. She also left agents such as Alestia Iallis behind (or recruited Captain Ventralis, depending on circumstances) to stop Shepard from reaching her. After fighting geth, rachni and Benezia's followers, the squad found her waiting for them in the labs beside the Rachni Queen. Even Liara's presence in the squad, if Shepard chose to bring her, didn't stop Benezia from unleashing her biotics and her commandos against them.

Finally Benezia, who had used her incredible mental strength to keep a part of her mind free of indoctrination, managed to break from Saren's control very briefly. She described the horrors of indoctrination, how it feels to be trapped in your own mind: "beating upon the glass as your hands torture and murder..." She gave Shepard the coordinates for the Mu Relay, though she couldn't tell the Commander any more of Saren's plan, and warned of Sovereign's incredible power before the indoctrination began to overcome her. Benezia managed to tell Liara that her daughter had always made her proud, but finally turned on Shepard and the squad were forced to kill her. As she lay dying, she claimed not to see the light promised in asari religion.

After Noveria, Shepard can talk to Liara about what happened, but Liara claims she is all right. She prefers to remember Benezia as she was: a kind, beautiful woman who loved her.

Tactics Edit

Matriarch Benezia
Race	Asari
Type	Matriarch
Armament	Pistol, Biotics
Abilities	Immunity  Warp   Barrier  Stasis
Health	Very High
Shields	Very High
Locations	Noveria

Near the end of Noveria mission, you will battle her. Yada yada yada. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nunc lacinia ante quis erat consequat tincidunt. Nulla lacus orci, euismod sed mattis eget, ullamcorper eu felis. Aenean at nunc eu est ultrices dictum ornare ut massa. Duis pellentesque, purus ut congue molestie, ipsum libero iaculis augue, eget vestibulum urna est at metus. Praesent placerat, mi sit amet ullamcorper imperdiet, massa mi dignissim arcu, nec congue purus sem nec sapien. Ut placerat, nisi ac ornare posuere, lorem urna suscipit ligula, in tincidunt augue purus at est. Integer id odio mauris, eu lobortis nunc. Aliquam gravida dolor non nulla dapibus ut feugiat sem mattis. Donec ut felis diam.

1. Tip number 1 to battle Benezia
2. Tip number 2 to battle Benezia
3. Tip number 3 to battle Benezia
4. Tip number 4 to battle Benezia

Trivia Edit

• Benezia's last name is never revealed, but being Liara's mother, her surname may also be T'Soni; however, asari appear to discard their surname when they become matriarchs.
• Benezia calls Liara "Little Wing" just before she dies. This could be a nod to Counselor Troi, played by Benezia's voice actress Marina Sirtis on Star Trek: The Next Generation, as Troi's mother always called her "Little One" (much to Counselor Troi's chagrin).
• According to Liara, Benezia's favorite color was yellow, because she wore clothes of that color.

Mass Effect Enemies
Geth	Husk • Geth Trooper • Geth Destroyer • Geth Recon Drone • Geth Sniper • Geth Shock Trooper • Geth Armature • Geth Colossus • Geth Rocket Drone • Geth Assault Drone • Geth Repair Drone • Geth Ghost • Geth Sapper • Geth Stalker • Geth Turret • Geth Prime • Geth Juggernaut • Geth Rocket Trooper
Krogan	Krogan Bouncer • Krogan • Krogan Warlord • Krogan Commander • Krogan Warrior • Krogan Battlemaster • Blackmailer
Batarian	Batarian War Beast • Batarian Shock Trooper • Batarian Rocket Soldier • Batarian Engineer • Batarian Sniper • Bodyguard • Batarian Trooper
Cerberus	Cerberus Commando • Cerberus Sniper • Cerberus Anti-Tank • Research Technician
Drones/Turrets	Advanced Assault Drone • Advanced Rocket Drone • Defense Drone • Alliance Heavy Turret • Turret • Defensive Turret • Heavy Turret
Mercenaries	Crime Boss • Mercenary Anti-Tank • Mercenary Sniper • Mercenary • Mercenary Adept • Pirate • Pirate Sniper • Thug • Assassin • ERCS Guard • Biotic Terrorist • Biotic Cultist • Biotic Terrorist Leader
Other	Rachni Soldier • Rachni Worker • Rachni Brood Warrior • Thorian Creeper • Test Subject • Asari Clone • Indoctrinated • Darius Retainer • Scientist (Asari) • Bartender • Warehouse Worker • Thresher Maw • Varren • Varren Alpha • Colonist • Salarian Bodyguard • Turian Bodyguard • Scavenger • Asari Commando
Named Enemies	Tonn Actus • Saren Arterius • Menos Avot • Balak • Matriarch Benezia • Helena Blake • Charn • Chorban • Dahlia Dantius • Lord Darius • Doctor Droyas • Fist • Elanos Haliat • Alestia Iallis • Jax • Julia • Dr. Saleon • Kaira Stirling • Captain Ventralis