In the second installment of the Mass Effect trilogy, players find out that some Asari are rogue killers, rather than the philosophers and artisans their kind tend to be.

About one to three percent of all Asari are born as an Ardat-Yakshi, individuals with a serious genetic mutation. These Asari derive extreme pleasure from mating and overwhelm their mates' nervous system, meaning they become a sort of succubus or vampire. One of them is named Morinth, and Commander Shepard and Samara the justicar must take her down or die trying.

Related: Mass Effect: How Cerberus Brought Commander Shepard Back to Life

Morinth's Rise to Power

Morinth is one of Samara's three daughters, and all three siblings are Ardat-Yakshi. The important difference is that, while Rila and Falere chose to be imprisoned in a specialized monastery for their kind, Morinth refused. She fled at a young age (by Asari standards). As Samara puts it, Morinth was wild, smart and aggressive, and that, combined with her Ardat-Yakshi nature, made her incredibly dangerous. She fled her homeworld and went on a rampage in Asari space, growing stronger and smarter every time she claimed a victim by mating with them. Often, Morinth could use advanced seduction techniques to warp the victim's mind and make them want her, and few if any people in the galaxy can resist that kind of assault.

Samara lamented this situation, and it prompted her to discard her entire lifestyle and begin training as an elite justicar, a wandering monk who dispenses justice with extreme violence. Samara completed her training and began roaming Asari space, both in her duties as a justicar and to find Morinth. By 2185, Morinth was on Ilium, the gateway world to Asari space, and Samara followed her there. Morinth was trying to book passage off Ilium with the aid of a local Eclipse gang, and she narrowly slipped through Samara's fingers yet again. But this time, Samara met Commander Shepard, who was then unknown to Morinth. That changed everything.

RELATED: Mass Effect Anatomy: The Quarian Body, Explained

Omega Showdown

samara vs morinth

Morinth was getting to work on Omega, and Samara found a lead indicating her presence on that station. She and Shepard journeyed to Omega to consult Aria T'Loak, another Asari who was highly knowledgable about the station's affairs. Aria gave Shepard and Samara a lead: a recently-killed human girl who had lived in a nearby apartment. Shepard and Samara investigated the apartment and consulted the deceased girl's mother, assembling all the clues they needed. They then had to enter the VIP section of the Afterlife nightclub to try to smoke Morinth out.

Samara's plan is risky, but cunning. Shepard is to pose as an ordinary club-goer and get Samara's attention, then allow Morinth to invite Shepard back to her apartment. Once there, Morinth would make her move, and Samara would pounce. The plan proceeds as expected, and just before Morinth can strike, Samara stalks into the room and throws up some serious biotic power. Mother and daughter clash, and they soon reach a stalemate. In her desperation, Morinth urges Shepard to take her side, and in exchange, she will fight for the Commander. But unless the Commander takes that deal on a whim, Shepard intervenes and seizes Morinth. This gives Samara the upper hand, and she throws Morinth to the ground. After a quick prayer, Samara delivers the final blow and is ready to leave Omega for good.

Shepard may consult Samara again afterwards and ask if she is okay. Samara explains that this story could never have had a happy ending, and she acted out of sheer obligation. Even if she could go back in time, she would still kill Morinth regardless, but she still will properly mourn her lost child. In any case, Samara is grateful that the Commander cares, and she promises that her mind is completely focused on the Collector mission. That's more than enough for Shepard.

KEEP READING: Mass Effect: Andromeda - Great Idea, Poor Execution