The "Lair of the Shadow Broker" Quiz

Answer: In a Prothean artifact

Liara was an expert on the Protheans, and had a doctorate in archaeology. She had a few artifacts in her apartment. When Shepard touched a picture of the Normandy, it switched to one of Ilos, a special place for Shepard and the crew of the first Normandy. Ilos was a Prothean research station visited back in "Mass Effect", and told Shepard to look at the Prothean artifacts for more clues.

Answer: Spectres

The Spectres were an elite group that answered directly to the council. Very few Spectres, apart from Shepard, were seen in the "Mass Effect" series. Spectres were often from the Council races: asari, salarian, or turian.

Shapard's squadmate Samara was a Justicar. The Justicars were an asari group that served a strict code, rather than a person or organization. The Illium Police were also at the apartment, but told to go away. The Templars were a group from Bioware's other intellectual property, "Dragon Age".

Answer: An office building

After being attacked in her apartment, Liara went to the Baria Frontiers office to meet a salarian named Sekat. Sekat was verifying the data Shepard had given to Liara earlier. The Shadow Broker sent assassins to kill Liara, and used bombs to destroy a lot of the building. Lots of civilians were killed, and Shepard met and fought the Shadow Broker's agents for the first time in the burning offices.

The Nos Astra spaceport was the hub area on Illium that other missions could be accessed from. Miranada's Loyalty Mission was on Illium, and took place in an Eclipse warehouse. Samara was recruited on Illium at a police station.

Answer: Vesir, the asari investigator

Tela Vesir was a Spectre, but also supported the Shadow Broker. The Broker had helped her with intel in the past that had been vital for the safety of Citadel space. The reason the office building was attacked with hastily placed bombs was because Vesir learned about Liara's location the same time Shepard did.

Sekat was a salarian who was helping Liara. He was killed by Vesir in Baria Frontiers' office. Nyxeris was Liara's personal assistant on Illium, who tried to betray her. In an optional assignment, Shepard could expose Nyxeris. Feron was a drell who helped/hindered Liara's search for Shepard's body in the "Redemption" comic.

Answer: A Skycar

The X3M Skycar was a common sight in the "Mass Effect" universe. They were first seen in the first game, when Shepard saw the Citadel for the first time. "The Lair of the Shadow Broker" marked the first time that players got to actually pilot one.

Tela Vesir managed to get the Shadow Broker data and escape in a Skycar. Shepard, Liara, and one other squad member jumped into a taxi, and gave chase through the busy skyways of Illium. When Shepard asked Liara what kind of guns the Skycar had, she exasperatedly replied, "It's a taxi! It has a fare meter!"

Answer: Azure

Azure was an exotic, expensive hotel, where guests could purchase all kinds of decadent delights, as well as asari companionship.

The Stock Exchange and the Eternity Lounge were both locations in the Nos Astra hub area that Shepard could visit when on Illium (from the main part of "Mass Effect 2"). Liara's office overlooked the Stock Exchange. The Dantius Towers were a pair of corporate towers under construction on Illium. Thane's Recruitment Mission was set in the towers.

Answer: An atmospheric ship

Hagalaz was a planet that lived in extremes. Its day side was extremely hot, and its night side extremely cold, due to the very slow rotation. The point where night and day met was a perpetual storm. All the noise and radiation was the perfect place to hide a ship that did not want to be found. The lightning was also used to power the ship.

The only deep space station seen in "Mass Effect 2" was the geth heretic base in Legion's Loyalty Mission. In the "Redemption" comic, Liara and Feron went to a Shadow Broker base hidden on an asteroid.

Answer: Feron, the drell former Shadow Broker agent

Feron was a drell who first appeared in the "Redemption" comic. He initially offered to help Liara find Shepard's body (after the Collectors destroyed the Normandy SR1). Liara did not trust Feron at all when she found out he was a Shadow Broker agent. The Shadow Broker wanted Shepard's body to trade to the Collectors. Feron later revealed that he was working against the Shadow Broker, and actually in the employ of Cerberus, who wanted to find Shepard and restore the Commander. Feron was left behind when Liara escaped the Shadow Broker's base. The Broker did not appreciate the treachery, and strapped Feron to an electric chair in his ship.

Tazick was another character from the "Redemption" comic. He was a large and terrifying salarian, and one of the Broker's top agents. Sekat was the salarian that helped Liara with her data on the Shadow Broker. He was killed by Tela Vesir in the Baria Frontiers offices. Barla Von was a volus, and known agent of the Shadow Broker. He was a banker on the Citadel in "Mass Effect".

Answer: A Yahg

The yahg were a new species that had not achieved spaceflight. They were incredibly intelligent, but also violent. When the Citadel discovered their world and civilization, the initial diplomatic teams were slaughtered. The Citadel Council deemed the yahg not ready to join the galactic community (not wanting to risk a repeat of the krogan debacle). Liara guessed that the previous Shadow Broker had taken an interest in the yahg, and had one captured as a trophy or a pet. Being an intelligent species, the captured yahg was able to kill its captor and become the new Shadow Broker.

When Liara correctly guessed his history, it seemed to enrage the Shadow Broker, and he attacked Shepard and Liara.

Answer: Liara took over

After Liara recovered Shepard's body in "Redemption", her goal was to strike back and kill the Shadow Broker. When Shepard gave Liara the Shadow Broker data, she learned that Feron was still alive. Her mission changed from one of revenge to a rescue operation.

She had not thought of what she would do when she succeeded. After the Broker was dead, a lot of panicked operatives started calling in. Liara took a moment to calm herself, and then assumed the role of Shadow Broker. The Shadow Broker used voice distorting technology when addressing agents, and everyone who had seen the Broker was either dead or a friend. Liara becoming the Shadow Broker had important consequences in the sequel, "Mass Effect 3".