Thane

Thane Krios

Role:
Thane Krios's role is smaller than that other squad-mates, because he is restricted by the slow-killing side effects of Kepral's Syndrome – a disease which erodes drell lungs, and makes it difficult for oxygen to make it into their bloodstream. Thane will protect a Citadel councilor from the assassin Kai Leng. If Thane survives his encounter with Kai Leng he will continue to aid Shepard by eventually tracking down Leng, who is hiding somewhere on the Citadel. On top of that, Thane can use his connections with Kahje's government activate the side quest “Vassla Prothean Ruins”.

Recruitment:
At the news that Kai Leng is somewhere on the Citadel, Liara advises Shepard to seek out an assassin of his own to help track the Cerberus agent-- in this case Thane Krios. Liara, after utilizing significant amounts of Shadow Broker files, finally managed to track down the drell assassin's home on the hanar planet Kahje. Liara explains that post-suicide mission, Thane returned to Kahje in hopes of:
finding his son, Kolyat (if Shepard either failed, or didn't attempt Thane's loyalty mission in Mass Effect 2).
protecting his son, Kolyat (if Shepard completed Thane's loyalty mission in Mass Effect 2).
Shepard takes the Normandy kodiak down to one of the larger islands of Kahje, which houses the domed drell city of Rucaal. Thane expected this visit, and has sent word to the security tower to admit the SR2's kodiak. Shepard takes the kodiak directly to Thane's house to avoid a public scene. The assassin is already waiting for Shepard outside his house. Thane is now a wearing a metal and plastic device over his chest, which forces moisture out of his lungs, as a means to fight Kepral's syndrome. According to the assassin all it does is buy him some precious time. During conversations, Thane occasionally covers his mouth with a portable respirator and breathes heavily. As usual, Shepard has the paragon/neutral/renegade options for greeting, and Thane invites Shepard and company inside. If femShep romanced Thane, there is the appropriate romance dialogue available.

The houses interior is simplistic, with light colors, sharp angles and comfortable living appliances. There is no clutter and no weapons of any kind visible.

If Shepard is not romantic with Thane, there will be a picture of Irikah (Thane's dead wife) hanging on the wall. Shepard can inquire about it.
If Shepard is romanctic with Thane, there will be a picture of the Commander on the wall, holding hands with Thane.

Thane offers the company some beverages – which Shepard and company can accept or deny – then leads them into his living room.

 If Thane reconciled with Kolyat in ME2, the young drell will also be found at the house, having done six months of community service for Armando Bailey, and having been released from duty at Thane's request. Shepard tries to convince Thane (with the usual renegade/neutral/paragon options) to come to the Citadel for tracking Kai Leng. However, Kolyat will be angry at Shepard's request. Unless romancing Thane, Shepard must convince Kolyat to let his father return to the Citadel. Thane will insist that Kolyat come along to help Thane with his medical issues, and Shepard must agree. Thane will also give Shepard clearance to search the Prothean ruins of Kahje.

If Thane did not reconcile with Kolyat in ME2, the ex-assassin will have returned to Kahje after the suicide mission in hopes of finding his son, only to discover that Kolyat abandoned the house and has not since returned. Fearing that he will miss his son's potential return to the house, Thane must be convinced to come to the Citadel with either renegade-red, or paragon blue conversation options by Shepard. If Shepard does not have high enough paragon/renegade levels, Thane will not join Shepard-- though he will give him government clearance to search the Prothean ruins on Kahje. Shepard will depart the enclave without him.

Once recruited, Thane has the option of either going to the Citadel, or going directly to the side quest “Vassla Prothean Ruins”.


Death:

Thane's death can occur in two places. If Shepard is male or is not romancing Thane, the assassin dies right before the Shadow War. If Shepard is romancing Thane, he dies right before The Trial with the Batarian Hegemony.

After Thane's fight with Leng, if he survives the drell can be found at Huerta Hospital. The doctor looking after Thane contants Shepard, telling him that Thane doesn't have much time, and they will suggest that the Commander meet with the drell.

If Thane was loyal, he will list the decisions he made throughout the events of ME2 and ME3, and will thank Shepard for them. He will pray to his wife, Irikah, for a safe spiritual passage into death. Kolyat will recite religious passages, and Thane will die peacefully.

If Thane was not loyal in ME2, he will die bitterly regretting that he never reunited with Kolyat. Before dying, he prays to his wife Irikah for forgiveness.

If Thane is romantic with Shepard, the assassin will tell her and Kolyat that they are his reason for living, and lanterns in death. Shepard and Kolyat will recite religious text for Thane, who will die quietly.

After his death, the Citadel councilors offer romance-femShepard/Kolyat a funeral for Thane's service to The Council.

If femShepard denies this, Kolyat will arrange for his father's body to be cremated.
If femShepard accepts this, Thane will get a funeral with all of Mass Effect's available squad mates. After the funeral, Thane's body will be sent back to Kahje, to be buried in the hanar fashion of setting the corpse to sea. Shepard and Kolyat will have a two person private ceremony at the end of the story.

If the choice is left up to Kolyat, he will send Thane's body back to Kahje, where the hanar will bury him at sea.

If Shepard romanced Thane, she has the option of an emotionally charged act while isolated (unless she brought Hannah Shepard with her) on the elevator going up to the trial.

 While images of Thane (and other dead squad-mates) flash across her vision, Shepard can choose the “Lash out” option. This sends Shepard into a rage, and she smashes her fists against the elevator wall until her fists are bloody. If Hannah Shepard is there, the mother will reach out and comfort her daughter. Armando Bailey, who will be watching the elevator interior (via security camera) with some C-sec security agents, will calm down his disgruntled security. He never mentions this to Shepard.

While images of Thane (and other dead squad mates) flash across her vision, if Shepard chooses to “Break down” option, she will slump to the floor emotionally crushed, and tears will fall down her cheeks. If Hannah Shepard is there, the mother will reach out and comfort her daughter. Armando Bailey, who is watching the security cameras in the interior of the elevator, will turn off the monitor so his C-sec staff will stop watching, respecting Shepard's privacy. He never mentions this to Shepard.

While images of Thane (and other dead squad-mates) flash across his vision, if Shepard chooses to “Stay strong”, (s)he clenches his fists and breaths heavily, but remains straight backed and steely eyed. Armando Bailey, who is monitoring the interior of the elevator from a security camera, contintues to watch Shepard silently as he descends to the Atrium.

[Note: This scene is meant to offer Shepard a place of emotional weakness. It is optional, as Shepard can choose to “remain strong”. This scene is placed after the events of the second trial, in which the batarians question Shepard's past game decisions, and insult his romantic interests in an attempt to goad the commander during the trial. I felt that the natural transition from Shepard as a goaded target, to vulnerable and isolated individual made an extremely powerful and moving scene in my head. The bit about Armando Bailey watching was meant to give the scene even more weight]

Shepard can continue to mourn Thane throughout the story. If Shepard romanced Thane, Kelly Chambers, Al Jilani/Diana Allers, Garrus, and a few other characters will want to talk about his death. In the case of Al Jilani/Diana Allers, it will be for interview purposes.

Ironing out variables:

If Thane was not loyal, and was killed during ME2's suicide mission he does not appear in ME3. Shepard cannot visit his house. Liara forges Shepard clearance to enter the Prothean ruins on Kahje. Kolyat does not appear in the game, though Liara's Shadow Broker resources reveal that he is now working for the Eclipse gang. Shepard is unable to stop Kai Leng from killing the councilor-- who then escapes C-sec and Shepard by jumping off the balcony-- this puts more pressure on the Alliance to take out Cerberus, and forces Liara to hire STG when assaulting TIM's main base. Spectre-Garrus/Spectre-Jacob tracks Leng to the uninhabited Citadel apartments.

If Thane was loyal in ME2, but was killed on the suicide mission, Shepard can mourn him. Liara forges Shepard clearance to enter the Prothean ruins on Kahje. If Shepard was romancing Thane, Kolyat and Shepard will have a few scenes together where they remember the assassin fondly. If Shepard was not romancing Thane, he  discovers that Kolyat has stayed on working with Armando Bailey.  Shepard is unable to stop Kai Leng from killing the councilor-- who then escapes C-sec and Shepard by jumping off the balcony-- this puts more pressure on the Alliance to take out Cerberus, and forces Liara to hire STG when assaulting TIM's main base.

If Thane was never recruited, he does not appear in ME3. Kolyat does not appear in ME3. Liara gives Shepard forged government clearance to enter the Prothean ruins on Kahje. Shepard is unable to stop Kai Leng from killing the councilor, and the assassin escapes C-sec and Shepard by jumping off the balcony-- this puts more pressure on the Alliance to take out Cerberus, and forces Liara to hire STG when assaulting TIM's main base.


If the councilor Leng is attempting to assassinate is Anderson, then there will be special dialogue in which Anderson and Leng recognize each other.

If Leng kills Anderson, then Udina takes over in his place.

If Leng kills Udina, then another human councilor is appointed.