Heplorn Ral

### Unique Markings

Thin scar above his mouth running beneath both nostrils but not onto either cheek

## Status

### Occupation

Council SPECTRE

**Midot Kedo Densi Cuil Sar Heplorn Ral** is a salarian member of the Office of Special Tactics and Reconnaissance under command of the Citadel Council. A member of Clan Heplorn, the former STG member was originally a xenopsychologist by trade.

## Biography

Clan Heplorn is a salarian clan renowned for its diligence in the branches of research, its offspring often becoming leaders in their respective fields with dedicated studies that are thorough, precise and push forwards the shared knowledge of all salarians, and indeed all council species. Ral and his clutch were expected to be no different.

Born on the colony world of Midot, Ral grew up surrounded by salarians of all stripes. Researchers mingled with miners, businessmen with carpenters. It was a diverse place to grow up and a stimulating subject for the observations of a young, inquisitive mind. He spent many of his days as a child avoiding play altogether, just watching the goings-on from whatever perch he could find.

When he reached the age of education, Ral fell into the same habits. An exceptionally quiet student he excelled in his studies, though it wasn’t uncommon for him to be reprimanded by teachers for his “daydreaming” habits. As he neared the end of his primary schooling, he began to encounter teachers of other species, each of whom was more understanding of his reserved, observational behavior than the salarians who had come before, emphasizing his need to keep his head in reality.

Against the wishes of his clan, Ral did not attend a secondary institution. He was recruited by one of his final teachers, a hanar teacher of xenopsychology called Ylorantis, to study under his guidance on Kahje. Very interested in the opportunity to spend more time among people different than his own, the young salarian accepted.

The few years under Ylorantis’ tutelage were some of the best of Ral’s life. Each day he experienced the impact of a homeworld populated by two species, one suited for a much different environment. He also was able to observe at least one patient of most of the rest of the known species, only missing out on any Forayan or Krogan patients during his time at the practice. He made something of a name for himself among the drell in the town where he served, the people finding him a bit more relatable than their non-humanoid allies.

Unfortunately for Ral, it’s hard to excel as a salarian without your clan coming knocking. As he reached his 16th year, Ral was commanded to return home. He was to be married to a female of Clan Ostar and shipped to the homeworld to see the breeding process through. With no desire to sire children at present, Ral took a different path. A Special Tasks Group member, Heplorn Durges, offered him a way out. The STG was in need of skilled psychoanalysts, and they’d had Ral pegged for years. With Durges’ connections to the Heplorn Clan, he was able to annul the contract for Ral’s service in the STG.

For two brutal years Ral trained for service, going from a brilliant yet noncombative and unfit man to one whose mind was just as sharp as his body. Though his time was mainly spent as an observer at various stations throughout salarian space and beyond, he was able to undertake many field missions through his 14-year career with the service.

Towards the end of his career in the STG, Ral partook in a mission that would elevate his name to the highest levels of galactic politics. In the spring of 2182, Ral was part of a small team of operatives tasked with the observation of a nascent hanar cult that produced abusive rhetoric towards their on-planet allies, the drell, disparaging them for taking up space on Kahje, for forcing the construction of domed cities that polluted the naturally open environment. Weeks into the observation it became apparent that this group was not a threat to salarian stability, and STG began to pull resources and the team prepared to be reassigned. Ral, one of the final members to be pulled from the mission, had noticed something strange. It seemed that one of the leaders of the cult, Hesuaneti, maintained a working relationship with a drell under the compact. Ral dug further, noting that this drell woman, one Zerish Monat, lived alongside her employer as something of a maid, though her long trips out of the home and frequent rendezvous with known drell criminals or underworld figures led him to continue the investigation.

In the end, it turned out that Monat was using her employer, Hesuaneti, in an attempt to stir up trouble on the hanar side of the Compact so that when she and those she could rile up pushed for drell independence the world, and the galaxy, would support them. Despite being pulled off the mission, Ral exposed the deception to the Illuminated Primacy, shutting down dissension within the ranks. Having garnered the admiration of two entire species in one swoop, Ral shot onto the Council’s radar.

It didn’t take long for the salarian councilor to push for his promotion to SPECTRE status. With the support of the asari councilor and, begrudgingly, that of the turian councilor, Ral was given free reign to promote galactic stability as he pleased. His first task upon completion of his training: Solving the disappearance of an asari charting vessel within the Terminus Systems.

## Physical Description

Ral is a man whose reputation speaks more than his physical presence. Despite his height, he is a wiry 60 kilos with only average musculature. In a room, he doesn’t seem imposing. His eyes are a vibrant yellow and the instant draw when looking at him, his visual acuity only matched by his observational skill.

He isn’t one for gaudy clothing or overstated measures either, instead preferring plain earthen tones for his garb and the weaponry he utilizes.

## Personality

In a word, Ral is reserved. He much prefers to attend events for the people-watching aspect than the actual social interaction. He is an observer first and foremost, using all of his senses to gather as much data as possible. Despite his tendencies towards introversion, he’s not socially inept. He can hold a conversation as well as most, and is well-versed in many subjects.

With a keen interest in xenopsychology and a passion for a good mystery, Ral journals quite often. Notes taken often include hypotheses about those around him and the intentions behind conversations he’s had, though he finds himself wandering more towards writing his own fiction as he grows more and more aged.

Although he is a Council SPECTRE and a salarian first and foremost, Ral has always been detrimentally attracted to the principals of empathy and self-sacrifice. He’s observed the trait in others and wishes to experience these feelings firsthand, but his analytical mind often has trouble rationalizing decisions like that in the heat of the moment.

## Armament

Ral utilizes an M-96 Mattock assault rifle in combat alongside a Scorpion heavy pistol. His omni-tool is equipped with combat abilities Damping and Snap Freeze, and his armor has built-in Tech Armor and Tactical Cloak emitters.