The Reapers would simply be a race of predators/farmers. Every 50.000 years they would come to the Galaxy to harvest the genetic material necessary for their nutrition and to create more Reapers.
After some centuries of extermination, the Reapers would then look for the races more viable to evolve and would help them - given them the fire, the wheel, teaching things (in Earth they would have been responsible for the extinction event that eliminated the dinosaurs to make the planet more viable for the primates, would have teach us writing and things like that. They would be old gods for the humans too, like they are for the Geth).
They are semi-psychic creatures (hence their indoctrination abilities), so for the sustenance and the creation of other Reapers creatures with high thought process are needed.
The Creators were responsible for the evolution in the Galaxy (but who were exactly the creator or The Creator?) and created the Reapers because they were leaving the universe (with which purpose? Would they come back one day? They were simply dying?). The Reapers were created to continue their work. But it was a flawed solution as the Reapers would have to feed and rebuild each 50.000 years, blocking the natural evolution of the galaxy.
So they have also created the Citadel and the mass relays to facilitate the work of the Reapers and to give life a chance to evolve enough to break this cycle. The concept of the crucible was given to the first generation of sapient species before the first reaper cycle and was passed to other species along with any improvements in its layout (by one specific Reaper, called Harbinger, to perpetuate the Cycle).
It was a test. The first race (or races) able to build the crucible and interface with the Catalyst would break the cycle and receive the chance to have the power and the responsibility of the creators - to shape and care for intelligent life in the universe as they see fit.
After knowing this, Shepard would have two choices:
- Leave and go back to Earth. The Reapers would leave but the cycle would not be broken. The Catalyst would be lost forever and, to survive in the next Cycle, life would have to fight the Reapers in conventional warfare - but he could go back to the ones he loved and would have gained a 50.000 year of advantage. (Renegade)
- Accept the burden to take the place of the Creator, ascending to be something else entirely and doomed to never again go back to Earth or talk with his/her loved ones. The Reapers would now work for him/her. (Paragon)
The child would never appear and Harbinger would be the one talking to him the whole time. Last Harbinger phrases:
For the Paragon Finale: Welcome master.
For the Renegade Finale: We will also have 50.000 years to be prepared.
Of course, a final cut scene showing your crew and the aftermatch.
After some centuries of extermination, the Reapers would then look for the races more viable to evolve and would help them - given them the fire, the wheel, teaching things (in Earth they would have been responsible for the extinction event that eliminated the dinosaurs to make the planet more viable for the primates, would have teach us writing and things like that. They would be old gods for the humans too, like they are for the Geth).
They are semi-psychic creatures (hence their indoctrination abilities), so for the sustenance and the creation of other Reapers creatures with high thought process are needed.
The Creators were responsible for the evolution in the Galaxy (but who were exactly the creator or The Creator?) and created the Reapers because they were leaving the universe (with which purpose? Would they come back one day? They were simply dying?). The Reapers were created to continue their work. But it was a flawed solution as the Reapers would have to feed and rebuild each 50.000 years, blocking the natural evolution of the galaxy.
So they have also created the Citadel and the mass relays to facilitate the work of the Reapers and to give life a chance to evolve enough to break this cycle. The concept of the crucible was given to the first generation of sapient species before the first reaper cycle and was passed to other species along with any improvements in its layout (by one specific Reaper, called Harbinger, to perpetuate the Cycle).
It was a test. The first race (or races) able to build the crucible and interface with the Catalyst would break the cycle and receive the chance to have the power and the responsibility of the creators - to shape and care for intelligent life in the universe as they see fit.
After knowing this, Shepard would have two choices:
- Leave and go back to Earth. The Reapers would leave but the cycle would not be broken. The Catalyst would be lost forever and, to survive in the next Cycle, life would have to fight the Reapers in conventional warfare - but he could go back to the ones he loved and would have gained a 50.000 year of advantage. (Renegade)
- Accept the burden to take the place of the Creator, ascending to be something else entirely and doomed to never again go back to Earth or talk with his/her loved ones. The Reapers would now work for him/her. (Paragon)
The child would never appear and Harbinger would be the one talking to him the whole time. Last Harbinger phrases:
For the Paragon Finale: Welcome master.
For the Renegade Finale: We will also have 50.000 years to be prepared.
Of course, a final cut scene showing your crew and the aftermatch.
