A celebrated deaf mediator who spoke through a telepathic chorus, and who had to rebuild his ability to negotiate after his chorus was killed.
Riva came from a family of mediators and had been deaf since birth. He communicated through a chorus of three telepaths who expressed different parts of his personality. In Loud as a Whisper the Enterprise-D brought him to mediate a long war on Solais V.
When one of the warring factions killed his chorus, Riva lost confidence and wanted to give up. Data began learning his sign language, and Troi helped him see his deafness as a strength. Riva chose to stay on Solais V and teach both sides his language as a way to begin peace.