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A '''babel''' was an advanced version of a [[cast]], a weapon created by the [[Great House]]s long before [[the War]].
{{Infobox Species
|type          = [[Cast]]
|affiliation  = [[Great Houses]]
|origin        = [[Catherion Imprimiture]]
|first        = The Book of the War (novel)
|appearances  = [[PROSE]]: ''[[The Return of the King (short story)|The Return of the King]]'', ''[[Newtons Sleep (novel)|Newtons Sleep]]''
|individuals  = [[Babel (Newtons Sleep)|The black angel]]
}}
The '''babels''' were an advanced generation of [[cast]]s created in the [[Catherion Imprimiture]] to overcome the limitations of the other generations. The goal was to make a self-aware system that would be linked to the [[mind]] of a [[time-active]] agent instead of the [[the Homeworld]]'s [[noosphere]] or the operating system of a [[TARDIS|timeship]]. Specific attention was given to making the babels operable during a language-viral attack.


Recognising the limitations of casts, the Great Houses decided to improve upon them. The project was codenamed the ''Catherion Imprimiture.''
Only about eight were created, and all were incurably [[insane]]. [[Babel (Newtons Sleep)|One escaped babel]] massacred almost everyone at House Catherion, leaving only one survivor; ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Book of the War (novel)|The Book of the War]]'') the [[Order of the Weal]] subsequently kept it prisoner under [[House Ixion]], where Chatelaine [[Thessalia]] consulted with it about [[War in Heaven|the upcoming War]]. She eventually released it on an isolated planet on the [[frontier in time]], giving herself as its host; it killed her. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Newtons Sleep (novel)|Newtons Sleep]]'') The other babels were confined in areas where they were deprived of radiation and eventually starved to death.


A [[loom]] was obtained from the extinct [[House Catherion]] to make the babels. It was symbolically purchased for three [[bird]]s' [[egg]]s, a plot of land formerly used for flying ceremonial flags on state occasions and a small very well made [[pocket watch]] that belonged to a Mr Harrison of [[Yorkshire]], [[England]] around [[1765]].
However, at the start of the [[War in Heaven]], the [[Great Houses]] came to regard the babels as a necessary evil. Three were released during the [[Lethean Campaign]], where they were supremely successful wherever deployed and provided the [[Great Houses]] with a powerful advantage. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Book of the War (novel)|The Book of the War]]'')
{{quote|The babels are pure contradiction. They have no passion for war. They don’t see an enemy: they see meat. Yet unleashed, they become nothing but passion, fury unchecked by mercy or satisfaction. I have seen babels delay an offensive in order to abuse or mutilate a prisoner. They do not like to kill. They take care and pleasure in keeping their victims alive as long as they can. I spoke to one today. Her voice was so sweet and she posed herself with such delicacy. One can almost long to be [[the enemy]] and suffer their affections.|An auxiliary fighting for [[the Homeworld]] during the [[Lethean Campaign]]|The Book of the War (novel)}}
All three were destroyed when [[Lethean Campaign assassin|a secretive agent]] killed their hosts and left them momentarily defenceless to the [[the enemy|enemy]] suicide attacks; ''[[The Book of the War]]'' stated that, after this deployment, the babels were extinct. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Book of the War (novel)|The Book of the War]]'')


The goal was to make a self-aware system that would be linked to the [[mind]] of a [[time-active]] agent, not the the [[Gallifrey|Homeworld]]'s [[noosphere]] or the operating system of a [[TARDIS|timeship]].
== Behind the scenes ==
* According to [[Lance Parkin]]'s ''[[AHistory]]'', "babels" are the ''[[Faction Paradox (series)|Faction Paradox]]'' equivalent of [[Shayde]]s. The description of a babel in ''[[Newtons Sleep (novel)|Newtons Sleep]]'' resembled the appearance of Shayde in the original [[Fourth Doctor|Fourth]] and [[Fifth Doctor]] ''[[Doctor Who Magazine]]'' comic strips.


Only about eight were created, and all were incurably [[insane]]. An escaped babel massacred almost everyone at House Catherion, leaving only one survivor. After obtaining substance from [[radiation]], it gained more mass by absorbing the people it killed. Finally captured with more casualties, it was supposedly destroyed at [[House Ixion]].
{{TitleSort}}
 
Oddly, Mr Harrison's pocket watch disappeared at the same time, never to be found again.
 
Most of the other babels were confined in areas where they were deprived of radiation and eventually starved to death. However, at least three were allowed to survive and were used in the War during the [[Lethean Campaign]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Book of the War (novel)|The Book of the War]]'')


[[Category:Gallifreyan technology]]
[[Category:Gallifreyan technology]]
[[Category:Weapons in the War]]
[[Category:Weapons in the War in Heaven]]

Latest revision as of 17:01, 18 April 2023

The babels were an advanced generation of casts created in the Catherion Imprimiture to overcome the limitations of the other generations. The goal was to make a self-aware system that would be linked to the mind of a time-active agent instead of the the Homeworld's noosphere or the operating system of a timeship. Specific attention was given to making the babels operable during a language-viral attack.

Only about eight were created, and all were incurably insane. One escaped babel massacred almost everyone at House Catherion, leaving only one survivor; (PROSE: The Book of the War) the Order of the Weal subsequently kept it prisoner under House Ixion, where Chatelaine Thessalia consulted with it about the upcoming War. She eventually released it on an isolated planet on the frontier in time, giving herself as its host; it killed her. (PROSE: Newtons Sleep) The other babels were confined in areas where they were deprived of radiation and eventually starved to death.

However, at the start of the War in Heaven, the Great Houses came to regard the babels as a necessary evil. Three were released during the Lethean Campaign, where they were supremely successful wherever deployed and provided the Great Houses with a powerful advantage. (PROSE: The Book of the War)

The babels are pure contradiction. They have no passion for war. They don’t see an enemy: they see meat. Yet unleashed, they become nothing but passion, fury unchecked by mercy or satisfaction. I have seen babels delay an offensive in order to abuse or mutilate a prisoner. They do not like to kill. They take care and pleasure in keeping their victims alive as long as they can. I spoke to one today. Her voice was so sweet and she posed herself with such delicacy. One can almost long to be the enemy and suffer their affections.An auxiliary fighting for the Homeworld during the Lethean Campaign [The Book of the War (novel) [src]]

All three were destroyed when a secretive agent killed their hosts and left them momentarily defenceless to the enemy suicide attacks; The Book of the War stated that, after this deployment, the babels were extinct. (PROSE: The Book of the War)

Behind the scenes[[edit]]