Kahler (species)
The Kahler were a humanoid species known for their technological skills.
Biology
Kahler looked identical to humans except for green patterns on their faces. These patterns were unique and could be used to identify an individual. (TV: A Town Called Mercy)
Culture
Individuals were always identified with a "Kahler" in front of their name. The Kahler had gods and believed that after dying, they would climb a mountain, carrying the souls of everyone they wronged. (TV: A Town Called Mercy)
Technology
The Kahler were known for their technology; the Eleventh Doctor, being fond of them, called them "one of the most ingenious species in the Galaxy". They had egg-shaped spacecrafts, hovering robots, teleportation and could easily cure cholera.
During a war in the 19th century, they created an army of cyborgs using Kahler soldiers. One arm was replaced with a powerful energy weapon, one eye was replaced with a lens and much of the body was replaced with robotic parts. This eye had an automatic targeting system, sensors that could see through walls and identification software. They also possessed a short-range teleport. (TV: A Town Called Mercy)
History
In the 19th century, a war lasting nine years was fought on Kahler. Half of the planet had been decimated. In order to fight the war, a group of scientists modified Kahler into cyborg soldiers. With them, the war was ended in a week. The soldiers were decommissioned, but one, Kahler-Tek, went rogue and killed all the scientists responsible. Two scientists, Kahler-Jex and Kahler-Mas, escaped but crashed on Earth.
In 1870, Kahler-Tek killed Kahler-Mas and tracked Kahler-Jex to Mercy, Nevada. He was unwilling to kill the innocent inhabitants, so he trapped them in the town and demanded Kahler-Jex's return. Once the Eleventh Doctor arrived and learned their history, he first tried to give Kahler-Jex to Kahler-Tek, but eventually decided to help him escape. Rather than allow species of another world to get caught in the crossfire between him and Tek, Kahler-Jex killed himself with the self-destruct on his ship. Following the urging of the Doctor, Kahler-Tek stayed in Mercy as a protector. (TV: A Town Called Mercy)
A Kahler was present in the Maldovarium when Colony Sarff visited the establishment while searching for the Twelfth Doctor on behalf of Davros. (TV: The Magician's Apprentice) Another Kahler was aboard the Harmony and Redemption when it was destroyed by a meteor. (TV: The Husbands of River Song)
Behind the scenes
- Introduced in A Town Called Mercy, the Kahler were created by writer Toby Whithouse, who was credited for their reprisal in The Magician's Apprentice and The Husbands of River Song.