The Whisper Men were a group of featureless beings that appeared to serve the Great Intelligence. They kidnapped the Paternoster Gang—Strax, Vastra and Jenny Flint—forcing the Eleventh Doctor to travel to Trenzalore and face his fate.
Appearance
The Whisper Men could morph into the appearance of Walter Simeon at will, and much like the human embodiment of the Great Intelligence, seemed to be hollow on the inside, or unreal. They moved slowly, and lacked features, except for extremely white faces with blackened skin around their mouths and sharp teeth. They had angular faces with vague depressions where eyes should be, and exaggerated chins and cheeks. They wore the same Victorian garb as the Great Intelligence's form as Walter Simeon. (TV: The Name of the Doctor)
Abilities
When struck by Strax, one simply appeared to evaporate where hit, and then reform. They could also pass their limbs through flesh, when instructed by the Great Intelligence to stop the hearts of the Doctor's friends. It was stated that they could kill with a whisper, and they spoke in rhyming couplets, although their mouths did not move in sync with their speech. They appeared to hiss at their victims, and traveled in small groups when attacking. (TV: The Name of the Doctor)
Rhymes
The Whisper Men always speak in rhyming couplets containg four syllables per line.
The First is heard as Vastra and Jenny fall into the trance:
- The trap is set
- The Doctor's friends
- Will travel where
- The Doctor ends
The second is heard when the Doctor and Clara are cornered by River's 'grave':
- This man must fall
- As all men must
- The fate of all
- Is always dust
The third is heard after the Doctor and Clara fall into the secret entrance to the Doctor's tomb:
- The man who lied
- Will lie no more
- When this man lies
- At Trenzalore
The fourth is heard when Clara has her memories awoken while climbing inside the destroyed TARDIS:
- The girl who died
- He tried to save
- Will die again
- Inside his grave