Thals were one of two near-human races which originally inhabited the planet Skaro (the other being the Kaleds).
Physical characteristics
Thals appear identical to humans and to Kaleds (DW: Genesis of the Daleks onwards). The evolved Thals had blond hair. (DW: The Daleks, Planet of the Daleks). The Thals believed that the following the war, radiation had mutated them into perfect beings (DW: The Daleks).
History
The Thals lived on the same planet as the Kaleds and eventually came into conflict with them. The early parts of the war were fought with highly advanced weaponry, such as nuclear weapons, though after a thousand years they were resorted to more primitive weapons while still having remnants of their old sophistication, leading to anachronistic combinations of technology on the battefield.
Near the end of the war, Davros gave the means to destroy the Kaled city to the Thals. They used this compound in the missile they sent to the Kaled city, which destroyed it. In "retaliation" for the destruction of the base, Davros ordered the Daleks to destroy the Thals. The survivors were able to blow up Davros' bunker, trapping him and the Daleks inside. (DW: Genesis of the Daleks)
- An indeterminate length of time, centuries or millenia passed.
Subsequently, Thal oral history and ancient records portray the Thals as a, at one time war-like race who had fought with the peaceful and scientific Dals (rather than Kaleds). They renounced violence and became pacifist farmers.
By the time that the Doctor and his companions landed on Skaro after the conclusion of the war, a band of Thals, now living in small tribal bands near the Dalek City, had adopted a pacifist lifestyle, not even engaging in violence in self-protection. Ian Chesterton, a companion of the Doctor's, bullied the Thals, Alydon into particular, into putting together an expedition into the Dalek City in order to fight against the Daleks. (DW: The Daleks)
Now having spaceflight, the Doctor and Jo Grant met Thals on Spiridon where a small group. led by Taron, had landed to destroy a Dalek army massed on that planet. (DW: Planet of the Daleks)
- This event possibly takes place in 2540.
We do not know the eventual fate of the Thals during and after the Doctor tricked Davros into destroying Skaro. ([[DW]: Remembrance of the Daleks)
- They may well have quit the planet, as a previous story shows Skaro apparently dominated by Dalek forces. (DW: Destiny of the Daleks).
Culture
The Thals were nearly as brutal as the Kaleds. They had no qualms about using the slave labour of Kaled prisoners and Mutos to build a neutronic missile. (DW: Genesis of the Daleks)
As noted above, after the war, the Thals developed into a peaceful people concerned with knowledge and living in small bands. (DW :The Daleks)
Centuries later, they revered the Doctor and his companions as heroes and referred to the prior event as the First Dalek War. Turning full circle,they had once more adopted a militaristic way of life, though only, it seems against the Daeleks. (DW: Planet of the Daleks)