Okdel L'da
Okdel L'da (PROSE: The Scales of Injustice) was the leader of a Silurian tribe who went into suspended animation beneath Wenley Moor. Unlike most of his kind, Okdel was fond of mammals. (PROSE: Doctor Who and the Cave-Monsters)
He was the brother of Chukk. (PROSE: The Scales of Injustice)
Biography
He ruled one of the northern cities before the Silurians had to enter hibernation. (PROSE: Prelude Blood Heat)
Before hibernation, he'd had a beloved pet human and suspected it could understand him. The species' actions in zoos fascinated him. Due to this, he was despondent they were leaving the humans to die (he assumed) and released his pet so it could spend its last days in the wild. (PROSE: Doctor Who and the Cave Monsters)
Along with Morka, Bokka K'to and several other Silurians, Okdel awoke in the 20th century to see humans now ruled the planet. He had developed a relationship with the human Dr John Quinn and attempted to learn more about man's world, but found Morka constantly undermining him. The Third Doctor convinced him that the Silurians could share Earth peacefully with mankind. When he realised that Morka was trying to wipe out humanity with a virus, he freed the Doctor and gave him the means to find an antidote.
Claiming he was not fit to lead them anymore, Morka killed Okdel. (TV: Doctor Who and the Silurians)
Behind the scenes
- Okdel was not named on-screen, only in the novelisation and in the novel The Scales of Injustice. The Scales of Injustice gives him the full name Okdel L'da. He was listed as "Old Silurian" in the credits.
