[net.tv.drwho] A short history of the Time Lords

bstempleton@watmath.UUCP (Brad Templeton) (05/16/84)

As Doctor Who changes script editors more frequently than it changes
Doctors, don't expect things to match very well.  There are indeed two
main figures noted, "Omega" and Rassalon (phonetic spelling).  Both
were great engineers/scientists.   Omega worked on harnessing the power
of a supernova (possibly a supernova remnant - both versions are given)
for the Time Lords.   The power output is immense, and allows the Time
Lords to maintain time travel and a force field around all of Gallifrey.

This all went on early in the history of the Cosmos.  The Time Lords
are very old, so they got this power first, and they make sure nobody
else gets it.  Normally, a force field is rediculously expensive unless
you have a super source of power.


At any rate, both Omega and Rassalon helped work on this project, but
in the final moments Omega was sucked into the black hole.  As I understand
it, Rassalon went on to lead the Time Lords, creating the symbols of
office as first President of the council.  These include the sash, the rod
and the Great Key, as well as the matrix.  It's unknown how much of
this technology existed before.   The Great Key, kept secret, is a direct
link (it's probably a Tardis itself, being so small) to the power source
of the Time Lords.

Anyway, Rassalon set out the rules the Time Lords live by, including
the "laws of time" (Of which the most important is that a time traveller
cannot cross his own time line under normal circumstances) and the policy
of noninterference.

The Time Lords themselves are now a fairly degenerate race resting on
their laurels.  Their brightest and best (The Doctor, Morbius, The Master)
have left Time Lord society for good or ill.  But they still are one of
the big powers in the cosmos.   Other powers include the monitors of
Logopolis (what ever happened there - it was never quite said.  Is a
radio dish on Earth still holding the universe together?)
and the Guardians (Ribos Operation, Armageddon factor, Mawdryn Undead)
whose role is not quite certain.