Sycorax

The Sycorax were a superstitious race of warriors, characterized by their bony heads.

Biology
The Sycorax were humanoid in basic appearance. Sycorax had both an endo- and exoskeleton. This exoskeleton covered part of their head (giving them a skull-like appearance), while the rest of their face was exposed muscle. This exoskeleton could vary in appearance, from a smooth, skull-like shape (DW: The Christmas Invasion) to a more jagged, horned shape. Some Sycorax also had long flowing hair. (DWM: The Widows Curse) Sycorax could live for up to 400 years. (REF: Doctor Who: The Visual Dictionary)



Culture
The Sycorax were organized into the Sycorax empire, subdivided into large tribes. Among the Sycorax tribes were the Halvinor Tribe and the Astrophia Tribe. (REF: Doctor Who: The Visual Dictionary, Agent Provocateur)

Sycorax had a sense of honour and pride, with some respect for the laws of combat. Sycorax wore skull-helmets to impress their enemies, and red-robes as a sign of leadership. They would take trophies of body parts from conquered races, such as bones, skin or hair. For example, they wore belts of Judoon skin. (REF: Doctor Who: The Visual Dictionary)

The native language of the Sycorax was Sycoraxic. (DW: The Christmas Invasion)

Religion
Though they had advanced technology such as interstellar space travel and energy whips, the Sycorax were still a superstitious race who believed in magic and witchcraft. (DW: The Christmas Invasion) The Sycorax worshipped the god Astrophia. (DWF: The Final Darkness) Sycorax had many ancient rituals involving the suns and moons. As such, they left a hole in their space-ships for the solar and lunar light to get in. (REF: Doctor Who: The Visual Dictionary) Some Sycorax worshipped in churches. (DWM: The Widows Curse)



Technology
The Sycorax used asteroids as spacecraft, which were fitted with an All Speed Inter-System Type K engine to move them. They used teleporters to move Sycorax in and out of the ship. The first of these asteroids was the home-world of the Sycorax, the Fire Trap. More asteroids were added later on by other tribes, creating the Sycorax Armada. They were capable of interstellar flight.

The Sycorax used swords, staffs (which they hung trophies, usually bones or hair) and energy whips, which could destroy all the flesh in someone's body, leaving only burnt bones. During the invasion of Earth, the Halvinor Tribe also used blood control. (REF: Doctor Who: The Visual Dictionary) They had the capability to translate the languages of other species. (REF: The Time Traveller's Almanac)



History
At some point in Sycorax history, many tribes left their home region in their asteroid ships to explore space, as well as to conquer and enslave other planets, expanding the empire. (REF: Doctor Who: The Visual Dictionary)

At Christmas 2006 a Sycorax asteroid ship inhabited by the Halvinor Tribe entered the Solar system. When the space probe Guinevere One crashed into the ship, they used the blood sample for blood control, threatening to kill everyone with A+ blood unless they were given half the population as slaves. The Doctor (who had just regenerated) and his allies Mickey and Rose were inside his TARDIS. The Sycorax picked up a signal from the TARDIS' advanced technology and teleported them to their ship. The Doctor activated the blood control but no humans killed themselves; their survival instincts were too strong. The Sycorax were forced to leave Earth and humanity alone after the Doctor defeated their leader in a sword duel. Although the Sycorax ship was retreating and leaving Earth, Harriet Jones ordered Torchwood to fire at it and had it destroyed outright. (DW: The Christmas Invasion) The Sycorax used an on-board energy detectors to detect this threat. They realized that they would die and so placed a curse upon Earth. (DWF: The Final Darkness)

In 2010, a Sycorax was seen at the Zaggit Zagoo bar when the Doctor came to visit Jack Harkness one last time before his regeneration. (DW: The End of Time)

The Sycorax returned to Earth in the late 21st century with hostile intentions but returned home after a short time. (NSA: Snowglobe 7)

During the 41st century, the Astrophia Tribe died out during the Valhalla wars. The Doctor and Martha Jones encountered a lone survivor of the tribe, a hunter collecting the last members of several extinct species. (IDW: Agent Provocateur)

Legend has it that Sycorax will survive till the end of the Universe along with Humans. (DWF: The Sycorax, IDW: Agent Provocateur)

The Sycorax will reappear in an unknown capacity in the finale of Doctor Who: Series 5. They are among a list of enemies also featuring the Daleks and Cybermen to be making a return.

Other References

 * In 1599, the Sycorax became the inspiration for a character in a William Shakespeare's The Tempest, when the Doctor noted how an animal skull reminded him of that of a Sycorax in Shakespeare's presence. (DW: The Shakespeare Code)