The Gallifreyan Heroes were a class of famous Gallifreyans during the Age of the Pythias, distinguished from the general population by being mental individuals rather than part of the telepathic shared mind. Heroes often led adventures beyond the borders of Gallifrey's intergalactic Gallifreyan Empire, bringing back tales of conflict with the strange and wild creatures of the Dark Time. (PROSE: Gallifrey - Notes on the Planet's Background, Cat's Cradle: Time's Crucible, The Infinity Doctors)
It was unknown how the individuality of Heroes was created, with some believing it a genetic trait and others something that came from training. (PROSE: Gallifrey - Notes on the Planet's Background) The Academia trained Young Heroes. (PROSE: Cat's Cradle: Time's Crucible)
Famous Heroes included Rassilon, (PROSE: Gallifrey - Notes on the Planet's Background, Cat's Cradle: Time's Crucible) Prydonius, Ao, Omega, (PROSE: Cat's Cradle: Time's Crucible) and Kasterborous the Fibster. (PROSE: Lungbarrow)
Heroes fought creatures such as the Sattisar, the Gryffnae, the Sphinx of Thule, batworms, (PROSE: Cat's Cradle: Time's Crucible) and the Great Vampires. (PROSE: Gallifrey - Notes on the Planet's Background) They also participated in the century-long seige of the Winter Star. (PROSE: Cat's Cradle: Time's Crucible)
The ancient people of Calimera had similar great heroes who were remembered by the Fifth Doctor as "the classical pioneers of trans-temporal voyaging." Gammades, one of these heroes, led adventures across the early shoals of time in which he faced dangers such as Sphinxes and the Hippodile of Yoth. (AUDIO: Time Reef)