Vorlon

Revision as of 14:58, 28 March 2014

The Vorlons are an elder race that feature in Babylon 5.

History

Among the First Ones, the Vorlons were the last of their number to remain behind in known space where they watched and waited for the return of the Shadows. (Episode: In the Shadow of Z'ha'dum)

For millions of years, the Vorlons travelled to the worlds of the younger races where they guided them in their development. (Episode: The Fall of Night) It was claimed that the Vorlon's were responsible for interfering in the development of the younger races such as manipulating them even on a genetic level so that these species would look to them favorably. In addition, they began enlisting the aid of the younger species against the Shadow's and even developed telepath's as weapons for specific use against their ancient enemy. (Episode: Z'ha'dum) The Vorlons had been to Earth in the past and on 11th November year 1888 they abducted a Human by the name of Sebastian who was Jack the Ripper to serve them. He was shown the terrible secrets of the universe where they called upon when they needed him and preserved him when they did not. In this time, he would serve the Vorlons for centuries in search for a leader in the war against the Shadows. (Episode: Comes the Inquisitor)

Three expeditions were noted to had gone into Vorlon space with none having returned. The Vorlon Empire responded that such expeditions were likely destroyed in accidents and suggested that no further such missions be launched into their territory. As such, their species remained a mystery to the younger races. (Episode: And Now for a Word) The Inquisitor Sebastian was summoned to Babylon 5 to interrogate Delenn in order to determine her worthiness to help in the coming war against the Shadows. (Episode: Comes the Inquisitor)

In 2259, Lyta Alexander managed to hire a ship to take her to the border of the Vorlon Empire where they transmitted a signal asking for entry but received no response for days. Her pilot ultimately decided to return back to known space but Lyta managed to pay him her remaining credits to use his lifepod with enough supplies for five days. In that time, her supplies and air nearly ran out when a Vorlon vessel arrived and took her when she was unconscious to the Vorlon Homeworld. By 2260, Lyta Alexander had become an agent of the Vorlons and served as the official attaché to Ambassador Kosh on Babylon 5. (Episode: Passing through Gethsemane)

Afterwards, the Shadows began openly engaging against the younger races leading to further division among their ranks as none felt that they could challenge the advanced technology of their foe. In order to rally the younger races, Sheridan confronted Ambassador Kosh and demanded the Vorlon's aid which he initially refused but ultimately relented to provide help. As a result, a Vorlon fleet engaged and defeated a Shadow force which helped Sheridan in gaining the support of the other races but this came at the cost of Kosh's life when he was killed by the Shadows. After his death, the Vorlon's became aware of his death and asked the war council of Babylon 5 to keep his demise a secret. (Episode: Interludes and Examinations) At this point, it had been a long time since a Vorlon had died and thus responded hard from the event. As a result of this development, a new ambassador known as Kesh was dispatched to Babylon 5 where he took on Kosh's identity in order to not destroy the growing army being assembled to fight the Shadows. (Episode: Walkabout)

In the aftermath, Captain Sheridan was seemingly killed when he detonated thermonuclear bombs on Z'ha'dum. This act seemingly put a pause to the Shadow War as the Shadow's pulled back in order to regroup. Despite this act, the League of Non-Aligned World's threatened to fracture without Sheridan's leadership. Ambassador Delenn made numerous attempts to get Vorlon Ambassador Kesh to attend the council meetings in order to show the support of the Vorlon Empire but he never attended such sessions. Delenn would later confront Kesh who was silent but confirmed the destruction caused by Sheridan on Z'ha'dum but would not support the Army of Light further. Kesh refused to investigate Sheridan's fate as he stated that he had followed his purpose but instead commented that the Captain had unopened door and that the Vorlon's would do what must be done. (Episode: The Hour of the Wolf)

Overview

A Vorlon was able to place aspects of themselves within other sentient beings that was usually done with their agents dispatched to serve them. (Episode: Passing through Gethsemane) Vorlons were able to break off pieces of their consciousness and put them into other organisms. Such a technique allowed them to travel hidden through the galaxy using others as their eyes and ears. (Episode: Whatever Happened to Mr Garibaldi?) They were able to inflict harm on others through seemingly telekinetic acts where they could wound or cause pain to their target. (Episode: Interludes and Examinations) Similarly, they were able to strangle and choke an individual through a simple look at their target. (Episode: Walkabout) When angered, internal sensors were able to register an energy surge but human systems could only see this as a non-localized phenomena. (Episode: Interludes and Examinations)

During the Third Age, the Vorlons remained hidden within their encounter suits not because they could not survive other environments but because their true nature would be recognized by the younger races. As such, they had to mask their true form within the suits in order to better operate. (Episode: In the Shadow of Z'ha'dum) When outside their encounter suit, Vorlons projected a different image to the species legends culture though the simple act was a great strain on them. As such, afterwards they needed to rest for a time in order to recuperate their strength. (Episode: Matters of Honor) If a Vorlon died, the rest of their people became instantly aware of the death. (Episode: Interludes and Examinations) Those touched by the mind of that Vorlon were also sensitive to their presence. When killed, a portion of the Vorlon's essence was able to survive if shared with another being. (Episode: Walkabout)

Despite their strength, they were noted for being a delicate people who did not cope well with change and neither did they tolerate mistakes. (Episode: Walkabout) Vorlon's could be cruel in their outlook to others as they felt younger races had to complete their purpose and saw any respect to them as being irrelevant so long as their servant's duty was completed. (Episode: The Hour of the Wolf) One saying among the Vorlon's was that, "understanding is a three edged sword". (Episode: Interludes and Examinations)

The skin of the vessels were able to form themselves into passageways that allowed entry and exit from the craft. (Episode: Passing through Gethsemane) Similarly, the ships were able to alter their skin to display glyphs and writings from the Vorlon language. (Episode: Walkabout)

Their vessels were made for their owners and were part of them. When a Vorlon died, all his belongings were placed within his vessel which committed suicide by piloting itself into a sun. This was part of their own way of grieving and performed their last duty to honor them. (Episode: Interludes and Examinations)

Members

• Kosh Naranek :
• Kesh : arrived on Babylon 5 in 2260 to replace his deceased predecessor where he referred to himself as Kosh and sought to find the surviving piece of his essence. (Episode: Walkabout)

Appearances

• Babylon 5: "And Now for a Word"

External Link

• Babylon 5 Wiki Entry

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