Sevateem The Sevateem — derived from " survey team " — was an artificial cultural grouping on the Earth - like planet colonised by the Mordee expedition . Calling themselves a tribe , they worshiped Xoanon , the supercomputer that had engineered their separation from the Tesh , the planet ' s other cultural grouping , in a bid to create a race of superhumans . Xoanon defined the Sevateem by the characteristics of " independence , strength , boldness and courage " . ( TV : " The Face of Evil " ) History . The Sevateem were the degenerated remnant of the original expedition ' s survey team . Their development and behaviour were influenced by Xoanon as part of its experiments to contrast physical and intuitive development with mental and psychic development . They lived in a concentrated environment , afraid to travel beyond its borders for fear of phantoms that , in actuality , were projections of Xoanon ' s psyche . Banishment was one form of punishment . The tribe also kept a pit full of Horda used for executions . Neeva , the shaman and Speaker of Law for the Sevateem , communicated with Xoanon on their behalf . He told Andor to attack the Tesh — an act with which Leela disagreed , seeing her banished . The attack was a failure and provoked criticisms of Neeva . The Fourth Doctor used the communicator that allowed Neeva to speak to Xoanon to instruct him to send the Sevateem into the Tesh base . There , the Doctor was able to restore Xoanon ' s sanity , ending his attempts to control the people and putting an end to the phantoms . The Doctor left the Sevateem and the Tesh to their own means as they attempted to unite their two tribes . Since Leela had communicated with Xoanon , it was suggested that she could help unite the two tribes . Leela refused and asked the Doctor if she could travel with him ; when he said no she ran into the TARDIS and pressed a button that began dematerialisation . ( TV : " The Face of Evil " ) Leela was the greatest warrior in the history of the Sevateem , who sacrificed her life to save her tribe . ( AUDIO : " The Catalyst " ) The Doctor ' s companion Leela was named in her honour . ( AUDIO : " The Catalyst " , " Arbitration " , " The Abandoned " ) While under the control of Rees in 2014 , Leela used the pseudonym " Miss Sevateem " . ( AUDIO : " Second Sight " ) Culture . The Sevateem had a warrior culture , living in a state of permanent war with their counterparts the Tesh . Men and women were both expected to fight . Crossbow s , knives , and poisonous janis thorn s were all common weapons . The Test of the Horda , a trial by ordeal involving vicious native predators called Horda , was also part of their way of life . The tribe ' s culture revolved around the worship of Xoanon , who they believed was held captive by the Evil One ( a reflection of the computer ' s damaged psyche ) . The Evil One supposedly resembled the Doctor ' s fourth incarnation . The tribe ' s priest had access to Xoanon through an almost - derelict communications array . Many other relics hinting at the Sevateem ' s technological origins were a part of daily life , including an ultra - beam accelerator , although the tribe themselves were not aware of this . ( TV : " The Face of Evil " ) They had a belief that the disabled should be slain on sight . ( TV : " Horror of Fang Rock " ) When an elder of the Sevateem died , it was customary for other warriors to guard their body in order to protect their soul from evil spirits until sunrise . When Leela ' s mother was killed in defending Leela in an animal attack , Leela stayed with her body . ( AUDIO : " Empathy Games " ) The Sevateem believed that if a person died with their eyes open , their spirit would forever be condemned to wander . ( AUDIO : " Night of the Stormcrow " ) They also believed in reincarnation . ( AUDIO : " The Time Vampire " ) The Sevateem had no concept of money . ( AUDIO : " Death - Dealer " ) They used spear s to catch fish . ( AUDIO : " The Fate of Krelos " ) The Sevateem had a proverb : " If too many season the pot , the food is spoiled " . ( AUDIO : " Return to Telos " ) Latara , the wise man of the Sevateem , brewed ale . ( AUDIO : " Dead Men ' s Tales " ) Friendship was rare among the Sevateem . ( AUDIO : " Chronoclasm " )