Fabula
Object
Object

Ancient Fossilised Tree Trunk

A gnarled, fossilized tree trunk spanning a ravine, its blackened wood split by deep crevices and jagged fractures. The trunk's ancient structure bears the scars of prolonged acid exposure, leaving its surface crusty and brittle. Characters cross it warily—Leela crawls on hands and knees, her fingers digging into rough bark, while the Doctor tests each footfall with cautious precision, knowing the wood beneath could crumble into the glowing chasm below at any moment.
4 appearances

Purpose

Serves as a makeshift bridge to cross a hazardous ravine

Significance

A critical escape route that becomes a test of trust between Leela and the Doctor, with structural instability mirroring the precariousness of their alliance against unseen pursuers

Appearances in the Narrative

When this object appears and how it's used

4 moments
S14E8 · The Hand of Fear Part 4
Crossing the acid-choked chasm

The fossilized tree trunk serves as a precarious bridge across the acid-filled ravine, its cracked wood barely resisting the incessant acid corrosion. The Doctor tests its stability with cautious steps, Eldrad’s weight compressing the groaning fibers, while Sarah uses the trunk as a lifeline, crawling inch by inch to avoid collapse.

Before: Ancient, cracked, and eroded from eons of acid exposure, lying across a deep ravine with visible splits and ongoing decay at the base.
After: Further splintered and weakened from concentrated weight, but still intact enough to allow passage to the far side of the ravine.
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S14E13 · The Face of Evil Part 1
Sonde of deception hidden beneath moss

Leela uses her crossbow loaded with darts to neutralize two Sevateem hunters. Her weapon becomes both a tool of defense and a symbol of resistance against tribal authority, bridging her warrior role and her growing awareness of manipulation.

Before: Leela’s standard hunting weapon, loaded with paralytic darts; previously used for survival in the forbidden forest.
After: Reloaded and reclaimed after neutralizing threats, still functional; she clutches it as a means of control in an increasingly uncertain environment.
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S14E13 · The Face of Evil Part 1
Leela flees tribe into uncertain exile

Leela carries hunting darts designed to incapacitate with paralytic agents derived from local flora. She uses them against the Sevateem hunters, first striking a shoulder blade and later in conjunction with the Doctor’s plan. The darts serve as primitive but effective tools against high-tech predators.

Before: Stored in her crossbow or quiver while hunting or fleeing.
After: Partially expended; likely low on supply after multiple uses.
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S14E13 · The Face of Evil Part 1
Doctor seized by Sevateem capture

A fossilized tree trunk spans a ravine in the forest, its blackened, brittle surface riddled with crevices and fractures. It serves as partial cover for Leela and later as a barrier the Doctor leans against. Its fragile structure contrasts with the crossbow bolts striking it, heightening the tension of the ambush.

Before: Ancient and gnarled, a natural obstacle spanning the ravine
After: Damaged further by multiple bolts embedding in its wood, strained but still intact
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