The Dochraid was a creature of the earth and devout follower of the Old Religion. As such, she was a powerful ally of Morgana Pendragon.
The Dochraid had a repulsive physical form resembling a cadaverous old hag with no eyeballs. Unable to see, she lived in the perpetual darkness of a cave and used her sense of smell to perceive her surroundings.
Biography
Morgana petitions the Dochraid.
Morgana visited the Dochraid's dwelling to seek advice on how best to use her magical coin. The Dochraid was enthralled by the coin's power and asked to keep it, but accepted Morgana's refusal. She instructed Morgana to cast the coin into the Pool of Nemhain, the last of the five gateways to the Spirit World, and promised that her wish would be granted (Lancelot du Lac).
Merlin, disguised as Dragoon the Great, visited the Dochraid's dwelling to ask how to free Gwen from the Teine Diaga. Though he assured her he came in friendship, when the Dochraid smelt his hand, she immediately perceived that Merlin was not a friend of Morgana Pendragon or the Old Religion. She also realised his true identity as Emrys and ordered him away.
Merlin refused to leave and threatened the Dochraid with Excalibur. She didn't believe he had the power to wield such a weapon, but was soon proven wrong when Merlin sliced open her arm. Cowed, the Dochraid told Merlin that the only way to free Gwen was by summoning the White Goddess at the Cauldron of Arianrhod. The Cauldron's water held the Goddess' powers and would restore Gwen, but only if she entered the lake willingly. If she were tricked or forced in any way, her soul would be lost forever.
Merlin thanked the Dochraid and turned to leave her dwelling. The Dochraid used her magic to throw a dagger at him while his back was turned, but Merlin easily deflected the attack. He struck her with Excalibur, badly wounding her, then left her cave.
Some time later, the Dochraid called upon the power of the earth to heal herself. Once recovered, she sent a message to Morgana warning her that Emrys intended to foil her plan by cleansing Gwen at the Cauldron of Arianrhod (With All My Heart).
Abilities
The Dochraid calls upon the power of the earth to heal herself.
The Dochraid was a powerful creature of magic. She possessed extensive knowledge of the Old Religion, surpassing even that of a High Priestess such as Morgana. She once stated that "the earth" spoke to her, which may suggest that she got information directly from it.
As a creature of the Old Religion, the Dochraid could not be killed or harmed by conventional weapons or magic. However, she was vulnerable to weapons such as Excalibur, which had been burnished in a dragon's breath and had the power to kill anything, mortal or magical, living or dead. The Dochraid was able to instinctively sense Excalibur's power, similar to how Merlin was able to sense the Mage Stone or the Cup of Life.
The Dochraid was also capable of performing powerful magic. She used nonverbal telekinesis to throw a dagger at Merlin and was able to call upon the power of the earth to heal herself after he wounded her with Excalibur, though it took some time for her to fully recover.
In addition to her knowledge and magic, the Dochraid possessed an incredible sense of smell. Completely blind, she used her sense of smell to perceive her surroundings, and was even able to discern if a visitor was friend or foe (Lancelot du Lac, With All My Heart).
Appearances
- Series 4
- Lancelot du Lac
- Series 5
- With All My Heart
Trivia
- Like trolls, the Dochraid has green blood (With All My Heart).
- The Dochraid could be seen cackling at the end of one of series 4's promotional trailers. However, the scene shown was not in the episode she appeared in, nor in any released deleted scenes (Lancelot du Lac).
Gallery
See Also
References
| Series 4 Enemies |
|---|
| The Darkest Hour: Morgana † • Morgause † • Dorocha • Cailleach • Agravaine † • Wilddeoren • Wyverns The Wicked Day: Odin • Morgana † • Agravaine † • The Gleeman † • Geldred • Dragoon the Great (indirect) Aithusa: Julius Borden † His Father's Son: Morgana † • Agravaine † • Annis • Caerleon † • Derian A Servant of Two Masters: Morgana † • Agravaine † • Fomorroh † • Merlin (indirect) The Secret Sharer: Morgana † • Agravaine † • Alator † • Orn † Lamia: Lamia † • Agravaine † Lancelot du Lac: Morgana † • Lancelot (Shade) † • Agravaine † • Dochraid A Herald of the New Age: Shrine Boy † • Elyan † (indirect) • Agravaine † The Hunter's Heart: Morgana † • Agravaine † • Helios † • Southrons The Sword in the Stone: Morgana † • Agravaine † • Helios † • Southrons • Nathair |
| Series 5 Enemies |
|---|
| Arthur's Bane: Morgana † • Aithusa • Ruadan † • Mordred † • Ragnor • Sefa • Saxons The Death Song of Uther Pendragon: Uther Pendragon † Another's Sorrow: Morgana/Hilda † • Odin • Mithian (indirect) The Disir (episode): Niede • Atorloppe • Befelen • Osgar † The Dark Tower: Morgana † • Guinevere (indirect) A Lesson in Vengeance: Morgana † • Guinevere (indirect) • Sindri The Hollow Queen: Morgana † • Guinevere (indirect) • Sarrum † • Albin † • Daegal † With All My Heart: Morgana † • Aithusa • Guinevere (indirect) • Dochraid The Kindness of Strangers: Morgana † • Beroun • Nathair • Saxons The Drawing of the Dark: Morgana † • Mordred † • Kara † • Saxons The Diamond of the Day: Morgana † • Mordred † • Aithusa • Eira † • Beroun • Nathair • Gean Canach † • Saxons |