N'Shulu was a 23rd century Barak-7 native woman who was rescued from a sacrifice ritual by Spock and Leonard McCoy in the 2270s decade.
Biography[]
McCoy and Spock, on a shuttlecraft expedition to N'Shulu's home planet Barak-7 in the year 2273, made a hard landing as the atmosphere clogged the shuttle engine filters with magnetic dust. While Spock began unclogging the filters, McCoy saw group of natives preparing to sacrifice N'Shulu by throwing her into a pool full of reptiles sacred to their Dragon God. Spock reminded McCoy that the Prime Directive forbids their interfering, but N'Shulu escaped and runs toward them, begging them for help. Spock and McCoy stunned some of the natives with their phasers, but McCoy's phaser stopped working, also clogged with magnetic dust. Spock ordered McCoy to flee with the girl while he holds off the others. When Spock's phaser failed, the natives were able to capture him.
N'Shulu, led McCoy toward the caves of her brother and his followers, who had sworn to defeat the ruler Ragnok, whose people were about to sacrifice her. N'Shulu insists that McCoy come with her so that her people can help rescue his friend. Due to Spock's use of the phaser and its failure, Ragnok's people believed him to be a shaman whose magic failed. Not wishing to risk the anger of the gods Spock serves, Ragnok decided not to kill him, but sends him as a slave to a mountain being sculpted into a monument to Ragnok.
McCoy and N'Shulu arrive at the caves occupied by her brother, K'Barrgh, and his followers. K'Barrgh planned to overthrow Ragnok "someday", which McCoy fears is not soon enough for Spock. Although torn over his Prime Directive obligations, McCoy used saplings and hemp to make a bow and arrow. K'Barrgh considered this new weapon far inferior to his club, but McCoy points out that the bow works from a distance. He helped N'Shulu's people to make many bows and practice using them.