Teyla was a leader of a village on the planet Athos, and is currently an valuable member of the Atlantis expedition. She had seen much of her family culled by the Wraith, although she (and some of her fellow Athosians) possessed the ability to sense the Wraith by means initially unknown. In addition, she is skilled in military strategy, martial arts, and Pegasus-galaxy diplomacy, and displays knowledge of and proficiency with Earth technology. She practices a form of stick-fighting (based on Eskrima) with John Sheppard and has taken up use of Earth weapons (such as a P-90) with great facility. She is in incredible physical shape and frequently practices martial arts against two or three opponents at once.