The Dread Master
Full Name:
The Dread Master
Incarnation Number:
Twenty-Six [Second Cycle]
Age:
Over 900 Years Old
Occupation:
Architect of Chaos, Weaver of Fate, Master of Deception
Personality Traits:
Ruthless, Cunning, Charismatic, Calculating, Ambitious, Sinister, Patient, Obsessive, Intense, Manipulative, Destructive, Merciless, Alluring, Unpredictable
Portrayed By:
Andrew McCabe
"Run, Doctor. Hide all you want. But know this: when I catch you, when I finally have you in my grasp... time will be mine." - The Dread Master
Overview
The Dread Master was the Twenty-Sixth incarnation of the Master, specifically the Tenth incarnation during his Second Regeneration Cycle. Within the series, he is portrayed by Andrew McCabe. As a recurring antagonist to the Eternal Doctor, the Dread Master also plays a complex role as both adversary and temporary ally to the Grandfather Doctor, embodying a multifaceted presence that shifts between enmity and reluctant cooperation.
Personality
The Dread Master is an enigmatic and dangerous figure, a complex entity whose ambition knows no bounds. Driven by an insatiable hunger for control and power, he views the universe as a game to be manipulated and reshaped, his every move carefully orchestrated to achieve his twisted vision of dominance.
He is a man of contradictions—calm, collected, and charming on the surface, but underneath lies an abyss of cruelty and manipulation. He is calculating, always thinking several steps ahead, aware of the impact his decisions will have on the future. His patience is legendary—he can wait decades, or even centuries, for the perfect moment to execute his plans. His obsession with control means that he never takes anything at face value, always searching for ways to exploit weaknesses and bend others to his will.
Yet, his charisma makes him magnetic, drawing people into his orbit, only for them to fall prey to his machinations. While he is outwardly composed, there is an ever-present undercurrent of chaos in his mind. He thrives in the chaos of others, using it to fuel his schemes and create opportunities to exploit.
His calm demeanour is a façade that masks a desperate desire to control, a need to push the universe into his own image. He relishes the conflict, the drama, the tension that comes with trying to bend the threads of fate itself. At his core, the Dread Master is a being of relentless ambition, constantly seeking the power to shape not only time and destiny but the very fabric of reality itself.
Appearance
The Dread Master is a figure of haunting refinement, his presence both regal and spectral. His light brown hair falls loosely to his shoulders, framing a fair complexion made all the more striking by a full, slightly reddish beard.
His sharp features are defined by dark, straight eyebrows and piercing light-coloured eyes, their gaze unreadable—ancient, calculating, and cold as the void. His expression is one of unwavering control, a mask of quiet authority that betrays nothing.
Draped in a long black coat adorned with intricate silver embroidery, he moves with an air of deliberate elegance.
The detailed patterns tracing the sleeves and hem seem almost alive, whispering of forgotten knowledge and unseen power. Beneath the coat, a buttoned black vest and a dark collared shirt add depth to his stark, almost funereal attire. His grey trousers, tailored yet timeless, complete the look—simple, refined, yet carrying an unmistakable weight, as if fashioned for one who walks between the living and the lost.
Approach to Problems
The Dread Master never acts impulsively. Every decision is calculated, every move designed to create the greatest impact. He manipulates, he schemes, and he never plays fair. His plans are often vast in scale, weaving together countless lives and events into a tapestry that, to the untrained eye, appears to be mere coincidence. But for the Dread Master, it is a delicate balance—a dance of control, power, and destruction.
His love for chaos is not born of recklessness; it is a precise, artistic creation. He seeks to turn the universe into his own masterpiece, one where he is both the artist and the destroyer. Every victory he claims is not just a win—it is another step toward his ultimate goal: absolute, unfettered control over time, space, and destiny.
Strengths
Strategic Genius: The Dread Master’s mind is a labyrinth of schemes and manipulations, able to foresee consequences and craft intricate plots.
Unshakable Willpower: His obsession with control makes him incredibly determined, never wavering in his pursuit of power.
Magnetic Charisma: His allure and charm can bend even the strongest wills, drawing people into his orbit before they realize the danger.
Master of Deception: His ability to manipulate others and conceal his true intentions is unmatched, allowing him to remain a step ahead of his enemies.
Endless Patience: The Dread Master’s schemes unfold over years, decades, or even centuries, his patience allowing him to achieve impossible goals.
Weaknesses
Obsession: His overwhelming need to control everything blinds him to the humanity of others, making him prone to underestimating the resilience of those he seeks to dominate.
Overconfidence: The Dread Master’s belief that he is always in control can occasionally cloud his judgment, leading him to miscalculate or overlook important details.
Isolation: His manipulations and relentless pursuit of power have left him without genuine allies, and in moments of true desperation, his loneliness and isolation become more apparent.
Ruthlessness: His cruel, merciless nature sometimes alienates potential allies, even if it ultimately serves his designs.
Notable Achievments
The Forced Regeneration of the Eternal Doctor: The Dread Master, in an act of cold calculation, shot the Eternal Doctor and threatened to boil the Earth in a twisted display of power. His manipulation of time and the Doctor’s fate led to the Eternal Doctor’s forced regeneration, disrupting the timeline and sparking a dangerous shift in the cosmic balance.
Master of Dimensional Tears: Using his unrivalled understanding of time and space, the Dread Master discovered and mastered the use of Dimensional Tears—fractures in reality itself. He unleashed these tears upon the fabric of time, causing widespread chaos, unraveling history, and distorting timelines for his own gain. His manipulation of these rifts gave him the ability to reshape entire epochs at will.
Bringer of Omega: In a move that rattled the foundations of Timelord history, the Dread Master found a way to bring back Omega—the Timelord who was believed to be lost to the void. With Omega’s return, the Dread Master sought to harness his raw power, creating an alliance of terrifying potential to destabilize the universe and control the very forces of creation itself.
Relationships
The Doctor: The Dread Master’s obsession with the Doctor goes beyond rivalry—he sees the Doctor as a brother, the "yin to his yang." While the Doctor is a key obstacle, the Dread Master believes they are two sides of the same coin. Their rivalry is a constant battle of wits, but rather than destroy the Doctor, the Dread Master seeks to break him, to unravel his hope and reshape him into something darker. He doesn’t wish to eliminate the Doctor; he wants to make him his equal in chaos.
Companions: The Dread Master uses companions as tools, manipulating them to further his goals, but his heart remains cold and empty. He cannot fathom the Doctor's emotional attachments and is thus blind to the true power of friendship and loyalty.
The Doctor's TARDIS: The TARDIS is a constant thorn in the Dread Master’s side, a force he both covets and despises. He seeks to control it, to bend it to his will, but its unpredictable nature frustrates him endlessly.
Timeline
Date: NA
(Full Date Unknown)
Date: Pre-Time War
(Full Date Unknown)
Date: 300,001
(Full Date Unknown)
Date: 1938
(Full Date Unknown)
Date: 2020
(Full Date Unknown)
Date: 2020
(Full Date Unknown)
After their predecessor fell from a building following a final confrontation with the Doctor, their body shattered and broken, they experienced a reset. In those moments, they realized they were about to regenerate. As their bones healed and the process of regeneration took hold, they regained strength and made their way back to their TARDIS. Inside, the transformation was complete, and they emerged as the Dread Master—more powerful, ruthless, and determined than ever before.
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After regenerating, the Dread Master’s first actions were to change into a new set of clothes, more fitting for his renewed form, and to tidy up his desktop, which had been left in disarray during the chaos of his transformation. Once he felt properly restored, he focused on his next task—figuring out how to finally defeat the Doctor. By this point, the Dread Master had long since dissociated from any hope of ever regaining the friendship they once shared with the Doctor. Still, he couldn't completely erase the acknowledgment that it had existed at one time. But that was in the past. Now, the Doctor was nothing more than an obstacle, and the Dread Master’s only goal was to destroy them, once and for all.
The Master travelled to Gallifrey seeking knowledge to further their quest for power. There, they discovered the Matrix, a vast repository of Timelord knowledge. Delving into its depths, the Master uncovered information about Dimensional Tears—artificial disturbances in space-time that acted as gateways between dimensions. Realizing the immense power they offered, the Master became determined to control them, believing it would grant them dominion over reality itself.
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The Master returned to their TARDIS, fuelled by the knowledge gained from the Matrix. They began experimenting with the creation of Dimensional Tears, fully aware of the risks but driven by a relentless desire for power. The process was delicate and unstable, but the Master pressed on, refining their control over the volatile tears. Along the way, several worlds were destroyed by the chaotic forces unleashed—entire civilizations obliterated in the wake of their experiments. But the Master didn’t care. To them, the destruction of a few insignificant worlds was a small price to pay for the potential of controlling the very fabric of reality. With each failure, they grew more determined, knowing that mastering the Dimensional Tears would grant them the ultimate power to reshape the universe to their will.
Eventually, the Master arrived on Earth in the year 300,001, where, coincidentally, the Eternal Doctor also happened to arrive with his companion, Oliver Howell. Seeing this as the perfect opportunity to stir up some trouble, the Master decided to create a Dimensional Tear, fully expecting nothing to come through. He cloaked his TARDIS and began his work. His plan was meant to be a subtle disruption—just enough to catch the Doctor’s attention, but with no lasting consequences—at least, that’s what the Master believed.
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With a flick of his hand, the Master tore open a rift in the fabric of reality, watching the tear swirl with purple energy, crackling with power. It was a minor disturbance, nothing too catastrophic. However, much to the Master’s surprise, something did come through. The Dreadwalker, a spectral entity displaced in time, began phasing into this world, causing the environment to destabilize.
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Realizing the potential danger of his experiment, the Master slipped into the shadows to observe. From his concealed position, he watched as the Eternal Doctor worked tirelessly to close the Dimensional Tear, unaware of the true cause behind the disturbance. The Dreadwalker was returned to its rightful time, and the environment began to stabilize. Though the Master had hoped for the chaos to last longer, the Doctor’s success irked him. In the end, the Doctor had technically defeated him, restored order, and—worst of all—won.
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Fuming with anger, the Master decided it was time to leave. The game was over—for now. He disengaged his cloaking device and prepared to depart, unaware that Oliver Howell, still lingering nearby, had noticed the subtle shift in the air—the departure of the cloaked TARDIS.
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As the Master vanished into the vortex, he remained unaware that the one person eager to prove himself had caught a glimpse of him—unseen, yet ever-present. However, the Master had learned something valuable: entities could indeed travel through his Dimensional Tears. Now, he just had to refine his control over them, so he could choose exactly what came through next.
The Eternal Doctor and Oliver arrive in 1938, drawn to the aftermath of a fallen star crashing to Earth. However, this is no ordinary celestial event—it signals the arrival of The Order of Obsidian, an undead, relentless force. Worshipers of The Harrowed, they spread fear and destruction in their masters’ name, their unyielding nature testing the Doctor’s ingenuity and patience. As the Doctor investigates, they uncover a deeper truth—the fallen star is yet another consequence of the Dimensional Tears destabilizing the universe.
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As the Doctor battles The Order, Oliver struggles with the weight of his secret writings, documenting the heroism of ordinary people in the face of the unknown. Moved by their resilience, he risks himself to save a family from The Order, revealing a depth of courage the Doctor is only beginning to understand. Though the immediate threat is defeated, the Doctor senses something greater at work. The devotion of The Order of Obsidian to The Harrowed hints at a larger, more insidious plan, one that threatens to unravel reality itself. The chaos is only beginning.
The Eternal Doctor brings Oliver home to 2020 for a brief respite, but their peace is shattered when a Dimensional Tear rips open the sky, unleashing a Dalek invasion. At last, The Master emerges from the shadows, revealing their plan to rewrite reality itself. The Doctor is shaken—their last encounter ended with the Master saving them from Rassilon, but now, they stand as an architect of chaos. With The Daleks enforcing their will, the Doctor fights to contain the disaster, knowing they are already steps behind.
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Amid the battle, the Doctor discovers Oliver’s secret writings, sparking a heated confrontation. Feeling betrayed, the Doctor lashes out, while Oliver defends his actions, revealing his deep admiration and desire to share the Doctor’s story. Their bond fractures, but there’s no time to mend it. As the war rages on, The Dishonored Doctor appears with a dire warning—the Eternal Doctor must make a choice, or the consequences will be catastrophic. Now, the Doctor is left questioning whether they have the strength to do what must be done.
The Eternal Doctor brings Oliver home to 2020 for a brief respite, but their peace is shattered when a Dimensional Tear rips open the sky, unleashing a Dalek invasion. At last, The Master emerges from the shadows, revealing their plan to rewrite reality itself. The Doctor is shaken—their last encounter ended with the Master saving them from Rassilon, but now, they stand as an architect of chaos. With The Daleks enforcing their will, the Doctor fights to contain the disaster, knowing they are already steps behind.
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Amid the battle, the Doctor discovers Oliver’s secret writings, sparking a heated confrontation. Feeling betrayed, the Doctor lashes out, while Oliver defends his actions, revealing his deep admiration and desire to share the Doctor’s story. Their bond fractures, but there’s no time to mend it. As the war rages on, The Dishonoured Doctor appears with a dire warning—the Eternal Doctor must make a choice, or the consequences will be catastrophic. Now, the Doctor is left questioning whether they have the strength to do what must be done.
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The Multiverse is collapsing as timelines fracture and merge, reality itself unravelling in the wake of The Master’s plan. With Dimensional Tears spreading chaos across time and space, the Eternal Doctor must gather their strength for a final battle. The Daleks remain an ever-present threat, forcing the Doctor and Oliver into a desperate fight for survival. Amid the turmoil, The Dishonoured Doctor returns, offering vital knowledge about the tears. Together, the two Doctors form a plan to seal the rifts, but the cost may be greater than the Doctor is willing to pay.
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As the battle reaches its peak, The Master taunts the Doctor’s hesitation, warning that their compassion may doom the universe. Meanwhile, Oliver proves his worth, outmanoeuvring the Daleks and saving countless lives, finally regaining the Doctor’s trust. In a climactic showdown, the Doctor and Oliver seal the Dimensional Tears, forcing the Daleks into retreat and driving the Master away—though not for good. As the dust settles, the Doctor reflects on the sacrifices made and the strength drawn from Oliver’s courage. Though the multiverse is saved, a haunting question lingers—when will the time for sacrifice come?
Conclusion
The Dread Master is a figure of both terror and allure, a dark architect of fate who weaves his schemes through the very fabric of time. His relentless pursuit of power and control makes him an imposing and fearsome adversary, particularly to the Doctor and anyone bold enough to challenge him. Behind his suave and composed exterior lies a mind that is calculating, manipulative, and always several steps ahead of his enemies. He is a master of patience, perpetually watching and waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
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In the Dread Master’s world, chaos is not merely an accident—it is a deliberate and refined art form. With every twist of fate, he shapes the universe to his will, his influence stretching across time and space. As a master of this dark art, he is unrivaled—perhaps the greatest manipulator the universe has ever known, crafting a masterpiece of destruction and power at his own design.
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