Dottore

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Dottore
Alias(es)	The Doctor; Zandik; Heretic of the False Moon (combat form) 341 349
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Fatui Harbingers; formerly the Akademiya 341
Occupation/Role	Scholar, researcher, experimenter
Status	Deceased; his physical death was followed by a Ley Lines data-backup contingency, before his final destruction in the flames consuming Irminsul. 353 452 461 462
First Appearance	Chapter 25

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Segmented existence	59	Created independent “segments” of himself from different ages to preserve multiple perspectives across time. 59
Moon Marrow wielder	301	Obtained two pieces of Moon Marrow, granting power sufficient to overwhelm ordinary opponents while he developed an Artificial Moon Marrow. 301
Authority of the Three Moons	304, 306	Completed the “Three Moon Sisters” device using two original Moon pieces and one Artificial Moon Marrow, gaining authority over life, death, time, and space. 304 306
Heretic of the False Moon	349	Assumed his combat form and transported the Traveler’s group into an alternate dimension for an experiment-like battle. 349
Ley Lines data-backup manifestation	452, 453	Pantalone placed Dottore’s final data backup in the Ley Lines after his physical death, enabling him to intrude upon Irminsul and manipulate its chaos from beyond death. 452 453
Irminsul-empowered state	460	Absorbed Irminsul data, allowing him to wield multiple elements and imitate other combat styles within the World Tree. 460

Background / History

Zandik was once a scholar of the Akademiya. Thoth encountered him during this period and judged him to be extremely cold-blooded; Zandik refused Thoth’s proposed “third question.” 60 61

After being expelled from the Akademiya, Zandik joined the Fatui and became Dottore. He created segments based on himself at different ages, seeking to preserve every perspective he had held throughout life. He also obtained an immortality elixir, though his original body still aged and died; his segments subsequently dissected that body as experimental material while Pantalone witnessed the aftermath. 59 341

Dottore’s segments were eventually traded away for a Gnosis. Nahida threatened to destroy the Raiden Shogun’s Gnosis and risk awakening the Heavenly Principles; Dottore accepted her demand to erase all other versions of himself, considering them expendable in exchange for the Gnosis. The surviving segment identified himself as the most selfish version and remained confident that he could discover better perspectives alone. 60 61

After his apparent death in Nod-Krai, Dottore’s prearranged final data backup was delivered into the Ley Lines by Pantalone. His purpose was not merely to attain godhood, but to continue experimenting in the world after death itself. 452 453

Appearance

Dottore initially appears as a masked figure whose measured voice and presence provoke fear in those familiar with his experiments, particularly Collei. 25 59

• Wears a mask during his Sumeru appearance. 59
• Later adopts the combat form Heretic of the False Moon. 349
• A smiling, glasses-wearing version of Zandik is shown during the events surrounding “Dottore’s Funeral.” 340 341
• While empowered by Irminsul, he forms a new data-made body resembling “Doctor Three Moons.” 460

Personality

Dottore views observation, experimentation, and knowledge as higher priorities than morality, relationships, or the inherent value of life. He regards allies, enemies, and even his own alternate selves as material to be assessed, used, or discarded. 59 60

He is confident to the point of arrogance, repeatedly presenting his actions as rational conclusions rather than atrocities. His rhetoric is deliberately seductive: he argues that relationships are fundamentally based on interest and attempts to exploit the Traveler’s loneliness, desire to find Lumine, and status as a Descender. 304 307 308

Dottore sees the process of experimentation as valuable in itself, even when its result is failure. He is willing to make himself part of an experiment, including one that proceeds through his own death. 349 453 462

Despite this detachment, Dottore displays limited and unusual concern for Pantalone, asking after his health and recalling the lungs he replaced for him. Near his final death, he accepts the end of his experiment with calm introspection rather than fear. 454 462

Abilities & Skills

Segments

Dottore stored “slices” of himself from different ages and operated them as independent individuals, preserving conflicting perspectives across time. 59

• Each segment possessed its own cognition and could act independently. 59
• The segments were difficult and resource-intensive to create. 60
• He erased all of his other segments in exchange for a Gnosis, leaving only the most selfish remaining version. 60 61
• His former segments’ existence contributed to his ability to evade expectations and deceive even Nahida’s initial assumptions. 59

Moon Marrow Authority

After combining two original Moon pieces with an Artificial Moon Marrow, Dottore acquired the Authority of the Three Moons. 301 304

• Freezes time for beings bound by Teyvat’s rules; the Traveler remains unaffected as a Descender. 288
• Manipulates space, including teleportation, environmental shifts, barriers, and alternate dimensions. 304 349
• Demonstrates control over the Four Phenomena: life, death, time, and space. 306
• Creates and controls powerful monsters as part of his demonstrations and experiments. 306 307
• His authority depends on two natural Moon Marrows and one artificial substitute, unlike Columbina’s authority inherited from the Three Moon Sisters. 353
• Can temporarily bestow overwhelming power on a subject, allowing the Traveler to destroy monsters that he could not defeat by his own strength. 307

Experimental Technology

Dottore combines research equipment with his supernatural authority to incapacitate, manipulate, and monitor targets.

• Uses a sound wave device that rapidly induces sleep. 59
• Employs Mechanical Spikes, mechanical claws, and lasers in combat. 288 332
• Created an Energy Domain that engulfed the Moon Marrow Experimental Design Bureau. 301
• Implanted a curse in visitors to his research institute; its decoded message reads: “Run to your heart’s content, or die in Nod-Krai.” 302
• Uses artificial environments and shifting scenery to pressure subjects into accepting his arguments. 304

World Formula

Dottore created a new world-like laboratory as the highest form of his experimentation, positioning himself as its god and treating its inhabitants and entrants as players or test subjects. 332

• He demanded that the Traveler kill two innocent people as the condition for entering and participating in this world. 332
• During the battle in his alternate dimension, the World Formula’s program advanced from 70% to 90% before Sandrone’s death caused it to stall. 350 351
• He treated both his opponents and himself as variables in the experiment rather than as people with independent worth. 349 350

Irminsul Manipulation

Dottore arranged for Pantalone to place his final data backup into the Ley Lines after his death, allowing him to intrude upon Irminsul through death itself. 436 452

• Manipulated Irminsul’s chaos while communicating with Pantalone across life and death. 453
• Absorbed Irminsul data to wield multiple elements and replicate other people’s fighting styles, including an imitation of Raiden Shogun’s Musou no Hitotachi. 460
• Was weakened when Nahida extracted data from Irminsul through Aaru. 460
• Ultimately failed to retain control when Nahida used the Pyro Gnosis and her highest authorization to purify the corrupted World Tree. 461
• Caused Irminsul’s platform to collapse after being mortally wounded, but was consumed by the ensuing purifying flames. 461 462

Equipment / Items

• “Three Moon Sisters” device — Crescent-shaped mechanical apparatus containing two original Moon pieces and one Artificial Moon Marrow. 304
• Moon Marrows — The source of his Authority of the Three Moons. 301 353
• Immortality elixir — Extended his life for centuries, though it did not preserve his original body indefinitely. 341 462
• Final data backup — A Ley Lines contingency entrusted to Pantalone under contract. 452
• Mechanical Spikes and claws — Weapons used against the Traveler. 288 332

Relationships

• Nahida — Adversary and negotiating counterpart. Nahida forced him to erase his segments through the threat of destroying a Gnosis, then later helped bring about his final defeat in Irminsul. Their final exchange concerned the nature of wisdom, experimentation, and the unknown. 60 61 460 461 462
• Traveler — Primary experimental subject and ideological opponent. Dottore repeatedly tried to recruit, manipulate, and study him because of his Descender status. 304 308 332
• Scaramouche — Former test subject who deeply hates Dottore. Scaramouche eventually fought beside the Traveler against him in Irminsul. 59 460
• Columbina — Formerly regarded by Dottore as a younger sister, but later captured and manipulated by him. Dottore used their supposed familial relationship as a means of control, while Columbina and the Traveler destroyed his Moon Marrow in their first major victory over him. 162 288 350 353
• Sandrone — Fellow Harbinger and research colleague. Dottore manipulated her by threatening her subordinates and dismissed her concern for others as weakness. He later killed her when she shielded the Traveler from his attack. 260 295 351
• Arlecchino — Fellow Harbinger who remained suspicious of Dottore’s actions regarding the Moon Marrow. She viewed his efforts to seize divine authority and endanger Fatui personnel as a serious betrayal of the organization. 260 301
• Pantalone — Collaborator, contract partner, and witness to the dissection of Dottore’s original body. Pantalone preserved Dottore’s final data backup in the Ley Lines after his death and spoke with him while he manipulated Irminsul. 341 452 453 454
• Moon Hunter Raelir — A pawn in Dottore’s long-term Moon Marrow scheme. Dottore exploited Raelir’s weakened state and orchestrated events surrounding his resurrection to force Columbina toward the Moon Marrows. 289 336
• The Tsaritsa — Dottore’s nominal superior. She ordered him recalled from Nod-Krai, while the Fatui later authorized an internal judgment procedure over his suspected treason. 260 322 454

Story Role / Major Arcs

Sumeru and the Gnosis Transaction

Dottore confronts Nahida after the Traveler is incapacitated by his sleep-inducing sound wave. He reveals his segmented nature and attempts to claim Nahida’s Gnosis, but Nahida forces a transaction that costs him all other segments. 59 60 61

Moon Marrow Experiment

Dottore manipulates historical variables, orchestrates Columbina’s capture, and uses knowledge gained from Hyperborea to develop Artificial Moon Marrow. His actions destabilize Nod-Krai and turn Fatui facilities and personnel into expendable components of his experiment. 288 290 301 302

Captivity of the Traveler

After acquiring the Authority of the Three Moons, Dottore captures the Traveler and tries to make him cooperate through temptation, philosophical manipulation, and offers of unrestricted power. He seeks to study the Traveler’s Descender status and transcend Teyvat’s limits. 304 307 308 332

Dottore later demands that the Traveler kill innocent people to participate in his artificial world. The Traveler refuses, attempts to steal Dottore’s Moon Marrow, and is rescued from the Energy Domain by Scaramouche. 332

“Dottore’s Funeral”

The Sky Screen’s “Dottore’s Funeral” sequence reveals Zandik’s history after his Akademiya expulsion, including his immortality elixir, the creation of his segments, and their dissection of his original corpse. It also foreshadows the destruction associated with his eventual final death. 340 341

Heretic of the False Moon

Dottore enters his combat form and treats the Traveler’s group as experimental subjects in an alternate dimension. He overwhelms the group, kills Sandrone when she shields the Traveler, and nearly completes his World Formula. 349 350 351

First Defeat

Columbina returns with her own Authority of the Three Moons and coordinates with the Traveler. Their combined assault breaks Dottore’s defenses and destroys his Moon Marrow, leading to his apparent death. 353

Irminsul Contingency and Final Death

Dottore’s Ley Lines backup enables him to invade Irminsul after death. Empowered by its data, he battles the Traveler and Scaramouche until Nahida weakens him and purifies Irminsul with the Pyro Gnosis. Dottore accepts the end of his experiment and turns to ashes before the burning World Tree. 452 460 461 462

Notable Quotes

“Observation is the first step of an ‘experiment.’” 59

“In an experiment, the staff does not help the test subjects; that would be ruining the experiment.” 59

“The world is always bound together by interests.” 304

“Indeed. Now, the experiment has officially concluded.” 462

Trivia

• Thoth knew Dottore when he was still called Zandik and intended to give him a third question, but Zandik refused it. 60
• Dottore’s original self suffered from motor and sensory disorientation and could not adapt to long train rides. 454
• He considered the dissection of his own original corpse a rare enough occurrence to be worthwhile experimental material. 341
• Later Sky Screen comedy skits depict Dottore in deliberately absurd scenarios, including a mock negotiation with the Traveler over Columbina and the Moon Marrows. 496 497

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