In Shadow Slave, the Beast Master is one of the more haunting and symbolically rich Awakened, embodying control, dominance, and the blurred boundary between human will and primal instinct.
The Beast Master is not merely a person… but a manifestation of absolute dominion over living creatures.
Before Awakening, little is explicitly known about their mundane life—intentionally so. Like many in Shadow Slave, their past is overshadowed by what they become after being chosen by the Spell. What defines the Beast Master is not who they were, but what they represent:
The will that bends the wild. The tyrant crowned by fang and claw.
Upon entering the Dream Realm, the Beast Master survived not through brute strength alone, but through a terrifying affinity with beasts. Where others fought monsters, they commanded them.
This unnatural connection grew stronger with each Trial, each Nightmare, until it became clear:
Beasts did not merely obey…
They submitted.
Over time, the Beast Master carved out a domain not of land, but of living weapons—creatures bound by fear, instinct, or something far more supernatural.
Aspect & Core Nature
Every Awakened in Shadow Slave possesses an Aspect a supernatural identity that defines their abilities.
The Beast Master’s Aspect revolves around:
Domination of Beasts
An absolute authority over creatures of instinct.
This is not simple taming. It is enslavement of will.
Lesser creatures are controlled effortlessly.
Stronger beasts resist… but can still be broken.
The more powerful the Beast Master becomes, the more absolute their control.
Abilities Explained
1 Beast Domination
The Beast Master can:
Seize control of monsters and animals
Override their instincts
Turn enemies into allies mid-battle
At higher levels, this becomes terrifying:
Entire hordes can be commanded at once
Beasts act with coordinated intelligence under their will
Even Nightmare Creatures may fall under control (depending on strength)
2 Shared Awareness
The Beast Master can perceive through their beasts:
See through their eyes
Hear through their senses
Track targets across vast distances
This makes them nearly impossible to ambush.
3 Strength Through Numbers
Unlike solitary fighters, the Beast Master grows stronger with each controlled creature:
More beasts = more battlefield control
Can overwhelm stronger opponents through sheer numbers
Turns environments (forests, ruins, wastelands) into hunting grounds
4 Mental Suppression
The Beast Master doesn’t just control bodies—they crush resistance:
Breaks the will of creatures
Forces obedience through overwhelming presence
Weaker minds collapse instantly
This creates a chilling dynamic:
The battlefield becomes a kingdom… and all life within it, subjects.
Potential Evolution
As with all Aspects in Shadow Slave, abilities evolve:
Control may extend to stronger, more intelligent beings
Possible hybridization (sharing traits with beasts)
Creation of elite, bonded creatures with enhanced power
Weaknesses
Despite their terrifying power, the Beast Master is not invincible:
Reliance on beasts — without creatures nearby, their strength drops
Strong-willed enemies — powerful Nightmare Creatures may resist control
Mental strain — controlling many powerful beasts can overwhelm the user
Thematic Significance
The Beast Master represents a core theme of Shadow Slave:
Power comes at the cost of humanity.
They blur the line between master and monster.
Do they control beasts…
Or are they becoming one?
Their existence raises a disturbing question:
If you rule over monsters long enough… what do you become?