Tomb of Rassilon

Facts

Name:

Towerof Rassilon
The Dark Tower

Location:

Death Zone
Gallifrey

First Seen In:

The Five Doctors

Appearances:

The Professor, the Queen and the Bookshop
Engines of War
Supremacy of the Cybermen

Biography

The Tomb of Rassilon, also known as the Towerof Rassilon or the Dark Tower, was a large tower in the Death Zone on Gallifrey.

The tower contained a crypt where the physical remains of Rassilon supposedly lay. It had three entrances: a front entrance, a dooron the roof, and access from caves below.

There were a variety of obstacles and boobytraps which made the journey into the tower complicated. One trap involved stepping on tiles that coincided with the mathematical concept pi. A party of Cybermen failed to recognise the danger and were destroyed by lightning-like bolts.

The Third Doctor and Sarah Jane Smith avoided these traps by making their way to the top of the tower by climbing across a wire. The First Doctor was able to work out the puzzles and pass through them. The Second Doctor encountered an illusion of his former companions, Jamie McCrimmon and Zoe Heriot. He recognised this as an illusion because the real Jamie and Zoe had no memories of their travels with him.

The First, Second and Third Doctors made their way to the tomb. After establishing a link for Borusa to transmat over, Borusa brought the brainwashed the Fifth Doctor along with him, but the first three Doctors pulled the Fifth Doctor over to their side. Borusa, having tricked The Doctors, took the Ring of Rassilon, falling for Rassilon’s ploy, and was trapped within stone. (The Five Doctors) It was some time before he was given his freedom. (The Eight Doctors)

There was a secret door in the Dark Tower which led to the Matrix and could be opened by the Ring of Rassilon. Rassilon possessed Leela and used her to lead President Romana II into a Matrix Simulation of the Dark Tower. (Zagreus)

Seven incarnations of Iris Wildthyme once faced Morbius in the Tomb of Rassilon. (The Scarlet Empress)

During the Last Great Time War, Rassilon housed his possibility engine in the Tower, which was made from a retro-evolved Borusa. He visited the Tower frequently to ask Borusa advice on how to proceed with his actions during the War. (Engines of War)

The General rescued the Twelfth Doctor from Rassilon teleporting him in the tomb, since it was the most safe place on the planet. When Rassilon found them, The Doctoropened the door to face him. (Supremacy of the Cybermen)