The Ribos Inheritance (audio story)

 was the second and final story in the audio anthology Silver and Ice produced by Big Finish Productions. It was written by Jonathan Barnes and featured Sylvester McCoy as the Seventh Doctor, Bonnie Langford as Melanie Bush and introduced David Rintoul as Garron.

Publisher's summary
The Doctor and Mel arrive expecting Suntime on Ribos, but find a world still shrouded in snow and ice - but it’s not just the climate that’s gone awry...As forces plot against the young King, a soothsayer predicts doom. And out in the wilds, the Doctor finds wily conman Garron caught up in events on Ribos once again.

Part one
On Ribos, King Kari is told by the Seeker that the Duke of Hishtar, one of his advisors, is a traitor. Kari ignores the Seeker's suggestion that he be burnt and instead exiles him from the city of Shur. Hishtar speaks out against him and tells the commoners that the Ribosians need to take back their planet.

Mel finds the Doctor in the Cloister Room, brooding about the changes he sees for himself in the future, and comforts him. After Mel advises him to live in the moment, the Doctor decides to take her to Ribos in the Suntime; whilst the TARDIS does materialise at the time the Doctor intended, they find that it is still Icetime. The ice that they step out on begins to crack and they run to solid ground, but the TARDIS is submerged and they are chased up a tree by a wild Shrivenzale. After a while, the Shrivenzale falls asleep and they try to get away quietly, but it gives chase once again until Sandarr the Barbarian slays it.

Sandarr takes the Doctor and Mel to her village to stay for the night. Whilst it is said that the unending Icetime is a punishment from the gods for greed, pride and sin, Sandarr does not believe in the gods and was told by her father that he saw strange lights that could be responsible. She advises the Doctor and Mel to see the wizard.

Kari comes to wonder if he had done the right thing in exiling Hishtar, having heard rumours that he is stirring up an army. The Seeker offers to consult her bones whilst he prays to the gods. He hears a robotic voice which he recognises as that of the gods and is told that he is loved and respected and should go to sleep. The voice wakes him up later on, warning him of a dangerous shapeshifter from beyond this world who could be of use. This stranger has many names and faces but is best known as the Doctor.

Part two
to be added

Part three
to be added

Part four
to be added

Cast

 * The Doctor – Sylvester McCoy
 * Mel – Bonnie Langford
 * Garron – David Rintoul
 * King Kari – Homer Todiwala
 * Sandarr – Vivienne Rochester
 * The Seeker / Baladin Smith / Computer Voice – Issy Van Randwyck
 * The Duke of Hishtar – Paul Bazely

Continuity

 * Mel mentions the Sixth Doctor and his regeneration. (TV: Time and the Rani)
 * During his fourth incarnation, the Doctor met Garron. (TV: The Ribos Operation)