The Secrets of Det-Sen (audio story)

 was the second and final story of the seventh series of The Early Adventures, produced by Big Finish Productions. It was written by Andy Frankham-Allen and featured Peter Purves as the First Doctor and Steven Taylor and was the first time Lauren Cornelius voiced Dodo Chaplet.

Publisher's summary
When the Doctor, Steven and Dodo arrive in the Himalayas, they have no idea that they are about to set off a chain of events that will haunt the Doctor throughout his many lives.

Joining a pilgrimage to the nearby Det-Sen monastery, the travellers discover everything isn’t as it seems. As the situation grows increasingly dire, they will have to uncover the secrets of Det-Sen before it’s too late.

The Abominable Snowmen (1)
The Doctor, Steven and Dodo arrive in the Himalayas and, after seeing a Yeti in the distance, they head to a camp where they meet Buddhists making a pilgrimage to Det-Sen Monastery. They are welcomed by Oddiyāna and introduced to the other pilgrims; whilst the Doctor learns about Oddiyāna's beliefs, Dodo speaks with a girl who gives her a scarf and Steven strikes up a friendship with Pema.

Pema explains to Steven that she is hoping that the monks will be able to help her ailing father pass on peacefully and asks him to return home with her after the journey to become her husband, an offer which he declines. After Dodo heads to bed, the Doctor tells Oddiyāna that he reminds him of his old teacher and that he is hiding a secret, which Oddiyāna confirms is the case. The Doctor then spots a light which Oddiyāna believes belong to more pilgrims but, unbeknownst to the two of them, actually belongs to Norbu and his bandits.

In the morning, Dodo wakes up first and wanders off towards a cave where she sees multiple Yeti. The Doctor, having followed her, keeps her from screaming and attempts to quietly return to camp with her, but the Yeti hear their whispers and turn to face the intruders, raising their arms menacingly.

Guru Rinpoche Day (2)
We learn more about the culture and beliefs of the Det-Sen monastery in this part. The story then proceeds to make listeners learn more about the holy relics and what secret is Oddiyāna hiding. We have a trilling part as the bandits catch up on them and descend and plunder. Steven and the Doctor stops them with a cane.

The Bandits (3)
Meanwhile, Dodo is sent to get aid from outside to drive the bandits away. She meets the Yeti. They become restless as they are alerted by whisperings but Dodo calms them down with a lil' sing song. The Yetis then agreed to help and follows Dodo.

The Ghanta of Det-Sen (4)
The Monks are on the verge of failing to contain the bandits when the Yeti arrives. The Yeti flung the bandits to their deaths and they met a grisly end. The Monks think that the Yeti are friendly and thus trust them to protect the monastery in the future. Meanwhile, the ghanta is handed over to the Doctor for safekeeping and Oddiyāna embraces his destiny.

Cast

 * Steven Taylor / The Doctor - Peter Purves
 * Dodo Chaplet - Lauren Cornelius
 * Norbu - Jeremy Ang Jones
 * Oddiyāna - Paul Courtenay Hyu
 * Pema Tsering - Kerry Gooderson
 * Dorje Lingpa - Jamie Zubairi

Continuity

 * The Doctor recalls one of his teachers being a hermit. (TV: The Time Monster, Planet of the Spiders)
 * This story takes place in 1630, three hundred years before the Doctor's next visit to Det-Sen, and a hundred years before the Great Intelligence comes to Det-Sen (TV: The Abominable Snowmen)
 * Dodo previously having a cold and it causing trouble is mentioned. (TV: The Ark)