The Battle of Giant's Causeway (audio story): Difference between revisions

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(Renamed footnote for Hopley's idea to bring back C'rizz & Recording Dates & Location.)
 
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|doctor          = Eighth Doctor
|doctor          = Eighth Doctor
|companions      = [[Charlotte Pollard|Charley]], [[C'rizz]]
|companions      = [[Charlotte Pollard|Charley]], [[C'rizz]]
|enemy            = [[Caecilius Crassus Procullus]]
|enemy            = [[Valmoira]]
|setting          = [[Ireland]], [[55 BC]]
|setting          = [[Giant's Causeway]], [[Ireland]], [[BC#1st century B.C.|55 BC]]
|writer          = Lizzie Hopley
|writer          = Lizzie Hopley
|director        = [[Ken Bentley]]
|director        = [[Ken Bentley]]
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|production code  = BFPDWSPSONVRUT0101
|production code  = BFPDWSPSONVRUT0101
|isbn            = ISBN 978-1-80240-368-8 (physical); ISBN 978-1-80240-369-5 (digital)  
|isbn            = ISBN 978-1-80240-368-8 (physical); ISBN 978-1-80240-369-5 (digital)  
|next            =  
|next            = The Children of the Future (audio story)
}}{{audio stub}}
|epcount=1
|series2 = [[Classic Series - Special Releases]]
|prev2 = Terror of the Master (audio story)
|next2 = The Children of the Future (audio story)
}}
'''''{{StoryTitle}}''''' was the first story in ''[[Sontarans vs Rutans]]'', produced by [[Big Finish Productions]]. It was written by [[Lizzie Hopley]] and featured [[Paul McGann]] as the [[Eighth Doctor]], [[India Fisher]] as [[Charlotte Pollard|Charley Pollard]] and [[Conrad Westmaas]] as [[C'rizz]].
'''''{{StoryTitle}}''''' was the first story in ''[[Sontarans vs Rutans]]'', produced by [[Big Finish Productions]]. It was written by [[Lizzie Hopley]] and featured [[Paul McGann]] as the [[Eighth Doctor]], [[India Fisher]] as [[Charlotte Pollard|Charley Pollard]] and [[Conrad Westmaas]] as [[C'rizz]].


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A terrible conflict with no care for consequences or collateral damage. Billions have died with no end in sight. Its reach can encompass ancient [[Ireland]] and a forest world in the far future.
A terrible conflict with no care for consequences or collateral damage. Billions have died with no end in sight. Its reach can encompass ancient [[Ireland]] and a forest world in the far future.


A temporal tidal wave leads [[Eighth Doctor|the Doctor]], [[Charlotte Pollard|Charley]] and [[C'rizz]] to the [[Giant's Causeway]], Ireland [[55BC]], where [[The Doctor's TARDIS|the TARDIS]] drains of power and they encounter Sontarans who believe they’re [[Roman army|Roman Legionnaires]]. What has caused this and what is the strange secret in the rocks?
A temporal tidal wave leads [[Eighth Doctor|the Doctor]], [[Charlotte Pollard|Charley]] and [[C'rizz]] to the [[Giant's Causeway]], Ireland [[BC#1st century B.C.|55BC]], where [[The Doctor's TARDIS|the TARDIS]] drains of power and they encounter Sontarans who believe they’re [[Roman army|Roman Legionnaires]]. What has caused this and what is the strange secret in the rocks?


== Plot ==
== Plot ==
[[The Doctor's TARDIS|The TARDIS]] is pulled out of the [[Time Vortex]] by a [[temporal tidal wave]] and lands, dead or deliberately shut down to protect the [[Eye of Harmony]], at the [[Giant's Causeway]] in [[Ireland]], [[BC|55 BC]]. [[Eighth Doctor|The Doctor]], [[Charlotte Pollard|Charley]] and [[C'rizz]] head out in search of what has drained the TARDIS's power and find piles of [[Sontaran]] [[corpse]]s dressed in the [[armour]] of [[Rome|Roman]] [[Roman army|legionnaires]] with no obvious cause of [[death]], indicating that the [[Celt]]s are not responsible. C'rizz wanders off when he sees the injured [[Noorie]] watching them and assures her that he will not hurt her, but she is more concerned about the Sontarans approaching on [[horse]]s.
[[The TARDIS]] is pulled out of the [[Time Vortex]] by a [[temporal tidal wave]] and lands, dead or deliberately shut down to protect the [[Eye of Harmony]], at the [[Giant's Causeway]] in [[Ireland]], [[BC#1st century B.C.|55 BC]]. The [[Eighth Doctor]], [[Charlotte Pollard|Charley]] and [[C'rizz]] head out in search of what has drained the TARDIS's power and find piles of [[Sontaran]] [[corpse]]s dressed in the [[armour]] of [[Rome|Roman]] [[Roman army|legionnaires]] with no obvious cause of [[death]], indicating that the [[Celt]]s are not responsible. C'rizz wanders off when he sees the injured [[Noorie]] watching them and assures her that he will not hurt her, but she is more concerned about the Sontarans approaching on [[horse]]s.


A Sontaran introducing himself as [[Ignatius Antias Salutio|General Ignatius Antias Salutio]] of the [[14th Legion of Rome]] condemns the Doctor and Charley to death, but Charley pleads that they can help investigate the deaths of the Sontarans and Ignatius instead has them strapped to a [[mule]] to be taken to await [[Caecilius Crassus Procullus|Commander Caecilius Crassus Procullus]]'s judgement at [[camp]]. The camp has been built around a receiver radiating [[chronon energy]] which could be responsible for the Sontarans believing that they fight for the [[Republic of Rome]] and having no knowledge of [[Sontar]] or the [[Kaveetch]]. Meeting Procullus, the Doctor and Charley notice the Sontarans using phrases with the three travellers used in the TARDIS.
A Sontaran introducing himself as [[Ignatius Antias Salutio|General Ignatius Antias Salutio]] of the [[14th Legion of Rome]] condemns the Doctor and Charley to death, but Charley pleads that they can help investigate the deaths of the Sontarans and Ignatius instead has them strapped to a [[mule]] to be taken to await [[Caecilius Crassus Procullus|Commander Caecilius Crassus Procullus]]'s judgement at [[camp]]. The camp has been built around a receiver radiating [[chronon energy]] which could be responsible for the Sontarans believing that they fight for the [[Republic of Rome]] and having no knowledge of [[Sontar]] or the [[Kaveetch]]. Meeting Procullus, the Doctor and Charley notice the Sontarans using phrases with the three travellers used in the TARDIS.
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Salutio believes that no man should be left behind and, upon learning about C'rizz, agrees to go with the Doctor to recover him. Charley lets off a [[fragmentation grenade]] which the Sontarans were using as a [[paperweight]] so that the Doctor and Salutio can head back to the causeway, where Salutio experiences ''[[déjà vu]]'' upon seeing the TARDIS, the doors of which he feels as though he has flown through before. The Doctor has the TARDIS examine a sample of one of the hexagonal rocks and finds that it has been altered to replicate a [[biocompound]] used in [[farming]] on [[Ruta III]], indicating that [[Rutan]]s have crashed on Earth and that they are responsible for killing the Sontarans at the causeway.
Salutio believes that no man should be left behind and, upon learning about C'rizz, agrees to go with the Doctor to recover him. Charley lets off a [[fragmentation grenade]] which the Sontarans were using as a [[paperweight]] so that the Doctor and Salutio can head back to the causeway, where Salutio experiences ''[[déjà vu]]'' upon seeing the TARDIS, the doors of which he feels as though he has flown through before. The Doctor has the TARDIS examine a sample of one of the hexagonal rocks and finds that it has been altered to replicate a [[biocompound]] used in [[farming]] on [[Ruta III]], indicating that [[Rutan]]s have crashed on Earth and that they are responsible for killing the Sontarans at the causeway.


''to be completed''
The Doctor starts isolating pockets of energy that will prove harmful to Rutans and Salutio leaves the TARDIS to inform Procullus when he starts to remember that he is not really a Roman. C'rizz returns to the ship with the Celts so that the Doctor can help get Valmoira and the infant Rutans inside the hexagonal rocks off-world, but the Doctor is unsympathetic and many of the Celts reveal themselves to be Rutans as well when the Sontarans arrive to attack them. Charley is unsuccessful in her attempts to stop Procullus, who does not believe Salutio's claims about Rutans, and the Sontarans march upon the Rutans, the offspring of which begin emerging from the rocks prematurely because of them.
 
The Sontarans and Rutans do [[battle]] and Valmoira demands that the Doctor gives her the TARDIS, killing Noorie with [[bioelectricity]] which inadvertently explodes one of the hexagons and kills herself as well. The Doctor decides to send an energy surge from the recovering TARDIS through the rocks and sends Charley and C'rizz to get the Sontarans and the Celts away from the area before he does so. The explosion wipes out the Rutans and the Sontarans despite the latter being a safe distance away, something which, like the reason for the energy drain and the Sontarans' assimilation, the Doctor believes will remain a mystery.


== Cast ==
== Cast ==
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== Worldbuilding ==
== Worldbuilding ==
* The [[Ireland|Irish]] believe in [[druid]]s.
* The [[Irish]] believe in [[druid]]s.
* ''[[Déjà vu]]'' is the feeling that one has experienced something before.
* ''[[Déjà vu]]'' is the feeling that one has experienced something before.
* The Sontarans' receiver radiates [[chronon energy]].
* The Sontarans' receiver radiates [[chronon energy]].
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== Notes ==
== Notes ==
* This story was recorded on [[3 May (production)|3 May]] [[2023 (production)|2023]] at [[the Soundhouse]].
* It was Lizzie Hopley's suggestion to John Dorney to bring back Conrad Westmaas.<ref>https://x.com/MrJohnDorney/status/1729897498347540589</ref><ref name=":0">'Backstage' tab of [https://web.archive.org/web/20240224221551/https://www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/doctor-who-sontarans-vs-rutans-the-battle-of-giant-s-causeway-2955 the official ''The Battle of Giant's Causeway'' page] at [https://www.bigfinish.com bigfinish.com]. (Archived 24 February 2024 on the Wayback Machine)</ref>
* This story was recorded on [[3 May (production)|3 May]] [[2023 (production)|2023]] at [[the Soundhouse]].<ref name=":0" />


== Continuity ==
== Continuity ==
* The Doctor asks Procullus if he has heard of the [[Kaveetch]], the race who created the Sontarans and who appeared in {{cs|The First Sontarans (audio story)}}.
* The Doctor asks Procullus if he has heard of the [[Kaveetch]], the race who created the Sontarans and who appeared in {{cs|The First Sontarans (audio story)}}.
== Cover gallery ==
<gallery position="center" captionalign="center" hideaddbutton="true">
The Battle of Giant's Causeway textless.png|Textless cover
The Battle of Giant's Causeway (audio story) Alt.jpg|Alternate cover
</gallery>


== External links ==
== External links ==
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{{CDNM}}
{{CDNM}}
{{Sontaran stories}}
{{Sontaran stories}}
{{Rutan stories}}
{{TitleSort}}
{{TitleSort}}
[[Category:2024 audio stories]]
[[Category:Eighth Doctor audio stories]]
[[Category:Eighth Doctor audio stories]]
[[Category:Charlotte Pollard audio stories]]
[[Category:Charlotte Pollard audio stories]]
[[Category:Stories set in Ireland]]
[[Category:Stories set in Ireland]]
[[Category:Stories set in 55 BC]]
[[Category:Sontaran audio stories]]
[[Category:Sontaran audio stories]]
[[Category:Rutan Host audio stories]]
[[Category:One part audio stories]]
[[Category:Stories set in alternate timelines]]
[[Category:Sontarans vs Rutans audio stories]]

Latest revision as of 06:36, 27 September 2024

RealWorld.png

The Battle of Giant's Causeway was the first story in Sontarans vs Rutans, produced by Big Finish Productions. It was written by Lizzie Hopley and featured Paul McGann as the Eighth Doctor, India Fisher as Charley Pollard and Conrad Westmaas as C'rizz.

It was released in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Sontarans and the first mention of Rutans.

Publisher's summary[[edit] | [edit source]]

The war between the Sontarans and the Rutans has been going on for Millennia. And is likely to continue for millennia more.

A terrible conflict with no care for consequences or collateral damage. Billions have died with no end in sight. Its reach can encompass ancient Ireland and a forest world in the far future.

A temporal tidal wave leads the Doctor, Charley and C'rizz to the Giant's Causeway, Ireland 55BC, where the TARDIS drains of power and they encounter Sontarans who believe they’re Roman Legionnaires. What has caused this and what is the strange secret in the rocks?

Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]

The TARDIS is pulled out of the Time Vortex by a temporal tidal wave and lands, dead or deliberately shut down to protect the Eye of Harmony, at the Giant's Causeway in Ireland, 55 BC. The Eighth Doctor, Charley and C'rizz head out in search of what has drained the TARDIS's power and find piles of Sontaran corpses dressed in the armour of Roman legionnaires with no obvious cause of death, indicating that the Celts are not responsible. C'rizz wanders off when he sees the injured Noorie watching them and assures her that he will not hurt her, but she is more concerned about the Sontarans approaching on horses.

A Sontaran introducing himself as General Ignatius Antias Salutio of the 14th Legion of Rome condemns the Doctor and Charley to death, but Charley pleads that they can help investigate the deaths of the Sontarans and Ignatius instead has them strapped to a mule to be taken to await Commander Caecilius Crassus Procullus's judgement at camp. The camp has been built around a receiver radiating chronon energy which could be responsible for the Sontarans believing that they fight for the Republic of Rome and having no knowledge of Sontar or the Kaveetch. Meeting Procullus, the Doctor and Charley notice the Sontarans using phrases with the three travellers used in the TARDIS.

Noorie keeps C'rizz from trying to rescue the Doctor and Charley and declares that it is her job to protect him as she believes him to be a man risen from the ocean to punish her mother Valmoira, who has been returning the dead to life. She takes C'rizz through the caves to her mother and the rest of the cult, but he is disturbed by creatures within the hexagonal rocks and follows her only because he could not find the way back out alone. Valmoira is intrigued to learn about the TARDIS and, sending Noorie away, reveals to C'rizz that she is not human and he shares that he is from another universe.

Salutio believes that no man should be left behind and, upon learning about C'rizz, agrees to go with the Doctor to recover him. Charley lets off a fragmentation grenade which the Sontarans were using as a paperweight so that the Doctor and Salutio can head back to the causeway, where Salutio experiences déjà vu upon seeing the TARDIS, the doors of which he feels as though he has flown through before. The Doctor has the TARDIS examine a sample of one of the hexagonal rocks and finds that it has been altered to replicate a biocompound used in farming on Ruta III, indicating that Rutans have crashed on Earth and that they are responsible for killing the Sontarans at the causeway.

The Doctor starts isolating pockets of energy that will prove harmful to Rutans and Salutio leaves the TARDIS to inform Procullus when he starts to remember that he is not really a Roman. C'rizz returns to the ship with the Celts so that the Doctor can help get Valmoira and the infant Rutans inside the hexagonal rocks off-world, but the Doctor is unsympathetic and many of the Celts reveal themselves to be Rutans as well when the Sontarans arrive to attack them. Charley is unsuccessful in her attempts to stop Procullus, who does not believe Salutio's claims about Rutans, and the Sontarans march upon the Rutans, the offspring of which begin emerging from the rocks prematurely because of them.

The Sontarans and Rutans do battle and Valmoira demands that the Doctor gives her the TARDIS, killing Noorie with bioelectricity which inadvertently explodes one of the hexagons and kills herself as well. The Doctor decides to send an energy surge from the recovering TARDIS through the rocks and sends Charley and C'rizz to get the Sontarans and the Celts away from the area before he does so. The explosion wipes out the Rutans and the Sontarans despite the latter being a safe distance away, something which, like the reason for the energy drain and the Sontarans' assimilation, the Doctor believes will remain a mystery.

Cast[[edit] | [edit source]]

Crew[[edit] | [edit source]]

Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]

Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • The Doctor asks Procullus if he has heard of the Kaveetch, the race who created the Sontarans and who appeared in The First Sontarans [+]Loading...["The First Sontarans (audio story)"].

Cover gallery[[edit] | [edit source]]


External links[[edit] | [edit source]]

Footnotes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  1. https://x.com/MrJohnDorney/status/1729897498347540589
  2. 2.0 2.1 'Backstage' tab of the official The Battle of Giant's Causeway page at bigfinish.com. (Archived 24 February 2024 on the Wayback Machine)