Son of the Dragon ( audio story ) Like preceding Erimem adventures " The Church and the Crown " and " The Council of Nicaea " , it was a so - called " pure historical " : a story featuring no science fiction al elements outside of the Doctor ' s TARDIS . Also in common with several other Erimem stories , " Dragon " contained an element of tension over whether Erimem would be departing . In this case , listeners heard the story of Erimem ' s first engagement , presaging her eventual royal matrimonial departure in " The Bride of Peladon " . The title referenced Vlad the Great , Dracula ' s father , known as " the Dragon " . Although the pre - titles sequence of part one directly stated that the " Son of the Dragon " was Dracula , in fact the rest of the story made clear that the title also applied to Vlad the Great ' s " other " son , Radu the Handsome . The contrast between the two leaders was one of the central themes of the piece . Publisher ' s summary . I am Prince Vlad III — son of Vlad the Great , and sovereign and ruler of Ungro - Wallachia and the duchies of Amlas and Fagaras . But since my father ' s murder , I have had another name . I am Dracula . Plot . Part one . The Fifth Doctor arrives in 1462 with Peri Brown and Erimem . The TARDIS materialises in the ruins of a small village . Disgusted by the smell , they find the village burned and the livestock slaughtered . The people were impaled and left to die . One lingering victim tells them that the destruction was by the Son of the Dragon , also known as Dracula . The Doctor deduce s that they are in Wallachia , and a group of soldiers approach . They run . The Doctor is embarrassed by a fall into a pit trap , and they are caught by Radu the Handsome and the Sultan ' s Army . Radu is impressed by former pharaoh Erimem , and places them under his protection . They head to the soldier ' s camp , which was away from the TARDIS . Erimem rides ahead at Radu ' s request . The Doctor corrects Peri when she mentions Count Dracula , telling her that the real man , Prince Vlad Dracula III , ruler of this area , was worse . They have already seen Vlad the Impaler ' s favourite form of punishment , meaning that the villagers were probably collaborating with the enemies of the voivode of Wallachia . They realise they are travelling with the prince ' s enemies , the Turkish army led by Sultan Mehmed II , also known as Mehmed the Conqueror . Radu , Erimem , and the soldiers reach the next village , where they find the well is poisoned , as Vlad has been destroying his own crops and livestock to hinder the invading army . Radu believes the Doctor is their jester , and considers him poor protection from the prince for two women alone . Erimem laughs and says the Doctor is no fool . He offers them food , water , and a pace in their camp , but warns there will be a price later . He goes to arrange this . The Doctor and Peri eat in the tent , the Doctor telling stories about the historical Dracula . He mentions that to some people , Vlad is the hero who saves them from the Turks . The Doctor would like to meet the man , but Peri wants to get out before being caught in a war . She hears a noise outside and worries about real vampires , and the Doctor mentions that they ' re real , and he ' s met them . It turns out to be Erimem , who also wants to leave , before she and Peri end up as concubine s to the Sultan . They make plans to meet near Radu ' s tent and sneak out . Radu catches the Doctor skulking around his tent , and they discuss the war . The Doctor reveals that he knows Radu is Vlad ' s brother . They ' re interrupted by an attack , and a suspicious Radu rushes off to protect the Sultan . The Doctor recognises that he has , yet again , landed on an infamous date . Erimem and the Doctor meet in the woods and worry about Peri . The Doctor wants Erimem to navigate southwest by the stars , away from the battle , so he can concentrate on finding Peri . Erimem brandishes a sword , and the Doctor warns her that if she uses a scimitar , she ' ll be declaring herself an enemy of Vlad . She compromises , keeping the sword for self defence , but agreeing to leave , providing the Doctor finds Peri and brings her back . Peri is awakened by a young Turkish girl , Ayfer , who warns her that the prince is in the camp and will slaughter her . Peri talks her into helping her pull down a tent pole to defend themselves . A burning arrow hits the tent and they are forced to leave . Radu finds the Doctor , reporting that the Sultan has fled . He offers the Doctor a sword . The Doctor refuses but needs to change his mind rather quickly as enemy soldiers spot them . They prepare to defend themselves . Erimem saves a horseman from a Turkish attack , and the man recognises from her clothing that she is not Turkish . She introduces herself and the man assumes she was a prisoner . He wants to reward her courage and offers to take her away with him . He is offended by her refusal , but thinks it is because she doesn ' t know him . He reveals himself as Dracula . Part two . " to be added "