View source for LogBrittania World-2013/12/05-Jacko-1

{{Gamelog
|Session Date=2013-12-05
|Campaign=Brittania World
|Author=Jacko
|Session Title=Killing Allies
}}
The party was trapped between the horde and the scouting party and decided to ride through the scouting party, creating chaos and injuries as they went to hopefully stop the main force from following them.  They cut through the scouts, scattering them and then riding hard for Caerlegion.

They find themselves being unable to ride anywhere but south and Senica didn't see a way past the ghost legionnaires and the Danes.  Luckily, the legionnaires ignored them, concentrating on building something, ghostly-Roman style.  Exuperata decided to stop and watch, recognizing the camp for a century that the legionnaires were putting together before riding back home.

Exuperata was advised by her scouts that the Danes were trampling the countryside but had not come within sight of the city yet.  {{npcref|Bevan}} was toasting the success of Exuperata's raid the next morning, showing some jealousy at her (small) victory over the vikings.  Bevan asks for the provisions to be accounted for so there could be a celebration that night with drinking and feasting.  Exuperata was not on board with this plan but she couldn't find a politically expedient way to interfere with Bevan so she heartily endorsed it instead.

Corr overheard some men in the infirmary speaking, low words of despair at their chances of living.  He attempted to try to bolster their confidence but they didn't find reassurance with his promise of victory or death.  They seemed certain that death was the only outcome but Corr told them that, together, there was a chance of driving the Danes away.

The feast was in full swing when Emris began hitting on Senica, much to Exuperatas amusement.  Senica demurred, not finding him as attractive as Bran and considering him a step-down though she appreciated the compliments. She did let on that if he were to impress her with his martial prowess, then he might rise in her esteem.  Exuperata had her own problems to concern her with Bevin as it seemed his defeat had unhinged him and led him to making poor decisions with the provisions.

Exuperata decides its time to face the horde and orders a beacon fire made and lit at the top of the watchtower.  She spoke to Senica about the battle and told her that Emris wouldn't be alive and Bevin wouldn't be king after the battle.  Senica tried to convince Exuperata to continue bedding Emris but the Lady saw through her transparent attempt at manipulation.  

Emris tried to seduce Exuperata once again but she decided to egg Emris on towards trying to impress Senica with 'true valor'.  She brought up the issue of the ghost legionnaires and offered to show them to him.  Emris seemed keen to obey his father's command that he not indulge that curiosity but Exuperata told him it would go a long way with Senica.  She left to gather up Senica so all three could go see them.

The ghost legionnaires fell upon them as they rode out in the dark, ambushing the party.  Exuperata turned the gang around to ride back to Caerlegion and tried to lose Bevin in the process but the attempt was too obvious and Emris caught on.  Seneca saw no other option but to straight-up murder Emris and his men and she began slashing at them.  Exuperata killed the last man before he could raise an alarm.  They ride back to Caerlegion and cry for help.

Bevin demands that Luccy head out with his chief man, Einion, to look for Emris, dead or alive.  Exuperata tells Luccy to come back alive above all else.  She and Senica head to the infirmary to dodge Bevin and heal up.

Corr decides that seeking out a green man to help accelerate the healing process and bring good spirits to Caerlegion.  He decides that the closest possible locations would be days away, an untenable amount of time with a battle looming.   They decide to head to the sacred spring and bathe their wounds in the waters.

Bevin's men have not returned when the next day came around and Exuperata was visited by Galeth.  He was concerned about Bevins state of mind and reported that Bevin was considering sending a relief mission south.  Exuperata gave the order to light the signal fire.  Night fell and there was a hue and cry later that night that arose from the walls as a Dane scouting party was seen running from the castle.  Bevin was displeased that the fire had lured them in when leading them away seemed to have been working.

The next day is more somber as no one has come back from the south yet.  Exuperata decided to recruit Delwin to assist her in a whisper campaign to discredit Bevin.  Delwin wasn't too keen on the idea but acquiesced.  She also tried to recruit Amb with decidedly less success and had to give the woman some coinage for the deed.  

The next morning, the horde finally arrived, clearly having made good time.  Bevin was already giving orders for the defense when Exuperata confronted him in private.  She told him, in no uncertain terms, that he would no longer be her king after the situation was resolved.   Senica tried to argue for a unified approach towards the Danes and Exuperata ceded control to Bevin for the duration of the battle.  

The Vikings soon brought up their ram to begin smashing at the gate and the defenders fought them to a stand-still.  Senica opened her brain to the maelstrom and discovered a whirlpool somewhere out in the Dane camp.  Exuperata visited Corr to see if he could work any mystic Druid mojo but he was too busy healing people as the battle raged around them.