In-game year: 488
Summary
Uther’s expeditionary force crosses the Channel to aid Syagrius in Gaul against the Franks. At Caen, the Gallo-Romans welcome the Britons with a feast where the companions size up their allies, name their conrois, and learn that Roman confidence about numbers is mostly vibes. In a sudden escalation of courtship politics, Millicent pushes Sir Madoc into an immediate elopement: they marry in a rushed ceremony officiated by the Bishop of Caen, with the companions as witnesses.
Marching northeast, the allied host finds Calais under Frankish siege. Roman estimates prove disastrously wrong: the Franks outnumber the allies roughly two-to-one. The companions propose a coordinated trap: Assterius infiltrates Calais to secure cooperation from Baroness Pomponia, and at the signal of two horn blasts answered by church bells, the garrison sorties while the British strike a siege-wing from behind. The maneuver works—Asterius’ wedge splits formations, Drustin’s men break the line in a savage charge, and the siege is lifted. The companions hold discipline and do not pursue the fleeing Franks, but everyone is left with the uneasy sense that history itself has been knocked off its expected track.
Scene/Beat Log
- Orders to Gaul: King Syagrius requests aid; Uther sends an army under Sir Madoc with a second battalion commanded by Millicent.
- Conroi names:
- Assterius — The Astra
- Drustin — Les Misérables
- Millicent — A Woman Scorned
- Geraint — The Normans
- Liam — Team White (a.k.a. “Liams of the Lake”)
- Feast at Caen: Millicent dazzles with dancing; Liam makes friends with quartermaster Marius Gallus (javelins); Drustin tries to talk tactics while being tragically pretty and tragically sad; Asterius attempts “comfort” with cheese and makes it worse.
- The elopement: Millicent corners Madoc; Madoc finds a bishop; Madoc and Millicent marry (no time for asking Uther’s leave).
- Calais revealed: The host reaches Calais under siege; allies are outnumbered.
- Infiltration: Assterius crawls through siege mud and slips inside; Pomponia confirms provisions are fine and agrees to coordinate.
- Signal plan: Two horn blasts → Calais church bells answer → garrison sorties the eastern gate while the Britons hit the siege line from the rear.
- Battle of Calais: Surprise succeeds; a Frankish wing is enveloped; the siege breaks.
- Aftermath: The companions do not pursue. Pomponia credits Asterius heavily and later sleeps with him as a “reward.”
Characters (appeared / impacted)
- Millicent — battalion commander; marries Madoc; fights at Calais.
- Sir Madoc — army commander; marries Millicent; leads in the battle.
- Assterius — infiltrates Calais; coordinates signals; leads a wedge charge; entangled with Pomponia.
- Drustin — battlefield inspiration via Lady Ellen spiral; leads “Les Misérables.”
- Liam — gains javelins connection through Marius Gallus; leads Team White.
- Sir Geraint — leads “The Normans”; rallies men with homage.
- Syagrius — Gallo-Roman ruler; needs British aid.
- Baroness Pomponia — commander at Calais; ally in the trap plan.
- Hlodowig — Frankish king; enemy leader.
Loot / Rewards / Glory / Notable Rolls
- Drustin: +2 Hero Points for inspiring his men with the Lady Ellen rant.
- Battle victory: each PC gains one weapon-skill check of choice.
- Loyalty (Companions) check is available to anyone missing it.
- Millicent: checks earned/flagged — Merciful, Chaste, Love/Adoration (Madoc), and Loyalty (Homage: Lord/High King).
- Liam: Thrown Weapons improvement attempt fails this session.
Experience / Improvements (FVTT log)
- Drustin: Modest ↑; Spiritual ↑.
- Liam: Battle ↑; Homage (High King) ↑; Loyalty (Companions) ↑. (Thrown Weapon: no improvement)
- Assterius: Courtesy ↑; Sword ↑; Lustful ↑; Cruel ↑; Prudent ↑; Hate (Saxons) ↑; Literacy (Greek) ↑.
- Millicent: Dancing ↑; Intrigue ↑; Merciful ↑; Cowardly ↑; Loyalty (Companions) ↑.
- Sir Geraint: Dancing ↑; Play Instrument ↑; Valorous ↑; Station ↑; Religion (Christian) ↑; Loyalty (Companions) ↑.
(Only improvements listed; see FVTT log for full roll list.)
Consequences & New Facts
- Political bomb: Millicent and Madoc’s marriage occurred without Uther’s permission.
- Roman intel failure: Roman confidence about numbers was dangerously wrong.
- History diverges: Calais “should” have been a defeat; instead the allies win.