Feeding the eels

As the crippled trader wallowed across the quiet fjord in the sunrise, a sailor noticed a warboat fast approaching from S-S-W. The boat contained a middling local chief; Frithuz and his hird as well as a high-ranking Roman noble, a handful of Evocatii under a Centurion and a Numidian warrior. A desperate fight to defend life and limb, women and belongings seemed inevitable. As the warboat drew closer the missile duel thinned out both sides considerably. On the Scipio side the two most significant losses were Maion Maienos and Ingihárjáz (Lucius & friends' "Germanulus"- Little German).

There was no escape and the heroes prepared to defend their ship against boarders. The high sides gave them a significant advantage, and the Evocatii cut down the attacking Germans with little difficulty, the disrepancy in equipment resulted in large German losses yet they kept coming, while the opposing Evocatii was commited too late to make a difference. As these moved forwards Gaius Caecilius' wife noticed another, much smaller ship drawing near, filled to capacity by 11 warriors in full armour and 4 archers, this boat could tip the balance to either side should they engage.

This made two things happen, first the Roman on the other side gave the Numidian an order to kill someone in a sack (and throw it overboard). This was prevented by a volley of missiles led and directed by the perceptive Gaius Caecilius, as he figured that anything those two wanted to do must be prevented. Secondly Lucius Cornelius showed the bravery and initiative that made his family great by leading an attack and boarding party to decide the fight before the unknown (but very dangerous) new party arrived. Lucius Cornelius called out a challenge to the opposing German chieftain and charged forwards as fast as his heavy Lorica muscularum and Scutum allowed to cut down unarmoured barbarian warriors.

Unfortunately for Lucius, his armour slowed him so significantly that he never got to fight anyone. The battle was decided as Gaius Cominius noticed that the opposing Evocatii were led by his old centurion; Marcus Sextus Agelastus and convinces him to change sides with his troops. The remaining Germans either fight to the last or abandon ship to swim for safety, as does the Roman noble, Numidian and gladiator bodyguards.

Meanwhile the small boat had drawn near calling for the combatants' surrender, and as Lucius Cornelius made his way to free whoever was in the sack, the German warlord, wielding a Falx (puzzling), jumps aboard and adresses Gaius Caecilius, mistakenly believing he is the leader as he is directing the Evocatii in killing the last resistance. Rising from opening the sack and releasing the beautiful little girl held in there, Lucius Cornelius- being a true Roman patrician, see just another German warlord, but Gaius Caecilius' initial thought is that here is a German Achilleus, imposing and radiating invincibility. Not in the slightest afraid by being surrounded by hostile Evocatii.

While the newly arrived archers pick off swimmers and Gaius Cominius strips off to dive into the water, looking for the Roman noble, but only finding his helmet, the newcomer introduces himself and the clean-up is organised. He is, as they had deduced from the confidence, arrogance and loose hair, Háriáwulf Háriuhássonur; Hárjánáz and Rênkoz Mêrjoz of all tribes on Cimbrii Chersonesos, and not in a good mood, the liberated girl is his niece and daughter of Chieftain Hrothulf.

Post-battle the following is discovered.

-The Roman noble is called Marcus Nepos, but that is likely not his real name, nor does Lucius Cornelius recognise it as he would were he a Roman noble. Nepos has stayed with local nobles and also spent time at Hrothul's "court". No one knows why, but he decided to abduct Amalfriede, Hrothulf's only child. But likely it was the news of Romans arriving that forced his hand somehow, he mentioned that to Juba, the Numidian killer, in hearing of Agelastus.

-Frithuz and Gytha's brothers (Gytha is the local noblewoman escaping her brothers' inevitable doom with the Romans) are allies and scheeming with Marcus Nepos and a local magnate related to the previous chieftain; Gloáugiz, to overthrow Hrothulf and Háriáwulf.