Following on from the unfortunate Keira's rescue and then abandonment by Maricius the Comte Del Monte was keen on capturing the Frankish princess himself so that she could help him secure a kingdom. Not by dint of hooking up with the unfortunate princess to take advantage of her royal connections but rather by her ransom sorry return to her arms dealer husband and Frankish noble father all with the intention of gaining their backing in men and arms to help in the fight against Mariscius.
For his part Mariscius was out to deny the Comte this chance having passed it up himself the week previous.
The Irish and Picts were also out in force to try to grab the princess or kill the Romans or each other or all three of these things.
There were six places the princess may be hiding, five woodland groves or an abandoned temple. There seemed to be a lot of abandoned temples in these parts, and people always seemed to be hiding in them.
She's in the temple all parties opined before the start of the game. The Comte started off by searching a wooded grove near to the road- she's in the temple everyone said. Oh no she's not the Comte said ( I'm paraphrasing, it was more like search the first place first and hope). There was a repeat at the second grove.
The temple was next but by now the Comte was having to fight off Maricius' force to his left and the Picts to his right. With the last gasp of search time the Comte hit the temple and where was the princess? In the temple of course - oh yes she is!
The Comte then had to escape with the princess in tow not losing her like Maricius had done. With his last units fending off the encroaching picts and enemy Romans the Comte made it off the field, he was already compiling his ransom sorry thank you list for the safe return of Keira to her husband and father.
After all the minor actions and betrayal of Maricius the Comte was ready with the support of the Franks to seize Caer Doer at the west of the province of Dumonia from Maricius and establish a part of his kingdom on the northern shores of the Oceanus Britannicum. With all that shipping passing between Brittany and Caer Doer a taxation point on each side of the narrow straits seemed a sensible business plan.