The Emperor was pale yet he attended court. he was 67 and knew he was dying. the children of his three wives were at each other's throats so he sent the children of his first two wives away from court to be fostered in different corners of the realm. He looked across the hall and knew he had failed his realm. More importantly, the Emperor knew he had failed his family. The court was controlled by Alfred Duke of Wesae and Imperial Chancellor to the Emperor and his supporters. His third wife Empress Theodora gave him three sons and two daughters. The eldest was named Theodric after himself and his great-grandfather Theodric I.
Theodric knew he had little time left perhaps a week or probably more likely a couple of days before he died so he sent the majority of his silvergard corps around 26,000 of them to Doheminia and sent the silvergard marine fleet to the southern horn city of Southcliff. around 4,000 silvergard troops remained in the capital under their captain-general edwyn of bitterfog.
Alfred Duke of Wesae was scheming. He sent 50,000 Wesae troops which were mainly mercenaries to the city of dyssildorth and ordered Duke Alexynder of Dyssildorth to raise a further 30,000 troops. The adorned golden yellow sun on a red background was the imperial symbol while the symbol of the Dukes of Wesae has long been three green trees with an adorned red setting sun.
Wesae household troops patrol the castle in their green and red liveries while the Emperor and his family dine in the great hall when the Emperor collapses from exhaustion. Wesae household troops begin moving into position while the Emperor is taken to his quarters by the silvergard. Duke Alfred calls a meeting of the council after he goes to see the emperor. Silvergard troops remain at the Emperor's doors while the Captain General goes to attend the council.
"The Emperor has passed" announces Duke Alfred to the council. "His Imperial Majesty told me before his death that he wants my grandson Theodric to be his successor" continues Duke Alfred and pulls a document out of his robes. "His scribe wrote his will as I was in the room with his wife and lord Bohemond and the emperor sealed this document himself as my daughter and lord Bohemond can attest to" Duke Alfred finally finishes.
"I for one do not believe that my cousin would change his mind about the succession to the throne. he wanted his eldest son Athelric to inherit" states Aethelstan the elder. Captain General Edwyn nods his head in agreement.
Duke Alfred Hands the document to the spymaster who read it and then passed it around the room. Aethelstan and the Captain General keep protesting that they don't think it's real and that the emperor wouldn't change his mind on his deathbed like that. Duke Alfred nods and several crossbow bolts fly out of a hidden room and strike Aethelstan the elder in the neck and the captain-general in the leg as he uses his sword to deflect the rest of the bolts. in seconds Edwyn disappears into a hidden tunnel. All across the castle, Wesae household troops begin the butchering of the silvergard corps.
Aethelwulf is sleeping in his bed when Edwyn arrives. "My prince get up" hisses Captain General Edwyn in an urgent manner. Aethelwuf wakes up and looks at the Captain General.
Captain General, why have you woken me?" asks Aethelwulf.
"My prince your father and your cousin once removed have been slain by Duke Alfred who is committing a coup right now. I need to get you to safety right now. get your gryphon riding clothes on now" replies the Captain General in a tone more urgent than before.
Aethelwulf quickly puts his clothing on and buckles a belt with his sword around his waist. Edwyn and Aethelwulf leave the room where 20 silvergard corps soldiers are waiting. The group travels through secret corridors to reach the gryphon yard. Warlord senses his master and heads towards the castle but is stopped by a line of Wasae soldiers. Suddenly Aethelwulf and the silvergard soldiers under Edwyn dash out of the secret passage and Aethlwulf mounts warlord as the silvergard ready their weapons for a final stand.
"My prince you must go" Captain General Edwyn says. Warlord flaps his mighty wings and takes off. Aethelwulf looks back to see the Captain General and his soldiers be overwhelmed by 300 Wasae soldiers. Warlord flies north towards Marshalburye.
Duke Alexynder has his army of 80,000 troops ready when he receives his next orders. to march and destroy Dohemina and kill Aethelstan. At dawn, two days after the coup Duke Alexynder leads his army across the River Ash and into the Province of Dohemina. Lord Harold of Dohemina has received word of Duke Alexynder's invasion and has already marshalled his vassals. 35,000 troops have answered the call alongside the 26,000 silvergard troops that arrived the day after the coup. Harold also hires 9,000 mercenaries to get his army up to 70,000 soldiers. Lord Harold, Count Felix commander of the Silvergard and Aethelstan march their forces out of the city of Dohemina to defeat Duke Alexynder in the field.
News about the demise of Theodric II travels slowly around the Provinces of the kingdom.
Duke Alfred moves quickly to crown his grandson Emperor. Five days after the death of the old emperor the new emperor is crowned in the largest coronation in 100 years. the city garrison of 10,000 troops and 10,000 troops from Wasae participate as security and in the coronation ceremony. Trumpets blare as Emperor Theodric III is crowned and all the nobility at court kneel in submission to their new monarch. the celebrations last for a week.
Three days after the combined army marched out of the city of dohemina was when word reached the camp of the emperor's death. Prince Aethelstan wept openly for all to see while Count Felix and Lord Harold of Dohemina decided to meet the enemy at the castle of heldanhoyf which controlled a strategic crossing of one of the river ash's tributaries. the stage is set and the pieces are on the move. At this point war is unavoidable.
