After 2 days of marching and four days since the emperor's death, the combined army made it to the field of battle first and positioned itself as follows. The Mercenaries holding the right flank, the Silvergard holding the centre and the Doheminans on the left flank with a reserve of 15,000 troops from both the silvergard and Doheminans as a second line in the centre. 14-year-old Imperial Prince Aethelstan who was being fostered in Dohehimina mounted on his noble Gryphon named Centurion. Centurion was one of the last gryphons in existence bred for war and he was a magnificent yellow and grey colour. Centurion and Aethelstan are flying high over the field of battle. Prince Aethelstan and his gryphon provide aerial reconnaissance and spot the Imperial host marching towards the battlefield in the distance.
Lord Harold of Dohemina sends Aethelstan back to his city for the prince's safety after Daethelstan provides him with intelligence about where the location of the Imperial host is.
Early in the evening the vanguard of the Imperial Host arrives at the battlefield and set up camp. Throughout the night the rest of the Imperial host arrives. At dawn the next day with a heavy fog over the battlefield the Imperial host began crossing the river towards the castle on the bridge and up through the forested cliffs on the far bank of the river. The combined army of Northern Aesdonia initially knew nothing about the movement of the Imperial forces until the first assault on the outer walls of Heldanhoyf had started.
Tens of thousands of imperial troops pour out the treeline opposite the left flank of the combined force and formed up into their regiments to advance as the river crossing and subsequent climb through the forested cliffs had disorganised their assault formations. Imperial artillery batteries open up from the other side of the river. These artillery pieces smashed the outer walls of the fortress of Heldanhoyf forcing the defenders to withdraw to the inner walls of the fortress. on the combined army's right flank the Mercenaries, filibusters and adventurers had advanced into the forested cliffs to cause maximum casualties to the Imperial forces as they crossed. the fog lifts shortly after midday and the lynchpin of the combined army's defence of the castle had nearly fallen. Lord Harold of Dohemina commits all reserve silvergard troops to the fortress while the Doheminan reserves counterattacked on the left flank to prevent the Imperials from taking the road that was the escape route of the combined army. By this point, the ground was soaked with blood from over 20,000 dead and movement without stepping on a corpse was impossible in some areas of the battlefield.
The Silvergard contingent had been utterly destroyed as a combat effective force and the remaining 1,400 soldiers under an injured Count Felix had abandoned the castle and had formed up guarding the right flank of the doheminan host which was slowly retreating from the field. the word was sent to the right flank ordering them to withdraw and save their lives but very few escaped those trees.
Having gained control of the bridge and fortress Duke Alexynder crossed with his remaining forces. Both sides had been badly bloodied but the combined army came off the worst out of the two. Both sides were tired and hungry when a shrill cry came from the heavens. 5,300 fresh troops marched up the road to hit the Imperial forces who had taken the road in the rear while a shape flew over the battlefield. Centurion had returned to the field alongside reinforcements. Centurion smashed into the Imperial ranks that were blocking the road of retreat. Aethelstan dismounted and led a counterattack. Thousands of Imperial troops switched sides upon seeing the Prince while further thousands fled the field. Duke Alexynder ordered a withdrawal to his camp.
Lord Harold of Dohemina ordered a withdrawal from the field with the remaining 12,000 combat-effective troops of the combined army. 8,000 walking wounded withdrew alongside the combined army and a further 10,000 wounded escaped in wagons. Prince Aethelstan's contingent suffered a few hundred walking wounded and retired off the field as the rearguard. This left 40,000 dead and wounded soldiers on the field. The Imperial Host suffered 50,000 dead, 3,000 desertions and 3,000 wounded but received 10,000 troops that night as reinforcements.
After 8 days of travel, a weary Prince Aethelwulf and his gryphon Warlord arrive at Marshalburye and inform his older brother and lord Adam about what has transpired. Prince Aethelric is without haste crowned King of the Northern provinces and protector of the realm. On the 9th day after the old emperor's death, Aethelric is crowned and on the 10th day, both Aethelric and Theodric receive word of the Battle of Heldanhoyf. Messengers and letters to all the nobility of the realm are sent out to sway them to either cause. Lord Adam of Marshalburye of the province of Marshalburye declares for Aethelric and helps crown him resulting in him being made chancellor of the realm, Lord Marshal Harold of Dohemina of the centerland Marshes and the centerland provinces declares for king Aethelric as do Lords Gerald Westerhedge, Hirrison of griffonbridge and the Lord marshal of the Southern horn Henry of Seabarrow.
Lord marshals Alexynder Duke of Dyssildorth, Philip Esterbridge of the Estergryph marches and Estergryph mountains and Christoph Silvertip of the Imperial Dominion declare for Emperor Theodric III as do the majority of their regions. All the lord Marshals begin to call their vassals or see them declare neutrality or for the other side. The whole realm is embroiled in war.
A quarter of the knightly houses of the Estergryph mountains declare for King Aethelric and marshal their forces under the banner of sir Henri of mistdale, a minor knightly house of the estergryph mountains but sir Henri has seen war on a different continent. 7,000 knights and 8,000 levy troops gather under the banner of the mistdale and their own banners. musters like this are seen throughout the realm. The Seabarrow fleet is the largest navy in the realm apart from the imperial navy's 300 heavy and medium warships and 600 light warships. The Seabarrow family owns 170 warships and over 500 trading ships. Seabarrow vassals spread out across the southern horn had more than 150 warships and 300 more trading vessels. The Silvergard marine fleet has 70 medium warships and has surrendered themselves to the Southcliff family who'd declared for King Aethelric and who own 40 warships and 70 trading vessels
