The Eriksey lockup
Wermund had been a good Prince that had changed the fate of Vinland. That was the consensus amongst the nobles and especially commoners that attended his funeral.
He had stipulated in his will that his nephew Líulfr was the best candidate to succeed him. When Wermund was inaugurated more than twenty years earlier, law foresaw only an althing to elect the new Prince-for-life.
Not only did the nobles attend to this althing so did the jarls Magnus VII of Markland and Yngling VII of Grønland. As soon as Yngling arrived at Vinborg the debates started. The presence of Yngling and Magnus aided Líulfr’s case, for they supported him as they were enjoying the relative independence of their jarls (duchies).
On the 6th of June Wermund’s nephew was elected Prince-for-Life.
First thing first, he must have thought:
In February a few veterans were rewarded with territories south of Hvalvik, in an area named Hvítrfiskrland (land of the white fish). By June, Abenaki skrælings were spotted thereabouts and Líulfr sent more colonists (veterans, but also the odd criminal and a few mixed Innuit families) and the army, in order to try and create a defensive line to safeguard the region.
Unfortunately, the Abenaki had noticed the weak position of the Vinland army.
Many soldiers were still at home and supplies had not yet been fully organised, and the first Abenaki attack at newly erected Fiskrborg was a shock to Líulfr, and a lot of Vinlanders feared losing everything on continental shores.
It was late November 1421, the lateness of the season could explain the unpreparedness of Líulfr.
The fleeing soldiers fled to Hvalvik and Skalí, Hvítrfiskrland was confiscated by Abenaki. With the winter setting in, many died because of the harshness of the climate.
In August 1422 the assembled army was at full power, and on its way to Hvítrfiskrland. Halfway there, scouts spotted the entire army of Abenaki warriors and Líulfr was able to set an ambush successfully. Only 27% of the losses of the last batle were suffered. The fleeing warriors were tracked down and the second battle of Fiskrborg was won by Líulfr. At this stage, the jarl of Markland, Magnus VII was also participating in hostilities. The Abenaki were able to retreat in uncharted lands, which slowed down the chase. As Líulfr and Magnus advanced slowly, the Abenaki took revenge by assaulting Sigrsvik and take control of the area they had lost in the previous war. The entire warband then built a few rafts to cross the channel to Eriksey. The few inhabitants were able to escape with small fishing boats and sailed to Leifsey, where they alarmed the fleet. Within a week of the Abenaki cheering over their effortless captrure of two Vinlandic provinces, they were locked up on a small island with 8000 men for the next three and a half years.
In those years, the Vinlandic soldiers split up once they heard about the lockup and together with Magnus VII, who successfully besieged the Abenaki capital , the entire skræling territory was taken by the sword (or axe). After regrouping outside Sigrsvik, the demoralised warriorband was easily beaten, and with no means of retreat this time, they were slaughtered or driven into the sea. Later, the area around the former capital was renamed in honour of Líulrf’s uncle.
On the 21st of October 1426 Abenaki was fully annexed.
In the following years, widows, women, and possible dissidents were deported and missionaries sent to tighten control over the area.
(this event happened for all five of the Abenaki provs, the other option would have gained 10 a piece, other than the event itself, no spectacular consequences.)
