In Holmgang: Duel at Eider you play out a famous duel from the sagas. Uffe, the son of King Vermund of the Angles, fights for his father’s honour and kingdom. Against him is the prince of the Saxons and his best man.
Uffe is strong as an ox and wields his father’s sword Skræp. Fearful that it will break, he must make sure that every blow counts. King Vermund who is blind and too old to fight himself, sits at the edge of the river Eider that separates the two armies. He throws himself in the river if Uffe looses.
The duel is fought on an island in the river between the two armies. The fighters circle around for an opening, ready to lounge forward with a mighty cleave or with a careful stab or swing from behind the cover of their shield. A well placed insult may cause an opponent to lower his guard.
Will Uffe defeat the Saxon prince?
2 players. 10 minutes. Print and play.
Uffe the Meek
Vermund was king of the Angles in southern Jutland, a strong and wise king that knew how to protect his kingdom. But he had no son that could rule after him: Only past his prime did his wife give birth to a boy but that did not bring him joy. Nothing lacking in the child’s body — in fact he was larger and stronger than anyone else — but Uffe as Vermund named him was dull and without wit. He hardly ever spoke, he couldn’t sing or compose, he was clumsy and could not at all make use of his strength. They gave up training him to fight with spear, sword, and shield. All day he just sat in the corner of the hall and not a word came from his lips.
As Vermund grew old, he also went blind. One day envoys arrived from the king of the Saxons, his southern neighbour with a harsh message. To hand over his kingdom as he was no longer capable of running or defending it. Or, if he did not agree to this, he could send his son to fight a duel against the Saxon prince.
Vermund was furious over the impudent proposal. That he had lost his eyesight was not of his own doing and the Saxons knew very well that his son was without talent. But if it had to be, he himself would fight the duel! No thank you the envoys answered. There would be no glory in defeating a blind old man in a duel.
The hall went silent. Everyone appalled by the audacity, nobody knew of what to say.
Then a young boisterous voice sounded: "Return to your king at tell him he has been misled. King Vermund still has a son! A son who will defend his kingdom and his honour. I will meet your prince in a duel and you can tell him to bring his best fighter to help him!"
The envoys stroke a laughter and rolled on the floor over what they thought were empty boast. But in the end the terms of a duel was decided to be hold on an island in the river Eider between the two kingdoms.
Vermund couldn’t believe it was his dull son that had spoken so proud and powerful. But as his herdsmen kept insisting that it was Uffe that had spoken, he bade the young man to come to him. As he examined the arms and shoulders of the young man he knew it was his son because such had been his own when he was young.
But why hadn’t he spoken before, he wanted to know.
“Before I had no reason,” Uffe answered. “But today my father was mocked in his own hall and all were silent.”
They needed to find a mail coif for Uffe, but each and every one he tried either broke across his shoulders or his chest; that was how large a frame he had. In the end they brought out Vermont’s own chainmail, ripped it open down the left and extended it with buckles. He would have to cover the gap with the shield.
It was just as difficult to find a sword. Even the strongest swords they found the blade broke from the hilt when Uffe swung it.
Vermund had a famous sword named Skræp but as he grew old he had buried it as he thought Uffe not capable of wielding it and he didn’t want it to be used for ill deeds. Now he instructed his men to unbury the sword and as he handed it to Uffe, he told him not to test it, because if also Skræp broke, no blade would hold.
On the agreed day for the duel, both armies met at the river Eider. Angles on the north side and Saxons south. Vermund sat himself down at the edge of the riverbank.
The duel began on the island. For a long while Uffe let the two opponents attack and only defended himself with the shield because he didn’t trust that Skræp would hold for more than one good hit before it broke. As Vermund didn’t hear the familiar sound of his own sword, he moved closer to the edge so he could throw himself in the river if Uffe lost.
Then Uffe started taunting his opponents who were protecting each other. “You may be big and strong, but why do you hide behind your lord? They say you are the Saxon’s best man. Why don’t you prove it?” This the Saxon couldn’t let sit so he rushed forward — and Uffe swung his weapon and cleaved him half through!
“Thus spoke Skræp!” said Vermund and moved back his chair a little.
Next up was the Saxon prince. “Is it true that you never see sons of kings in the first line of battle when Saxons go to war? Look at your dead battle brother. How long before you will avenge your fallen friend? Or is that not something you Saxons do either?” The Saxon prince could not help it but blazed forward only to meet the same fate as the other.
"Twice sang Skræp!" Vermund rose to greet his son. And the army of the Angles cheered while the Saxons went away ashamed.