Subjugation of Skagos

Military action

Lord Manderly, having grown disturbed by reports of the inhabitants of Skagos growing more and more wild with the integration of wilding and Vale mountain clans, convinces Lord Stark that the Skagosi need to be brought firmly under their control, and not just formally considered vassals of the Wolf. What follows is a bloody week of inter-regional conflict, ending with a religiously repressed North.

Over the years since the Long Night, places such as Skagos and Bear Isle had become hotspots for migrating wildlings, seeking a new start south of the now non-existent Wall. And while these new immigrants are welcome in places like Bear Isle, on Skagos, a place most consider only an honorary vassal of the North, it was perceived as a threat by the nearby and devout House Manderly of White Harbor.   With the Skagosi reputation for Old Gods zealotry running even deeper than it normally does in the North, Lord Manderly felt threatened by reports of wildlings and even giants bolstering the numbers of the island, and this only heightened in the wake of the Valelords driving the mountain clans out of the Vale of Arryn, leading them to reportedly settle with the Skagosi. In a summit with the Lords Stark, Karstark and Bolton, those nearest to do something, Manderly managed to convince them to take Skagos by force and strongarm the loyalty of the Skagossons.   And so Skagos is invaded by the forces of Houses Manderly, Karstark and Bolton, led by Lord Stark. What was expected was a short conflict, an explanation of demands, and a bending of the knee.   What happens instead is known as 'The Bloody Seven', or a week of conflict that most believed to be a result of House Manderly's-- devout followers of the Faith --involvement in the fray.   On the first day, called 'Father's Day', Lord Bolton engages with the forces of House Magnar, and a giant is slain, or, some say, flayed by Lord Bolton, a blow to the already-small population. The second day is 'Mother's Day', and is named so because of a famous encounter between a wildling mother and a levy of House Karstark, who allegedly killed her before her own children. Whether or not this is true is contested. On 'Warrior's Day', the third day of the Bloody Seven, a second battle between the forces of the North and House Magnar ensues, with a Stark being killed by Lord Magnar.   Magnar swears to never bend the knee. 'Smith's Day' sees Deepdown besieged. 'Maiden's Day' is considered the worst, for Skagosi maidens were defiled by the more disillusioned Northern forces, and 'Crone's Day' sees the mysterious Skagosi unicorns butchered, their blood drenching the rocky sands of Skagos.   At the end of the Bloody Seven, called 'Stranger's Day', the Godswood in Winterfell burns down and when news reaches Lord Stark, it is said he flew into an uncontrollable rage. Whether or not it was arson or an accident is unknown, but the event sends the North and the Starks into a religious freefall. Believing the Old Gods have abandoned them for their defilement of Skagos, Lord Stark orders the North to cease hostilities, and accepts the formal surrender of Lord Magnar and agrees to never set foot on Skagos again in exchange for Skagosi loyalty to his family.   Following the Bloody Seven and the 'successful' Skagosi reclamation, the North grows notoriously prudish and cold. Lord Stark is said to treat the North as if it were the Night's Watch, outlawing pleasurable things such as public brothels and even the consumption of most alcohol. It's rumoured blood sacrifice returns to the North, in an effort to try and 'return' the Old Gods to the North, though nobody can substantiate those claims.