Chapter 790： Like the breath of flames of Yemengad

A towering wooden tower stands outside the city of Shilla Fort. It is conspicuous enough that people from far away can see its phantom.

The tall object made people eager to try, and some children even tried to climb, but they noticed that there was sticky grease on it, and they wailed and left on their own.

A batch of fats collected in the capture of seals and minke whales are refined into oil. They could be used as lamp oil and refined into soap, and they have become an excellent fuel-supporting material immediately during the festive season.

A variety of animal fats are boiled into liquid and sprinkled on the wooden tower. Due to the low temperature, the fat hardens and pastes a layer, and even pastes on the charcoal of the base.

A large pile of hay was piled up, and on the evening of the sacrifice, Rurik would personally light the haystack, and then ignite the entire wooden tower.

Is it just this that can quickly create a fire tower?

Rurik secretly prepared some special operations.

Two big sacks were filled with stinking white powder. Mortals didn't know what that meant, only that they were obtained from deliberately fermented dung.

It is soil nitrate, and nitrate, which could be used as fertilizer, is sprinkled in the haystack. Now, as long as the tiny sparks are very likely to cause the haystack to deflagrate.

Rurik is to give the onlookers a splendid viewing experience, and secondly, to systematically test whether these nitrates derived from manure are working well.

The preparations for the festive season are coming to an end, and people who went hunting in remote areas have also brought their prey back to "Chinese New Year." For a while, the ice-cutting fishermen disappeared, and forest catchers gathered in the city. When they returned with their supplies, the market in the city became more noisy, and cries came and went one after another.

Look! There are hunters selling squirrel skins everywhere, and even hard-boiled squirrel meat at lower prices.

In some areas outside the city, especially the sandbars along the coast, open-air BBQ stalls have been set up one after another. Some families simply dragged their families to set up tents just to participate in the ceremony at close range, and even saw the burning of the towering wooden tower.

A piece of news is circulating that the so-called princes will show a miracle, and the fire tower will show a pillar of flames directly spraying the sky, just like Yemengada is breathing fire. The giant python Yemengada is said to be a terrifying sea monster, and some people even saw it burrow out of the sea to breathe fire. I don't know where this statement came from. In short, the Viking people from all walks of life have the same memory, and they believe that the fire-breathing Yemengade really exists. (It is the Icelandic volcanic eruption which was seen by a vote of fishermen who fished for fish far away)

Yemengade certainly couldn't appear in Shilla Fort, and Odin would not condone such a terrible monster to appear like this.

So when the prince mentioned this monster, this year's fire tower must be gorgeous.

This is the reason why a large number of temporary tents have gathered in the coastal sandbar. The cold wind from the north can sweep this open area. The north wind is like a knife, but no one wants to leave.

Today is the shortest day of the year. In the hometown of Roseburg, it has fallen into "day without daylight", while the more northerly castles of Elonburg and Narvik simply fell into complete polar night.

Although the dimension of Shilla Fort is lower, today's daylight is also short and pitiful.

What is pleasing is that the sky has been clear in the past few days, and the constant cold wind blows the sky cloudless.

Now it can be said that the moon star is sparse and clear, the high-hanging moon is too bright, and even the emerald green aurora is dim.

There was no time for the sacrifice, some smart people found the location of the Pleiades star cluster and the Big Dipper, and observed their current position to determine the current time. This method is no problem when used in the polar night. In a sense, the astrolabe of the sky dome constitutes a virtual watch, and the Pleiades star cluster and the Big Dipper can be used as the pointers of the clock. Of course in the Vikings, such iconic stars are all crowned with the symbol of the Valkyrie.

Lumia is making final preparations in the great temple in the city.

Even with a big belly now, the majesty and nobility of the high priest cannot be lost! Besides, this year's situation is really special!

For a girl, this year's Hanukkah sacrifice is the beginning of her fortune.

Among the many lower-level priestesses, a tiny figure is extremely eye-catching.

She is a four-year-old Velika, and her destiny for this life was established before she was born-the hereditary high priest of the Principality.

A four-year-old girl is still weak, even walking awkwardly and talking milky milk. But since she has learned to run, she should fulfill her destiny duty.

Velika hasn't seen her birth mother for a while. She obeyed her mother's words, and how curious about her now resembling a reindeer dress?

Lumia also sorted out her big braids with the assistance of the lower priests. The so-called psychic braids should not be thrown away, so that all priestesses kept the same big braids. Her long black hair reached her waist, and a whip that looked like a rope could be wrapped around her head. The fact is that the uniform hairstyle of the temple priests has attracted some women who go to the temple to worship the gods to follow suit. Their blonde hair can't be vertical downwards, and there are many people in the garland with wooden branches on their heads.

The four-year-old Veria braided up like a braid. Seeing her mother had no time to care about herself, her curiosity drove her small body to embrace the ancestral antler helmet of the Rus with both hands.

The antler helmet was placed on the table, and she was taken off by her in a daze. As a result, the heavy helmet fell, stupefied to take the poor child down.

The voice drew Lumia's gaze, and she saw her daughter sitting on the ground holding a helmet, aggrieved with big eyes and seemed to cry.

Mother hurriedly walked over, bent over and picked up her helmet, but this action made Velika burst into tears.

"What's the matter? I heard the child cry as soon as I came in."

It was too coincidental for Rurik, and when he first came in, the baby girl was crying with her face covered, embarrassed by Lumia, who was already holding a huge antler helmet.

"What the **** is going on?! Why do good kids cry."

Hearing his father's arrival, Vella immediately cried out in a milky voice: "Give it back to me--"

"Give it back to you? Okay, I'll give it to you." Lumia hurriedly looked at her helmet, and buckled her daughter's head directly with a trace of anger.

For an instant, Veria stopped crying!

This move really surprised Rurik, Lumia, and even the other lower priests present.

In other words, it is more joy for Rurik.

At least Veria giggled while holding the huge helmet on her head with both hands, as if this was her thing.

"Lumia, it seems that she can't wait to be the high priest. She... completely accepts her destiny."

Rurik was surprised that Lumia was overjoyed, but she took the antler helmet back and warned her daughter: "It will be yours in the future, at least not now. Tonight you will attend the ceremony in person, and promise me not to be afraid. Don't cry."

"Um!"

"Don't scream when you see your father killing the deer. Don't scream when you see the wooden tower on fire."

"Um!"

...

The young mother herself verbally taught her ignorant daughter, Rurik was surprised to see from the side, and she was indifferent in her heart. He was very happy to see this funny and warm scene, that is, the memorial ceremony that will happen later is destined to be too exciting.

All the wives and concubines brought by Rurik must participate in the priesthood as lower-level priests, and the daughter Velika is the youngest priest. She is too young. This year's ceremony is just showing her face. As she grows older, she will gradually become the natural deputy of the high priest.

The stars are changing, and the constellation is drifting to where it should be. The sacrificial offering begins when the station is completed.

The Great Sacrifice of the Winter Solstice in 837 AD is the most grand sacrificial offering since the founding of Fort Silla, and the first sacrificial offering after the completion of the "Valhalla in the Crystal Temple".

The main sacrificial venue is the open-air stone ship altar near the sandbank at the mouth of the Neva River, and the towering wooden tower is it.

The sacrificial activities started from the Great Temple, and the priests walked to the altar outside the city in the posture of parading with torches.

Everyone is looking forward to the grand platoon leader, and Rurik will give everyone a splendid pomp.

Look! All the towers on the walls of Fort Shilla have lit rosin torches. The Harvest Square is overcrowded, and a large number of people hold the torches. The world, which is already illuminated by the moon and laser, is brighter.

Look at those cavalry units. The Pechenegs, including Kagan, also participated in the Hanukkah of the Principality of Ross as horsemen. From the standpoint of Kagan, today is the Karajin Festival of the steppe people.

All the one hundred and thirty riders held torches high. They were dressed up as standard Ross fighters, and even the war horses were wrapped in a white cloth stitched with blue patterns.

Of course, the cavalry are particular about their appearance. They escorted a team of priests on foot to the altar. The so-called **** is to show their nobleness. Ideally speaking, they still show the Principality’s new cavalry regiment to the parading Valkyrie.

As long as all the Ross Principality fighters in the city put on their own shirts, they spontaneously assembled for a very appropriate armed parade.

The ritual started at Fengshou Square. Thousands of torches gathered into a brilliant light and shadow. One of the torches formed a fire dragon walking on Nevsky Prospekt and headed straight to the west gate of the city.

Rurik was riding a tall Turkic horse, while Lumia, wearing a antler helmet, sat sideways on the front of the saddle.

She was so treated as a high priest, and the wives of Svetlana, Nolen, and Carlotta who walked on foot were really envious.

Envy is envy, and now I am a guest priest in a plain suit, thanks to the woolen and leather jackets inside, I won’t tremble.

A cheerful girl tried to catch up with the team, and Velika was already tired and trot happily on the snowy road.

Many accompanying people noticed this cute little guy, and it's no secret that Velika's identity was underestimated.

At least the grown-up Veria served as the high priest, and any criticism of the candidate for the high priest must disappear. After all, Lumia herself was born as a slave, she was appointed by the late high priest, and she was the first domestic slave of the prince, and she had her current status. Her identity was inherently unable to fully convince the public, but Veria was completely different. NS. This innocent girl is the princess of the principality, and she will be a high priest in the future.

Ten deer as sacrifices were led, and finally the deer were placed in the altar of the stone boat outside the city.

Regarding the smoothness of Hanukkah rituals, the Principality has kept a written manual since the tribal era, and now it is simply transcribed onto paper. In theory, as long as Rurik is willing, mass production of printing can be done immediately. This is the official document of the so-called "Hanukkah Sacrificial Etiquette Norms", which is to be preserved for generations, and its wood-engraved version has directly become one of the sacred relics of the Principality.

According to tradition, Lumia led the middle and lower priests to perform ethereal "Nordic singing". The drums and horns added during the period enhanced the sense of sacredness.

The onlookers maintained an absolute tacit understanding, they shut up spontaneously, and even berated the naughty children to keep quiet.

Neither Kagan nor Ragnar had seen such a sacrificial scene.

Sacrifices in the grassland are more about priests dancing **** dances. Afterwards, there is a reaction between heaven and man with Tengger, and the mouth of the gods announces that next year's weather will be smooth and the cattle and sheep will be prosperous. After that, the people ate and drank and sang and danced on the Karajin Festival.

The Hanukkah that Ragnar experienced in his lost hometown had a similar routine to that of the Rus, but the ceremonies were so lively and varied that the Rus were invincible.

The Pechenegs and Danes opened their eyes and watched what would happen next.

Thousands of eyes were staring at the dagger that Rurik was holding.

Look! Ten stags were brought down one by one.

This is really a ceremonial reserve program, and the sacrifice is slaughtered by the prince himself, so that we can communicate with Odin most conveniently.

Deer livers were dug up one after another, Lu Mia held a deer liver in her hand, letting deer blood drip on her face, announcing the omen of "good luck".

As soon as she finished speaking, Rurik took the dagger and raised a torch.

In this situation, the scene that everyone is looking forward to is now, the prince is about to light the fire!

Rurik knew that everyone was paying attention to him, but his daughter Veria, who was ordered by him to remain stable, suddenly ran over and grabbed his pants.

The daughter's reckless behavior was very untimely, but now Rurik is not good at getting angry in public.

But looking at her daughter's serious face again, it seemed that she knew exactly what she was doing.

For a moment, Rurik shuddered.

Velika calmly smiled and muttered in her milk: "Fire Tower. Give me the torch."

"Here you? Why?" Rurik asked softly.

"You said, and my mother said, I am the future high priest. This is my first time, I want to light the fire."

The daughter's attitude was stubborn, but Rurik knew that he had added a pile of raw materials to the pile of hay, and the entire huge tower was piled with charcoal blocks and splashed with oil. It was already a dangerous "gunpowder barrel". ,

If Veria throws a torch and is not reliable, it will not hurt herself, that is contrary to the good omen.

"Should we be together?"

"good."

Under the eyes of everyone, the situation developed into a prince holding a torch and holding the hand of the princess of the Principality.

Standing in front of the haystack, Rurik knew that he had thrown the torch over, and the deflagration began immediately.

Velika was picked up by him altogether, and the father and daughter held the same torch.

"Are you ready?"

"Um."

"Now, let's throw it!"

Rurik was fierce, and Villa's little hand loosened the torch gently. It was Rurik who threw the torch vigorously, only to see it touched the haystack, and the expected deflagration occurred decisively.

The soil was burning, and the dry reeds that had been deliberately piled up fluffy instantly burst into flames. What everyone saw was that a fireball appeared from scratch in an instant, and the entire haystack was burning.

Rurik could feel the heat wave from the explosion, he subconsciously put his daughter's face in his arms, and he squinted his eyes to watch the birth of the fireball.

People roar and cheer!

Just like the explosion of a haystack, the quiet people released the backlog of emotions in an instant. The whole city came to participate in the event. More than 5,000 people roared at the same time, and the sound wave even shook a lot of snow.

The haystacks turned into fireballs, and the flames encountered dry charcoal and grease, and the burning was rapidly expanding.

The branches rich in pine resin began to burn, which immediately caused smoke and dust to skyrocket. The people onlookers were not choked. The hollow structure of the wooden tower that Rurik deliberately became a chimney, or a blast furnace. Indeed, the temperature of the lower core area is enough to burn bronze.

The gray smoke became denser, but...

what is that? !

It's a blaze! It's the flame breath of Yemengada!

Not really. That is the long-awaited fire tower.

People watched the burning of the wooden tower with great interest. The initial smoke and dust had been dissipated by the flames. A giant torch stood outside the city of Shilla Fort. The wide area was illuminated by the burning object comparable to the sun, and the light returned.

The cheering people actually started to retreat. Even so, the brave warrior wiped his face with snow carrying the sacrificed deer carcass and rushed to the fire tower, risking being scalded to death, throwing the deer over, and then hurriedly Run to the distance and jump into the snow to cool down.

The snow in a large area is melting, and people are happily evacuating to a safe area, including but not limited to the complete evacuation of the priests from the stone ship altar.

It is like the sun, with deadly heat, and it also brings a sense of security. It touched everyone's heart, everyone was inexplicably excited when they saw the fire, and now this giant torch directly arouses everyone's excitement.

Ragnar and Kagan were dumbfounded, and they didn't expect the Ross people to actually like this grand show. Looking at the pillar of fire rushing to the sky, the two did not understand the chimney effect, and they really thought it was the miracle of the prince.

Everyone saw a flame column that the fire tower itself thought of, and the entire fire tower was also burning violently.

It is destined to burn for a long time, in that case, as long as it burns, everyone will carnival for as long.

The festive carnival that began with the flames of the fire tower begins here.

In this way, the Principality of Ross ushered in the dawn of 838 AD!