00:01:38.620Now, let's get down to it and get into the nitty-gritty and learn a little bit about these days.
00:01:42.720All righty, you all. You should be very familiar with the Day of Remembrance for Rauld the Strong, as he's been one of our Alcatru heroes for quite some time.
00:01:52.080But just in case you need it, here's a quick refresher.
00:01:56.060Rauld the Strong passed away in 999 of Common Era, and in January, during the time of Thorblot, we honor Rauld the Strong, whose shrine is at Njortzhov.
00:02:08.080His story takes place during the last decade of the 10th century, when Christianity was finally sinking its claws into Scandinavia.
00:02:17.920Raud was a Norwegian warrior, landowner, seafarer, wizard, and gothi during the reign of King Orof Tryggvason,
00:02:26.120who was infamous for his relentless subjugation of our own folk in the name of the foreign Christ.
00:02:31.840Olaf spent his reign, 995 to 1000 CE, traveling through Norway, torturing and killing brave Europeans who would not forsake their throat with the Aesir.0.51
00:02:45.200Eventually, Olaf the Snake made his way to Raud's part of Norway, and he engaged in his sea battle with Raud's vessel, which was larger than any in Olaf's fleet.
00:02:55.100His fleet defeated Raad in the naval battle, but Raad's reputation as a wizard proved to be true, as he was able to escape to safety by sailing against the wind, which was largely unheard of in his part of Europe at the time.
00:03:12.080Although Raad managed to escape to one of his settlements in the Gordi Isles, Olaf tracked him down under the cover of darkness and stole him from his bed.
00:03:22.640Once he and Rauld were face to face, he tried to bribe Rauld by letting him keep all of his lands0.91
00:03:28.580and offered to be his best friend, so long as he would renounce the Aesir and embrace Christ.
00:03:35.100Rauld immediately refused, dauntless even in the face of doom, mocking Christ and Christianity and Olaf himself.
00:03:44.360Olaf became angry and would hear no more.
00:03:47.140He ordered the brave Goethe to die a horrible death, and so a snake was forced down Rauld's throat,0.58
00:03:54.940eventually gnawing its way through his side and killing him.
00:03:59.700Olaf then seized Rauld's wealth, lands, and famous ship for himself.
00:04:04.560The rest of Rauld's men were either baptized or killed in a similarly disgusting fashion.
00:04:11.580Raad the Strong was dedicated to the Aesir from his first breath until his last, facing down death with his loyalty to his gods and folk unbroken.
00:04:24.460May we all strive to remain loyal to the Aesir, even when surrounded by serpents.
00:04:32.860May Raad's name and glory burn like a torch through the darkness of doubt.