Day of Remembrance for Raud the Strong

Raud was another brave ancestor who lived during the reign of Olaf the bastard.

Raud was known to be a chieftain and Gothi in Northern Norway. A strong and proud promoter of our ancestral folkways. He was also known to have a dragonship far better and larger than anything Olaf had in his fleet.

Olaf decided this man needed to be converted to the desert faith and so he set out to do just that. Eventually Raud was captured and ended up in Olaf's hands.

Raud refused to turn his back on his Ancestors or his Gods. For his loyalty Olaf had a snake stuffed down his throat. A horrible death to be sure. Not much of the often talked about xtian love in that horrific misdeed.

After this murderous action, Olaf took Raud's magnificent dragonship for himself. Begs the question, did "saint" Olaf kill this man merely for a ship? For personal greed? Did religious differences even enter into the equation?

Raud stood tall when confronted with oppression and his death should serve as a reminder to us to also stand strong in the face of such adversity.

We who brag about going to Valhalla in one breath and cry about our stubbed toe in the next would do well to remember the strength of our ancestors. To remember that we are their descendants, their blood flows through us.

We today can either emulate their strength and push through adversity when it comes our way; or, we can spit on their memory and all they were by folding up and hiding like cowards when tough times look our way.

We are descended from noble ancestors, from men like Raud. We would do well to always remember our strong ancestors and strive, as best we can, to live up to their example.

Hail the ancestors!

Hail Raud!