The Ross hunters all enjoyed being served like masters. Most of them rested for a whole day. Although they had sex with local women, they felt stronger.
Rus has formed an alliance with Balmok, and most people are very unfamiliar with this tribe in the Western Harbor. They seem to have 20,000 members, and every man has the dream of conquering the endless sea (Atlantic Ocean). They should not be underestimated.
Rurik came with a strong purpose, and he didn't need to worry too much about the follow-up.
Mechasta accepted the task, and he arranged for some manpower to continue mining in the winter. The furnaces of the blacksmith workshop in Ellenburg were completely handled by Kawei and Kamne, and ferrochrome was still being produced.
Rurik's eyes were fixed on the north, the winter pastures of deer herders, the land of bears, and the land of giant trees.
Rurik only knew the macro-geographical outline of Northern Europe, but he did not know the precise location of the mineral resources.
He is an explorer who knows only a little bit, and the other tribesmen simply don't know.
Heading north to hunt for precious furs comes with great risks, and the cold is more terrifying than polar bears.
It is said that the Rus or other Vikings were not afraid of the severe cold and dared to run shirtless in the snow. Only a few madmen dared to do so.
Which of the hunters under Rurik is not fully armed? Everyone wore very thick clothes and the weapons in their hands were also very sophisticated.
He still took Saibolava with him, and the two of them sat in a warm and wind-proof sleigh, carrying a heavy weapon such as a torsion slingshot. In the "reindeer army" driven by three hundred hunters, Balmok explorers, and even deer herders, A mighty rush towards a very definite place.
Ironburgh is a key base in the north and is expected to develop into a prosperous city.
However, Rurik considered the new situation and Ironburg could no longer be regarded as a frontier fortress. He needed to build a further northern stronghold for winter hunting, and this stronghold had to operate year-round to provide a safe and reliable way station for the trade routes with new allies that were destined to flourish in the future.
It had to be in the north, it had to be adjacent to a river, and preferably it had to be self-reliant.
Rurik did not have to build a new stronghold because the Russians had already established it.
He didn't have to worry about anything. The army was advancing rapidly along the frozen river, and its destination was the lake upstream.
The Ayron (Kemi) river originates from the Murmansk plateau and flows into a soothing area where several rivers meet. Especially a very critical stream, which comes from the north of the central mountains of Scandinavia. Its specific source is an alpine lake. To the west of the lake, under the mountain is the huge Narvik Gorge where the Balmok tribe is located. Bay.
The confluence of the rivers forms a lake, which is home to a variety of cold-water fish and a spawning ground for several salmon populations.
In another era, a Finnish city called Rovaniemi was founded here. Now the Rus conquered it and established a seasonal settlement.
Rurik decided to make it permanent. The so-called fishing in summer and hunting of animals in winter will serve as a station to welcome guests all year round.
Her destiny was Fiscolle Castle, also known as Fisherman's Bastion, and Rurik decided to permanently name it after her.
The destination of the hunting army? Fort Fiscolle! go ahead!
The deer herders drove the deer back and forth, and only the deer pulling the sled moved forward faster.
More than three hundred people crowded into forty sleds. They brought a batch of food and construction tools. They were very confident in building a solid winter, but the area they were traveling in was quite unfamiliar to everyone.
A sleigh was pulled by only two reindeer. Thanks to the smoothness of the glacier, Rurik did not feel that the reindeer were too tired. People continued to advance under the cover of night for a while. When they got really tired, they camped in the snow beside the glacier.
How far is Fiscolle?
Rurik was counting the time. They were dawdling on the road for two whole days. They set out early in the morning, and it was not until the evening of the third day that people finally realized that the world ahead was smooth.
The soft light of the setting sun illuminates the magnificent sunset, and the frozen lake is also a glow.
Seeing such a scene, Rurik was also intoxicated by its beauty.
"The ice and snow world is really beautiful? It's just too cold." An unknown force urged him to jump off the sled. Rurik stood on the thick ice and shouted an order: "Find our summer camp? Just camp there!"
The fishing camp built in the summer was right next to the lake. Rurik looked around. Without bothering his men to search, he quickly discovered those wooden buildings.
The team soon set off to its final destination. Some people who had fished here in the summer had returned. They could not recognize the group of wooden houses covered with thick snow for a while.
Look at all this.
Rurik pinched his waist and was pleased with the struggle of his tribe: "How wonderful? I thought we would build a lot of houses, but I didn't expect it! It seems that I only need to build a wooden fence to protect the wind?"
Biyongni stepped forward: "I have been here before, and this is where I met your people."
"Oh?" Rurik slapped his forehead: "I remember, you said this. What do you think of this place now?"
Biyongni shrugged: "There is too much snow. If it is cleaned, it can still be habitable. The house is simple and we can build it immediately. At least this should be used as a stable camp. I don't want to sleep outside."
"That's fine. We'll start logging now, and then the brothers will spread out and hunt freely."
"Free hunting?" Biyongni was startled: "I thought your army was going to cooperate in hunting. Bears cannot be killed by one person. Could it be..."
Rurik laughed confidently: "My people like to hunt freely. If you encounter a bear, kill it or be killed by it. Real warriors are not afraid of cold and wild beasts. If you die, it will be your fate." . You should understand that the bravest warriors need this kind of experience."
Biyoni had nothing to say. He still felt that Rurik was reckless in letting his tribe go, because bears were dangerous.
Rurik had just settled down and even had a few words with Biyongni, when the crisis suddenly came.
In the wild world, danger always occurs suddenly.
Some hunters saw strange scratches on the wood of the old camp. They instinctively became vigilant and drew out their swords or picked up their crossbows with arrows.
There seemed to be a monster hidden in the ajar wooden door. Several hunters walked cautiously and opened the wooden door to see the monster nesting inside.
The monster began to roar, then rushed out howling, and finally its huge figure was exposed in the sunset.
Many hunters were knocked down, but thanks to the protection of very thick leather jackets and the snow in the surrounding world, everyone saved their lives. They got up, picked up their swords and were about to fight the monster.
More hunters took action, and hundreds of pairs of eyes saw it. A brown bear that had stolen a camp house to hibernate rushed out. More than a dozen hunters stabbed the bear with their spears, which were used as marching staffs. The bear was struggling wildly as it howled in pain. The Ross hunters did not dare to attack rashly anymore. They had a more reliable way to kill the bear.
The hunters in the team who were in charge of the deadly steel-arm crossbow used all their strength to cock it, then installed a cone-headed armor-piercing arrow, and hit the bear's head at close range. Isn't the bear's skull an iron plate? The arrow is inserted into the bear's forehead, and the giant beast dies...
Such a crazy bear hunting scene was clearly seen by Biyongni.
He focused on the Ross Hunter's final attack, and was immediately stunned: "That crossbow of yours, actually..."
"How is it?" Rurik's heart was beating wildly. He knew that the threat would be lifted in an instant, but he couldn't control his trembling at all. He tried his best to cover up his nervousness with a smile: "This is how we hunt bears. The crossbow can hunt bears, and the crossbow can kill squirrels."
"It was killed by you like this? It's amazing. Rurik!" Biyongni slapped Rurik's shoulder directly: "My brother, I ask you to give our tribe some crossbows. Oh no, we I’m willing to give salt in exchange.”
Do you want to send weapons to new allies? Rurik couldn't answer for a while.
He simply remained silent, being more sensible than Yongni and didn't ask any more questions. The Russian crossbow has completely changed Biyoni's understanding of bows and arrows. In the harbor of their hometown, the tribesmen know how to make bows and arrows, but the hunter's bow is only moderately powerful. It can kill wild deer at most. Otherwise, don't try to hunt bears.
Many of the people knocked down by the bear had their mouths broken. They were slapped by the tribesmen and praised, "God protects you and is safe."
Unexpectedly, the bear hunt started like this. The first bear killed was actually a brown bear. It seemed that in this frozen world, there must be a number of caves hiding bears in the hidden corners of the forest.
The leather of brown bears is not as valuable as that of polar bears, as the former hibernates and the latter roams around.
In this era, polar bears wandering on land would even use ambushes to hunt wandering reindeer. As for hunting seals on the Arctic Ocean ice cap, guarding the ice was another option. The world that the Russians entered was no different from a no-man's land. A group of deer herders who still lived freely in the vast world could not have any impact on the ecology of this world.
Polar bears still roam the area, of which the Russians are sure. Now everyone has a new option - find caves to shoot hibernating brown bears.
Bear bile seemed to make a man more masculine, but Rurik didn't believe it at all. Some hunters are interested in brown bear entrails, especially the bear's liver. As for the bear meat, it was naturally shared by everyone. Everyone got a piece of bear meat, which was roasted and eaten. This was the beginning of the hunting event.
The Russians settled down in the old summer camp. Carrying axes and two-man saws, they cut down the surrounding pine forests and reinforced their houses with wood.
A house selected by Rurik was strengthened and built, and in the future it would be a storage warehouse for bearskins or other leathers.
The construction work lasted for three days. Except for the more than 50 people who took care of the sleigh-pulling reindeer and continued to build the wall, the other 200 or so people dispersed around the Fiskole stronghold. Hunters spontaneously formed a hunting team, mostly with relatives and friends as their ties, and usually in groups of ten, dragging makeshift small sleds carrying important supplies and weapons deep into the pine forest.
Rurik is among them!
Perhaps the most noble leader of the Russian people should not have ventured into the unknown ice and snow to hunt bears. Considering the public opinion and the attention of the "Prince" of Balmok, he felt that he had to shoot a few bears himself to prove it to everyone. At a young age, he already had the ability to fight on his own.
The daily life of the tribesmen lacks entertainment, and fighting with their wives, concubines, and brothers is probably the most interesting entertainment. As for the game of "urn grabbing" (the original rugby), it was no different from a fight. People need all kinds of interesting news so that everyone can gather together and chew their tongues. Rurik concluded that people would not care how he hunted the bear. They only looked at the result. It was enough that Lord Rurik shot the bear himself. Because the group of "wild story kings" in the tribe will spontaneously add fuel to the fire, add various buffs to their Lord Rurik, and describe him as a heroic warrior.
How to hunt bears in Rurik? The torsion slingshot on that sled is his weapon!
He took Saipolava, together with more than a dozen elite mercenaries such as Yevro and thirteen Balmoks including Biyongni, to form a bear hunting team and rushed to the eastern world.
They move along a glacier, and the world ahead is very unfamiliar to everyone.
Not really. Rurik knew full well that continuing to the east was Murmansk. Maybe he would meet a new family of deer herders on the journey?
They kept moving, as if they were the only living creatures moving in the frozen world.
The ice and snow absorb too much sound, and the world is extremely quiet every night when camping. For this reason, people can only continue to light bonfires, firstly to keep warm, and secondly to avoid attacks by unknown monsters.
Rurik had been advancing on the frozen Ellon River, and his bear hunting party became essentially the first expedition to explore the source of the river.
Their team of nearly thirty people and six reindeer walked on the ice for another three days. Polar bear? No trace at all! The world is quiet, peaceful and extremely cold, everything is like the legendary realm of gods.
A new frozen lake area appeared.
Wrapped in the snow-capped pine forest, the huge world ahead is actually covered with ice? It’s as if this place should be a sea!
It's not a sea, it's a lake!
Biyongni and Floki, these two Balmoks saw such a spectacular lake for the first time, and then an inexplicable feeling of fear spread throughout their bodies.
The group of people were stunned, and Biyongni was still frightened. He asked about Rurik: "Maybe the bear is not in this area, so we should change the route. The ice and snow world ahead is very dangerous. Look at this big lake, there may be ice and snow monsters hidden in it. If we continue to move forward, we may fall into the icy water and be pulled down and eaten by monsters."
Rurik didn't feel scared at all. On the contrary, he didn't find even a bear's footprints along the way, which was really annoying.
"What? Are you afraid? The future leader of Balmok, a strong warrior, is actually afraid?"
Rurik's words were full of disdain, and Biyongni simply stopped complaining. He asked: "What do you want to do? Keep moving forward? If you can predict the general situation ahead, I am willing to fight."
"Keep going! I'll never go back without killing a bear."
Rurik spoke with gritted teeth. How could Yongni question such firm words? He teased his younger brother: "Floki, look at how perseverant your brother Rurik is. You must learn from him."
"My attitude is to keep going." Floki also patted Rurik on the shoulder: "We are brothers, and we will naturally face any challenges together."
Are these words of encouragement? Rurik didn't care at all, he was just holding his breath. After all, he is the commander-in-chief of the entire northern hunting operation. The majority of Russian hunters have made Fort Fiskole their base, either running to the north or the west. These directions are areas that everyone has explored. What kind of prey is there, brothers? All clear.
So what's ahead of you?
"Keep walking! There is no difficulty at all in front of you, but a frozen sea." Rurik continued to bar his teeth and said shockingly: "That's not right, maybe the sea is not completely frozen yet. Biyoni , you know? When we see that sea, if we put down the ship and drift westward along the coastline, I am afraid it will only take seven days to reach your harbor."
"What? Is this true? Are you sure?" Biyongni confirmed again and again. Rurik was willing to wait again and again. He still felt that Rurik was talking in his sleep too much.
Floki raised his head, not questioning his brother at all: "I believe what Rurik said is right. I want to follow him to see the sea."
"Then let's go." Biyongni didn't want to have any more questions. He only asked about a very practical thing: "We discovered this huge lake, Rurik, give it a name."
"Name?" Rurik didn't think much about it. He suddenly pulled Saipolava, who was standing next to him and looked like a little bear in thick clothes, to his side: "Name it after her, Lake Saipolava." .”
But this lake is essentially Lake Kemi. It is indeed the upper reaches of the Airon River (Kemi River), but the actual source of the river is still in the north.
It is a high-altitude tundra swamp. Under the combined action of groundwater and melting ice from the hills, it has become a "water tower" in Northern Europe.
It was also here that the prey Rurik longed for finally appeared! It wasn't a bear, just a small wandering herd of wild reindeer.
The frantic Rurik rode a reindeer sleigh and approached the herd. The deer also apparently saw a group of dark things approaching them on the glacial lake. They just chewed grass roots and looked up, and then suffered a fatal attack.
Rurik personally controlled the torsion slingshot, and the installed mechanical aiming mechanism adjusted the wooden ruler. It showed a fixed shooting angle, and a javelin flew. It flew nearly a hundred meters, crossed a beautiful parabola, and accurately hit the target. Among the deer. A deer with big antlers was stabbed through the neck and nailed to the snow.
The rest of the herd thought of running away, but it was too late.
There were ten reindeer in total. Except for the three that ran away, the rest were killed by the Russians' long-range weapons.
Jevro put down the steel-armed crossbow and exhaled happily: "Master, you accurately shot a deer. You are an elite warrior."
"Stop talking nonsense, we have achieved results after walking for so many days." Rurik smiled happily: "Now we have key supplies. The deer was given to us by God. Yevlo, take it with you The brothers recovered the arrows, skinned the deer, and cut the meat into pieces for roasting. We will camp here, rest for a night, and continue walking tomorrow."
When hunting deer, all the Balmoks are spectators. Biyoni was so shocked that he had nothing to say. Rurik was obviously still a child, but he easily succeeded in hunting a deer by manipulating the strange "giant bow" mounted on the sled! Now Biyongni has taken a keen interest in the torque slingshot again.
As for Floki, this kid no longer cares about hunting bears and deer. He just wants to see a brand new sea and the magnificence of the so-called Arctic Ocean in this winter.
