togophonebook #243 - May His Holiness remain healthy forever!
#243 - May His Holiness remain healthy forever!
On December 31st, 1444 of the Imperial Calendar, the New Year's Festival was finally about to begin.
Autumn's End Island, occupied by the undead, finally welcomed a festive and noisy atmosphere once again after a century of silence.
The rubble and debris were cleared from the ruins that were once scattered everywhere, and the water voles living in the ditches were swept away by the citizens of the nearby neighborhoods.
Colorful triangular flags fluttered in the cold wind between the insulae, and children pointed at the paper flags overhead, laughing loudly.
All day long, there were citizens and villagers wandering around, and from the afternoon, vendors selling goods and night watchmen maintaining order appeared in the mansion square in the center of town.
In the evening, there were several important activities, the first of which was the octagon cage match after dinner.
When Horn said he would give a chance to fight, he really meant it, and when the elders said they would fight, they really meant it.
Three octagon cage hand-to-hand fights, with six elders personally participating, would determine the naming of the mansion square, the theater, and the cathedral.
The reason for not using a vote was that the Council of Elders implemented an absolute majority principle, requiring the consent of two-thirds of the members.
Since a battle of wits wouldn't work, they could only resort to a battle of strength.
The second activity was the dance after the octagon cage match.
Regardless of status, all young men and women who met the age requirement could participate.
This was to solve the marriage problems of the young men and women of the Papal State.
The third activity was the New Year's Eve countdown after the dance.
The clock developed by Haimoting would ring in the New Year, celebrating another year of hardship they had overcome.
To this end, Horn specifically issued a notice, postponing the curfew on December 31st and January 1st to one o'clock the next day.
"But there's something I don't understand," Mittene, who was following Horn, asked as if questioning him, "What's the point of doing this kind of thing when you're short on supplies?"
"Life needs a sense of ritual," Horn said with a smile when he saw that Mittene didn't understand, "Throughout history, people have always been confused about how to shape an individual's sense of belonging to a group."
"Do you know how to shape it?"
"I think it's shaped in political rituals and shared memories." Walking forward with the shopping crowd, Horn's lips curled up as he watched the men and women of all ages bargaining.
"It's actually difficult for people to understand and trust each other, and shared memories are the key to dividing people into 'us' and 'them'.
If you and I go to see the same clown show on the same day every year, but he doesn't, then we definitely have more common ground and a stronger sense of belonging than him.
It sounds absurd, but that's often the case. Our various festivals and collective activities in our daily lives are probably born for this purpose."
Jeanne, who was standing next to him, added, "Another point is that they have suffered too much hardship and sorrow this year, and we need to release their suppressed emotions."
Mittene pondered for a while, then asked, "Won't happiness make people forget the hatred in their hearts? Aren't you afraid that they will become weak when facing the Church?"
"On the days when they should be reunited the most, with one or even more relatives and friends missing, they will only remember the hatred more firmly." Horn stood in front of a villager's cheese stall and shamelessly ate three large bites before buying the cheese, "Besides, they want to overthrow the Church not just for their own hatred."
"Then will you be hosting all these activities throughout the evening?"
"I might make an appearance at the opening ceremony of the octagon cage fight, but the rest will be arranged by Madelaine, Armand, and the others."
Horn took a wooden stick that he had broken off from a bush and finished the cheese in three or two bites.
The group walked out of the mansion square and onto the street, which was wide enough for four carriages to pass side by side.
"After the opening ceremony, I'm going to visit the soldiers and craftsmen in the workshop area and the barracks. I'll be back for the countdown."
After leaving these words, Horn mounted his horse and headed towards the industrial area.
From afternoon to nightfall, it was almost an instant, and night fell silently.
Because food was still scarce, each ten households only had an extra meal of eggs and butter, but it still left people who hadn't tasted meat in a long time wanting more.
Clusters of torches were lit, and in the melodious sound of the flute, half the sky was illuminated by the torches.
The subjects of the Papal State from all the neighborhoods walked out of their insula apartments and headed towards the theater.
When Gashkur and his wife and children walked near the theater, there were crowds of people everywhere.
Some people who were not interested in the octagon cage fight arrived at the mansion square early, carved dice out of bones, took out their few denarii, and began to shout loudly.
The flutists and lute players were nervously rehearsing on the wooden stage, and melodious music came from the instruments.
Standing in front of the mansion square, in the noisy voices, Gashkur smelled a hint of roasted meat and honey.
He swallowed a mouthful of saliva, but thinking of the high price of meat, he still dragged his wife and children to the theater.
Before the octagon cage match, there were also programs rehearsed by the local citizens themselves. According to Horn's requirements, each hundred-household district had to produce a program.
The six elders had to act as judges before the fight, scoring these programs, and the hundred-household district with the highest score would receive a red flag symbolizing honor.
After the scoring, the six judges would personally go down and perform freestyle fighting.
At this time, based on the previous scores, the citizens and villagers would definitely have tendencies to support and not support the elders.
This way, the fight would have program effects.
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Many people came to the theater, largely to support their own hundred-household district's program.
Gashkur's family came for this reason.
It's just a bit late today, and I guess we won't be able to get a good seat.
Walking into the semi-circular theater, Gashkur carefully selected and finally found a row of suitable seats in the sixth row.
He slapped his son Domam's hand, which was curiously tapping on the bronze urn, and Gashkur changed to a comfortable position and looked at the center of the stage.
"Believers, good evening, the sinner Horn, your Pope sends you his sincere greetings."
"The hero of the Thousand River Valley!"
"Our own chosen Pope of the Thousand River Valley!"
"May His Holiness the Pope always be healthy!"
"There are not two suns in the sky, Your Holiness is the eternal sun in my heart!"
As soon as Horn finished speaking, the believers stood up in unison, raising their hands and shouting at him.
They applauded wildly, waving the hats in their hands to greet Horn.
All the enthusiastic eyes were focused on Horn, because they knew that the person in front of them would lead them to overthrow the Church, and redeem all their grievances and injustices.
Just like he once chopped off the Duke's head.
Pressing his hands down, a surge of heat welled up in Horn's heart, and he looked around at the expectant audience:
"This year is 1444, a year of hardship. I started my army from Gulag and went through countless hardships to finally reach Jeanne d'Arc.
I originally thought that Duke Kush of Jeanne d'Arc was someone who could be entrusted with the Thousand River Valley, but I was wrong. He is also a demon.
Archbishop Barney Foss is a demon, Duke Kush Danay is a demon, and the high-ranking Archbishop Constance is a demon.
Their power is too great, and we have to hide here.
They block us, thinking that we will spend the New Year's Festival in pain, but I want to say no.
Under the illumination of the Holy Father's glory, even if they deliberately want to limit our joy, we will not let them succeed.
We must prove that as long as we unite, we can not only obtain happiness and glory, but also overthrow their castles and break their scepters!
Lambs of Messala, please enjoy yourselves! Messala bless you!"