Date: Góa 24th, 798 AD. (Alt: 7th March, 799 AD.) Location: Götaland (Ancient Sweden.)
In this time frame, there were many upgraded technologies in place that utilised the many new materials of *Ĥstḗrium, *Dyḗusium and *Celestial Bronze.
The floating reverse-pyramid power plant from Chapter 43, with grand weapon arrays built to power the entire complex had been retrofitted, where the copper had been transmuted instead with *Celestial Bronze for its cabling
The outer edge had been redesigned as well, where it had once been purely *Dyḗusium after a half-job, had then been fully furnished with a micro-layer of *Ĥstḗrium, increasing its weight dramatically to ≈ (801,726.4173-Short tons (727,313.9714-Metric tons) (715,827.1583-Long tons).) Such a platform would be the heaviest vehicle humanity would have ever built, even heavier than the Seawise Giant, the heaviest cargo ship of all time. The floating fortress no longer drifted so much as imposed itself upon the sky. The concrete within the Cavern groaning beneath the anchored gravitational glitch lining its outer shell.
In turn, the portals that connect all parts internally and externally from their home and the surface have been upgraded further using those same materials, reducing latency between teleportation and furthering magic efficiency.
Though, there have been some ideas by Heath, involved with said portals towards increasing the stability of taller, unruned structures by creating thick cables that go through an 'arcanospatial anchor,' tethering themselves into the ground with a length so short it takes only a fraction of the materials required while appearing free-standing from such heights. Besides that and the possibility that they may become dependent on such topologies, there has been a nuance by Gorm in the belief that they may need to follow Heath's original suggestion to develop non-magical alternatives to cover the strain of such tech from so much magi-atmospheric absorption.
"*Oh*Saviour, you and your chaotic ideas. . . *Chrrt chrrt*" The Engineer Crow Clan's Patriarch Guenther would use a scratching post against his head in reaching an itch while rapidly clicking his beak from scanning the invoiced data for a 37th potential future magitechnological innovation.
A terraformation device utilising cloud seeding technologies through the dispersal of silver iodide, potassium iodide or dry ice to then force the condensation in supercooled cloud formation development, utilising concentrated vaporised stores, then teleporting them through dissipation over the high-level atmosphere towards forcing rains or even storms by multi-layering into cumulonimbi that could then force lightning development, now they no longer need to pray to Yngvi (Freyr) for droughts that affect their surface crops!
The notes also state that it could also be used if lowered slightly into the development of aerosol, pesticide and nutrient dispersal for farming or flora-care of forests and sensitive ecosystems, working as an air-soluble transportation method in or above the Cavern, reducing the manual workload for the golems and farmers tremendously.
After marking it as 'safe to produce' in following the standard ethics checkup, he would send it over as a digital copy to the Internet's scientific forum, ready to be used by all. He was about to relax before a warning light appeared from his desk console, showing that there appeared to be an issue in their collective. "Eva, call for the squadron." Guenther would ask for his assistant through his necklace communications array, leaving forward to reach Egill, who was serving a homily to the newly inducted homeless, destitute, rescued þegnar (Servants) and freed þrælar (Thralls) after being brought and checked into Den höga ormtungan (The tall snake tongue.)
"Egill, there have been*Rrr-*-rather
A deep, boisterous presence would play from their inner minds, Rhoyna psychically strutting in from the thought of such a threat. She knows she and her siblings are not strong enough if their dad had been so injured by the Dróttningvættr (Queen Spirit,) but with just a little call. . . *Zip* The great scientist God appeared in the Cavern's 'sky,' adorned in his runic armour with the heavily enchanted pelt billowing. Aghi floatingly perched above his shoulder, the blade readying for the first taste of blood outside of Heath's forced own. His was a relaxed posture, forcing himself to calm as to be clearheaded for the battle.
Just him alone seemed to be enough with everything the Völsung Clan had in their disposal, but a moment after, a God of equally impressive height appeared, Mannr's twinning heads cracking each other's knuckles by their own controlled arms in readiness for battle.
The right head, *Manu, would keep mostly silent in strategising for his 'brother' if their human-turned-golem retainer *Trito was not to be involved in the battle. But the left head *Yemo would "*Snort*" in brashness, realising that his brotherly head may be too worriful. "-None need be scared with
"*Uh*We did not want to use them, we were worried they would be. . ." Heath would scratch the back of his helmet, his agreement yet equal parts feigning were for his children, who wished to use it only as a trump card due to its potential to destroy the forest on the surface and all life within it.
*Yemo would clutch his side of their body, almost wobbling from being so close to laughing. He more than likely did not think of such consequences. "'Too big of an entrance?' You surpassed that long ago." Shaking with slight impudence, he remembered the armour that had been gifted to Thyra and others, by theorising the capabilities of such ships just by feeling their threat level via Divine sight, he shouldered what Heath may have put on such monstrosities. A hand would be put upon Heath's shoulder, while *Manu was watching his brother's spectacle, like a front-row seated movie-goer.
"What was that word again?*Ah*That is right. 'The Æsir's going to be our
A machine that would create a presence in the minds of anyone who would gaze upon it, reneging his essence, his very domain of 'power untamed' into stirring. They would open the automatic door system at the forward embarkation station, not heeding Heath's gentle warning before following through the corridor in silent wonderment, seeing that it was both functional and incredibly aesthetic, with its sci-fi character providing multiple systems of entrance with a hybrid thaumaturgic engine beside a magi-generator bay, the piping and electrical systems, the material printing bay, the inner-teleportation supply ring, the crew quarters, and lastly, the flight deck. [1]
Rubbing their proximals within either's fists, both could feel the impossible durability at work and its arcanosynthetic systems in play, that if he were to control such a wonder of the time, it would simply be unbeatable to any except for a handful of Gods.
He tested the portal network back to the magi-generator bay, finding the ambient magic and Divinity instilled, seeing that itself would probably be able to power twice its own as an insurance. Eking out the throbbing impatience from his fingers, both heads would smirk towards Heath, who followed them in. . . ' 'Why does he look afraid?' ' They turned around, seeing Valyria, her height towering over their own by the flight console, staring at them with deep onyx eyes!
Dread filled their every sense, making a realisation that this forced entry was NOT a good idea. Well, they were not the type of brothers to run away, readying a stance as if facing a living calamity, they unflinchingly kept their hands forward and bowed, the reaction fast enough to make even Hermóðr brow-raise.
Mannr's synchronised cowling was kept high, their sincerity showing they had not meant to be rude. In that same moment, Both head's sides of their bodies had each grabbed a small pouch tucked within their pelt, with them taking out part of their possessions. Coins, medallions and a small idol were kept outstretched in front, upon their palms. Such objects were useless with their material generators from the (elemental farm) and the printing machines capable of creating anything from imagination,
but that fearless gesture alone showed he had not meant to cause any damage, in that his confidence in Heath's scientific basis made them know they could do nothing against it. Valyria calmed down again, her eyes turning normal as she closed their hands.
"No need." She would grasp their biceps, her large hand size allowing her to wrap them while tightening her grip, enough to be uncomfortable. "Do not, do it again." Valyria lets go with a sneer directed at no one, threatening her lips, just as quickly warping them out. Heath at first was at a loss on what to do in seeing her reaction, but he acted as if nothing happened, giving her the love she needed before following suit in himself and saying byes before finding him by the edge of the northern temporary campsite-turned-market.
Staying down a moment longer, Mannr would get up with a bead of sweat by their brows, seeing Heath come out a moment after, hoping they were alright. "Is your daughter. . ?" The last part about her scariness being kept unsaid by *Manu.
"As of recently, yeah." Heath grimaced as it was too late for him to notice this paranoid change. He wondered if he could even help his daughter turn back to how she was. Even Aghi was trying to help calm him by circling his waist like a friendly child who could sense his 'uncle's' stress. "Well, let us get back on track,*Eh?*Usable weaponry." *Yemo would give his few penningur (Pennies) of thought on the matter in wanting to quickly deal with the looming threat, the tall God's silence showing enough to know that it is true.
"Any other tools we could use instead?" His continued asking led to Heath flying for a moment in a different direction before coming back, bringing over 20 'Holy grenades' that were upgraded further with external 'Holy ammunition' as the grooved shrapnel upon its surface, with the adaptable hilts ready on the side for both of them in the case.
"There is more." Heath would duly form, providing a remote to a device that when held, showed through your vision a 'target' visual of how it would teleport wherever you would point. "What is this meant for?" Mannr could perceive and saccade the determined location set by the device, invisible to all other creatures not holding the remote, and was about to press the button in confusion before pausing in a premonition of sudden death thanks to his Divine instincts.
Heath, already in a downer, grimly looks despondent at feeling that subconscious threat, the same as the dual-headed God in front of him, rolling his hand for him to follow to a conspicuous hollow cylinder with a portal at the top and bottom.
A near-perfect vacuum within, with a Rod of God made of that same pure *Ĥstḗrium a few Model millimetres thick and pointed for greater aerodynamics, further strengthened with his own and the 75 others' power in harmonious
"Heath." *Manu would stare with absolute terror. "You,
Heath would tap his chin, realising another possibility. "Fine, follow me." He would warp the remote into a hidden chamber at the bottom of the cylinder, instead coming about to another DNA medium server, utilised for a pure randomisation algorithm capable of creating dozens of interpolated points in reality at a time without it intersecting existing matter, which is selectable if connected to a surveying camera system that would use the nano-sight robotic fairy flies. By tracking a target, he could utilise militarised drones or ascended warriors that would follow a similar warping pattern around the open space, then overwhelm an enemy with a full-scale attack.
"You copied Tiwaz's idea for his own assassination corps within his army?" *Yemo raised his eyebrow, his lip threatening to curl, yet still kept low after they were given that damn remote. "ETERNAL has given me many ideas, and others will be given the credit they deserve." Heath nods, his expression mildewing in feeling the necessity for such. . . Abominations.
'A wise king must seek peace, but be prepared for war.' Was echoed within his own mind from remembering his talks with Gorm in the past, the tall God, still in armour, clapped his own helmet, helping to forcefully boost his own morale from the jolt. "Adal?" He would call out, the furry wiseman appearing just as quickly after. "Yes?" Would be said as an affirmation, seeing Heath nod with obviousness towards 'that' technology, Adal would quickly *Zip* back with a box in hand, showing what appeared to be a capsuled-shoulder satchel with a squared portal 1-way feedback loop system.
"The 'grenade cover' bag, Lord Dollen." In the presence of another God, he gave full credence to the accepted etiquette of the times, gently passing the infinite satchel, Heath would place the loop over his armoured shoulder, leaving it to be by his waist, another weapon at his disposal.
"Lords of Mannr." Adal would provide the second for the dual-headed God, who would repeat in action to the person beside him in placement, they were personally readied, and with 5 of the ascendant soldiers joining the battle, they were hyper-connected under the utilisation of the overwhelming rapid-warp tactic to keep the soldiers' fate skewed from so many possible permutations per Model minute. Waiting as an attendant now after passing the satchels, he stays by their side, keeping an account of this planning. Heath left immediately with all protective measures in place, seeing the general location of where the anomaly was first spotted.
There was a flattened clearing, a fog long-set in under the purview of another Godlike figure, it blocked all incoming and outgoing phenomena, yet completely visible in its exterior as a misty dome that puffed itself slowly high into the atmosphere. From this realisation of that happenstance, Heath was worried about the likes of the Æsir and whether they would interfere.
For why would they not react to a sudden ball of fog descending onto Miðgarðr? He quickly catches sight of the figure, finding them blanketed from view, staring towards him, withholding ill intent and even appearing inviting. The tall God sees it as a trick played by the fate-guided being, so as such, he instantaneously attacks her with a cleaving cut! Yet, rather than reacting, she acts in welcoming what is an inevitability to others as a friend to herself. The haggard old lady's wrinkled, prognathic smirk breaking through under her crooked, hooked nose.
She closes her eyes, waiting for the strike to hit, inviting the threat in a form of release, basking in the unknown sensation that is a future unread by this outsider. A smile telling of a silent 'thank you' for providing her with an experience she had never felt before.
That very reaction told him of everything he needed to know. The cleaving shot dissipates into nothingness, the being in front of Heath, the Vísivættr (Guiding Spirit,) did not seem evil, but that confused him. Heath would scald his sockets onto this figure he feels may have been an inevitable victim. "Why, why did you help 'them?'" Referencing the Dróttningvættr (Queen Spirit.) He would see her turn a touch of sorrow, memories appearing at her forefront on what she had done to save those that were once meant to be for that dólgr (Evil entity / enemy)'s gluttony.
Her face bore the consequence of time, incapable of killing that incarnation of chaos, she instead 'allied' to minimise its damage by directing its wrath to souls that she would falsely claim were of the greatest nourishment, and as such, still made her part in that creature's atrocities.
Silence reigned between them, the fog evershifting in the background that matched their strenuous thoughts. She lowered her head, the invisible anguish stilling her form through the cracks from holding her sanity on for too long, her waiting a setup for her to be struck down, as that is what she knew she deserved, yet it never came. "*?*" She would raise herself, thinning locks moving away from her face and her un-browed eyes shrinking in self-punitiveness. Heath saw through her open mind many surface soul-thoughts, gathering enough to know who she was behind that ominous title. "Askafroa. . ."
Heath would glide through the air, standing in front of the elderly Rå (Female guardian of the wild ash trees.) Her crone-form's skin resembling a hardened, furrowed cortex, matted with earthly residues from her time protecting her sacred trees.
Continuing with what was allowed to be seen, he would appear with a small glass of a drink she would find familiar, reaching over with his hand, which she then confusingly grasped, her scrunched face showing this was not how she had expected this situation to be. ". . . Thank you." Such a sudden expression of gratitude led her to fumble the drink in her hand, nearly spilling its contents when gingerly quenching her thirst. For if many were put in Heath's same circumstances, knowing what she had done, they would scorn her for being part of such massacres.
She waits for a response, which came with a hesitant tone as he tried putting his own personal beliefs into the matter. "You could have left. Yet you did not." Heath would take his own swig before teleporting what he held back into his home's sink to be automatically washed. " would not have blamed you for that. . ."
There had never been a path where everyone lived, but for the fewest to die, it was a sacrifice she chose to bear. And even if she, in the past, was a malicious isolationist who fervently protected her trees like her own children if they were to be injured or cut down by human hands, she saw it through her own lens that this was needless suffering. But, being given such sincerity put her thoughts on hold, she did not deserve this sense of being seen by another. But another thought bloomed in its place, hope.
In the background by the edge of the inner fog, Guernther and Mannr were watching this occur, seeing that Heath had not given a signal to attack after cancelling his own cleave, they were instead listening through the armour's comms systems on what was happening.
At first, they thought it disrespectful, but Heath had given them express permission in such a case of 'sudden diplomacy,' and thanks to that, they extrapolated all they needed to know. Time then flew by, with news onsite.
[1] ᛉ (Protection / Shield / Elk,) ᛇ (Yggdrasil / Yew Tree / Dream Rune,) ᚱ (Horse / Ride / Journey / Thor Rune,) ᛟ (Heritage / Estate Rune,) ᚾ (Need / Hardship Rune,) ᛗ (Man / Human / Self Rune,) ᚠ (Cattle / Livestock / Wealth Rune,) ᛖ (Horse / Twin Forces Rune,) and ᚨ (Odin / Inspiration / Wisdom Rune.)