Date: Mörsugur 12th, 999. (Alt: 25th Dec, 999 AD.) Location: Götaland (Ancient Sweden.)
The song was so loud it would be on the louder end of rock concerts. Most intensified by the apex near the quarter-end. Much like that play of Deep Purple in 1972.
Asdos, Egill, Eirikr, Gorm and Hervor looked at him with perturbed expressions. They were lucky that Heath gave Gorm the hearing protection beforehand in a batch or otherwise many would have temporary hearing loss from the first time they would ever hear this song.
They took them out of their ears and gave Heath glares that could freeze even the ever-melting Múspellsheimr. Heath had a dumbfounded look, then a sudden realization. He started chuckling awkwardly. "Right, you have never heard of these types of songs. My b-" "IT IS YOUR BAD, IT WAS WORSE THAN THE HOVERBOARD'S WHIRRING. *HUFF*" Hervor broke character and looked indignant. Then put her pinky finger into her ear and rotated her hand to stop the loud ringing. "That sounded like a battle chant." She comments.
"It was based and edited on a marching cadence by the Automatons." A face that was in a grimace showed how apologetic he was. "The Automatons, sounds like the word automata." Egill says, looking at him with narrowed eyes. "Are they. . . Willed machines?"
"Much like it, it was from a digital game, a topic I described to you before. I could base the next unit I design on the militarized types with more practical settings from other patterns, as their model has more surface area for hidden runes. Though they are less modular in design." Heath was about to continue his (boring) explanation) before a sudden jolt from his 'tagging' of Leif and Sigrid notified him of an ATTACK INCOMING. "Oh for. . ." Heath's swearing in English was silenced while he was preparing the template for a portal.
"Gorm. Your son is being attacked. I will prepare a portal in under a minute. You know what to do." Heath then asked Auto-141 to bring a device that utilised a similar concept as the cover of impairment and was made portable in case this occurred, paranoia fully deserved.
His upper thigh armour stores this 'grenade cover' on the right side, hidden under the tussled fur cape. At the same time, he watched as Gorm and the group ran through the portal to collect their weapons and the runic steel armour he had first gifted them a few days prior. Heath's grim countenance shrouded everything in a stillness, if one were there, it would feel like you were paralysed, under the low-hertz roar of a tiger. No directed anger, yet an uncomfortable experience to all who would have been around him.
He steels his features. His eyes dull, under a focus on what is necessary. With his growing power, instead of travelling. He WARPS. The very space around him shreds itself as it soon reconstitutes to the new surroundings from his perspective. He lands down, but. . .
It was silent, he dropped down the grenade cover. Soon covering the area in a pulse that would otherwise 'render' another visual to the outside world. Heath sees the same Dökkálfar, with 3 others in a circle around Leif and Sigrid. Under Heath's knowledge, he RAGES an intent towards the four around them. The psionic pulse causes a mind-rending experience that causes three of them to collapse. He utilises his magic to speed up his thoughts and accelerate his movement. Soon zipping to grab the closest one that was stuck in fear.
". . ." Heath sees the struggling Dökkálfar in his grasp, it gagged under the grip of his gauntleted fist around its throat. "Leif Gormsson of the Völsung Clan, Sigrid Glaumarsdóttir of the Open Hand Giants Clan. They welcome you home." Heath says in a hushed tone.
Both Leif and Sigrid's expressions were one of wariness of the stranger that saved them. They see that he easily handles an otherwise difficult enemy by non-lethally choking it and then dropping it through a small. . . Rip that appeared to come and lead to nothing. The man's stern face appeared infallible, as if it knew what needed to be done. . . 'OH SHIT OH SHIT OHSHIT-' Nope, Heath was internally panicking, he was trying to end the handling as soon as possible. He never intended it to cause their brains to fry from the inside out slightly.
These scouts were dropped into a small cage made of bone steel through Valyria. The cage was made quickly under mental instruction by the farms, thanks to the wireless-like magic communication between his creations. Heath sighs loudly, trying to shake his nerves.
Soon facing towards them. ". . . Hello, I am Heath Dollen. A Mennskrðrútan from ginnungagap." Heath gave one of his characteristic smiles, strained with unneeded force. But Leif and Sigrid snap their weapons towards them, causing Heath to raise his hands in surrender. "Be calm, I am a new friend of the Völsung. If you let me, I will place a construct down." Leif slowly scans him for any deceit but finds none. He lowers his stance to give him room. Heath accepts the layoff and slowly places down a portal, which immediately lights.
The kaleidoscopic effect from within the portal, of cuboidal, lined and triangular flame-like designs within the visuals of the portal appeared like a spellbinding unknown to them, until it coalesced and finished its connection, a *SHAH* sound permeated from it, loud and clear.
This causes Leif and Sigrid's reaction to jerk upwards, ready for battle. "Do not worry, it is much like the Bifröst. You can trust me. Your family will soon come through it." Heath puts intent into this truth to calm them down, which was successfully transposed to them. They felt Heath's internal struggle in trying to gain their trust and his focus on not being intrusive was being provided. Rather than a mist, it was more of a window. After sensing it, they calmed down again, soon seeing 6 people pass through wearing unknown runic steel armour.
". . . Clan Head!?" Leif says in a standoffish formal tone. Gorm had his trusty sword ready at hand and was scanning his surroundings with an unnaturally young face. The others soon appear behind. But Sigrid still had her spear drawn in hand, horses behind her. Untrusting.
After the preliminary scan and a small communication between himself and Heath. He goes towards Leif, who tenses slightly before a *KLING* sound is heard between their swords due to Gorm bringing both facing groundward. "My boy, it is me. You can put your weapon down."
That silent, wise demeanour yet quiet care that is visibly shown through his eyes was obvious and genuine, Leif understood the cues and could understand quickly it was no deception. His brows furrowed towards Heath, who simply waved back.
Leif simply shakes his head, then soon takes a knee towards Gorm, eyes towards his feet "It is good to see you again, father. I have succeeded in my trial at the Open Hand Giants Clan." Leif's crisp, masculine voice directs the focus to Sigrid, whom he looks caringly towards.
Sigrid understood as soon as Leif kneeled that they were safe, she was already kneeling in the spot towards Gorm. She is still learning the language, but she was a fast learner.
POV: Leif and Sigrid.
Date: Mörsugur 12th, 999. (Alt: 25th Dec, 999 AD.) Location: Götaland (Ancient Sweden.)
"Healthy and happy (Heil og sæl,) Clan Head. I am sorry I did not trust. . . Heath Dollen at first. His was a sudden appearance." Sigrid spoke semi-fluently, thanks to Leif.
They may have kneeled, but their hands were clenched and ready for any sudden situations that may arise. A being that they could tell was great from the make of their archaic armour and bizarre mannerisms would be something they will have to cope with.
Gorm looked appreciatingly to both. "He appeared in between you leaving, we are in a temporary campsite at his home to protect ourselves from possible enemies like the ones that were dealt with. We have much to talk about." A smile was seen through his thick beard. This surprised Leif as he had not done so since his health deteriorated. But he could tell it was one full of familial love and vitality. He smiled back and internalised enough questions to drown what felt like a DAMN SJÖRÅN! Oh well. Heath then signals all to walk through then.
They travel through the portal in groups until Gorm and Heath are left behind. Both were incredibly amused as they discerned Leif and Sigrid's silent wonder while they were frozen in place, ogling at the mesmerizing, swirling patterns shown through the portal's frame.
'I have to sort out my issues with these over-the-top dramatics. The Norse may find them tasteful, but not all cultures nearby do so.' Heath planned on figuring out designs like the Hoverboard to create more minimalist, aesthetically efficient projects. If not for him being a being made of solidified energy. He would have migraines daily with how much he is trying to plan. 'And if gods cannot directly scan me, the Dökkálfar must be of greater numbers than those 4. Abilities slightly less than Jörð but concentrated in mass.' Heath internally scowls.
Heath's external expression appeared concentrated, Leif and Sigrid were concerned of it, but Gorm paid it no mind. He tapped his armour to break him out of his spiralling thoughts. "Think of 'the Cavern,' Leif. That is where we are staying." Then Gorm moved calmly.
He went through with no troubles, as expected. And Leif was about to follow him when Sigrid held onto his shoulder. Their antics were much like a couple that knew of each other for years. Yet they only came to meet just a month ago. They communicated through their eyes in a way not many could. Love, worry, anxiety, yet a firm resolve underneath it all. Leif nodded at the end and he patted her hand that was still on his shoulder. Then they held each other's hands at the end and went through the portal. Making sure to think of 'the Cavern.'
Before that, they gave a side-eye to Heath, which he understood was them trying to come to terms with him and to signal for the horses. Then something they came to expect happened, where a wave of vertigo goes into them. But they are successfully transported through.
They regain their bearings quickly, as they are used to uncomfortable rides from sitting on their horses for so long. There they were, at the edge of the camp. The horses were behind them while being 'transported' by Heath, where they are brought to the other animals kept in the temporary stables. They view their surroundings and see the same thing Gorm had when he first arrived, the sky folding into a wall to the ground. Their reaction was less than satisfactory, however. Their eyes go slightly dull before refocusing on the rest of the Clan.
". . . What has my father gotten into?" Leif says to nobody, Sigrid looks at him complicatedly, not knowing what to say about this situation. She was about to start a sentence to comfort him but then a *KR KR KR KR KR* noise started, a noise in between a mic starting and a drill.
It was not as loud as the portal, so it did not startle them as badly, luckily. Leif's expression looked constipated, with a protruding vein in his neck and temple. He was not used to this type of situation, nor could he have ever expected ANYTHING like this to have happened. He strides with a temper towards the direction of the noise, others giving him way. Where he then sees weird devices manned by the stone men, probably made by the same giant Heath Dollen. 'What sort of curses is he up to now!' Leif was getting frustrated, but stayed silent.
A modern expression, where he crosses his arms while tapping his foot played out. It appeared comical on a man like him. But he simply stared as they continued working with what he will soon come to know as the instruments (we'd talked about before.)
Sigrid is just in the background, walking by the border of the camp. She sees what felt like an endless expanse of grassy plains, interspersed with random flower patches. It looked serene, and obviously man. . . God-made? She is having a hard time coming to terms with it. She does not know what to think of Heath, but her instincts honed from battle since she was a child say that he is not dangerous to them, there was no intent of violence directed towards them when he fought those fiends, and if he did apply it on him and her beloved. . .
Her face hardened, when suddenly a continuous clanging noise moved behind her, she sprang forward and rotated quickly, having her small cape furl in the air before settling back onto the unknown person, who turned out to be a middle-aged woman with dirty blonde hair.
Her light blue eyes bored into hers with an intensity only a seasoned warrior could, yet they held no malice or contempt. Only curiosity and respect for Sigrid. Her runic steel armour still fitted on, with her sword in a readied position. "I hope this situation is not too uncomfortable for you, Princess Glaumarsdóttir. I am Hervor, do you wish for a guide?" Hervor comments respectfully, knowing that certain diplomatic ventures are required in these situations. ". . . I would, I am Sigrid. Thank you for your hospitality." Sigrid gives a smile before following.
They sightsee and go through the portals, passing through great structures that contained unknown farms that produced materials through miraculous setups with stones, metals and plants. Fields that would be larger than entire kingdoms are in front of her very eyes.
She quickly becomes desensitized to it as she comes to understand it was normal for them, or more specifically normal for Heath. From what they would explain, she even saw an expansion underway with more metals being put over the ground farms in a 'stackable' way. With materials entirely unknown to her, with some being said to be pure and others being alloyed versions. Valyria, a grey woman taller than even Heath partially guides the Golems with these plans set up by her 'father.' Now, Sigrid simply shook her head slightly.
She closes her eyes due to a strain behind her eyes as she overloads herself with information. And with how much Hervor is explaining with the help of another man who she now knew as Egill. There is enough covered that it was obvious that her clan meant nothing.
'If these were not as friendly and were instead like some clans from Danmǫrk, they could easily have forced us into providing geld tribute.' Sigrid would be right in this thought process, and she knew with the amount of Golems, she came to understand. Each having the strength of a few giants each? They could easily take over much of the local areas without wasting lives. For these machines, as they are known, could easily be remade and fitted, there were even side talks with possibly creating 'Golem Farms.'
You can imagine what happened when Hervor thought of that, she hoped that they stayed as allies indefinitely. Because otherwise, their way of life as they knew it would become nonexistent. Now, she just sits down, watching the sun go down. And waits on a tarp to. . .
Listen to some tunes! The instruments started working again, and she chose to sit by Leif to listen, he had calmed down since then. And they just watch the sunset while nodding along. They played many genres that would not have otherwise appeared for centuries to come. And they also played many songs in suggestions by the people around them. They continued doing so from the evening to the night. Then watch the bright night sky with few clouds, great visible stars and a large, waxing moon. Which was unlike anything they had seen.
"It is beautiful. The lights always drown it out, but in the dark here. . ." Leif looks up, then looks towards Sigrid. "No, it is still nothing to you, my dear." Leif and Sigrid slowly touch foreheads while foreclosing another song of strangely romantic undertones. Then. . .
They close their eyes to each other. Sitting there for a few minutes before laying down together, contemplating everything Sigrid had seen and then described to him while slowly drifting off to sleep. Before so, Leif gave a final kiss to her forehead, a telling sign of their great bond that had been made over a great travel between locations. They comfort themselves and cover each other with their capes, laying upon the soft pasture below them that was greater than any bed they had felt before. Their grips soften and their breath slows.
Njörun soon claimed them in her restful slumber. Having a dreamy sleep thanks to the watchful golems guarding them all from the portal nearby. Heath over in the distance figuring out more contraptions to work and show the next day. Which would be unsurprising to all.
At the rate Heath goes, their people may soon come to understand what it means to be in a society under exponential growth. Which all will be welcome to.