Travelling through worlds with developer tools.

POV: Egill, the Curious.

Date: Mörsugur 9th, 999. (Alt: 22nd Dec, 999 AD.) Location: Götaland (Ancient Sweden.)

The Mennskrðrútan Heath has astounded me again, doing something others would have thought would only be available during the ancient Poetic Eddas from 500 Winters ago.

His unique perspective has allowed many of us to realize the uncomfortable truth. That we did not know everything of this world. And that there was so much more to explore. His knowledge of Runic Work will provide a foundation that may even surprise Óðinn's eye.

Egill stares upon the incredibly large portal, as he would have called it. It looked to be about 3,220 Ells (Shoulder Width of Heath: 0.7266-m, 726.6 x 7 = 5,086.2-mm (5.09-m, 16,687.0085-feet.) 1 Ell (460) / 726.6-mm = 0.63308560418, meaning 3,220 Ells if approx.)

Tall and Across, a perfect circle. There are glowing runes across the surface of the ring. The platform looks to be long-lasting. Something only a deity could think of, Egill surmises with extreme excitement behind those analytical blue eyes of his.

Their knowledge unbinds most of Egill's beliefs on reality, he had only heard of Gods through stories and only looked upon them from afar, but being close to one? Never in any lifetime could he have thought to be a friend, nonetheless become immortal thanks to their aid.

Heath's planning to teach us once we pass through the portal, which will be done under its cover to reduce the view for other creatures to see upon us. Even though he had set up a 'cover of impairment' around the Compound that makes others see a 'normal sight' from their perspective, such as people walking about, chatting, sleeping and working through the near-night shift. He knew it was paranoia at play while Heath continued with his work. But, his intricate runecraft and his notes thanks to the tomes he gave us are just revolutionary.

"Now, there is not just runecraft for magic like what you see here, there are also other systems of magic, like 'cuneiform' and 'hieroglyphs.' These can be written as stories to represent curses, enchantments and spells. A major one is 'The Book of the Dead.'"

Him knowing of other magical systems beyond our own further confounds me. If he knew of so many systems of magic. Why does he not use them now? And that answer came back quicker than expected. "One can only do these hieroglyphics through a procedure of incense and 'holy' imbuements with certain animals, herbs and plant extracts. Which are unavailable with me." Heath finishes the first explanation. Then move on to other, more wondrous forms of magic, such as 'Vodun,' 'Hoodoo,' 'Santería,' the 'Ifá / Orisha,' 'Candomblé' and more!

And that they are separated between 'Uwe: Helpful Magic' and 'Uoi: Harmful Magic.' Heath even stated that these are not the only ones he plans to write down and share with our people. He said he would say as many from 'around the world' as he could determine.

Heath directly stated there are potentially hundreds of different systems due to different people's 'appliance of belief in magic.' Something to study, Egill supposes. "The only magic I can never teach you would be true resurrection magic. Not until we are powerful enough, for the Fates of every religion would see to our destruction and dissolution." Heath states, with a sense of gravity, that it would make anyone sweat. "I am allowed to teach 'your version' of raising the dead to talk for some periods, so I hope you enjoy." Heath's smile gave them joy.

"Is that not the way Óðinn raised Mímir from our old stories?" One of the more historically read people in the background comment. Suddenly, a grizzled warrior woman. Hervor speaks up. "Such would be blasphemy and could lead to them striking us!" Hervor yells protectively.

"Do not worry, I would only do so when we are not being watched, in the same way. With us being underground, their ravens or weather could not reach us and detect our usage of it thanks to the protective runes in use around the cavern." Heath explains to her, and she scans his face for any deceit, but there is none. So she sits down in quiet acceptance. To be able to go against the surveying of Heimdallr's vision, Njörð's breath-hearing, Óðinn's ravens and even Þórr's weather-sight would mean much in the way of our newfound freedom.

Heath warned that other gods may detect the barrier such as Jörð's earth-sight or Hǫðr's darkness-sight. So they must maintain absolute secrecy around such actions. And to never spread any information in the case of mishaps. His. . . Personality relaxes our people.

"The Norns or Frig could potentially read other's minds or hear their whispers through the wind in par with Njörð. It would be best for all of you to not speak about this outside of the 'cover of impairment.' We do not want our people to suddenly become ash." Heath gave a protective look that showed that he would spite the gods if they did try to harm them.

"So, does anyone want to learn?" They see Heath raise his hands, waiting for the people's responses. Nobody called for it, there was even a stereotypical cough in the background.

". . . No one, how come?" Heath was confused. Wouldn't they be happy being able to talk with their loved ones again? "Our people are proud that others have died in the name of our Völsung Clan, we will not take away their peace in the afterlife." Gorm states conclusively.

"I see, I will accept your choice. So, what would you all want to learn first?" Heath asked, wishing to impart knowledge. "First, why not go past the portal, I wish to see the cavern you made." Egill remarks. Which others nod to. "Good idea, Egill. Forgot we had the time to do it after, was too preoccupied to think of that. Everyone, prepare your belongings, we are heading through the portal! I will watch through this side, I know it is safe for all people so walk on in, warriors at either ends of the line!" Heath appreciated and finalised the talk.

The first one to walk through was Gorm, confidently walking onto the platform, he walks through to the other side with an unflinching gaze. There was a solid haze that covered his vision while he was transported, causing a wave of vertigo that quickly washed away.

Soon, Gorm was on the other side, except. . . This looked like a barren plains biome. Only grass as far as the eye could see. There was a structure far off into the distance, that looked to be as tall as his fingernail if he extended his arm all the way out. The sky however, was so clear that it was unexpected, only a sun with no clouds. He turned around, expecting more plains, until he saw that the sky folded onto the ground. "WHAT?!" Gorm's composure broke while he was alone. Giving a sudden shout that could've covered a quarter of the distance. 

Gorm used his hands and felt beside the portal upon the 'folded sky.' The texture felt incredibly smooth as if it was fine silk. Yet had a strength that matched the steel that was felt from Heath's armour when he allowed it to be passed around at the Feast Hall.

"This is beyond what I expected, it is its own unique realm, beyond anybody's jurisdiction." Gorm was testing the capabilities of the 'wall' and 'ground.' Until he felt somebody's stare at the back of his head from his honed battle instincts. He froze, wondering how to repair the situation. He played it off with some acting, continuing to test the 'wall' until he turned around. "Heath's work is marvellous, it is something nobody would've been able to accomplish except maybe Óðinn Himself." Gorm mused loudly, to who he saw was Egill.

Egill agreed, having a look that seemed as if he was going through a mind-altering crisis. "If Heath could do this in only a few days from what he said. What would happen if he were involved in a project over a few years?" Egill wondered aloud, thinking of other entirely impossible scenarios that only his imagination could play out. "It is best not to think of that, more than likely your mind may turn to gruel if you tried to think in a space like Heath's own." Gorm said to him as a teachable moment, like a grandfather. Knowing it is an impossibility.

"I understand, Clan Head." Egill accepts his new teachings respectfully and stops, he does start to have a headache partway through his thinking. So Gorm may be right and Egill is not ready yet. They continue to stare up at the sky. Shielding their eyes from the 'sun.'

'To replicate the view of the sky to such a degree, to even make the 'false' sun itself the right position. I could only imagine what it looks like at night with no clouds. The visible night sky must be full of the stars we can ever only partially see.' Gorm and Egill think something similar to that at the same time. Soon, the next batch of people come in with their slave-towed wheelbarrows. They act confused and turn around the same way, then get flabbergasted. This repeats until everyone comes through. Now the territory is empty.

"I can show you this is a cave if you wish." Heath quips to Gorm. "Don't worry, we believe you." Gorm states near-immediately, "Thank you for trusting me so easily." Heath had a jolly grin. "You deserved it, after all!" Jorg responds for them, giving back an even bigger grin.

"If you go to the centre of this cavern, you will see the farms I told you about. That large structure in the middle with a high wall and two fenced-off areas on either side will be all the 'farms.' Which creates materials in a function I similarly described I will use to continuously create new armours like the one I'm wearing, with sand and stone types, ingots, concrete and glass!" Heath said passionately, proud of the work he did in half a day. "Wait, did you say it creates ingots? Not ores?" Yufren, a grey-haired smith asks in the middle of the line.

"Yes, I made it replicate copper and iron ingots to the highest purity attainable, the iron and copper could be used to make bronze, or it could be used in conjunction with charcoal from the (forest farm) that it could make high-quality steel." Heath explained further in detail.

"And will you also create a Netherite farm here?" Gorm asks, ecstatic about the overwhelming possibilities. Yufren would have passed out from bliss if not for his self-control. "Once I can access my realm again, that is." Heath lied smoothly. But he will create a farm of greater ingots once he had time. He has plans on creating one for all useful metals, like Aluminium, Cobalt, Chromium, Gold, Nickel, Platinum, Silver, Tin, Titanium, etc. Once he collected them, the alloys were next. He remembered a few 'miracle' combinations, too.

"Instead of using Netherite, I would create a material of a combination of materials. It is made of cobalt, chromium and nickel. If one kept it at Helheim(Sub-zero)-like temperatures, it may appear dull but it would have enough strength to hold up against gods." Heath states fully.

"Are they about equal strength?" Gorm asked, hoping for insight. "It is slightly weaker than Netherite, but it is a fantastic material. And it is very long-lasting. It has a similar colour to steel, but it is much heavier though. For the armour to be designed, I would use a few runes to make it lighter in weight and to keep it cold. While keeping it over a layer that insulated it to keep the wearer warm." Heath explained, they are blown about a material that would've been mythical to them, and it would be worn by them someday. Many cheer in delight.

"And that is not the only material I am planning to make. I am planning to use boron, carbon, nitrogen and silicon to make carbon, silicon carbide and boron nitride nanotubing. Which is useful in all topics!" Heath enjoyed sharing knowledge, it was to the wrong crowd though.

Heath's blabbering confounded them. As they never knew of any such materials. "Could you start with what 'boron,' 'carbon,' 'nitrogen' and EVERYTHING else you said is? You have lost us all there, Heath." Egill comments diplomatically, though with a scrunched-up face as if they are trying to hold laughter. Heath got embarrassed and even started blushing red. Which broke their taught emotions from the 'nonsensical jargon' they were currently hearing, causing the others to start hysterically laughing. They tried to calm down for further talks.

"So much knowledge. . . You have it all figured out, but we are not like you. You have to teach us first! We do not speak Slavic." Egill comments with great amusement. Their fit of great laughter made Heath hide his face. In the process, he thinks of how to share the knowledge.

Seeing such a giant of a man being embarrassed like that made them nearly start having a dry-heaving episode, it was so surreal to them. Compared to them usually talking to the divine being like old comrades, Heath is such a bundle of surprises that they can not help but root for him. And they will continue to do so for a longer time. "I. . . I may have a solution to our issues. Though it may require more magic than I usually spend." Heath confesses with some difficulty, having his normal colour return to his face again. His eyes being aware.

"What may it be?" Gorm asks, lingering happiness overridden by curiosity. "I may be able to 'gift' you this knowledge through a ritual-like object. You sting yourself to the back of your neck with it, and it injects you with that certain knowledge basis." Heath states to them.

Once they hear of it, they come to the conclusion that a bit of pain would be more than worth it for the gaining of knowledge, knowing that a 'sting' from a God's perspective may mean great pain. But it would be well worth it if it came from a mind like Heath's. "Sounds interesting. What type of knowledge would be available?" Gorm asks fascinatedly. "Any." Heath's simple, yet meaningful response made them even happier. Their smiles shone through again, a habit that has become more usual ever since Heath came around.

"Everything you give us always helps us find the best to help our people. At this rate, we would have thought you wanted to become our leader." Gorm says, knowing others wouldn't voice it. "I don't want to be a leader, I wish to help all around, but. . ." Heath says too quickly.

"It is a very intrusive procedure that may sting, and I understand if you don't trust me eno-" A calloused, yet thin hand pushes a finger up to his lips. Hervor shushes him while being on her tip-toes. "We do trust you, you are simultaneously courageous yet foolish. And we wouldn't like you any other way. If you did this in front of any other clan, you would've been challenged to a Holmgang (ritualistic duel) for being 'effeminate.'" Hervor's usual straightforwardness radiated through, others expecting it to happen, but not the joke.

". . . Alright, I will begin production now. Different 'injectors' shall provide different knowledge bases so as not to overwhelm a single person. And they shall cover what knowledge I understand (or greater) by following the fundamental laws and my intent." Heath finalizes.

Their understanding of intent is still basic, but they would still work with what their saviour has planned, as nearly all of his plans show his care and compassion for them.