Date: Mörsugur 10th, 798. (Alt: 23rd Dec, 798 AD.) Location: Götaland (Ancient Sweden.)
At this point, 5 hours have passed, meaning it is 9 AM on both time scales, and the golems have been busy with their respective tasks that Heath set.
The amount of material collected would have shamed minor economies in creating the newer, larger Autos. The 4x in material cost meant they were twice the size and had increased strength and runic space capacity for more complicated tasks while reducing cost.
The number of runes etched into the surface allowed for a greater bit combination of memory storage upon them. Thanks to that, there was sufficient daylight for setting an internal cavity to create a new feature that Heath was hypothesising. Through the usage of Seiđr magic. He pricked his finger and controlled the flow of his blood to write Sumerian Cuneiform pictograms, doing the symbols for Destiny, Man, Power, Son and Oath (+ Guard.) Designing it so that it had multiple meanings towards a single, overwhelming sentence.
It would have represented the protection of the Völsung Clan and its allies within its capability and for its strength to be fueled as the 'child' of Heath. This means that if Heath became stronger, so would they. A kindred, yet ultimately different function to the portals.
In case this process was altered or destroyed, two more scripts were made, one in Akkadian and the other in Hittite. Heath did not know about those, so he willed them into shape, spending greater magic in the process. These are then made into schematics.
The leftover Nordic runes that inhibited the creation of free will or emotions were then altered to allow these units to have personal development and individuality. This meant they could have proper souls over multiple years. It is a technical dabbling in Animism and Blót.
Heath felt there wasn't enough assurance to these designs. So he collected materials from a few spruce trees within the (forest farm) and collected some grass. He mashed, pulped and formed it into paper strips with a percentage of 60% grass, 35% spruce bark and 5% leaves.
It appeared a product made a few centuries beyond their level, yet still primitive to our standards, brownish, thick sheets of incredibly durable fibre, only needing to be bleached with Hydrogen Peroxide and flattened to appear close to thick modern art paper. Which is what Heath did, taking a few Model minutes. Then, using a resin / wax mixture with a few key compounds such as biopolymers, he made an environmentally friendly glossy coating to protect it from weathering or liquid damage. Underneath that coating, he had used crushed spruce gum, charcoal, iron (ii) sulfate and oil from spruce nuts for ink.
It was not the best ink, but it did its job well enough. Lastly, he created a non-coloured painting used to symbolise a showing of perspective from the backs of these golems, they faced towards the portal, protecting what is behind them from what was outside the Cavern.
This was then imbued with its magic through a visual representation of the task. It could help partially transcend basic language barriers and help for greater 'superstitious' purposes. Jorg, Gorm, and Eirikr watched in the background with a new group that was forming through the portal from the tellings of Hervor. Their eyes were shocked by the spectacle. But Egill, now by the front of the group, was curious as usual about the workings of his processes and his working system. From their perspective, the ink was moving and alive.
"No Alkebulan (African) magical systems or Hieroglyphs and their Demotic (standardised alphabet) used. . . I understood you do not have herbs or certain alchemical ingredients like Frankincense, but you could recreate it, no?" Egill asked, knowing Heath's powers.
"I will stuff into existence that I know from historical reference, I have seen these writing systems and their purposes as they cost less to recreate their proper grammar and styling with the proper materials as well, then put into schematics. -But-, I have no recollection of what plants may be closest to it in ancestral ties to edit, or what other animal materials are necessary in their preparation. And it does not have the same effect if I do 'replacement' materials of lesser quality, causing it to cost exorbitantly greater magic instead." Heath explained his testing.
It annoyed Heath. But older systems of magic from Alkebulan (African,) Abya Yalan (American,) Asian, Australian and Oyashiman (Japanese) cultures required higher-quality ingredients from non-Divine sources to perform some of their more arcane sorcery.
Using his blood, an objectively higher quality material, for too many things may also cause him to have less time for work, as more magical objects are created for his self-farming. He could not recreate or schematise his blood either, as it loses its effectiveness, it must come from a 'living' source. And with him being a new god, aspects, or his symbolism is still mostly unknown, an embolism to his every plan that would pause the arteries for others to not know his will. The only way Heath having a chance to do these spells meaning he must train under a respected practitioner and to grow his influence without losing himself.
'Many older religions or forms of mysticism require these materials; maybe my perspective is too narrow. Maybe, to aid this world, I must break it first! And currently, the worst aspect of a world in Classical Antiquity is travel. . . If I design something involving greater mobility or even flight. Both a practical and philosophical solution~.' Heath's thought process closed in on a magical hoverboard design that appeared functional yet stylish.
The best comparison would be the Spiderman 2099 Goblin Glider from the Marvel Fanon. There is instead a multi-layered section where the runes would be placed where the face would have been. It was made with steel grown by the (copper / iron ingot farm) and (forest farm,) then using some of the recreated cured fur from the cape he made. He altered it slightly to make it more grippy as a carpet upon the surface where the feet are planted. The brown and grey tones with its finished design make it appear minimalist, even partially brutalist from certain angles.
To make it appear less as a kid reject's, grimdark hoverboard. He sketches contouring lines with a spot of red-coloured ink from the belladonna flower, for this he used crushed spruce gum, charcoal and iron (ii) sulfate. A process similar to the first ink. But with a rich, vibrant hue.
Heath created patterns that melded by the edges of the 'carpet' and the rest of the smooth design, then using his powers, he engraved the same runes as the runic injectors and steel autonomic skeleton within, making it flush and appearing inventive for the task. There were minor 'grooves' that poked out of the central interior of the hoverboard but it would be seen as part of the design instead. Meaning it is a moot character to cover either way. Heath was proud of it, and he may create new, 'ingenious' designs from this 'beta model' soon.[1]
He made it into a schematic, then flew back to their location. "Gorm, I have something to show you." He showed the new flying hoverboard design, they showed no expression, waiting for the big reveal. "It is a self-propelled, flying device." Heath stepped upon it.
He added to his intent that the hoverboard shall be owned by a single person who steps upon it and if they provide permission to others given. And to fly to their will. Now, imbuing energy into it, it became fully self-sufficient, at this point a minimum standard for his projects.
It began to hover upon the spot, but others did not appear surprised, too many at such short notice must have made them expectant of these revolutionary designs. Heath didn't notice, absorbed in his explanation. "It would allow all of you to fly wherever you wish. And it uses an 'ownership' system that allows whoever rides it first to choose who else shall ride upon it. Becoming a form of private property for people. And Gorm, I wish for the first person to be you." Heath willed it to slowly come down again, then stepped off.
He grabbed it upon the two-foot stands and then brought it to him. It was larger than necessary, as he made it originally for a man of his stature, but it was designed to cover all heights, so it worked in Heath's favour. He planned to allow people to change its colouration.
"Now you allow us to fly? What are you making us become, minor Gods?" Hervor asked in the background with a piqued tone, though her face betrayed her extreme happiness. People had wanted to fly for millennia but they never knew how to without the intervention or provision of a God's gift. Technically this is also a God's gift but it could be shared between, unlike the blessings of the Æsir or Vanir. Heath smiled after gifting this to his understanding friend. Gorm seemed quiet at first, "*WHAH Hᴬ-!*" then suddenly gave a booming laugh while slapping his back.
"You are mad, Heath! My people and I had always wished to soar beyond the clouds. Now you have finally given us the chance. We have more than enough room in this Cavern!" The Clan Leader was cheerful and blithe, checking and questioning all information on this hoverboard.
Showing his appreciation. He had now stepped upon it, wondering how it was done. He looks towards Heath, signalling for help. "First, do you wish to customise it or go straight to flying?" Heath asked Gorm. "You can customise it? This is a present fitting for only the richest of Gods." Jorg says in the background as well, fully focused on what may be a spectacle for the ages. "It is already a great colour, matching our flag." The Völsung Clan in totality had enjoyed its reddish and grey mixed hues, the only thing missing was a log with a front-facing stag head as a pattern.
"Understood. Now, think to yourself which direction you wish to travel. I suggest thinking about going up first, -slowly-." Heath said while pointing towards the Cavern's ceiling. "I say that as its power is near unlimited, and you may put too much charge on the movement." That was nodded towards.
"Obviously, Heath. I would be dragged across the grass if I had not. Nor do I want to fall from a height beyond the building you made." Gorm's response caused a few silent smirks across some faces. Picturing the scene their Clan Leader described. Gorm stared at them with his piercing brown eyes and a serious expression, causing them to shrink back and stop their thoughts. He nodded to them, and they nodded back. He wills it to hover above them leisurely. And it was successful. 'Now, how do I orient myself. . .' Gorm thinks on rotating in a direction slowly.
He wills it to spin to the right by about 90 degrees, facing towards the farms. "How do you move this?" Gorm asked Heath. "There are two ways: Tilt it enough for the force to counter-move, or you will it in that direction, keeping it level." Heath's explanation was enough.
Gorm began lurching forward towards the farms, facing with a stiff neck in perspective to them. "I suggest moving sideways to your dominant side. It makes you not affected as much by the winds when moving." Heath further explained. Knowing its intricacies and physics involved. "Do I do a process as the Polynesians you described when surfing?" Gorm asked Heath, partially understanding the process. "Exactly, you caught on quickly. I will show you the form by floating beside you." Heath flew beside him slowly so as not to startle him.
Heath repeats the movement on how to keep himself steady by Gorm for him to watch. Where he bends his knees at an obtuse angle with the front foot facing forward and the back foot facing to the side for increased stability, keeping his arms beside himself and facing slightly upwards, like an upside-down, slightly leaning v.
"Keep yourself relaxed in the process, you must be adaptable as the air currents surrounding you." Heath advised in a manner befitting a professional. Even though he never personally surfed or flew that way. Gorm copied his form, he was a bit rigid on the waist, but his form was impeccable. "Now, make sure your hands are always out to keep your centre of mass developed throughout. Whenever you feel like you are leaning too far to 1 side, do not fight it, flow with it." Heath continued, instructions almost a repeat, but showing different thought processes.
Gorm was self-aware of his flaws, doing his best to learn from Heath. "Try to move faster. I will move beside you and help you if you fall over. Keep your eyes forward and focused, you wish to glide over. Do not force yourself upon the environment." Heath now quickened!
To catch up, Gorm leaned forward slightly by relaxing his waist, then made to will the board to keep in pace. It was mostly successful, a few hiccups here and there for a first timer, but the people of this realm were fast learners, quickly adapting to the machine in a full record. Heath kept the form to help Gorm relax into it while accelerating when it became too easy. Soon reaching a speed of 10-Model Meters / 100-Model Seconds (30.9397-m (101.5080-feet)) / 92.7548 seconds, equalling 0.3336-m ((1.0944-feet) / second.)
Passing by the grass and flower patches every now and then, it was a vanilla, generically attractive environment even when newly planted a few days prior. After reacclimating to moving his head with thinking on moving in that direction, he stares towards the farms, seeing they had only increased in size slightly.
"Do you wish to move faster?" Heath asked, slightly bored. "I will do so once I am used to moving, while also talking the same." Gorm was meaningful with that, knowing that as he talked, he wobbled slightly due to his concentration decreasing, while not noticeable to others, it was with them directly by the hovering machine. Others were following behind them, and seeing their Clan Leader floating like that made a few start tearing slightly. Especially Ari and Yufren. Knowing the possibilities such a device could provide. They notice Gorm talking more about topics involving the Clan to Heath.
"-so after this structure is complete, what are you doing next?" Gorm asks, not knowing or understanding the possibilities at play in comparison to their now comparatively less advanced neighbouring Clans. Which he will learn -deeply-, soon enough
"I wish to create a major theatre that does not require actors. Known as a cinema. I will design it as a form of entertainment and education without the usage of those devices I showed you beforehand. It could allow for music to work in hand with the play." Heath was thinking of a design in close proximity to the Vegas Sphere. "How many could it hold to watch these plays?" Gorm asks, and others are interested too. "About 500,000 people comfortably seated, 600,000 if they are standing, I believe, each with a table and amenities that could be joined with others." Heath portrayed his planning for the expansion.
Designed akin to the building they would live in once it was finished in construction. It would fit better if they were jǫtnar. "Of course, why would I be surprised?" Gorm responded amicably in rhetoric while ignoring the headache forming.
With the rest of his Clan watching him both in admiration and with a curiosity, more questions were asked for his people. "What would it look like?" Egill asked. "Imagine a ball that would make anything except the building beside it minuscule. With its outside changing, it could be made to appear as anything within the shape." Heath's visual on the example gave them some perspective on the structure. Even if smaller, it is bigger than many castles they had seen and visited in the past.
"But why? Everything you build is to a scale unknown to anyone. Are most of the structures you knew that large?" Egill wondered, imagining a scene with towering skyscrapers of impossible proportions and people using the hoverboards Heath had designed.
"No, my first realm had structures that were on average not even a tenth of the size of those I am designing currently." Heath honestly provided, he thought at first to aggrandise his home. But he thought better of it. "Did they at least have these hoverboards you designed?" Egill became a bit surprised by his denial. "*Mm-mm* They only appeared in our fiction or stories." Heath now saw the Clan Leader shaking his head and giving a pointed look, asking for a mug of water, it was obliged, passed and quickly drunk. Then passed over again to be warped away in under a Model minute.
"And now that I feel you are ready, I will check on the golems on how much material they collected. You know how to hover surf, do it at your leisure. I will create more replicas of this arcanomachinery once I have time." Heath flew off, soon to start this grand civilisation-turner.
In total, he created 300 Golems, 150 of the normal size, naming them from Auto-101 to Auto-150. And in the larger size, naming them from Bus-1 to Bus-150. The foundation shall begin.
[1] ᛉ (Protection / Shield / Elk Rune,) 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.)