POV: Heath.
Date: Mörsugur 14th, 999. (Alt: 27th Dec, 999 AD.) Location: Götaland (Ancient Sweden.)
Heath has had many internal debates on what may be best with the subdued Dökkálfar. "- They act hopeless, wishing nothing else but escape or death." Heath comments loudly.
He read many of their surface thoughts, there was no higher conscience there when he was around. It was as if their minds shut down as a preliminary response, fully expecting another devastating psionic wave. 'A defense mechanism, perhaps.' Heath internally postulated.
His expression was dark, he felt remorseful. If he was in his old world and such attacks existed, it would have been treated as a crime against all life itself. He walked into the cage, both golems beside him blocking the entrance behind him. The expressions on the captives morphed to something strangely comical, their eyes were widened and were focused on his every move. Their mouths stayed open for so long that drool started dripping down their chin. Their nostrils were flared and rasping, as if desperate to breathe. No noise was made.
'I have gone too far.' Heath knew they were murderers, pillagers and from the comment of one of them, potentially rapists. Yet he could not come to see his literal mind-break as true recompense, it was overkill. A fate worse than any actual punishment or death required.
Heath sent another wave, but of a different length. A feeling so abstract in concept to these monsters that it would be a reaction unseen by most around. Of peace and serenity. As soon as the ripple hit their leftover psyche, their features calmed, and their bodies soon turned to relax. Their heads drooped, and where they were huddled, they soon fell into a coma-like state. The wave felt like the lilt of an unspeakable hand, creating inflections that strung their souls like a newly plucked harp that vibrates until an entropic rest was done in setup.
Heath walked out, unsure of what to do. There were too many factors at play, the scouting from the first day he arrived when making the Cavern, to the sudden asylum for the innocent people of the Völsung clan. He may have been given many powers to compensate, but. . .
'I was not ready. Even after uncountable lifetimes in that space between worlds.' Heath's head bobbed to himself. The aura around him stilled, as if in a frozen lake. It was felt by many of the people closest to him through the portal, and even the soulless golems felt the shift, moving with a facsimile of weariness and understanding. Heath sat by the cage, stewing in his own thoughts. Much of his emotional intelligence and progress to bettering himself has regressed, from what he felt. He remembers it all but does not know how to apply it.
*Step, Step, Step, Thud* The sound of walking was heard in front of him, towards the direction of the portal. Heath raised his hand in a show of awareness and stayed there, self-contemplating. A hand touched his shoulder, it felt rough yet warm, large for normal people.
Heath looked towards it, seeing the scarred joints and its wear from time in battle. He looked up, and saw it was Gorm. Looking with understanding, a careful face as if not to be too overbearing, with a slight tug at his cheeks, crow's feet in full show. "This must be your first time in battle, you should be proud of yourself. You did admirably with so little time for training." Gorm sat down, almost-finished burger in hand. "And we need to see your recipe, write it down. We wish to know!" Gorm laughed, and for a moment. Heath forgot the guilt.
They laughed together and chatted about topics from new foods, to potential future technologies such as mass-producing the final product of the flight suits, and new music that would not be ear-blasting. It was very soothing, while learning the new world's customs.
"It was necessary, Heath. You must know that. You saved my son from an enemy he was surrounded by. While he could have fought, it would not have come without injury. So keep yourself confident." Gorm appeared he wished to say more, but he knew it was a topic Heath would not wish to cover, as the story of Heath's life played in his own head, of a world marred with little conflict, it made sense why he was so evasive of anything on war. Gorm patted his shoulder, knowing the conversation could continue later.
"And have one of your own burgers, you have not eaten yet!" Gorm said, then nodded before leaving. 'A man I only knew for a few days is so much like my father.' Heath thought to himself. His father was a more introverted man, yet he held many qualities like Gorm.
He knows Gorm is genuine, for his emotions are easily rolling off of him with no hidden motives. He sees a leader doing his best for his people and a new friend, no matter how sappy it sounds. "Could I have one of your runic injectors and time with the prisoners?" Gorm asks confidedly, Heath knew exactly what he would do. He was caught in a dilemma between forcing the copying of memories or to leave them be and heal first, then do so after. After a minute or so, he decided. He warped one of the devices and handed it to Gorm.
Gorm's eyes showed his appreciation, and he walked off towards the steel cage. Heath did not want to hear what would happen next, so to distract himself, he went into the artificial forest, its tall canopy ever resplendent and vibrant of life. He stood there, motionless.
He raised his head and put his arms onto his shoulders, closing his eyes and basking in the nearby life. Thoughts drifted in his head, one after another of potential risks and of plans for the future, both mundane and important. Like 'Would the drain of magic be too obvious through so many magical devices?' or 'Is it time to introduce thenew elements through farming to institute electrical systems?' Decisions, decisions, decisions. Too many and so much potential for growth. Heath simply kept his eyes closed, frozen in position.
Then morel. . . grotesque ideas started appearing. 'With abilities to alter my physique, should I grow weapons from myself?' The thought of using weapons crafted from himself seemed intriguing. 'Would it dissolve due to it being separate from myself?' Heath pondered inwardly.
He spiraled further into his thoughts, before he felt a wet sensation from his hand, almost like. . . 'Saliva?' He opened his eyes and saw a doe, larger than any he had seen before, licking his palm with fervor. Heath noticed that its eyes looked more intelligent than its normal counterparts. She saw Heath's eyes open and look towards them, she turned sideways to view through one eye, directly towards him. It wasn't a challenge for dominance or fear as would be for regular body language, it was acknowledgement to another person.
Heath recognised it was approaching sapient intelligence. 'Must be from the over-load of magic from all the plants. They appear much more lively within this environment.' Heath crouched low, to show no hostility and to be eye-level with the doe. He was ecstatic.
'Could magic provide insight towards the development of the soul and body through continuous exposure? Had it mutated them towards beings of higher function?' Heath's happiness was felt by the doe, and it bleated to show their happiness. She knew this large man was the one who brought her and her family to this new, prosperous land and she wanted to thank him. She butted his face with her nose, then turned around. Shifting her head in unison, asking Heath to follow. 'Huh, so they're like corvids now, then?'
Heath obliged, following through. Passing the evenly spaced trees, he felt many eyes look towards him, none were filled with animosity or fear, they either contained tolerance or recognition to the man that brought them here. 'All of this change, in just a few days?'
Heath questioned inwardly due to such drastic changes in a few days. 'Could he have made the forest's absorption of magic from the air too strong?' So many coulds, hows and whats. (He is too blimin' inquisitive.) '. . . I didn't apply the right system for the trees to grow better, I will add in winds as well!' Even the doe knew that this man was too stuck in his head. And she committed a human-like gesture of shaking her head while closing her eyes. The walk did not take long, they reached a large moat-like structure, dirt stacked high with the trees.
It was shaped like a hexagon, the Heath-height dirt sloped wall stamped and kept steady by the obvious work of hooves. Heath's face showed enthusiasm, and he nodded to this work done. It was more than he could have expected from deer, they had no opposable thumbs!
The doe recognised the man's gesture and nodded to him as well. 'Is nodding and shaking heads a universal gesture? Or did they learn it by watching humans previously?' Heath just continuously guessed internally, a million+ thoughts an hour. He was led to a gate-like entrance. Then went through a cuboidal partitioning, he was shown the partially dug-out nests that contained leaves and grass as matting. Calves were wobbling, prancing and resting around, while the adults tended to the dirt wall, stomping energetically throughout.
"It seems they tried to match the defenses of the fortresses of Clans they have seen, quite skillfully in practice as well." Heath mused loud enough for them to hear, while they did not understand Norse, they could tell it was a compliment by the way it was said.
Heath was led by the doe to the open storage area, where large bundles of grass and earth were stored for feed and material purposes. Lastly, he was led to the biggest nest. It was a nursery-like setup, where mothers were kept safe by their partners, and they could rest and birth new foal as needed. The doe that led him here appeared agitated, stressed even. As if she was egging Heath towards a specific location in part of the nesting ground. And soon, Heath found out why. This is where their sick were kept, and they are not in good condition.
(Search up their effects for full understanding.) From salmonellosis, leptospirosis, campylobacterosis and brucellosis. All of the infected were dying quickly and very painfully, the air was harshly acrid and pungent, like a mixture of vomit, excreta and living necrosis.
It was a hard sight, seeing so many animals that could only be described as helpless. Heath saw that they held on for life but were in a losing battle. The deer that guarded them knew to stay away, so they kept their distance while protecting them at the same time.
The deer, much like the doe that guided him here, recognised and respected Heath, they allowed him near the injured and dead. More than likely hoping for him to help, and so he would. He went to the most vulnerable patients, that were a few sick children.
They appeared skeletal, and their fur was patchy and matted. And they could not be cleaned without risk. They were malnourished and had too little strength to react. The only movement from them is their forced, ragged breathing. They had bromhidrosis and were wasting away.
The odor from them was strong enough to easily shut Heath's eyes, to nearly cover his nose, and gag. But, he soon turned off his smell and sensitivity to work efficiently. So, he started healing. Every dying calf, adult and elder still alive were saved in a few minutes, as that training from helping the people at the clan allowed him to more easily influence the bodies of others. They were removed of their ailments and diseases, he fixed their fur and other injuries, and lastly, he walked to the nearby storage nest to provide feed as necessary.
Those that were awake were fed slowly, high regard obvious in their posture, they would show their thanks through bleats and socially grunted. Those that were asleep had their feed placed beside them. Heath knew they needed their rest, so he left them all be.
The doe that brought him had stayed in their original spot, a similar expression to surprise and gratefulness was in her eyes. 'She must be the most aware of the group.' Heath internally credited while smiling without showing teeth, so as not to startle them. Before coming close to the doe, Heath disinfected himself and soon was by them. The doe was head-bobbing due to the overwhelming emotion. 'If she had tear glands, she would have cried her eyes out by now.' Heath saw her staring at a specific deer in deep thought.
Heath touched her cheek, and moved his hand towards the deer in question. The doe comprehended what he meant, and walked towards to what Heath believed was her partner. She moved into place and rested beside him, soon grooming him to show her love and care.
Heath did not want to intrude at this moment, so he was going towards the center of this compound, but was stopped by two deer that weirdly reminded him of Asdos and Eirikr. The large, calm one snorted once and signaled Heath to follow. And the smaller, more skittish one went behind Heath to make sure he did not get lost. As there were too many of them, and they all looked too similar to each other. He was led to an empty nest with a bundled grass pile. The Eirikr-like one softly stomped twice in the center, then moved away to give space.
Heath slowly sat cross-legged upon the nest. It felt even softer than the grass he had grown throughout the Cavern. Like a small, string-stuffed cloud of cotton candy. A weird analogy to be sure, but extremely comfortable in his opinion. Yet there was an underlying smell to it.
The Eirikr-like one moved towards him, then picked up some grass by its neck and transported it in front of him. Then, he also sat down beside Heath in a mixture of protection and relaxation, they appeared to trust Heath quite a lot. Though it was one sided.
Heath continuously scanned each and every one of them, in case they may have been externally influenced by any divine or hidden phenomena, yet he could only find that their souls are reacting and growing through the absorption of excess magic circulation, as theorised before. He tried to peer into them, but when he did, they would become uncomfortable or appear pained, and their reactions seemed genuine enough to mean this was a natural occurrence. So, Heath simply observed at length for now.
He may ask them directly once he found them trustworthy, though with the growth plateauing, (more than likely meaning it is a logarithmic growth.) It may take months to years for them to do so on their own. But in the mean time, to not appear like a bad guest. . .
He picked up some of the grass by hand and ate it, he chewed the same way the deer did, having some of it out of his mouth to show he was eating and kept at it for a few minutes. They appear pleased with Heath's choice, it was a good call. Though, the taste was similar to dry porridge. 'I would really like some sugar or honey with this.' Heath thought to himself. Heath raised his head, and using his omni-translation skills, he cranked up its power to focus more on intent, since they could not directly communicate with full vocalization or language.
"Me. Collect food. Object. Like grass, but more nutritious. Use (concept: Magic)? (I am a magic caster. Do you want more palatable food?)" Heath's explanation through mental suggestions and partial bleets and chirps caused a reaction of surprise to the deer.
They stayed silent for a moment, before bleeting back an intonation for agreement, they appeared curious for what sort of magic he may use, and as they expected it, they would not be overreactive or violent. Heath used a micro-tear in space to collected some of the magically grown vegetables, different grains, multiple berry types and nuts that were split and salted. Heath brought enough to last them for a few weeks at minimum, which is a great gift for this growing clan of deer! They reacted by bobbing their heads and tail wagging.
Their eyes were also surveying what was shown, and a few that were closest to them skeddadled to it. They were eating the food voraciously, thanks to it being much sweeter / saltier and having a much greater variance in texture compared to the grass they stored.
The children who appeared resembled that cute gif of a deer munching directly towards the camera. Heath even involuntarily let out a few awws and conveyed an indirect message of 'You are all so cute!' This reaction made the deer nearest to him shyly respond, if you can even picture that. Heath reined in his emotions to avoid further embarrassing them, giving a look that, while not fully understood by the deer due to their lack of facial cue awareness, they interpreted as an apology. This was accepted with gentle nudges to his arms and legs.
The others used their mouths and necks to transport it to the storage area, Heath tried to help, but the Eirikr-like and the Asdos-like one stopped him from grabbing the food, as if telling him that it is their job to do it. 'Makes sense. I am the guest in their home, eh. Wish I could have helped, though.' Heath internally marveled at their efficiency of transporting items using their heads and chins like a claw to grab items. Their work ethic was admirable and efficient, all without proper communication too! They were much like ants in that regard.
Heath had stayed for a few more hours, it was close to the evening from the sun in the sky. And many of the deer appeared tired from all of their work. "Me leave. Have nice sleep. See tomorrow! (Have a nice night everyone, see you by the same time!)" Then started walking.
Many of the deer stayed still, watching him silently. Their posture appeared guarded, showing their anxiety. A few even started following him or went in front of Heath to stop him. They were quite clingy and protective, showing their loyal innocence. Heath tried to keep them in their area while he was walking through their entrance, but they continued tailing him. Some of the larger male deer that had woken up from their sleep after being healed by Heath even appeared to surround him, like how an elephant would guard their calf.
"I say. Come back later. Why follow? (I said I will return, why do you follow me like this?") Heath's own body language was understood as confusion, and many of the deer snorted in a mixture of annoyance and almost-familial love. An "Is it not obvious, idiot?" The sass.
"How about. I set your home. Closer to my home. Visit anytime through magic? (Instead of following me back home, I can move your home closer to mine, and you can use portals to travel to my own.)" Heath tried to negotiate with them. But one of the smarter ones responded back with their own intent. "No. You stay. (No, this is your home.)" The same female that had brought him there said. It went back and forth for a few minutes before they finally agreed with Heath. They travelled back and Heath placed two private portals.
The first one was in the center of their compound, the second one was placed by the middle of the wall closest to the North portal. Then Heath transported all of their materials, dug a dry moat in a trapezoid shape that stopped at the concrete high wall. Entrance to the south.
The dug earth was then used to recreate their compound walls. The inside space was a bit larger in surface area than their original. This was good, though. As it gave the deer more room to place more structures. The storage was placed in the middle, and the rest were surrounding it in a way that appeared aesthetically pleasing. Heath then came back to them. "Home done. Come through! (Come, I finished what I believe is a better home for you all!)" The deer were quick and decisive, fully trusting Heath. They went through the portal, and their better balancing allowed them to not experience as much dizziness or nausea.
They arrived in a three-file line. And their view of the efficiently designed compound was positive. There was even a bonus not listed. A second moated dirt wall surrounded the first wall with the isolated, mass-growing berry bushes previously used in example.
Their food would be overflowing and abundant, and they would not experience hunger or sickness again. And much more would come for them, they cheered and slept the night.