Defensive Measures

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Defensive Measures was a virtual representation of one of Eivor Varinsdottir's genetic memories, relived by Layla Hassan in 2020 through the Portable Animus HR-8.5, in which a vision of one of Odin's memories could be seen.

Description

Havi met with The Builder after acquiring sacred water.

Dialogue

Along the path Loki pointed out, Havi entered a hollow, where he found the Builder standing at a pillar in the center of a stone dais.

• Havi: Builder!
• The Builder: Ah! Your timing is perfect!

Havi approached the Builder.

• The Builder: We found the perfect spot! Did you bring the water?

Havi pulled out the flask, filled with water from the Well of Urðr, and handed it to the Builder.

• Havi: As promised.
• The Builder: Wonderful. As it blends with my paint, its magic will power the runes of protection that I here inscribe.

The Builder turned back to the pillar, kneeling down to mix the water with his paint.

• Havi: No rune will protect you from my wrath if I catch you playing games.

Unseen to Havi, the Builder rolled his eyes, then stood.

• The Builder: A perfect mix!

Havi's eyes went wide in shock and he stepped forward as he watched the Builder take a drink from the flask.

• Havi: Wait! What are you doing?
• The Builder: Harnessing hugr (mind) magic to bind my spirit to these enchantments. It amplifies the strength.
• Havi: Hugr magic? You learned this from the Jotnar?
• The Builder: They practice a form of hugr magic, but this is my own technique. And it's just... about... done. Could you lend a hand and bring me a few jars of paint? As many as you can.

While the Builder continued painting, Havi went to retrieve the paint jars from a nearby column.

• The Builder: Be careful with that jar, it's fragile. Easy... Remember, just place it, don't break it.

If Havi was carefulIf Havi broke two jars

Havi set the first jar down by the pillar and went for another.

• The Builder: Do take care. We can replace the paint, but the time to prepare it is lost.

Havi set down the second jar by the pillar and retrieved a third, placing it beside the others.

• The Builder: That's well enough. Exactly the right spot.
• Havi: What now, Builder?
• The Builder: Perhaps you should move out of the way, atop that rock? The view will be much better.

• The Builder: Well done. You've smashed all my jars. Now, take a break and climb up on that rock.

Havi climbed atop the broken column.

• Havi: There. Will that do?
• The Builder: It will indeed! Hold... hold...

A dome of green light spread over the hollow, glowing runes rising up from the base.

• The Builder: ...And there it is! A thing of beauty!
• Havi: The runes you painted conjured this shield?
• The Builder: They did. And if all goes well, it will protect your allies and roast your enemies.
• Havi: Show me.
• The Builder: With pleasure. Draw some invaders out from the woods and into the shield. Alive, of course. They must be alive.
• Havi: The barrier will not harm me as I cross?
• The Builder: You have my word, Havi.

Havi left hollow, walking through the shield without issue. Nearby, a couple jötnar had set up a camp. Havi got their attention.

• Havi: Over here, you stinking shits! Skulking about like cowards!

The jötnar attacked, and Havi ran back toward the barrier, continuing to provoke them.

• Havi: Am I so fearsome that you hide like mice in a farmer's field?

Havi reached the barrier.

• The Builder: That's good! Draw them closer!

The first jötunn ran into the shield and immediately fell down dead.

• The Builder: Yes, yes! It works!
• Havi: Look at that! Like moths to a flame!

The jötnar giving chase continued to run at the barrier, all dying as they reached it. More followed down the hill while Havi goaded them to keep running into it.

• Havi: Come, you fatherless curs! I am one, and you are many. What have you got to lose?

The jotnar continued charging after Havi, losing their lives in vain.

• Havi: The fools. They run towards their doom.

As more jötnar hit the barrier, sparks like red lightning began appearing across it.

• Havi: Builder! Is your shield supposed to flicker like that?
• The Builder: The shield is unstable!

The shield turned fully red and the jötnar began to run through it.

• Havi: Your shield is failing, Builder! They're passing through!
• The Builder: I don't understand! They should be dead! Hold them off while I try to restore it!

Havi fought the incoming jötnar while the Builder continued painting.

If Havi left the shield, he found it sapping his health away, rendering the area outside the shield hazardous.

• Havi: Ah! It burns!
• The Builder: Come back inside while you still can!

Havi returned to the shield, confined to the "safety" it provided.

• Havi: What now, Builder? Your shield has failed.
• The Builder: No! Not at all! I just need to make some adjustments.

More jötnar started pouring in from all sides of the hollow.

• Havi: Builder, your shield summons an army, but it is as weak as your word.

Havi continued fighting them off, vastly outnumbered.

• Havi: This is not what you promised!
• The Builder: Never mind that now! They're coming from all sides!

Despite confined to the shield, Havi continued to thin their numbers.

• Havi: I should have let Loki have his way with you.

More jötnar swarmed in.

• Havi: You need to fix this now!
• The Builder: I'm painting as fast as I can!

Havi fell back, his position overwhelmed.

• The Builder: I almost have it!

Green sparks started to appear, and all remaining jötnar died at once as the shield returned to its former green.

• The Builder: Well, that was not as smooth as I had hoped, but the means can be forgiven when the end bears fruit.
• Havi: A sour fruit, not as sweet as you promised.

Havi returned to the pillar to speak with the Builder.

• The Builder: It held! The shield worked wonders.
• Havi: It worked well enough. Impressive but unstable.
• The Builder: Don't fear, my friend. The problem is no more. I have mixed the proper solution. With enough materials and the right incentive, I pledge to build a tower so tall, it would shield all of Asgard.
• Havi: Materials we can find, that's no issue. What incentive do you mean?
• 'The Builder: O, just a trifle, nothing grand. I only want Freyja as my wife and queen.

This was planned.It's too much.Why Freyja?

Havi considered this, suspicious.

• Havi: Your coming here was no accident, was it? You desired Freyja well before you arrived.
• The Builder: If I had announced my desire from the start, you would have hurled me back through that portal. But my offer is honest, and my magic is real. For a wife and a queen, I will give you the means to protect your kind.

• Havi: You name an impossible price, Builder. Is that your trick? Aim high to land somewhere in the center?
• The Builder: I don't haggle like a common fishmonger, Havi. I desire Freyja, with all my heart. So ask yourself... is one marriage a fair exchange for the salvation of Asgard and its people?

• Havi: Why the Queen of Asgard? Is it you intent to rule at her side?
• The Builder: Nothing so bold! I would be happy to simply bask in her beauty. She can govern the realm however she sees fit.

Havi glared.

• Havi: Freyja is not mine to barter like a bale of wheat. I will ask her what she desires.
• The Builder: Do what you must, but my price stands firm. No Freyja, no shield. I have no other needs.

Havi drew closer, looming over the Builder.

• Havi: And you have no other friends. So tread lightly here.

Havi left to bring Freyja the Builder's terms.

Outcome

Havi and the Builder created a magical barrier that could kill Asgard's enemies, and in return for his services, the builder expressed his desire to marry Freyja.

References

• Assassin's Creed: Valhalla