For some time now, Anton had been wondering why the Skirians were different from the other Germanic tribes. Göll was quite old and might know the difference between the Skirians and the other Germans. Anton walked to the hunting camp in the Berjenwald near the settlement and saw Alva picking blueberries.
He asked Alva about Göll, and she told him that he would be back from the hunt soon. Anton decided to make himself useful and gathered birch bark for medicine.
After almost an hour, Göll returned with a deer. Alva immediately got to work and prepared the smoking station. They skinned and butchered the animal and hung the pieces over the smoking station. After more than two hours, they were done and let the deer smoke.
Göll sought out Anton in the birch forest, where Anton had made birch oil according to Frijja's recipe.
"Heil Anton, Alva said you wanted to speak to me?"
Anton looked at Göll and sat on a mossy rock, staring at the flames of the campfire:
"I've been wondering for a long time... Why is the Skirian tribe so different from other tribes?"
Göll sat on deadwood and asked: "What do you mean? How are we different from other tribes?"
Anton looked Göll in the eyes and said: "The Skirians are much more open than other tribes."
Göll laughed heartily and replied: "We were not much different from other tribes once. The only difference was that we had a lot of contact with other tribes than the Germanic. The Baltic Yotvingians, the Venetic Poles and other Slavic tribes, like the Ruthenians and Antians.
We had a close alliance with the Venetians, until our cultures merged. Even the origin of the city Dobryzen can be traced back to the Poles. However, this was a thorn in the Goth's eye and they tried to conquer our lands. The Venetians could repel them, but our tribe fell. Our culture emerged through exchange and mixing, and it was never bad for us.
The second reason was the appearance of Frijja and Thorvik. They have always been by our side. As a child, she had enormous knowledge of healing and never made a distinction between peoples. Frijja was driven out of Jutland and Thorvik came from Norway to Jutland. Frijja taught the children many things that even I, with my experience, did not know."
Anton sank into his thoughts. "I barely knew her story, but I wonder why Thorvik has such enormous strength..."
Göll said to Anton, as if it were the most normal thing in the world: "It's simple. Thorvik is a demigod. No one knows which god he came from, but no one can deny that he is powerful.
However, he has never used his strength to actively kill others."
Göll looked at Anton, his eyes radiating seriousness. "Anton... You are not the Anton I knew. I said nothing during the entire journey from Iwòrzin to Nyskiria because I didn't know how to assess you. But I know you are our ally and have no ill intentions. So I ask you in confidence, and I will take whatever you say to the grave. Who are you really?"
Anton looked at Göll in surprise, massaging his eyebrows, and said: "I come from another world and entered this world through a lake. The day at the stone circle, where you found me, everything was unfamiliar to me, and I had to be cautious. However, when the name Woden was mentioned, I received the memories of this Anton."
Göll began to laugh heartily and said: "Hahahaaa! I believe you, Anton! That also explains why you became the Futhark of Eihwaz! Only someone who has experienced both life and death can receive it!"
A shadow emerged from the bushes, and a voice sounded.
"I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but I overheard your conversation," said Frijja behind Anton. "I originally came to pick up the birch oil you made, but when I heard your topic, I couldn't help but stay silent."
She stepped out of the shadows, unusually not in her shaman attire, but in normal clothes. Her face was unusually clear of those markings, and her pale skin with light freckles was visible. Her antlers were still on her head, and she looked at Anton with a worried expression.
"I... I am so sorry. I believe you Anton"
Anton looked at Frijja in surprise:
"Wow, that is unexpected."
Frijja countered:
"No, it is Woden's will that you are here. Maybe you should use your knowledge to improve technology."
Göll, visibly confused, said: "We should end this delicate conversation. Others might be listening. I suggest we focus on building the city."
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온돌 (Ondol)
A week has passed and early summer is showing its best side. The weather is cloudless, and everything seems to be in order. The people in the respective settlements are gathering materials to build their houses. The place is idyllic, but there is a problem... Winter in the mountains will be harsh. Anton looks at the village and thinks about how to efficiently provide warmth to all the people during winter.
"Winter is a death sentence for most settlers. To reduce the mortality rate, there should be ways to efficiently direct heat into the houses. As long as no houses are built yet, planning is of utmost importance. Maybe we can build radiators? No, that's costly and material-intensive. We don't have that much iron available."
Anton sits thoughtfully on a mossy stone when Giorgius, Ari'au, and Gerald come to Anton.
"Bwahahaha! You look like a Greek statue! What's troubling you so intensely?"
"I'm thinking of a way to heat houses efficiently."
Ari'au asks: "Wouldn't a simple fireplace be best?"
Anton disagrees with Ari'au: "No, the risk of a fire or carbon monoxide poisoning is too high. Fire needs air and in an enclosed space, there's less air when the fire is in the room. If you open a window, the cold comes in and the warmth disappears..."
Giorgius asks: "Why not a Roman underfloor heating system then?"
Anton is amazed at how advanced the Romans were before the fall of Rome, but after thorough consideration, that's not the right solution.
Anton says to Giorgius with a skeptical look: "No, that would be more suitable for a large building like a bathhouse... The praefurnium, the hypocaust, the tubuli, and the suspensura require a lot of space and materials..."
Anton suddenly looks surprised: "But a Korean Ondol would be efficient and cost-effective!"
Gerald asks, confused: "Anton, what does Ondol mean?"
"It means underfloor heating in Korean... It's a language from the East, a bit further away than the area where Tiwaz's wife comes from."
Gerald says: "May I help you with your Ondol project?"
Anton says with a smile on his face: "Of course! I need all the help I can get! I'll explain the details later. Let's go to the construction site of the longhouse. I believe there's a dispute going on there."
Anton goes to Frijja to discuss the plans for the longhouse. However, Herul and Kýros are arguing, and Frijja seems visibly annoyed.
Herul: (･`д･´) "We need a storage cellar, a map room, and a large armory!"
Kýros: (︶^︶) "Don't forget the documentarium and the Tameío! You just want to store your booze cool in the cellar."
Herul: ( •̀ㅁ•́ ) "How dare you call me an alcoholic? If I weren't in a wheelchair, I'd would kick your Greek ass to Pontia!"
Kýros: (･ิω･ิ) "Haha, then let's make more space! Let's build a big building right away!"
Herul: (`^´) "We can't use up so many materials for your nonsense! Dilarium and Tamio..."
Kýros: "(･`д･´) It's called Documentarium and Tameío! It's important for financial management. Besides, we can allocate more materials for the government building. We have more than enough wood, stone, and even clay!"
Anton arrives with Giorgius, Ari'au, and Gerald.
Herul looks at the small group and says: "Hail to all of you, what brings you to us?"
Anton comes closer and looks at Kýros and Herul:
"Hello everyone, we want to install an Ondol in the main building.
It's a floor heating system, in case you're wondering."
Frijja says loudly and annoyed: "Alright, Anton decides everything. I'll... attend to my healing duties!"
"I understand, Frijja. Rest well," says Anton sympathetically to Frijja as she walks away briskly.
Kýros asks Anton: "Why a floor heating system?"
This time, Gerald answers: "According to Anton, this type of heating is connected to a kitchen. When you cook, it heats the floor at the same time, and we are prepared for winter."
Anton adds: "We plan to build this technology in all houses. As long as there are only tents, it's best to include such things in the plans..."