Do the invisibeetles have any symbols associated with them?
====No.
I move onto the branch with the star, in order to allow the invisibeetles free passage down the main trunk.  I remain aware of their progress, in case they seem to be heading toward me rather than simply moving down the trunk past me.
====They don't change from their path, and keep on slowly trundling down the main trunk.

While waiting for them to pass by, I examine the equation, so that I can reflect upon it via Perfect Memory later.

====Done.

Then I pray for wisdom regarding whether or not these invisibeetles are hostile, and look for potential escape routes if needed...

====It seems clear they are not hostile.

I consider, and nod.

"Fair enough.  And you have had opportunity to observe that I too am a user of technology, and that I prefer the freedom to be able to use it."

"I also tell you frankly that I do not prefer that freedom being restricted by entities styling themselves after Norse gods."

===="Self righteous jerks." He snarls.

"However, we must think through the consequences."

"Unrestricted, technology was 'ripping the Earth to pieces'."

====He looks puzzled again.

"How far does Gungir's yoke extend?  And once broken, what will happen?  What will prevent us being ripped to pieces again?"

===="Over the whole of the Mary Piper.  We will be free.  We won't do that."

"I prefer more than living under Gungir's yoke, but I also prefer more than dying free.  How can we take action to actually live free?"


====He blinks at you.  "Look, one problem at a time."

I consider, and nod again.

"Where is the Pool?  What about it makes me able to break Gungir's yoke over my knee there?"

====The Pool is Uroarbrunner, an organic liquid AI.  Its technology is sufficient to defeat Gungir's protections if Gungir is brought to it.

"Tell me more about each Aesir aboard, and their strengths and weaknesses."

"Odin has control of Gungir.  He also is very charming, so watch yourself.  He can summon vastly superhuman strength for a bit, but it tires him.  If he tries, he can guess what you will do with computer modelling of most likely actions.

Thor has his chariot with agrav, and his goats which he can use as heat sinks that regenerate.  He needs this because his ion cannon, Mjolnir, generates a lot of heat.  He's a tremendous warrior.

Frigga, she's capable of using deep modelling for the Future, but the effort leaves her catatonic.  She's good at the healing arts.

Baldur is strange, pale, we do not understand him, and I think the other Aesir do not either.

Tyr lost his hand to the Chaos Wolf, who thankfully is not with us. No one wants an antimatter powered random action generator device wandering about. Tyr is a stone cold executioner.  His very touch kills.  He doesn't lie, unlike Odin, but he doesn't give second chances either.

The other, lesser ones, they are stronger, and much more durable than an ordinary human.  And wounds that would kill a man will simply take some time to recover.  This is why Frigga is so honored, because she can heal in seconds what might take a year to recover from."

"Suppose I am successful.  The Aesir will obviously be displeased.  If they should respond with hostile action, what resources do we have to withstand them?"

====="We have as many of the Alliance, and we have places of hiding, and if you are very clever they will not know it was you.  We will be glad to take the honor and the chase upon ourselves."

I look at our surroundings as I listen through Sight, ensuring that there are no other invisible surprises.

And, still using Sight, I look at my current companion...

====He's thirty feet tall, and stringy haired, has two heads, and wears a rough tunic with pants, but no shoes as his basic shape, but for now he's a monkey.  You see in his aura a giant beanstalk.  You also see a tongue.  You also see a flame that shape changes constantly.