Story/Sotidrokhima

*Sotidrokhima* begins in 1250 AD, in the lands of future Finland, then not known by such name.

The Finnish tribes have withstood attacks from foreign invaders for centuries. Now, their enemies to the west - the Swedes - are clearly planning something larger. Over the Baltic Sea, a plan is brewing under the sinister Birger Jarl, who aims to conquer the Finnish lands under the pretext of crusade.

Hailing from Finnish Karelia, a group of warriors gather. The famed Sotidrokhima, a purpoted 'Son of Kaleva', joins his companions once again in order to defend the lands against yet another Swedish raid...

## Beginnings

As the raiders are defeated, Sotidrokhima and his company return to their homes. Not long after, their home village is attacked by an unknown foe, and Sotidrokhima finds his best friend Tiera in the ground, dying.

After revealing the truth about the attackers - they were their own companions who have joined with the Swedes - Tiera dies, leaving Sotidrokhima craving vengeance. He embarks on a journey to find and kill the traitors - Istervo, Aude, and Kuso - one-by-one.

As Sotidrokhima proceeds through Finland and ultimately draws nearer to Aude, he gains knowledge of a large attack coming from across the sea. The Swedish armies are underway - and the traitors, Sotidrokhima and Tiera's former companions, have been aware of this.

Sotidrokhima finds and executes Aude, who first reveals the location of Kuso in hopes of receiving Sotidrokhima's mercy.

## Lalli and Kuso

Sotidrokhima encounters the woodsman Lalli, who has been running from Swedes for a time. After killing a Swedish priest, Lalli became their prime target. Sotidrokhima gets Lalli to join him in his quest to fight the upcoming invasion, but also to fulfill his quest for vengeance in the meantime.

After a long journey, the two get on the trail of Kuso, who has received emissaries from Birger Jarl. A Swedish bishop and the follower of Bishop Henrik - the priest killed by Lalli - has come to Kuso to inquire about the local lands and population, in order to bring intelligence to Birger.

Soti and Lalli find Kuso at the top of a large hillfort, and while Lalli is wounded, Sotidrokhima proceeds onward and slaughters Kuso's vanguard. Kuso, defeated, tells Sotidrokhima of Istervo, as he hopes Sotidrokhima will only head to his inevitable death at the hands of Istervo and his men. Sotidrokhima then kills Kuso, while Lalli executes the bishop.

Soti and Lalli then depart, as Lalli returns to the village where he met Sotidrokhima earlier, to help the populace in reparations from the raid. Sotidrokhima proceeds towards the land of Tavastia, and the two promise to meet again in a few weeks in the village of Vanaja.

Meanwhile, Istervo receives the Swedish crusading army in Tavastia, meeting Birger Jarl.

## Shaman and the 'Son of Kaleva'

In the wilderness while headed towards Tavastia - where Istervo should be found - Soti meets a shaman. The old man knows of Sotidrokhima, and promises to help him understand his heritage; the reason why he is claimed by many to be a Son of Kaleva.

Sotidrokhima recounts his memories to the shaman, and the latter comes to an understanding of Sotidrokhima's mind. He then provides Soti with a potion, which puts him into a trance and allows himself to explore the hidden corners of his mind and body, to find the power of Kaleva - Sotidrokhima's ancestor god - inside him.

After a time passes, as bandits arrive and attack the shaman - having heard he is 'hiding riches', the Son of Kaleva inside Sotidrokhima awakens. Killing all the bandits and their leader, Sotidrokhima helps the shaman recover, and after this, departs. He then heads toward Vanaja, to meet Lalli again, as a lot of time has already passed.

In the far north, a mysterious being sends a minion of his - a strong man very similar to Sotidrokhima - to find Soti.

## Rapola and Kihovaucone

Soti arrives in the village of Rapola, where he encounter King Rapo, a renowned Finnish warrior. The latter allows him to stay.

Soon after, the strong being from the far north arrives and easily defeats Rapo in a duel. The being reveals himself as Kihovaucone, a Son of Kaleva just like Sotidrokhima. The god Kaleva has heard of Sotidrokhima, and wants Soti to join him and Kihovaucone in order for them to be strong enough to take over the Finnish tribes and all the north. Sotidrokhima refuses, and a long battle ensues in Rapola.

Kihovaucone loses, but tries to persuade Sotidrokhima to join them one last time and embrace his heritage. Sotidrokhima executes him. He then proceeds to depart Rapola after resting there.

In the far north, Kaleva learns of Kihovaucone's death, and decides to take matters to his own hands.

## Battle of Vanaja

Arriving in Vanaja, Sotidrokhima meets Lalli again, and Soti recounts his adventures in the past weeks. Not long after Soti's arrival, the Swedish vanguard led by Istervo and the Swedish captain Asmund also arrives, attacking Vanaja.

Soti and Lalli defend the village, and Sotidrokhima encounters Istervo again after a long time. Istervo, fearful, runs away, with Soti giving chase.

Soti catches up on Istervo and beats him in a duel. While preparing to meet his demise, Istervo tells Sotidrokhima his purpose - to help the Finnish tribes come under Swedish rule in order to not only help them 'learn of the ways of the larger world' but also to bring the tribes protection against their numerous enemies. Istervo believes that one day, after growing 'wise and strong' under Swedish protection, the Finns could rise up to retake their homeland and independence. Sotidrokhima, while unable to forgive Istervo for his betrayal and Tiera's death, decides to spare him. Lalli arrives.

## Swedish army arrives

The Swedish main army arrives, headed by Birger Jarl, Captain Asmund (who survived the battle of Vanaja) and Commander Sveyn.

Soti, Istervo, and Lalli join together to fight the massive army, and manage to slaughter a large part of it, with Soti killing Asmund in a duel. However, the army is too large, and more knights keep on coming to surround the heroes.

Suddenly, a mysterious wind blows through the battlefield, revealing a blue tall-standing figure with an ominous grin...

## Kaleva

The god Kaleva has arrived, and proceeds to slaughter a large part of the confused Swedish army. The rest immediately rout, including Birger and Sveyn. Kaleva then reveals who he is to Sotidrokhima, and attempts to persuade Soti to join him as his last descendant and the final 'Son of Kaleva' - a name given to those descendants who managed to awaken the dormant powers of the god within them. As Kaleva reveals he has killed numerous Sons of Kaleva himself as they rose up against him, Sotidrokhima refuses the offer angrily. Kaleva, not wasting more time on negotiations, decides to kill Soti and his allies.

A large battle ensues, where Soti manages to beat Kaleva time after time and even saves everyone present - the Swedish included - from a massive snow-meteor created by Kaleva to obliterate all. While it seems that Soti manages to kill Kaleva, the latter suddenly reappears, engaging Sotidrokhima in a final duel. After a last exhausting fight, Sotidrokhima defeats Kaleva. The latter still attempts to persuade Soti to join him one last time, but Soti kills him, evaporating him.

## End of the Age of Heroes

Even if Kaleva was defeated, the threat of the Swedish army remained. A large number of Swedes was still alive, among them Birger Jarl and Commander Sveyn. Birger, while confused of the recent events, sent his remaining troops onward to take down Soti, Istervo and Lalli. Lalli and Istervo were killed in the last stand, but Soti remained.

Running out of strength, Soti had a vision of Tiera, greeting him and urging him to make his last stand in order to catch up on Tiera 'up there', referring to afterlife. Sotidrokhima rose up once more to fight the oncoming Swedes, which ended in his death.

After the battle and the Swedes' departure, King Rapo arrived on the battlefield, finding the bodies of the heroes. As he lamented Sotidrokhima's death, clouds gathered and the noise of thunder was heard, prompting Rapo to look up and smile, realizing his friend was up there, responding to him.

He then claimed the Age of Heroes had come to an end - even though legends like Sotidrokhima would never truly die.