Lore:
Saber’s True Name is Lemminkäinen, “The Brave and Reckless Hero”. He was one of the protagonists in the Finnish epic Kalevala. His was a tale of hubris and humblement: born with a strong body and mind, attractive looks and magical prowess, but his quests of glory and revenge cause him to lose his wife, home and family and almost his own life. Eventually he joined in the fated battle for Sampo, almost dooming the voyage with his carelessness, but managed to protect the relic when it counted most. In the end, his only regret was that his prior pride and failings had caused his friends to think less of him, even as his many mistakes had humbled him over the years.
Lemminkäinen’s Lament
Born during a time when the concept of “Hero” meant “One who has Power”, Lemminkäinen was obsessed with glory, war and women. But one of his dearest desires was to have a wife as wise and loyas a companion as his mother had been to his father. However, young and yet unwise, he sought a spouse only for looks and station, which led him to kidnap the Flower of Saari, the most beautiful of maidens, Kyllikki. He succeeded, even swearing love and loyalty to her as she was captive, but the years did not blossom in to love as he had hoped.
After Kyllikki had slept with another man, Lemminkäinen was enraged. He left his home and journeyed north to woo the Maiden of the Rainbow, the most beautiful daughter of Pohjola. He overcame many trials and enemies to get there, but the Maiden’s mother, the powerful ruler of the north, witch Louhi would not give her daughter’s hand easily. Annoyed by Lemminkäinen and his rampage through her lands, she set him three tasks that should kill him. The first was to catch the Elk of Hiisi, which Lemminkäinen managed with magical skis. Second was to bring Louhi the Steed of Hiisi, and he succeeded with magic and coercion. The third, however, was a task everyone new would be fatal: killing the Swan of Tuoni, the sacred bird of the River of the Dead. Consumed by pride and stubbornness, Lemminkäinen accepted this fatal task, only to be stabbed through with a viper by a blind northman he had belittled and humiliated along his journey to North. His body fell into the river and was hacked to pieces, eaten by fish and sucked in whirlpools.
Lemminkäisen’s mother sensed her son’s demise, and with great speed traveled to Northland. She forced Louhi to tell her of the fatal task and set out for the River of the Dead. Not seeing her son’s body anywhere, Lemminkäinen’s mother searched the river with a rake for all the broken pieces and fixed them with magic. But fixing his body did not bring him back to life, so she prayed for the aid of the Creator and received divine balm, which at least revived her son. The mother admonished her son for her foolish pursuits, his idea that he could force love out of people of he demanded it and to have accepted a quest that surely led to his demise.
Uninvited Guest
Some years pass, and the Maiden of the Rainbow, daughter of Pohjola is to be wed. Lemminkäinen sent plenty gifts as a sign of goodwill, but is the only one not invited to the wedding feast. Insulted and enraged, Lemminkäinen leaved on his own accord to demand the respect he felt was due. Again he made the perilous journey through Northland, overcoming many trials with sword and spell. When he arrived, angry and arrogant, he demanded the best of seats, food and drink to be laid for him. When denied, he asked if he could pay for a drink, but the husband of Louhi, the Master of Pohjola conjured a pool of water on the ground for him to drink. A sorcerous battle ensued, but the two were matched in power. To settle the feud, they agreed on a sword duel. Lemminkäinen let the Master of Pohjola attack first, but the husband of Louhi was unable to land a single blow on him. Taking his turn, Lemminkäinen’s flaming sword lights his opponent’s garb on fire and summarily decapitated him in his indignation and planted his head on a pike. Soon Lemminkäinen realized his error, as Louhi was enraged and summoned all the heroes and mages of Northland to kill him. Fearing death he escaped by turning into an eagle and flying away.
At home his mother asks why he looks so fearful, and Lemminkäinen explained his folly. His mother told him that she could share the location of a secret island of refuge, if Lemminkäinen promises to not wage war for sixty years. Driven to a corner, Lemminkäinen agreed and set sail for the island.
The island accepted him with open arms for his beautiful magic singing and knowledge. He feasted, merried and shared the bed with many maidens, but quickly begun to miss and worry for his family. He decided to return back to home to his kin. The journey was perilous, but with his might and the help of strangers he succeeded, only to find his homestead and family scattered and burned. He wept for days, wept for his evil ways, that his own sins were paid by his kin and people. However, he noticed a small trail leading away from the devastation. His mother had miraculously survived. She pleaded him to not set for a journey for revenge, but Lemminkäinen wouldn’t hear it.
He sought out an old brother in arms, Tiera, to aid him on his revenge. Tiera, worried for his friend, decides to accompany him. They found soldiers to fill their warship and journeyed north to Pohjola. Louhi divined the return of Lemminkäinen and sent her most powerful son and hero, Frost, to kill the warband. Frost froze the seas themselves, stranding the ship, the cold killing all but Lemminkäinen and Tiera: Lemminkäinen new the Birth of Frost so his cold could not touch him. The two continued on their journey, but Frost’s cold had killed all the animals and plants. They traveled for days without food. When Lemminkäinen asked Tiera if they would survive, his friend wisely answered: “No, our bodies shall feed the carrion birds. Woe to be the mother of sons who perish in the snowy expanse of Pohjola.” The thoughts of his mother sobered Lemminkäinen, and he realized this journey would surely kill them. He swallowed his pride and returned home, escorting his friend back to his family.
Capture of the Sampo
The effects of Frost’s intense winter rippled through all the lands of Suomi. But Pohjola had come to possess the magic treasure Sampo, an infinite source of grain, salt and gold, so the lands of Louhi prospered while others starved. One day, Lemminkäinen saw the warships of ancient sages Väinämöinen and Ilmarinen sail past his island, and asked to join them on their expedition to ask a portion of the endless prosperity of the Sampo. Lemminkäinen asked to join them, implying that if they got in trouble, three heroes were better than two. Thoughts of sweet vengeance did enter his mind, but the well-being of Kaleva was also at stake. The mighty heroes accepted him as a part of their crew. Eager to make an impression, Lemminkäinen managed to embarrass himself as often as not, but Ilmarinen consoled him that accidents happen to all mortals, heroes and even gods.
When they arrived to Pohjola, the three heroes asked a share from the Sampo’s infinite wealth, but Louhi would hear none of it. She threatened to raise her entire host against them, but the powerful Väinämöinen put the entire Pohjola to sleep with his magic song. The Sampo was locked inside a mountain, behind sturdy portals and roots bound it deeply in place. Väinämöinen cracked the mountain with his magic, Ilmarinen used enchanted oil to dismantle the gates and Lemminkäinen attempted to rip the Sampo free, but because it was bound by roots he only managed to sink it deeper into the ground. So he reigned the giant Bull of Pohjola and plowed the roots around the Sampo and sneakily carried it back to their waiting vessel. The heroes departed with Pohjola still sleeping.
On the boat Lemminkäinen was ecstatic for their success, how they would save the people of Kaleva and gain fame and glory, and bursted into song even as Väinämöinen tried to stop him. Lemminkäinen’s tones were dissonant and loud, and they woke the heroes of Pohjola, and Louhi, from their slumber. Enraged by the theft of the Sampo, Louhi sent many powerful spells to sink them, but Väinämöinen countered each one. So the forces of Pohjola set upon their own ships in pursuit. Unable to outrun them in their vessel, Väinämöinen was forced to conjure a mountain to wreck Pohjola’s fleet. Louhi, undeterred, built herself the body of a giant eagle from the fragments of the fleet, let the thousand heroes of Northland to mount her and grasped the Sampo in her talons. Lemminkäinen swiftly cut off all her claws but one, and Väinämöinen smote the heroes riding her. In the chaos Louhi’s last talon swung the Sampo into the churning sea where it was shattered to fragments and lost forever. However, the fragments still held powerful magic in them, and they brought prosperity to all the lands of Suomi.
The final mention of Lemminkäinen in legends is about him complaining to Väinämöinen to not take him with him to free the Sun, Moon and Fire Louhi had stolen to avenge for the Sampo.
Personality
Saber has a temperamental and self-centered personality, but his many mistakes and hard-learned lessons have made him a slightly more considerate and well-meaning individual, though many of his good acts are at least half motivated by a desire to “appear” to be a “selfless hero”, rather than actually being one.
Always ready for a good and glorious fight, Saber believes that wealth, might and glory gained without struggle are of little value. In combat, Saber respects rules if they are established, but will use any dirty trick to win if they are not explicitly forbidden, and will always escape from a battle if it would lead to death, unless his mental state is compromised enough.
Saber enjoys the company of women, and will gladly join the bed of any maiden he fancies if asked, but one of his dearest wishes is to be a loyal husband to a loving wife and have a family of his own. It would be likely that should he find a true partner, he would even give up the sword and live the quiet life of a farmer with his family.
Saber wouldn’t get along with a bossy or overbearing master, but would show mutual respect so long as that respect was offered first. He would not hurt innocents to gain an advantage in the Grail War and would actively oppose such methods. He would not be satisfied to win without fighting, but is absolutely open to use “dishonorable” tactics that give him an advantage including lying, taunting or unfair maneuvers.
Saber’s wish for the Grail is to be reborn as a person he wished he could be and undo the mistakes that caused his family to suffer. He wouldn’t admit this to anyone willingly, though.
Relationships
Powerful and Noble Servants
Saber feels great respect for noble servants, but would try to one-up them and make himself look good in their eyes constantly. He might even try and use their weapons to prove his own skill.
Good-looking Female Servants/Masters
An incorrigible ladies' man, Saber will relentlessly hit on any female that strikes his fancy, but is very particular about consent. If his advances are shut down, he will seize flirtations and adopts a rather professional demeanor.
Mother-like Servants/Masters
Saber has great respect and adoration for mother-figures, and will treat most of them with utmost respect and courtesy. Only when such a person is dubiously evil, a witch, and has many good-looking daughters will his reaction adjust to a more hostile stance.
Originally Posted by Spartacus
