Turmoniin the Betrayer

The ancient figure of Turmoniin was among the first of the humans created by the god Aimo after the ascension to consciousness of the human race. Like all humans of the time, Turmoniin was strong and intelligent, was immortal and incapable of producing children. This would change after the great hero Valtuutettu killed the primordial serpent demon Dartavoss at the will of the gods, for his efforts he was granted the ability to produce children. Turmoniin despaired at this gift, seeing the children of Valtuutettu and identifying them as a weaker and less capable breed than the primordial humans created by Aimo. He would rally others to his cause, preaching his belief that this "gift" of the gods would in fact be the undoing of the human race. Turmoniin would attempt to petition the gods with his followers bolstering the cause, especially hoping to convince gods such as Jala and Nuro who would benefit little from a weakened human race. This effort was rebuffed, however, facing fierce opposition from the god Suolija who decried Turmoniin's efforts as a flagrant betrayal of his people in service of his own greed and jealousy. Matters would escalate gravely, and soon Turmoniin had much of the human race at his side. He would rally them to make war against the gods who he described as enslavers of humans. This war would continue for many years spanning countless conflicts between the gods and the great numbers of humans. All the while, Valtuutettu would remain neutral in this conflict, seeing his involvement as the doom of his people no matter which side won. Turmoniin was a powerful warrior and effective general and gave the gods much trouble in defeating his forces, eventually, he became so bold that he chose to attempt to breach the realm of the gods, scaling to the top and leaping up from Tuono's Nose into the great sky barrier of Jala.
Though nearly successful, Turmoniin would meet his demise in the domain of the sky god. His great corpse still looming large in the sky during the day, known as Niin, is the size of a fist held at arm's length. The death of Turmoniin led to the dissolution of the human forces against the gods, all of whom were punished by being banished from the city of Tempala and herded into the badlands. Sykli was charged by the gods with preventing such a war arising again, her solution being the gift of death upon the human race, every man, woman and child would now grow old and die, even the hero Valtuutettu himself. The humans were spread throughout the lands, the gods Lehto, Autas and Kasta erecting great fields, rivers and hills to separate them so that they may never grow powerful enough to wage war against the gods again. Turmoniin's story did not end in death, however, as his soul was stolen by the god Mukko, ever keen to meddle in the affairs of his siblings. Mukko made a deal with Turmoniin, that would see the latter become a servant to the god of the underworld within the mortal realm. Turmoniin would be sent back to the badlands by Mukko, who turned the rebel warrior into a great phoenix who would fly to a crag upon the water where humans would rise again. Here, Turmoniin would bring a number of the scattered humans back together to form a city of the crag, called Niinomir or Nirnisis. Many believe that this city was the precursor to the modern city of Halfsburgh which is one of the oldest known settlements of the modern age.
As the fledgeling city of Niinomir began to threaten the return of human might upon Tuono, Turmoniin grew paranoid that the gods may return to destroy them. Though Turmoniin was, like his kin, now mortal and weak in his flesh, he did possess abnormal vigour and long life (likely boons of his alliance with Mukko). His long reign over the city would see horrid traditions take root and as if revenge the newest of the human flock, the children brought about by Valtutettu's gift and man's curse were corralled and sacrificed as a tribute to the gods. Turmoniin saw it fitting that these offerings be drowned in the sea, where their blood could return to that of Tuono's. Though in that time when gods rarely presented themselves to mankind openly and honestly, it is hard to tell whether these offerings truly had any effect, however, Niinomir prospered as Turmoniin grew old.