u/Inevitable_Question

Hello. I would like to present a small theory of mine. I know that it likely has holes, but I still would like to present it.

Okay. Let's go. What do we know about Saarelainen the Third Decender? The most famous story is him wanting to marry a daughter of Pakkaisukko, being told to open "gates of Pohjola" and then being killed by Phanes. For a long time a common theory was that Pakkaisukko was Belyi Tsar and courted daughter - Tsaritsa. But now it seems unlikely as recent World Quest reveals that they are not related and some information even indicates that Tsaritsa is older than Tsar. So its unlikely that they are people from the story about Saarelainen.

Here comes my theory. Its a common theory that Saarelainen is the same hero as Ajax of Sneznaya. And its not withrout reason. After all, a famous story about Ajax is his tragic love with Snegurochka. There is also a story about him slaying dragon and taking some of its treasures - straight from Nibelung Legend of real world. Moreover, according to Rene, one of his legends can be interpret as a descend into the Abys to be reborn as a Primordial Human.

Next, in last World Quest we learnt an interesting thing about Snegovik fey. Their souls are incomplete by nature: only by falling in love with a human and taking that person's soul can they become whole. Marriage is a ritual through which sould of Snegovik becomes complete. Not to mention it being said that they are artificial fey.

Finally, I will not be the first to draw paralels between Phanes and Rebis. Rebis is an end result of alchemical magnum opus, genderless figure with male and female traits and is associated with the primordial state of the world. To quote "hile described methods to create the Rebis vary in their specifics, a common theme is the putrefaction of a starting matter into the chaos of nigredo. This is followed by its separation into its parts, such as masculine or feminine. This phase is also called albedo. Finally, the parts are recombined into a whole, achieving the Rebis." And what is one of the Phanes' titles? Father of All and Mother of the Gods.

So- here is my idea. Saarelainen and his marriage is no story of battle for love. No - its a tale about a ritual meant to ascend Saarelainen to the position of Primordial Human - making him being of the same tier as Phanes. And this seems to invole union of souls with one of Snegurochkas. Maybe there was no marriage at all. Maybe "ask hand of Snegurochka" is a methaphor for "Asking how to become Primordial Human". Or maybe there was a ceremony - like the one in World Quest or similar. Perhaps that ritual needed Abyss power - ergo Saarelainen went to open gates of it. Regardless- aim of "marriage" was ascession.

Now how can be Pakkaisukko? It is not Belyi Tsar and I don't think we know any other men assosiated with winter. But we can look at it from another angel. In original Finnish myth, hero seeks hand of maiden not from father but from mother - Louhi, the Mistress of Phjola. So here is my first Pakkaisukko candidate.

1. Her Majesty, The Tsaritsa. Yes. She is assosiated with winter, lived at the time of Hyperborea and its a common theory that Alchemy was used in creation of Khaenri'ans by Tsaritsa. Otherwise its hard to think that she birthed enough kids to make a nation. Snegoviks are also called artificial fey. But fey are already artificial. Maybe it refers to being made by fey? This will also make Tsaritsa there parent.

2.Rhinedottir. Wild. I know. But I can't just forget that little tibbit about Ajax fighting dragon and claiming part of its cursed gold. This is definitelly Siegfrid vs Fafnir. And Rhinedottir dervies her name from Rhinemaidens who kept Rhinegold that later Fafinr stole and which became cursed. Not to mention her mastery of alchemy and obession with creating life. We also don;t know her age - she may very well lived at that time.

Of course it can be character yet unknown. But I wanted to say this idea of mine. Thanks for the attention.