WARFRAME: Seven Crimes of Kullervo Explained

#videoessay #videogames #warframe1999 #warframe #jadeshadows
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Exploring the Lore of the Warframe Dagath before the Jade Shadows cinematic quest update.
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Learn about the Kalevala:
en.wikipedia.o...
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Kullervo's Name Definition:
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kalevalaseura....
Norse Epic Poetry:
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Music:
Absolver - Autsin Wintory

[@SocraTetris]

So I went hard on this lore video. Perhaps harder than I had to. But I was excited by Warframe giving me the occasion to go back and finish the Kalevala. I hope you enjoy it. Abyss of Dagath is next. Corrections: 1. In the on screen correction of Ainikki being Ilmarinen's sister, I also typo'd "does have" as "doe shaved." Lemminkainen does not shave his sister. And his sister is not a female deer.

[@wolfynightwolf]

True indeed on the part about ainikki

[@glitchvariable5336]

You went so very hard, the song you sung of Kullervo was so epic and the lore was even moreso. I find myself with the song stuck in my head. The way you drew lines from the original story to the warframe variant derivative was genius.

[@Theguyoverthere603]

Homeboy dropped his mixtape in the middle of a lore episode

[@SocraTetris]

I'm a middle-aged G

[@drakelight8125]

Based imo

[@sitchreapotere1073]

23:50 I believe the writers meant to imply Ballas/the Warden knew the ancient irl story of Kullervo to some degree, and is laughing at the fact that "Kullervo Dax" ended up living a life mirroring the ancient runic poem. If only because the writers got everything else so correct about the character, it makes no sense that Adrian Bott and Cam Rodgers, two doctoral-level masters of literature and lead writers on Warframe, would make that elementary of a mistake in nomenclature.

[@Devilcakes]

You know... I never knew how truly a villain Kullervo was. Kinda wild, tbh. But I guess it makes sense.

[@SocraTetris]

A tragic villain of sorts, both in the Kalevala and in Warframe. The victim of evil circumstances, and the perpetrator of evil himself.

[@glanzvollegurke2793]

Evil is not born, it is made. And in Kullervos case, made before he was born…

[@slay-r349]

I wouldn't trust Ballas in the slightest. Even if he's made from Kullervo's imagination. Some of his crimes Just don't make sense to me

[@Devilcakes]

@@slay-r349 was kullervonen made from ballas imagination?

[@slay-r349]

​@@DevilcakesI mean, from what I understood myself after Kullervo stabbed himself he got transported to Duviri and created a prison around him including the man who charged him with all these crimes, Ballas. His Island only appears during anger, sorrow and fear spiral so it's safe to assume these emotions are what caused all of this to happen to Kullervo. It May actually be Ballas, revived through conceptual embodiment but he's not very talkative about his past. That's why I think Kullervo made him to torture himself for his crimes.

[@ReplicatorFifth]

The Warden is even 100% voiced by Ballas's voice actor. Hes leaning a bit more on his native Scottish accent but its definitely Ballas.

[@thimovijfschaft3271]

Glad to hear another person say that the Warden came from Ballas his consciousness when he died at the end of the New War. I talked about this in the Warframe Discord and I had a lot of people reaponding to me at the same time that he was manifested by Kullervo. But Duviri existed for so long, yet the prison island is new, so to me it just makes sense that he was manifested from Ballas rather than from Kullervo's memories. Him punishimg the same person for an eternity is also a very fitting punishment for Ballas to me. Like this way he gets to stay happy, and feel powerful, yet it keeps him occupied and prevents him from causing harm, at least as long as the spirals keep getting reset. Also to me the "unnamed executor" was Ballas. And Kullervo was a victim of Ballas. He framed him for a bunch of things in attempts to get away with his crimes. Especially Kullervo "accidentally" killing his own mother... Sounds like he's pulling an Umbra on Kullervo. He wanted to punish him, and since Ballas still torments himself for executing Margulis, he forces the one he wants to punish to kill the person he loves the most: his mother. Another few interesting bits: -Archides tells you the children calm Kullervo. Makes sense why they know his story from when he was a Dax -The adults think the Warden is keeping Duviri safe, but the children are afraid of him -Kullervo's sword talks to the child who's keeping it safe from the Warden. Another reference to the epic tale. And I was surprised you didn't mention it.

[@SocraTetris]

I alluded to Vaenn whispering by including the girl in the cave's dialogue at the very end. Because the other story content of update doesn't really reference it anywhere other than the children's line "whispered promises that boy made," which wouldn't explicitly need to be thought of as the sword doing the whispering. I found it more interesting to the lore to consider either how warframe's of the first generation communicated, or the potential influence of TMITW on Kullervo. It would have disrupted the flow of the video too much to pivot to another alternate explanation in that section. But i included the whispering sword when explaining the Kalevala cantos. I think there really is no other way to interpret the Warden than as Ballas, because Warden knows things about the very last moments of Ballas's life. Had it been the other way around, Kullervo would not have been able to conceptually embody things he couldn't think about. You were right on the money, and that discord is likely not a good source of media literacy, lol. Lastly, I don't think we have any specific evidence that Ballas is the unnamed Executor. Using Kullervo for some dirty work definitely fits his modus operandi. But I don't think having a mistress matches Ballas's character in a completely and all-consuming obsession with Margulis. Since we only know two Executors of The Seven (Ballas and Tuvul), and we know that Executor is a role in the Orokin class (Avantus and Karishh), there is just much more potential that the unnamed executor is exactly that. An executor of no renown with no great importance to the rest of the plot/story. Lore Theorizing has a particular bias that I may want to make a video on. Call it the "Thick Red String Fallacy." It's the tendency to draw a connection with a known aspect of the story rather than an unknown aspect of the story, favoring it as more true because we have more overall information about it. Like how in Elden Ring so many characters have theories of being The Gloam-Eyed Queen: Miquella, Melina, Marika, Renna (Ranni's teacher), so on and so forth. Few consider that the Gloam-Eyed Queen was just their own character in lore, because their character has few but significant mentions/references. Thank you for the well thought out comment!

[@waidwn]

​ @SocraTetris i think the closest we get to specific evidence that ballas was the unnamed executor is that the warden has the line of dialogue "you cannot deny your sin, kullervo. for i am your guilt. the face and voice of your greatest persecutor." and that line makes a lot less sense if kullervo had no involvement with ballas. in what way is the warden/ballas kullervo's guilt, if he had no involvement in kullervo's crimes? but that is just speculation from me so idk

[@anvilheaded]

I'm 100% here for the random kullervo mixtape

[@SocraTetris]

💜

[@cladoselache8766]

I love Warframe lore. I wish they'd make a television series about the Warframes; how they came to be It could be animated in the style of styanax' trailer

[@SocraTetris]

Thank you for watching Cladoselache!

[@bappojujubes981]

A metal song just for Kullervo?! The reverb is horrid, but the lyrics and the vocals have potential!

[@SocraTetris]

Glad you liked it! and yeah, my singing has gotten much worse since my years out of choir. Been nearly a decade. So i did post-processing to aim for that garage-metal / kinda sucky aesthetic on purpose, Lol

[@KrokusOfDagon]

I think the part at 30:00 is gonna go by alot of peoples heads, but its appreciated either way. Love your work

[@SocraTetris]

Thanks for that! And you know, that part might. We should think about what these things mean in our real world context. That's how we grow with art.

[@nikolaitheundying]

Well from how I see it, "Kullervo" was right to raise a rebellion against the "Orokin" bastards. Wanting to "kill innocent kids". How's that for a real world spin on things?

[@FarookKMOON]

The song took me by surprise I really didn't expect it 😂

[@SocraTetris]

Exactly what i was going for 🥳

[@Aodhan2717]

Kullervo would be an excellent candidate for an Umbral form, if DE ever decides to make another

[@SocraTetris]

I think Umbra is just his own thing forever, but i agree

[@carlwashmon7187]

ok im 47 seconds in and this is already fire, imma binge the channel rq

[@SocraTetris]

Thank you, Carl! You'll be able to see all my channel's warframe relevant videos here: kzbin.info/aero/PLVRI7Hc-pawnl8YxoUd7aiUJBS1Zy1qhn&si=rdN8T-1XQOqFlu0V

[@peddypeoples941]

Kullervo is the most metal and edgelord of all warframe. He is like a mixtape of hatebreed, slayer, sodom and the like. Dante is more prog/math metal i would say, love them both very much. -ash main

[@SocraTetris]

Couldn't agree more

[@kyleray8504]

Lmao the tag at the end sent me. I am also a kagebushino jutsu enjoyer and I feel very called out.

[@peddypeoples941]

@@kyleray8504 been casting mend buttcrack way too often with the owl man -dante main

[@crestothegecko6279]

I just wanted to stop by to say thank you for these videos. They've taught me so much, both directly and indirectly. I've been playing the final shape in destiny 2 for a bit now and it's themes, philosophies, and theology are just so fascinating. It's messages, particularly about omnipotent beings and their paradoxical nature, really resonated with me. And i wouldn't have understood or appreciated even half of it if you didn't plant so many ideas in my head about this stuff. Genuinely thank you. You've altered the way i think, feel, and consume media and i couldn't be happier for it. Thank you thank you thank you

[@SocraTetris]

Thank you for the kind words, Cresto the Gecko! I'm glad theyve been helpful to you, even with how you experience th stories of other games. I spoke a little bit about the themes of Destiny with my friend Aranock on her podcast "Video Gems" a few weeks back. I think you may like it!

[@moondog548]

Subtly deep lore to this guy. Great work as always.

[@aosuomi]

As a Finnish person it’s amusing to hear people try to spell any of the names. :D

[@SocraTetris]

Did my best

[@ilhanthediamondcrafter9767]

What a great video. Now I have better understanding regarding Kullervo's background and inspiration. Perhaps one day, I should read those epics. It has piqued my interest from game and media who's inspired by it. I wonder what kind of life lessons I can learn from them

[@SocraTetris]

I hope you do read them! I would advise caution with taking life lessons from the Kalevala though. It is not consistent as a didactic for social life. We are far removed from their context

[@ilhanthediamondcrafter9767]

@@SocraTetris I'll keep that in mind. Thanks!

[@dank1457]

Just a few seconds into the video and I really adore and love the absolver theme. I wish the game was still alive till now

[@SocraTetris]

Absolver will always be special to me as well. nothing even close to it out there

[@dank1457]

@@SocraTetris Honestly, although I hear it is a great game I was kinda sad to hear Sifu got so much good reception while Absolver just became no man’s land

[@SocraTetris]

sifu is awesome, but it doesn't hold a candle to Absolver's deck of moves. It was absolutely streamlined to reduce that learning curve

[@zappoe7875]

My favorite Warframe.

[@SocraTetris]

100. Solves every problem with 1 solution XD

[@zappoe7875]

@@SocraTetris mmmm free red crit.

[@Man_Of_Logic]

11:52 KULLERVO KULLERVO LEND ME YOUR HAIR🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@Man_Of_Logic]

This vid has made me understand Kullervo and revealed another ability the void has, reanimating consciousness . Good job

[@SocraTetris]

glad you liked it, MoL

[@dgalloway107]

Perhaps kullervo being named after that character from myth is what the warden means by him being cursed.

[@dgalloway107]

The actual Kullervo lived quite a cursed life from what you showed me.

[@SocraTetris]

He did indeed

[@eyezalone2591]

This song got me farming son!

[@SocraTetris]

More where that came from

[@emiyaxvoorhees7299]

First time watching this particular video and I am here for this mixtape tale 🎉

[@13lueBomber]

I love Kullervo, but his overguard doesn’t need a 10,000 cap.

[@SocraTetris]

Yeah, i get not wanting to eat Dante's lunch, but dante goea huge. But you gotta balance that OP 1st somehow.

[@tracephage]

After watching this video, I was looking at every detail of my Kullervo. In Duviri he is wearing his alternative helmet and I noticed it technically shows that his brain has been removed. After hearing his story from the blue kids, this means he was lobotomized? This also makes me wonder more about the first gen frames, from what is known, these were normally more physical types than void powered. He ended up in a conceptual embodiment prison which changed his Warframe powers through the guilt for his crimes.

[@SocraTetris]

I'm not sure there is enough to confirm or deny most of that. I'll comment on the "physical warframes" thing. I think that is generally a fan canon, just because excalibur was the first model. But low guardians like stalker have a lot of magic. Same with Dante, who was an early gen warframe. (It’s less clear how much of his abilities are himself versus the Noctua).

[@tracephage]

​@@SocraTetris ​ True but it's more because of the Rhino Prime codex entry in my case... ExcaliburPrime was the first (tenno) second generation Warframe type I think. Also because you commented on the spirits stabbing Kullervo being similar to Wally's Duviri representation & that Kullervo whispered to his blade before his suicide. Stalker is a special one indeed but stealth and teleportation are basically "skills" or technology in universe and his damage redirection can perhaps be considered an infested ability :D Teshin's swapping between 3 elemental stances in TNW is kind of magical I guess. --------->>> Especially the Jade Light being on the Zariman puts a hole in my theory. Even though the infested have been shown to be capable of biological beam attacks as well ;) Dante is completely powered or supercharged by Noctua and the void tongue though, you hear him constantly shouting the words to cast his Verses because he was altered by the encounter with this book.​ I'd assume the only thing left from his original self is his passive ability where he can scan things into the codex because before his change he was just described as a seeker of knowledge xD But even that is technically a Noctua ability. --------------> I guess I was just saying Wally was influencing Warframes behind the scenes long before the tenno children were given void powers... Perhaps if we ever get a full explanation as to what "Kuva" is in the game... a lot of what I've been thinking can be put to rest.

[@SocraTetris]

I think head canons are an interesting and valuable practice. For myself, as i am conerned with trying to understand the themes and influences of a story, I don't spend much time conjecturing about lore or in-universe explanations. If these things are presented more directly in the fiction, then I will give it more attention

[@tracephage]

​@@SocraTetris I admit that I typed too much and speculated a lot, leaving too many long comments under your videos, based on the provided information in-universe. Discussing my attempts at understanding the themes or influences of these stories is basically what I was trying to do but this is perhaps not the place for it even if you once asked for "essay comments" from your viewers. Head canon might seem like a negative definition compared to what you say you do but just because you used different words doesn't mean that your videos aren't full of head canon either :P interpretations not necessarily supported by the canon. Which is why I had so many thoughts to add I guess, especially after listening to such long videos but I get the point you were making.

[@SocraTetris]

My apologies, Trace. I didn't mean for any of that to be a disparagement or a dismissal. You are absolutely welcome to comment lengthy posts and theorize on the story. It is valuable do to that; i absolutely believe that. For my part, I'm just trying to think of how to engage with the theorizing. Because I don't want you to feel as though i'm denying you, even if I'm not sure how i would affirm your theories either.

[@RX69420XT]

By the weight of his doings in the Warframe lore, doesn't Kullervo hold even more importance than Excalibur himself?

[@SocraTetris]

Definitr maybe! I've also seen some interpretation of the lore that lean more into the unreliable narrator of the Warden. Saying that he was a scapegoat and Ballas worled with the Sentients to instigate the Tenno Rebellion. I"m not 100% on board with that, ut its a very interesting reading

[@popkb]

I'm more inclined to believe what others say about the arena and the warden, because well... It makes the most sense if we see how duviri works. But for the rest, if what you're saying is true then my main, Kullervo has more importance than Excalibur himself. Also, the daggers in his body, he was betrayed by Ballas so after his imprisonment, he could've manifested the daggers as to symbolize him being stabbed in the back by Ballas.

[@SocraTetris]

Can you specify what you mean when you say "what others say". Cuz idk what part of the video you are saying you don't agree with, nor what others have said whoch you believe instead.

[@sephykillem4865]

This the best lore ive heard yet!!

[@SocraTetris]

Thank you, Sephy! I have a lot more where those came from, so i hope you enjoy them all :)

[@Blackmort]

What’s the white outfit color scheme why is it a fade glow of red around your suit?

[@SocraTetris]

It is the Drifter Dex outfit, with The Stranger Hood, and being very careful with colors to keep the hood matching the rest. The red glow is likely an effect from a Duviri ability, sich as causing fire or cold procs to nearby enemies, and my own color correcting in post for the video aesthetics

[@SPARTANT-hs2vo]

It’s over? My ears are free!!!! 15:31

[@SocraTetris]

You're welcome 👍🏾

[@KidneySlice]

but why is there multiple versions of kullervo in duviri?

[@SocraTetris]

Conceptual Embodiement. The void creates. It's the Warden's memories made real

[@gunziro169]

I really hope we get to know if a tenno witnessed the death of margulas or if the tenno watched as she died

[@SocraTetris]

I don't think we did. Since we didn't know that the Lotus had replaced her.

[@KatGoVroom]

I recognize the music at 4:20 from Absolver, is it or is it some kind of royalty free music? The Guidance Bridge by Austin Wintory, loved Absolver

[@SocraTetris]

100

[@mprojekt72]

NGL, the song lyrics went hard. You should write more and maybe collab with Stringstorm. :D

[@SocraTetris]

i may reach out! thank you for the suggestion!

[@izzyistired2294]

This went so hard I love it

[@SocraTetris]

glad you liked it, izzy :)

[@marcoboscarol2420]

Is there a way to teleport into the nekralisk from cambion drift without going trough the gates? The game crashes almost everytime I try to access nekralisk like that and makes the resource gathering for the goddamn voidrig/necramech near impossible

[@SocraTetris]

I'm not sure im the best resource for troubleshooting technical problems. I would suggest the warframe forums

[@marcoboscarol2420]

@@SocraTetris Thanks for the reply I'll look

[@wolfynightwolf]

Kullervo, kullervo.... kullervo So exciting especially kullervo is based on in name atleast on the one from Kalevala the finnish epic

[@SocraTetris]

I was pleased that it actually drew a lot of inspiration from the Kullervo cantos in the warframe's story. I read the whole Kalevala for this video and it was so worth it. One of my favorite epics now

[@wolfynightwolf]

@@SocraTetris ikr I was too so happy to see Finnish inspiration in warframe especially as a Fin

[@errorone937]

Hey, I watched the infamous 5 hour video about Warframe (was going to watch the 8 hour one, but I had already gone through half of my work shift). And got really invested in your videos. Both due to your personal perspective on things and your scriptwriting skills, the video does a great job at both presenting the story accurately and also adding interesting comparisons and personal breakdowns of it. I wanted to say thank you for your videos, and if by any chance you find yourself playing Warframe with a free slot for a friendly person to talk to, I'd be happy to join. I don't really have anybody to play with. I mostly play around the release of a new update and occasionally when I get the itch only Warframe manages to satisfy. But regardless, I'd love to play and chat if such an opportunity arises. Hope you keep the passion of video making because I'd love to see more of you. 😁

[@SocraTetris]

Thank you for the kind words Errorone! I appreciate that kind words. There will definitely be more where these came from!

[@kngaming8496]

Great video! But my only gripe is you misspronouncing the finnish words. I know everyone miss pronounces them but i still cringe a little bit every time i hear someone pronounce something finnish wrong

[@SocraTetris]

I did my best. But i don't speak Finnish. It would be weird for the flow of the video if I either apologized every time a said a name, or tried to completely accent switch to a language I dont speak like Peggy Hill.

[@SocraTetris]

If you've seen my other videos, you'll know there are. lot of words from a lot of languages that I have to say to give the info

[@zero-yb2rm]

Sorry thst music was cringe and went on so long tryna skip it saying holy duck it’s still going

[@SocraTetris]

You're welcome. I had a lot of fun making it.

[@overseer5660]

Well, hello there!

[@SocraTetris]

👋🏾

[@Grim-uu7iv]

🕺💃🕺💃🕺

[@willymcgoo4383]

The song part went on way too long no matter how much I skipped he was still fuckin singing

[@SocraTetris]

You're welcome. You love it.

[@willymcgoo4383]

@@SocraTetris alright fine… I did… great video I love the deep dive into Kullervo and his story I learned a lot

[@SocraTetris]

Thank you, Willy. Glad to have you along for the ride 👍🏾