Vorna was a Karelian guerrilla fighter who fought against Finns in North Ostrobothnia and Kainuu. Karelians had long used the areas for hunting and fishing, with Ostrobothnians showing up around the 14th century. However, as Savonians started making villages in Kainuu in the 1500s, Karelians committed raids in order to be rid of this settlement. It was very brutal, the entire population of Kainuu was essentially massacred. Then North Ostrobothnians and Kainuians also made revenge raids into Karelia, resulting in both-sided raiding and guerrilla warfare. The events were a part of a larger border dispute between Sweden and Russia (who Karelians were allies of) which ended with the Treaty of Teusina in 1595.
Now who the land "belonged" to was probably the hunter-gathering Sámi but well.
Vorna lived in Vornanniemi, Akonlahti. He raided in North Ostrobothnia and Kainuu all the way to Hailuoto. Just like Soini, it's been said that Vorna was able to row the Oulujoki river upstream, that's how strong he was.
 Jos ei voine Vorna nousta Päästä pyhän Pällin korvalle Polvusilleen nousematta Sata sauvointa katkesi Kolme neljä korpikuusta Niin ei puolet Suomen pojista Ei kolomannet osat kohtakaan |
If Vorna cannot rise To get on top of the holy Pälli rapid Without having to lift onto his knees A hundred poles got cut Three, four wilderness spruces Then neither could half of the sons of Finland Not even a third |
After a raid, Vorna returned home and told his wife to warm up the sauna so he could wash himself clean of the Finnish blood. But his wife had seen a dream: "A herd of sheep came after you, a large flock of crows from Sweden", meaning that enemies were following him. She asked him if it's a good idea to go to sauna now, but Vorna declared:
Ei ole Vornan voittanutta! Ei ole Hailuonluotoa myöten Akan lasta laulajoa Kukkoa kurahtavoa Koiroa ärähtäveä Ei oo hätiä (Kaikki oli tapettu.) |
There is no one who has beaten Vorna! All the way to the islet of Hailuoto There is no child of a woman singing No rooster to crow No dog to gnarl There is no worry (For everyone had been killed.) |
So his wife warmed up the sauna and Vorna went in, which is when the Finns who had chased after him arrived. Vorna filled his pant leg with ash and attacked, getting out of the sauna, blinding the enemies by throwing the ashes. One young boy was hiding behind the corner of the sauna and Vorna had not noticed him. The boy shot Vorna into the Achilles tendon, which made Vorna fall in pain, begging to be killed. The boy shot again, and that was the end of Vorna. In stories, he's got the reputation of a giant: apparently his 90cm long shinbones remained standing on those ruins.