Who wants to talk about bogatyrs? Many of you might not be aware that Dobrynya is prone to self-reflection, or that Alyosha is immune to malevolent magic.
Did that get your attention? Then let’s delve deeper into the bogatyrs featured in the original universe by Roman Papsuev, the creator of the original world where Tales of Old Rus takes place.
Ilya Muromets is rightfully called the most renowned Russian bogatyr. Bested by none, he wields all his weapons like a true master, be it a bow with enchanted arrows, Svyatogor’s sword, a mace, a staff, or even a fold-out shield.
Ilya might be a superhuman, but he wasn’t born one. He had no control of his limbs since birth, forced to while away his time until he turned 30, and no one knew the cause behind that weakness. He was granted his newfound strength by wandering vagabonds, mysterious magical creatures who determined his fate from that day on.
Dobrynya Nikitich, on the other hand, never stayed idle for long. He started learning martial arts when he was a child, ending up a melee champion. Educated, strong-willed, and well-spoken, Dobrynya is nothing short of an intellectual, which is why he often finds himself guilt-stricken, pondering about those he had to kill. On top of the basic weapons all bogatyrs carry, he wields a magic fire-spewing shield.
Alyosha is the most divisive of the bunch. The youngest of the famous bogatyr trio, he is nevertheless one of Belosvet’s most accomplished monster slayers. Boastful and cunning, he almost seduced Dobrynya’s wife once — and paid for it dearly.
After having been through all kinds of ordeals, Alyosha chose to become a Hunter and went to the city of Kitezh to master the art of monster slaying. That was where he got his Kitezh Writs, special tattoos that ward off evil spells and boost magic power. Not content with the standard bogatyr equipment, Alyosha carries the full monster hunting set with him: wooden stakes, potions, amulets, and even a combat wand called a spellbane!
Finist is a foreigner and a descendant of the First Men. Granted the power to transform into birds and beasts by birth, he’s one of the Prince Vladimir’s most treasured servants. A gentleman of the court through and through, Finist is not on the most familiar terms with the renowned trio, yet he still helps them often.
Cheerful and adventurous, Finist sees the world in black and white. He lives his life to the fullest and fights like there’s no tomorrow, which is why his infrequent travels tend to bring him trouble. In battle, he prefers a small shield, light armor, and dual sabers that he wields expertly — after all, he’s called the country’s best swordsman for a reason.
Many are the bogatyrs in the land of Rus, and all of them have a story to tell. If you’re lucky, you might even get to meet one of them soon. Who do you think it will be?