Seighild the Betrayer

Summary

The Shirk venerate the Arch of Terra beyond all other Arches. So much of their society is built around and depends upon the gifts from the earth. Metal ore is rare in Shirk'la, and this led to their culture seeing it as a dirty element. Gems are abundant all around Shirk'la, to the point their class system is built around different colors and gems as status symbols.
All Shirk are taught the myth of the Betrayer. Seighild was seduced by the Arch of Obscurum and changed sides to fight for the Sphinxes. One of the final battles of the war culminated with Seighild killing Toloc.
There is some credence to this myth as chalybs is not an element found in any Shirk magician.

Historical Basis

Seighild and Toloc fought a lot together during The Great War, since their elements work very well together. While there is no evidence of any of the seven Arches betraying their cause and choosing to fight alongside the Sphinxes instead, and Arch Ananda herself maintains there were no betrayals, the bond between the Arch of Chalybs and the Arch of Terra was so strong that the breaking of it would lead to one killing the other.
However, the High Priest and Priestess of Terra in Shirk'la have a scroll they claim was written by Toloc himself that describes the betrayal of Seighild, put to parchment about two years before the death of Toloc. No one outside of the High Priest and Priestess have seen any evidence this scroll exists, however. They claim the shock of reading the betrayal is too great for the average Shirk to handle, and that the scroll itself is fragile and they do not want to destroy it.

Spread

All Shirk know of the myth, since they are taught it at a very young age. Outside of Shirk'la, especially before the city reopened, none knew of the myth.

Variations & Mutation

The myth does not have many variations, since the High Priest and Priestess make sure the correct form is taught to the children at a young age.  During their first few years of training, acolytes have to copy down the myth in its entirety, which then has to be approved by a seasoned priest before an acolyte can progress in their training.

Cultural Reception

Other cultures who learn of this myth are shocked. Since Shirk'la opened only recently, it hasn't had a chance to spread. Metal is a very valuable thing in so many societies around Tilandrial that the idea of a whole culture who thinks metal is beneath them is almost impossible to understand.

In Art

Tapestries are common in the upper classes of the Shirk, and a common one to see in the ceremony rooms is a copy of a small tapestry showing Toloc with a small shadow of a dragon behind him, near the edge of the tapestry and almost out of sight. The dragon is usually rendered in dark thread, causing some debate about the purpose of the dragon on the original tapestry. Seighild's coloration was bright, a silvery color that gleemed in the sunlight. Some scholars think the dark dragon is actually supposed to represent the Arch of Obscurum, since he was the Ultimate Betrayer. However, others argue the dragon is Seighild, rendered in dark thread to show his true nature. The original tapestry was made before the Shirk people migrated underground, and the creator has been too long dead to ask their original intent.

Date of First Recording

830

Date of Setting

549

Related Locations

• Shirk'la