The Telling of Tistal

"Where you are, is where they will be, what was done to the parent shall be done to the child, fate in circles until betrayal becomes restoration. If you wish to be released, then the children are the key. Deny the child, release shall never come. Without them, there is no release. They are not destroyed, lest release comes, although kept for release they are. Circles and fate. Try as they may, it cannot be changed."

Tistal 'the Teller' was the only child of Guta'cai, and the only Secundae to have been created via parthenogenesis, and not the creative input from two sources. From the start she was an unusual being, apparently living her existence in reverse; being aware of the future with pinpoint accuracy, but being unknowing of her past and previous actions. Her 'predictions', whilst never wrong, were always hedged in allegory and metaphor, and almost always misinterpreted before the event.
Her most famous telling is that to Turbal, the leader of the faction of Secundae known as the Usurpers, regarding his children. As with most of her 'prophecies', it became entirely self-fulfilling, and led directly to the Inheritance Wars.

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Summary

Many aeons previously, Turbal had, along with his siblings and conspiring with Nexi, imprisoned his parent's generation in the Underworld, becoming undisputed ruler of the world. He was in a monogamous, but childless relationship with his cousin, Lykith, but he had seen two of his siblings, Citiss and Sezend, have three offspring together.
No one knew how Tistal gained access to Turbal's fortress; he'd taken great care to make it all but impregnable, even to other gods, but one day she was there, right in the middle of Turbal's great hall. Her prophecy was, as usual, specific and cryptic and made allusions that Turbals' as-yet unborn children were key to both the Usurpers success, but also their fall.
Whatever Turbal thought of this, he did not share it at first; it was only when the first of his children with Lykith were born that his attitude became known. Afraid that his children would supplant him, but equally afraid that eliminating them entirely would see his downfall, he convinced Diyom, one of the Keepers of the Dead, to hold his six children in a deep sleep within his realm.
Confident that his position was now secure, Turbal grew complacent, and succumbed to the persistent temptations from his sister, Rhaxet. That union begat the twins, Sanul and Hikis, who were hidden from Turbal by Rhaxet. The twins grew to adulthood and eventually freed their half-siblings and led the Inheritance War rebellion that overthrew their father.

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Spread

The Telling of Tistal is an important part of the Inheritance War myth, that direcly led to the creation of The Empire of Belyos and the ascendancy of its pantheon, the Inheritor Gods. As such, it is often repeated, particularly on Founding Day, the annual celebration of the Empire and its gods. Tistal has her own temple in Belyos, something almost unheard of for a Secundae, although there is no indication she has ever manifested there, or is even aware of the devotions given to her.

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In Art

Tistal's telling features on the friezes on the walls of the Temple of Yaltur prominently, and is a favourite of people seeking good fortune in their activities. Statuettes to Tistal are commonly sold to those seeking luck, and can often be found in gambling dens and sporting arenas.

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Date of First Recording

Prehistoric

Date of Setting

Prehistoric