|
The invitation delivered last night was remarkably simple, especially given the importance of the occasion: “Start where it all began. Meet us at the Pig’s Paunch one hour before dawn.”
An invitation you (may or may not) have been looking forward to, one to join the order of the Pathfinder Society. A organization whose origins were humble, but their accomplishments overreaching, with stories of grand explorations, demon slaying, and dragon hunting. A feat only few have ever accomplished in their life.
The Pig’s Paunch is a run-down building with a faded sign of a large pig standing on its hind legs, arms folded above a corpulent belly. Inside, the air is thick with the scents of human sweat, stale tobacco, and leftover food.
It may seem that you have arrived too early, as the place is eerily silent and empty.
|
|
A tengu dressed in shabby leather armor stalks into the tavern. He's entirely lacking the usual decorations and trinkets most tengu adopt to make themselves easier to distinguish. His dark grey and black feathers are a little unkempt. His eyes dart around the empty tavern. He makes a quick nod, seemingly to himself and wanders over to a table. Hopping into a seat he croaks "Wine!"
|
(Ganryo posting using Character post)
A human male, roughly middle age of 30 by appearance, wearing black leather armor and covered with ragged black cloak that once may have seems to be in fine quality but now either from long travel or long use it is partially teared in several places making him looked even more warned down. His eyes belong to one who seems weary and sad. He has jet black hair, gray eyes, and olives color skin, with rugged look of some one who either lives away from city or civilization for a few weeks, or did not care for appearance, yet it is not an unpleasant nor does he give off any displeasing odor rather if any one care to smell or try to he leaves no scent at all even to trained individual.
As he entered the Pig's Paunch he quietly sat down in a dark corner of the room and started scanning for any one he may recognize or look suspicious, while blending in to the crowd.
|
You see a petite girl entering gracefully into the room. Her lustrous silver hair is flowing freely, as if there was a light breeze and her smart eyes scan the room. Her creamy skin suggests a live mainly indoors.
She is wearing a long supple cloak of soft black wool, fastened around her neck with a simple copper clasp in clockwork form, over a long green linnen blouse and a many pocketed studded leather armor with studs in the form of little gears. Two bandoleers cross around her chest holding little flasks and her light Crossbow. Her green reinforced pants are tucked into waterproofed leather boots which reach up to mid-calf. Riding low on her hips is a braided belt weighted on the left side by a foreign looking dagger and on the right side by a belt pouch and a water flask.
But the one thing that is even more noticeable is the little clockwork dragon on her shoulder, laquered in the same colour as her eyes.
|
The door opens so hard that it bounces back with a bang off the wall that catches it, and a dwarven woman enters, her steps pounding on the slightly creaky floorboards. Her clothes are utilitarian, a simple wool dress with a leather overtunic and a cloak that bears several hastily-mended tears and a good deal of dust. Red hair hangs in a curtain of small braids bound in brass clips just above her shoulders; the ends are unevenly cut, as if the grooming was done by someone with no great skill at the task. Her face is ruddy, as if freshly scrubbed, but dirt still crowds the tips of her fingernails.
An iron-bound pickaxe and backpack bounce against her back as she saunters in. The slightly battered knapsack bulges at the bottom, where the weight of its contents tries to pull its way to the ground, but she seems to notice the weight little as she yanks a chair next to the tengu away from the table with her foot. Jumping slightly to clear the seat, she throws her feet onto another chair next to her and lets out a small, satisfied sigh. Wine? At this hour? It's breakfast time - what you need's somethin' that'll stick with ya, a good strong stout!
|
|
The silence of the tavern is immediately broken as a shabby looking tengu enters and yells at the emptiness for wine. He's only met with echo's until three other potential adventurers enter after him.
The tavern continues to be without a host, and more demands for alcoholic beverage is met with more echo's. Not the best first impressions of the Pathfinder Society.
|
|
"Hmm."
Obaek nods to himself again.
"I suppose it was too much to expect a host at this hour. What ever the Society has in mind for us, we'll learn when they're ready. Still I wish I had a drink." He takes a long look toward the back of the tavern like he might be willing to go look for some on his own but instead settles back down in his chair.
|
|
Taking a pair of glasses from her pocket, Frostwind looks left and right.
"Well, I might be mistaken, but an empty inn, sanse innkeeper means usually no chance of ordering something. Also, it is usually not the best avenue to enter a meeting tiddly!"
Putting her glasses to the tip of her nose she nods around.
"My name is Frostwind."
|
Father Erastil, may my blade strike true, may my arrows find their way home. In the face of the dark, let me be a light. In the face of the wrong, let me be the right. Where there is danger, grant me courage others do not have. Protect me that I might protect others. Deliver me from temptation--
Symphony opens her eyes wide when she hears the Obaekwon's loud cawing.
The Pig's Paunch empty when she arrived, and, thinking herself early, she had gone to a quiet seat in the corner to pray. When she stands, you get a good look at her scale armor. It's too clean, unmarred by blemishes. You get the sense that while this stoic woman with golden hair may look tough-- it's hard to tell with the armor, but you get the sense that she might the strongest human you've ever seen in person-- she's spent far more time maintaining her armor than being protected by it. A miniature wooden bow facing the ground, the holy symbol of Erastil, dangles from her neck.
Taking a moment to refocus on what she overheard while she was praying, Symphony looks around the room, her eyes scanning.
Maybe this is part of the test she thinks.
She stands up and says, "Pleased to meet you all. There will be time for wine later. There's work to be done. Um... I assume. I'm glad I'm not the only one surprised to find herself alone in a bar before dawn. Does anyone know who we were supposed to meet?"
Although she is smiling, and every outward aspect of her bearing seems solicitous, it's hard to escape the sense that this girl who hasn't seen twenty summers is sizing you up.
|
|
As you ponder about your host, momentarily the lights in the tavern start to flicker. and suddenlythe whole room is illuminated. In the center of the room, surrounded by inebriates sleeping off their revelries, a familiar elven man stands high upon top of a large round table. You recognize him from the stories in the pathfinder chronicles, a man renowned to be one of the pathfinder greats. How did he do that? No one saw him enter, nor appear.
“Welcome! Welcome, my students! Please, have a seat!”With that, Kreighton Shaine, the Pathfinder Society’s Master of Scrolls, nimbly drops down to sit cross-legged on the table before looking about the tavern with a sense of reverent wonder. “Can you believe it? It all started here years ago—well, over four hundred of them at least. Under this very roof the Pathfinder Society was born."
Which is odd he would say, since some of you thought it was the Wounded Wisp in which the society was born from.
“But today! Today you will begin your Confirmation! Master Farabellus, Master Zey, and I all agree you each have shown your worth and dedication to the Society, so there’s no better time to see if you can handle becoming full field operatives. Allow me to introduce you to Janira Gavix,” he says as he motions for an excitable halfling woman to approach. She wears a large backpack and carries all manner of tools, pouches, and scroll cases around her waist. Shaine continues, saying, “Janira here will be going with you on your Confirmation. She was one of my brightest pupils and will no doubt be an invaluable resource on your journey, for she discovered the caves you are about to explore during her own Confirmation.”
Janira speaks up in an enthusiastic and cheerful voice, “Greetings, aspiring Pathfinders! Six months ago, while I was mapping cave entrances in the foothills of the Kortos Mounts, I witnessed a lone gillman entering a concealed cave. I thought little of it at the time, but I saw another one enter the cave again a month later as my Confirmation stretched on. A few days later, after I completed my assigned task, I entered the cave system, but was unable to find the gillmen.”
Master Shaine hops to his feet. “Initiates, for your Confirmation, you will travel to these caves to explore and document its many passages. Additionally, and most importantly, you are to learn what the gillmen are up to in there. Oh, and you need to come back alive as well.” With these parting words, the Master of Scrolls jumps off the table and strolls out of the building while humming to himself.
|
|
Janira is thoroughly confused as to why everyone seems to trinkle themselves to the bar area, but does so as well as starts serving stout and ale.
To Locken she replies in a somewhat high pitched voice, "What an odd getting! You must be from around here. Well, that's exactly what we're going to find out! The details! We know not much, except that they keep appearing into this cave at the base of Kortos Mount. I saw it myself I did. Gillmen, the only known surface settlement is in Escadar, quite a distance away from our little isle, so it's quite mystery!" She keeps the information vague, but is likely that she knows very little as well.
|
|
"I nothing of gillmen. Except presumably what is implied by their name. They probably don't call themselves gillmen... Anyway are they assumed to be hostile? Why are we concerned with what they do in caves?"
Obaekwon preens a few feathers and seems to be done, then he speaks up abruptly.
"Mind you idle curiosity is enough for me to wander where the Pathfinder finger points but I wonder is conflict with these gillfellows inevitable?"
|
|
Of course there's work to be done - why d'you think I was asking after the drink? the dwarf woman jokes back at the Taldane priestess, but further conversation is interrupted by Master Shane's...dramatic entrance. Pfft...elves. Wisely, though, she keeps her mouth shut and lets the Pathfinder great continue...though as he finishes, it's clear she can scarce contain her enthusiasm. So they have noticed my work, then. Finally, Confirmation, and it's cave exploring at that! She'd always had a love for caves, even beyond that of most of her dwarven kin - the stones were almost like friends to her, and they would listen, tell her their secrets, even obey her commands.
Swinging her feet to the ground, Mathilde readjusts her pickaxe in its strap on her backpack, as if subconsciously trying to prove herself up to the task. Do we have a guess at the extent of these passages? Did the entrance look to be natural, or was it dug out or worked somehow? Is there any history of excavation we know of in the area? Suddenly, her face twists of its own accord into a good-natured smirk. And if a dwarven rune was to...I don't know, appear in the wall of the deepest cavern, that wouldn't be such a bad thing, right? After all, the Society should leave its mark on the world.
|
|
Janira gasp for the sheer excitement that is going on around her, "An excitable lot, aren't you?" she pauses momentarily as she gathers her thoughts, and tries to release it all at once.
"Well we know gillmen are secretive in nature but not outright hostile. I've not got the full mission briefing yet but as I understand it, the journey will be through a forest, and it's known inhabitants are wild beast, bugs, and centaurs. We know nothing of these caves except they exist, and that we want to explore it because... that's what we do? Explore, Report, Cooperate! That's the words to live by as a pathfinder." She turns out of breathe at the end of the speech.
"Now, before we forget, we should take a morning to go through your gear..."
She rumbles through each of your belongings checking for and advising that you should have a few key gear handy, like ropes, alchemist flask, holy water, a weapon or two, bedrolls, waterskin...
|
|
Locken ponder for a moment then reply.
"Master Shaine mentioned that you had previously ventured to the caves entrance for your own confirmation a few months passed, and you will come with us. During that time do you also happens to noticed any note worthy locals and wild life around the area that we should be aware of? If so would you kindly share a map of the area so that we best prepare for the journey?"
Turning towards several others Locken stepped back and then give a confirmation nodded to others at the bar.
"It's seems that if we are to travel together, I best introduce myself. My name is L, and I hope that we may have a pleasant journey together, as I am also in your service in this excavation trip."
He paused for a moment to catches eyes contact from each individual in the room, as if he is assessing the individual's worth but do so without malice or ill intend, merely curiosity.
If the journey is long it's best to prepare my horse. I wonder...
|
|
Music to my ears, the dwarf woman nods at Janira's rousing words. Pleased to meet you, Janira, and all the rest of you! I'm Mathilde Goruunslag - remember the name. You'll be hearing more of it, she finishes with a wink that inexplicably turns to a slight wince. Though I could do without the very last bit of that name. As Janira approaches, Mathilde eagerly opens her backpack, producing each item as the Halfling woman mentions it. The collection is perfect - a little too perfect, as if she'd shopped off a supply list, and most of the equipment looks unused or nearly so.
|
|
"I don't have much Janira, but you are welcome to inspect the gear I have. I normally travel light, and only carry minimal with me. Most of my gear I left at the stable, though non too valuable."
With a gesture he lift up both his arm to reveal the content beneath his cloak. You find only 2 dagger tugged under the belt, and a short-bow along with some arrow in a small concealable quiver strapped to the back of his belt.
|
|
Symphony shakes her head at Frostwind and says, "Haven't got a journal myself, but I can keep a log if one of you can rustle one up. Never been much for book learning, though." Her speech slows toward the end as she watches Mathilde produce each item as Janira calls it out. Symphony doesn't comment, but she nods with approval.
She turns to Janira. "You've been there," she says. "How far are we going? And if we don't have any of those things, can the Society front us the cost? I'll take on the debt if it's the difference between needing holy water and having it versus needing it and being torn apart by the living dead."
|
|
Janira attempts to calm the situation. "Worry not about getting acquainted or the mission details yet! The journey itself will be two days from here by foot. So we'll have lots of time for casual and serious chatter." She momentarily takes a look out the windows to see the sun rising, and starts to hustle. "Well, will you look at that! We better make a move! We don't want to fall behind on your confirmation huh!"
Addressing Locken's lack of gear, she advises him in a very stern and serious manner. "That will just not do! Every pathfinder must be prepared for whatever! You need the bare essentials that I just mentioned!"
Turning to Symphony, "Unfortunately, we don't have the budget for this confirmation to front you the cost, but I did bring some useful gear. So... maybe you might not need to purchase your own?" She remarks, however, she does not say it with conviction at all. In fact, you question her confidence.
She then turns and counts the heads in the room. "Say, shouldn't there be six of you? Well.. I'll just leave a little note for the late comer, hopefully they catch up. There's not a moment to lose now!" She says as she scribbles a note and leaves it at the front door.
|
|
As you head off into the wilderness, you recall a few things about the area.
Janira pulls out a large leather-bound journal and opens, reading aloud as you walk through the city towards the wilderness and the sea of trees. “Before we set out, we should all get to know each other and review our plan. After all, the most important factors that determine whether an expedition will be a success are cooperation and preparation! I’ll go first!”
"My name is Janira Garvix, I was born into a very large family. My father works as a porter who employs a dog cart to transport purchased goods from ships and shops to the homes of customers."
I joined the Society with little in mind, only to have my mind expanded! It was everything I hoped it to be, exploration, expanding my knowledge of the world we know. Hopefully one day I have one my of own work published into a Pathfinder Chronicle!."
She speaks excitedly expanding into her life and her adventures, and later turns to the rest to ask the same sort of sharing. "What about you lot? What's your story then?"
|
|
Taking her glasses of her nose the young Sylph replies. "Well met. My name is Eurus of Clan Frostwind. My parents have a shop in Absolom, selling special alchemistical items, like smokesticks. Also clockwork weapons like our quickload x-bows. We trade a lot with members of the pathfinder society. Well I heard many a story that made my hairs stand on end. That made me curious, and well here I am. I am well versed in all fields of alchemy. So if you hear duck, am well better duck."
|
|
At Frostwind's words the tengu bobs his head in agreement "Noted! I am indeed a great fan of the well timed duck. I for one will be delighted to see your clockwork friend in action. Tengu do indeed like shiny things and I like the unexpected.
"As for me... I am a tengu." Obaekwon pauses as if to consider the meaning of that statement.
"I wander where the winds of Hei Feng blow me and I encourage others to do the same. Once I was literal flotsam whisked away to salvation by the very forces that destroyed the ship I was upon." His eyes grow stern. "I have learned that there is nothing wrong with such a fate, indeed it is inescapable" Then he seems to relax.
"And so now I have washed up amidst the Pathfinders, and I am well pleased with it. Most of my kind are trained with swords and I can use them, but I am best with a bow. When in need I can ask Hei Feng for aid, I suppose it's possible he might answer."
"Regarding gear, I have little money for holy water and alchemy, but I can manage the rest."
|
|
Symphony remembers the dead men shambling toward her. She remembers their faces, both from when they were alive and when she saw them animated by dark forces she could not understand. She remembers their names. In Symphony's mind, she is in the corn rows, again, and when the stalks part she sees the moonlight falling against the empty eye socket of a man she once knew, whom she had sung hymns with. She remembers the feelings and how they scared her: the pain of seeing someone she knew turned into a monster, and the way that pain was outpaced by her giddy enthusiasm to destroy the monster. How could Symphony tell these strangers how deeply she yearned to swipe her sword through true evil? They would think her a crazy person.
Again, the truth of the world slams into Symphony's mind like a tidal wave and razes all other thoughts: there are evil forces arrayed against the goodness of the world. They have shape and names and blood. They are nightmares given form. Symphony has never had a choice as to what she would do about it. Her sword arm belongs to Erastil, and the rest of her, too. Good people need good folk watching out for them. Simple as that.
No, it was probably best to keep those things to herself. She will be there for her companions, which means Erastil will be there as well. Everything she needs to say will be said over bloodshed and the silence that comes after it.
Symphony smiles weakly; it seems a perfunctory and incongruous expression on her face. "I'm Symphony du Muriel. I fight for Erastil. I come from a nice town. Strong militia. Good people. But I know there's real evil in the world. I aim to see there's less when I drop dead. Seems like the Silver Crusade and the kind of trouble Pathfinders go looking for is as good place as any to start. So we're starting down one holy water, and we duck when Eurus says so. Got it."
Symphony is looking at Obaekwon and Frostwind quizzically. She's never seen or heard of sylphs or tengus before, and it shows on her face. "I've heard of Absalom. Where's Hei Feng?" Symphony asks.
|
|
Heeding Janira's words, Locken returned to his horse and add a few essentials to from the saddle bag to his backpack. As he catches up to the group, galloping from behind.
"Yes I too would like to learn about Absalom, and Hei Feng, as I myself had travel from afar. Everywhere I look all seem unfamiliar, though not an unwelcome changed of scenery. If you do have time I would like to hear the tales of such places."
|
|
As the group passes into the wilderness, Symphony watches Frostwind's mechanical pet with obvious wonder in her eyes. She knew that she would see a great many unfamiliar things when she set her intention to join the Pathfinders, but she had supposed it would be largely in the form of skeletons, demons, and other monstrosities. As she watches the metal creature prance around Frostwind, Symphony notes the novelty of her companions.
She walks close to Obaekwon and says quietly, looking down, "Obaekwon, are those actually feathers? Can you fly? Do all tengu look like you, or were you cursed?" As she speaks, she periodically glances over at Frostwind's clockwork dragon again. She isn't aware when she does it, but she absent-mindedly clutches her holy symbol for a moment as she speaks.
|
|
Janira takes great interest in your words and stories, asking every possible detail and question she can. On the way past the city, she points out several landmarks, such as the sky citadel, a little famous pathfinder bar call the wounded wisp, several siege towers and the likes. About half day through, as you head past the city and past the Cairnland's, area of ruins and signs of war, she starts to talk about the mission.
“On to the details of the mission at hand,” Janira says with an eager grin. “After reviewing my mission reports personally, Master Shaine believes it is no coincidence that each time they entered the caves it was during a full moon, so it is also no coincidence that you have been called here now, just a day before the moon is full again. We both believe that tomorrow night is our best chance to find out why these caves are important and what exactly the gillmen are doing in there."
“The caves we’ll be travelling to lie under the base of the Kortos Mounts. We’ll need to spend every minute of daylight possible to reach the caves by foot, crossing over the Cairnlands, taking the paths to Diobel, and finally making our way through the wilderness. With any luck we won’t run into any of the local inhabitants. Once in the caves, we’ll need to work together to explore and determine whether any gillman are present or have been recently. Keep an eye out for any other clues that might hint at the caves’ significance, too. I've taken the liberty to bring some parchment and chalks so you may take your notes. Hopefully we can also put together a pretty accurate map of the cave!” She remarks jovially as she hands out the papers and parchments.
|
|
Locken give Janira a slight smile as he put the parchment and chalk given from her into his belt pouch. A quick glance behind then back to his usual vigilant self as if he is now entering a battle field, his eyes dart around looking for approaching danger once again.
Alas a familiar scent of war's devastation, what men do to one another at what cause, what price, in the end its the land and it's people that suffer...
|
|
As Symphony takes the papers from Janira and stows them in her backpack, she says,"My momma always said people don't meet at midnight to do anything good. Desna, watch over us all. What's wrong with the locals? Why don't we wanna meet them?"
"Also, how do we work together? I ain't doubting the Pathfinders, but I never fought next to any of y'all. I know what I do," she says as she gently pats her sword. "But what about the rest of you? Anyone got magic you can toss my way? You make me anything in them vials you got, blue?" she says as she nods to Frostwind.
|
|
"Yes Symphony they are real feathers and no I cannot fly, though I have not tried very hard. I've heard some tengu can. Most tengu look very much like me indeed and we don't feel we are cursed, though perhaps the miserable plight many tengu find themselves living in may make it seem so. I for one am cursed but blessed in the same breath, the wind of Hei Feng blew away the fetters of my mind. Being unfettered is a more difficult condition than many imagine."
Obeakwon accepts the mapping materials from Janira eagerly. "This does seem fun! I shall be interested to see how these gillpersons behave as well. As for the locals, it might be more according to their preference than our own that we avoid meeting?"
|
|
Replace "porter" with "miner" and you've got my story pretty much locked! Mathilde responds to Janira's query. My folks would've preferred I stayed and settled down into something more "responsible" than the Society, but after... Suddenly, she catches herself mid-sentence. Well, after a while I decided staying in the Five Kings Mountains and popping out lots of little dwarflings didn't suit me. So I worked my way down south on some mining jobs, until a Pathfinder called Olvin Tolraandor hired me to help him reinforce and widen an entrance to an old mithral mine. After hearing his tales, I decided the Society was where to be when it came to keeping excitement in my days!
Mathilde listens carefully as Janira explains the particulars of the mission, then as her new teammates talk about plans and abilities. Well, I'm...uh...I'm not quite sure there's really a name for what I do. It's not magic per se, not like a sorcerer, but I can...I don't know how to explain it. She concentrates for a moment as she swings her hand out from her side, and suddenly the stones along the side of the road begin to roll, rushing beside her in a jumble and keeping pace just below her outstretched fingers. Earth and stone listen to me - I can feel them, understand them in a way. I've been able to do it ever since I could remember - my mother called it "stone-singing". It's a good thing it doesn't involve any actual singing, though...that'd probably just start an avalanche, she finishes with a chuckle.
|
|
Symphony watches the stones move seemingly of their own volition. The druid back home could speak to trees and animals. She had tried to teach Symphony to speak to the forest in the language of heartbeats and wind rustling leaves in trees. Symphony didn't take to it. She couldn't even make a goodberry: the literal first truly magical task the druid elf had tried to teach Symphony.
Yet this dwarf can actually "sing" to the stone and make it dance to her bidding.
Symphony could not explain her happiness in that moment, but she realized in an instant that even though this dwarf might not directly serve Erastil's bidding, if she seeks to do good in the world then she is an instrument of his holy will.
Symphony does not break stride as Malthide demonstrates her unusual gift. She speaks quietly through an unsmiling mouth, "Impressive." Her voice is hoarse, as if she is parched.
|
|
Janira listens intently to every word of conversation had between the group, and giggles to herself most of the time. She empathises with Mathlide's story as she explains that being from a large family and being the only one that wants to leave for exploration caused some little drifts between her and her family.
Back on the path, she does detail that it'd be best to avoid all form of confrontation as much as possible, but best be prepared for anything! And if you do face anything, "I'm not really one to fight, but I encourage everyone with my words of wisdom! It normally helps. But I do have a weapon handy just in case, this here is a whip!" She remarks as she pulls a brown leather whip from her belt.
As the party progresses deeper into the forest, the trees towering overhead begin to shield most of what remains of the day’s sun and the vegetation beneath grows denser. Janira pauses a moment and pulls out an intricate silver compass emblazoned with the Pathfinder Society logo: the Glyph of the Open Road. “I received this wayfinder when I successfully completed my Confirmation. Should we be successful on our journey, you will get your own as well.” She flips open the device and holds it in front of her; the initials J. L. are engraved into the inside of the device’s lid. After studying the compass inside for a moment, she remarks, “We’re on the right path. We need to keep heading northwest past those large rocks up ahead....wait... there should be rocks right there!"
Among all the chit chat, Janira has seemed to have lost her bearings, and attempts to look for a bunch of large rocks.
|
|
Smilingly Frostwind nods to Mathilde. "My parents were not really happy but they understood I had to move out and feel the four winds in my hair."
But when Jamira asks for some rocks she is a bit undure.Rocks are a bit anathema to her being. But having listened to Mathilde she makes an effort and looks around.
|
|
Seeing each companion chattering away, displaying their arcane nature, Locken can't help but feeling nostalgia as it reminded him of the better days long pass where one another can joke and laugh at leisure without worries. But those days are behind him, the only thing now is the mission at hand.
The brief moment of respite is not a luxury one can afford if one to survive the battle field. Thought Locken. Once again return to scan the field.
|
|
To everyone's concern, no one as well is able to find the rocks Janira's speaks off. Causing momentary panic for the half elf.
Obaekwon notices an off beat path, which seems to be frequently used with worn down grass routes and cleanly cut branches. Following the path leads you directly back on the right track to the rocks Janira referenced to.
Back along the path, everything seems well again. But that feeling is short lived, a hissing noise is heard, but no one is able to tell which direction it beckons from.
Suddenly looking down at your feet, snakes!