The Path-Monster

Imagine you have been trekking through wild, untamed forest for several days, seeing no signs of civilisation and navigating by the sun only. The sun is low in the sky now and soon you will have to choose between making camp for the night and risking ambush, or attempting to carry on using your limited knowledge of the stars to find your way. You notice something in the distance – a thin brown line cutting through the forest. You are filled with relief to have finally found a path through the forest. It isn't quite going in the direction you were heading, but you are so thrilled to have found an even surface to walk on that you decide follow it anyway.

It goes on for hours, maybe even days. You realise soon that you will not reach your destination by this route, and start backtracking. After a while the terrain becomes unfamiliar. Was that big rock there when you first passed through? You panic, and begin to walk faster. You have become utterly lost, but continue to follow the path since it is your only hope of finding your way back. You never will.

The Path-Monster was created by some long dead sorcerer as a way to keep pesky travellers away from their hideout. It takes the form of a dirt path, but unlike a path it can move along the ground like a great snake. It exists only to carry out the will of the sorcerer who created it – and that is to lead travellers astray. In the deep, dark forest there are few paths to tread, and so the appearance of a nice flat path to follow is almost irresistible. Travellers would follow it, and the Path-Monster would lead them in circles, or into a dead end, or off a cliff. If they tried to turn back the road would change position and lead them even further awry. Once this happened there was little chance of them finding their way back.

The Path-Monster continues to do its duty, long after its master has passed on, and will continue to do this forever. Locals and adventurers who are familiar with the area know that there are no true paths through the bush. When they spot an alluring road ahead, they turn and go the other way.