' … Once there was a group of snakes who crawled upon the scorched earth. They fed upon the other beasts of the land and drank from the fresh pools and they were content.

One day, one of the snake's skin began to flake away. Underneath were supple, blazing golden scales which were far mightier than those the snake had borne before. She took her gift graciously, and continued to serve Sithis.

Several days later, another of the snake's skin began to fall away. However, this snake had not grown any new scales, and as his old skin fell away his raw flesh was exposed to the blazing sun and the scorched earth. Within minutes he had burned as surely as if he had been placed within a mighty hearth-fire.

Then one of the younger snakes turned from the charred and twisted corpse to the supple, golden snake and asked her Mother why this should be so. Her Mother replied that the first snake had followed always the path of Sithis, living according to Her teachings as best she could. The second snake had looked always to his own needs before the teachings of Sithis. Each had received their due.'