August sets up the candles. He tries to clean them of the dust that has collected over the last few years. Even when lit they burn grey. Everything here is grey now - the colours sucked out by fire and death. He says a simple prayer to the Jovial Patron and offers up three batteries to the shrine's humble altar. Nobody has left anything here for years. It too is covered in a thick coat of dust. August considers brushing it down but chooses to leave it. The dust is ash from when The City burned, the Gods will not mind it sitting in their shrine.



As he prepares to stay the night in the shrine August takes his bag from his shoulder and unrolls some blankets. For a while before going to sleep he sits out at the doorstep and listens into the night. The stars are not really visible and the moon only half shines through the grey sky. He brushes the dust out of his tail, even after one day it gets everywhere - the ashes of a dead nation.

At one point he sees a spirit walking not too far off. He retreats back into the shrine and goes to bed. He dreams of The City and how it died.



The next day he sets off towards his destination, its ruined pagodas loom over the horizon.The remains of his civilisation lie ahead. However the road is not empty. A lone knight walks the path heading towards him. He wears a cloak that would have been a brilliant and bright colour once, now it is grey like the armour he wears and the ground he walks upon.



(A) Go around the Knight - Who knows who this figure answers to
(B) Accost the Knight - Maybe they are a friend
(C) Wait in the Shadows of the Temple - To get a better look before decisions are made

You now have the blessing of the Jovial Patron.



Continue (B)