<strong>—  Happenings</strong><br/><br/>It truly was a difficult task for Ballantha to follow Serana.  With all eyes on her, the crowd followed along, clapping politely as she introduced herself.  However, Ballantha skillfully managed to pop the crowd not once, not twice, but three times.  Kassenians are a poor lot, but they are proud.  And it was good for them to hear Ballantha speak of their founder's heroism, their tradition, and what it meant to Ballantha.  Though the applause is not as thunderous as that grand ovation that was given to Serana, her words would resonate with the townspeople much longer than Serana's.<br/><br/>Would it that they could call it a day after Ballantha's eloquent speech, because the crowd reacted poorly to Claire Harrington's brazen and insolent speech.  They booed, hissed, and threw things at her, though, by fortune, they all missed (but a juicy tomato did hit Ballantha on the shoulder and clay jug holding seed oil crashed at everyone's feet).<br/><br/>"Settle down, everyone!" Mayor Uptal shouted with his hands up.   "Let us remember that the Seekers are on a pilgrimage that encourages the betterment of their bodies and their souls, and further, that a noble task is made more noble when it is done by someone who does it despite his or her desires!"<br/><br/>The crowd, almost stirred to a violent frenzy, became subdued, but listless.