Ameiko laughs happily at the free advertising from Tavah and Sulwyn alike.<strong>"Hear that everyone, fine hearty fare, known all the way to the Storval Plateau."</strong>With a smile, she actually dishes up seconds for each of them, then an assistant - a halfling barely seen behind the counter - pours two ales into cheap wooden cups, passing them over the counter.<strong>"You're welcome to stop by any time... "</strong>Ameiko notes to them.<strong>"Bring your appetite,"</strong>she says to Tavah with a teasing wink... then it's back to work tossing fish together!<br/><br/><hr/><br/>Belor knew all about Gor'Ax. And Gor'Ax knew plenty about the Sheriff, too. To cut it short, Belor Hemlock was a typical Shoanti in his view of orcs - and there was no "half" in that category. Even so, he put his duty before his biases...<em>usually</em>. For a few good moments, he just gave the younger man a disapproving glare, before finally softening.<strong> "<em>I</em> know you are not going to harm anyone's child. Intentionally, at least."</strong>He sniffs.<strong>"<em>But</em>. We have a lot of visitors to our town today. If you do not watch yourself, then I will send someone to watch you. Understood?"</strong><br/><br/>Pru's comment seems to catch the dour man off-guard. He looks down at the halfling, blinking slowly. His dark skin reddens up to his shaved pate, but to his credit, there's no stammering or other such thing.<strong>"I do not think Miss Tesarani would care for that very much, ms. Glitterwit.</strong>" And the halfling knows that's probably true... The mistress<em>does</em>seem the jealous type... The Sheriff cleared his throat and loosened his arms from around his chest. The frown hasn't left his face. Maybe it's welded on.<strong>"Be sure to be careful around the bonfires tonight. And do keep in mind..."</strong>He glances towards the dancers, then back to those nearby, including Pru, Gor'Ax, and Nadia,<strong>"That tonight is to remember the men and women who lost their lives in... the late unpleasantness. Yes? Yes. Good."</strong>And with that, he turned and tromped his way around through the crowd.<br/><br/><hr/><br/>And so the day went, into evening. People played, ate, sang, and sadly there were even a few brawls, quickly broken up by Hemlock or one of the watchmen. Even so, the mood was generally genial. As the sun lowered on the horizon, people began to gravitate towards the cathedral, where the town's officials seemed to be finalizing their preparations. Indeed, the mayor steps forward, and with a sharp tapping of a rod designating her office, calls attention towards her. As she speaks, more people begin gathering around.<br/><br/><div class="floatleft">(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/58/80/25/588025f4a4bf5eeb3c603fdf997a0dbd.jpg)</div><strong>"Citizens of Sandpoint. Welcome visitors. The day of the Autumnal Equinox is a most auspicious occasion for our humble town. I need not remind you of the late unpleasantness that befell us in years gone by. Let us not forget those that lost their lives in the terrible fire that also claimed our church, and our beloved friend and priest, Ezakien Tobyn."</strong>There's a murmur of assent, a few soft prayers murmured to Desna and Pharasma by the more faithful in attendance. The Mayor allows the quiet moment for memory, before continuing with a gesture back to the sandstone temple behind her.<strong>"How better to honor that memory, than with this new cathedral, that many of you toiled on for so many years. I believe Ezakien would have surely given his blessing to so magnificent a temple. Your work, my friends, is done! Today marks a new beginning for Sandpoint, a bright and prosperous future!" </strong><br/><br/><div class="floatright">(https://heroesofsandpoint.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/abstalar_zantus_clean.jpg)</div>There's a small chorus of cheers from the attendees, though the mood kind of shifts as the mayor invites heads of the Mercantile Unions to give their own speeches; Most are thankfully brief, save for the awkward pause where the owner of the glassworks, Lonjiku Kaijitsu is invited up... and doesn't. Cough, ahem, other annoyed noises from the crowd. Finally, Father Zantus ascends the stage, and raises his hands - more to get them free of his voluminous sleeves than anything, before speaking in a sonorous, deep voice.<strong>"On this most sacred of days, I will begin the consecration with the prayer of first dreaming. Aheh-<em>hem</em>..."</strong><br/><br/>As he clears his throat, there's a sharp<em>krackBANG!</em>that interrupts, from a few alleyways over... that didn't sound like the fireworks that had been going off and on all day... A dog that had been snoozing under the covered wagon near the stage raises its head with a soft growl. Father Zantus pauses and a murmur of unease rumbles through the crowd...