Sípéir Square of Launceston, Free Lands of the Selkie.
"Ready when you are.", Mayor Finnegan Halcathrach of the Tribe of Galway told Liliane Peacach of the Tribe of Wexford, the Arcane Priestess of Ladra in charge of the Grand Temple of Launceston.
It was cold. Six degrees on the Celsius-Scale, no rain was expected today, but it was sunny. That made thick clothes almost mandatory. She shivered, but it had little to do with the Geansai she wore.
Finnegan was an older, respectable man, who was Mayor of the City for quite a while now, in his sixth legislative period, and compared to that, Liliane was almost a fawn still - this was her first time opening the festivities.
People from all over the World had come to see it, to celebrate the Harvest with the people of Launceston! 'No big deal' wasn't exactly the phrase she would use...
Still, here she was.
"Steadying breath.", Finnegan commented with a smile, "And go. As if these were the beaches of Mount Vellenge!"
Liliane smiled. She knew, that the Mayor had fought there, in 1983, had lost a hand there. He was proud, but he was also stubborn and a bit fatherly... some might be even tempted to say, that he was grandfatherly due to his age.
Still.
"Hopefully with not as much opposition.", Liliane commented.
"Opposition? No.", Finnegan said, "But it's going to be loud. And I honestly prefer the sounds of cheers!"
Liliane nodded, took a breath. "Ready."
A moment later, the two stood on the stage erected on the Sípéir Square, in front of the Grand Temple of Ladra. A large brazier was prepared on the stage. The cheers were deafening!
Liliane smiled nervously as she raised her hand to call for silence. A hush quickly fell and she intoned in Selkie: "Taranis, Lord of the Time of Falling Leaves, Ladra, Lord of the Helmsmen and Boatsmen, Lodan Lir, Lord of the Seas and Rivers, Rhiannon, o Fertile Lady, hear our humble prayer of thanks and gratitude to you!"
A murmur went through the crowd, signalling their own ways of expressing their gratitude, which basically translated to "Thank you, chaps!"
"The Harvest of the Year was Bountiful, so please accept this offering of us, a part of our feast in Your Honour!", Liliane continued and three Priestesses stepped forward, three beautiful girls in the Colors of Ladra, of Lodan Lir and of Rhiannon. They, their heads lowered, carried huge trays, filled with the Last Fruits: Oat meal bread, beef steaks, mutton slices, a can of milk, a jug of milk spirit, fruits and vegetables.
As soon as they had stepped forward, Finnegan's part began as he lit the brazier on the stage and took the first tray.
"The People of Launceston offer these in their gratitude, Gods.", he spoke and put the first foodstuffs into the fire. "We wish good appetite!"
An intonation of the present Selkie repeated that. It took a few moments to sacrifice the three trays worth of food.
"With this, the Day of Taranis' Feast may begin!", Liliane finished - and the cheers, which replied to her, that people were ready to celebrate the Harvest Festival, made her smile. And what a Feast it would be!