Private Tales A Journalist and a Wine Critic walk into a Tavern......

[Seredic]

“The Wine of Destiny,”

She came to him in the dream again. The angelic being radiating a dim, foreboding light, wearing a white cloak with a hood which hid her face. The glass full of wine held between her slender fingers. The spirit walked slowly towards him whispering something in a language he could not comprehend.

Seredic lumbered to her, his eyes still stinging from the light she radiated despite its low brightness. The Halfling saw her once before a year ago. Seredic was always skeptical of beings of higher power but this angelic being felt real and was calling to him. But why?

“Who are you?” Seredic wanted to say but his lips did not move it was though they were sewn shut. “She was the reason why I went on this bloody journey,” Thought Seredic. “Could I at least get your name?”

The angelic being knelt down and handed Seredic the wine whispering. “You are its maker. The Wine of Destiny.”

“I am?” Seredic asked in a small pained voice his lips moving freely now though his throat hurt and his head began to throb. “Then where do I go? What ingredients do I need?!”

The Angelic Being said nothing still holding out the cup. Seredic shook his head, scrunching his face in frustration. “Why are you so bloody silent?!” He shouted before holding his head in pain. The ground beneath Seredic began to tilt forward and he felt himself flying towards the woman.

The smell of blood and smoke-filled Seredic nostrils now and the Halfling tumbled out of a brown box. All Seredic saw was a blur of various shapes and colors. He blinked multiple times in an attempt to adjust his vision.

“What did I miss?” He thought looking around

He turned around and to his horror saw the bartender who generously gave Seredic free cups of wine last night lying face first on the ground in a pool of his own vomit. The human was snoring loudly much to the annoyance of Seredic. Groaning, Seredic stumbled upon two of the bartender's barmaids half naked sleeping soundly close to the portly bar tender. Seredics stomach rolled over and immediately last nights dinner of soup and meat along with hundreds of cups of wine came out from his mouth. The sheer amount of contents spewing out, forcing Seredic on his knees.

 

[Lily]

A famous wine critic named Seredic. She'd read some of his work before and he always seemed to do a fabulous job at describing the various notes and aromas of the wines he critiqued. Lily wasn't much of a drinker herself, she'd indulge every now and again but it was more often to not be rude when in the presence of others than a desire to drink.

So, the journalist from Alliria had chartered a carriage to Daybreak Village, a small community along the Gold Road. Though the village was rather small it was quite wealthy given its size due to the location along the popular trade route. This translated into a tavern which had a fantastic selection of wines from all over Arethil and had been the designated meeting spot for the interview that was to occur between the critic and Lily.

Overall, it was a refreshing change of pace. Though Lily usually preferred covering stories of peoples from faraway lands and of unique cultures this story would not only prove interesting but likely bump the sales of the Allirian Account. Seredic was rather famous and most folks enjoyed wine. She was glad that the publication had chosen her as the reporter best suited to cover this particular story.

As she entered the tavern itself she had expected to see a desk, possibly even a quill, with her interviewee sat and prepared for their discussion. Instead she found numerous drunkards spewed all around, a bartender's snores so loud she could've sworn they were rocking the foundation, half-nude barmaids, and the subject of her report covered in what she assumed was his own vomit.

She knocked, gently, on the wooden pillar by the entryway to alert Seredic of her presence. "Hello? I'm Lily Montgomery. With the Allirian Account. I'm to meet Seredic, the wine critic, for an interview at this hour. Well, I think I'm actually a few minutes early but, um..." her words were low and cautious. She didn't want to offend the halfling and she wasn't confident that this was the wine critic. He looked like the description provided but, well, he was covered in filth from last night's debauchery. "If you need me to come back later I can, I am here until tomorrow morning."

 

[Seredic]

The stink of alcohol filled Seredic's mouth while he stumbled around nearly hitting his head on the wooden leg of a table. The Halfling racked his brains trying to remember what happened last night. "All right Seredic," he said to himself. "Focus, try to think it's something that you have a gift of doing. How in the hell did I end up here."

All Seredic received was a sharp pain in his head that began to throb. Growling, Seredic looked at his clothes and snorted. His dark green Jerkin was covered in soot and the sleeves of his striped brocade was smelt peculiarly like drool. Seredic gave a spat of disgust beginning to stretch his stubby legs. Unlike most Halflings who liked to wear bright and simple clothing, Seredic often bucked the trend by wearing dark, expensive clothing. He started doing this ever since his wife and son died as his way of continuing to mourn them.

The Halflings back at home began to mock Seredic calling him a "snob" or an "outsider" he didn't mind though it added to the miserable wine critic persona he had back before he left on his journey. Besides, Seredic liked traveling around unlike many Halflings who preferred to be sedentary. "I have to find my belongings and get out of here," Seredic mumbled to himself carefully stepping around the bartender. While he did, flashes of memory began to appear before Seredic.

He remembered a celebration of a Monster Hunter slaying a Bugbear who was harassing the village. Seredic was offered a free pint of Dragon's Flame: A rare and popular alcoholic beverage in Arethril. Seredic could recall writing a raving review though he keeping in character, he did nitpicked the spicy taste it left after consumption. For a Halfling, a pint was equivalent to five full drinks of course Seredic was going to drink three.

There was a gentle knock on the wooden door though given Seredic's painful migraines, a knock was equivalent to a shockwave banging on his eardrums. "Who the hell is making so much noise?!" Seredic muttered out loud stumbling into a wooden chair toppling it over. "It's early in the morning! Don't you have any respect?!"

It was then he heard his name and The Halfling looked up his blue eyes examining a human girl looking at him. "What do you want?" Seredic frowned sitting on the floor while scratching his patchy beard. "Come to mock me for failures at the desert. How I traveled all the way to the Savannah to seek my destiny or what I was told to be my destiny?!"

Seredic still remembered the adventures and conflicts he had in the desert with Samuel and Samantha along with that mercenary boy and his girlfriend. The conspiracy he uncovered with the Cintrian Kingdom and revelations of a lost Dwarven Kingdom along with their once King. But there was no sign of the Wine of Destiny or how to make it. Months of planning wasted, mountains of gold spent on the journey and paying those black hearted rogues wasted. The Halfling had nothing to show for it.

"Come back never," Seredic said. "Let me drown in my own vomit while I ponder my next move."

Behind Lilly someone placed a hand on her shoulder, turning her around. "Hey sweetheart," three men smiled at Lilly. There faces dark and their breath stunk with alcohol. "Why don't we have a good time."

 

[Lily]

Peculiar. Lily was certain that the Allirian Account had questioned Seredic as to his desire to be interviewed. The half-elf girl stood in the entryway, perplexed by his sour attitude. Perhaps he was just hungover. She'd depart, maybe see if there was a decent place to get some breakfast and a coffee, then return later. After he'd sobered up a bit more.

Just before she could apologize or let the wine critic know of her intentions to return in a few hours she felt a gruff palm grip her shoulder. In one swift motion it spun the young woman on her heels and she was greeted by three rough looking individuals. "I'm all set, was just about to leave actually." Her explanation fell on deaf ears as the man holding her shoulder tightened his grip.

"Aw, hear that boys? She isn't interested," the apparent ringleader said with a chuckle. The gentleman on his left, smelling like a brewery, added, "too bad. I'd love to do an interview sweetie."

Lily's face grimaced as her lips broke to further explain, "as I said, I've got to get going. I have another appointment and-"

A rough finger touched her lips as the ringleader issued an audible shush. "You don't seem to be getting this, I wasn't giving you an option." His hand moved from her shoulder to her upper arm as he attempted to drag her with him.

The half-elf struggled but she was not any sort of physical fighter. The scuffle was loud but it was obvious that it would only end with her losing.

 

[Seredic]

There was a man who lay face down on the wooden floor. His face was in a pool of his own vomit, Seredic guessed that he drowned in it but it didn't matter. The Halfling was more concerned about the metal jug that was gripped around his stubby fingers. Seredic shuffled towards the knocked out patron, being as silent as a rat stealing food. If there was one thing Halflings are good at, it was lurking around undetected. Thanks to their unassuming nature, Halflings made for great spies. It was more or less their niche whenever one enlisted into the Allrian Guard.

Seredic immediately grabbed the cup from the portly man's Hog like grip. A pint, a rare size amongst Halflings. There was a law that was passed in Fairbairn that forbade the taverns from offering Pints to Halflings since they often drank themselves to literal death after drinking a few pints. Halflings love to drink and find it hard to resist a good beverage when it comes to Ale. Despite the law, many Halflings go to other taverns around Alliria, to get their pints.

The Halfling stared at the bubbling ale. The fat man didn't even drink a sip of this ale! Pathetic. Though it was probably a blessing, this pint is was a way for Seredic to drown himself in. He was wracked with horror and shame for what he saw and experienced during his stay at the Savanah: A Kingdom once a shadow of its former self is now on the rise and bent on being dominant again. Regardless of what happened, the old man won Seredic knew that. A Dwarven King that everyone thought dead, was actually alive and mad. King Axel came this close to destroying the Savannah before Seredic and the others interfered.

But it didn't matter, the Cintrians got what they wanted and were stronger than ever. A mighty Dwarven Kingdom was reduced to rubble soon to be buried in the sands. Either way the world is going to change and Seredic is here about to drink himself to death. It would've been nice if Seredic had the Wine of Destiny but King Axel never had it! He.never.fucking.had.it.

Seredic was in denial at first, but he knew that the Ancient Dwarf was telling the truth. His stupid Halfling intuition detected it. Seredic had the pint on his lips when he heard a struggle. Turning around, the same girl who pestered Seredic was struggling in the grip of some drunks. The Halfling sighed as his heart churned. Once again the spirit of Sally has compelled him to help this girl. The drunks on the other hand weren't in a talking mood however but Seredic was able to talk down many drunk people before.

The Halfling turned to the Pint and sighed. "Not today old friend," he said before placing it down and approaching the men.

"Gentlemen," Seredic said smacking his lips to get rid of that alcohol filled morning breath. "It looks like the feast is continuing into the morning and this leggy brunette is the first of many courses."

"What the fuck are you babbling about Halfling?!" The man who was grabbing Lily said. "You talking all fancy like that?!"

"Apologies," Seredic said wiping the dust off his linen shirt. "It seems that I underestimated the intelligence of this fine village. Let me put this layman's terms something a caveman will understand. The girl belongs to me."

"This bitch?!" The man said yanking Lily's arm. "This one is yours?! How a Halfling like you hunted someone as pretty as her?!"

"I'm the greatest hunter in Alliria," Seredic said. "My spear never misses."

"Well she's ours now!" The man holding Lily said. "There's nothing you're midget ass can do about it! Go play with your spear while we have an "interview" with this lovely lady!"

It was then the Halfling began to sniff the three men frowning as he did so. "A familiar smell," he muttered. "Pardon me gentlemen but did you consume a copious amount of Wine last night?"

The three men looked at each other confused. "Yeah?" one of them said.

"I know it's a lot to remember especially after last night," Seredic said. "But did by any chance you have drank the Halfling Hole?"

"Of course!" The man grabbing Lily's arms said. "We love that Wine! It tasted like heaven while being affordable!"

"High quality Wine at reasonable is something I excel at," Seredic said. "I am Seredic Stoor: Wine Critic and the creator of the Halfling Hole, one of the finest Wines in all of Arethril. It was through me that many commoners became Wine pioneers."

Flabbergasted, the men pushed Lily on to the ground as the young woman landed on her butt while they gaped at Seredic. "You?!" the man said. "Are the creator-"

"I can make a deal," Seredic stared at Lily giving her a wink. "This fine lass is my girl and I hate to see hurt in any capacity. If you leave her alone, I can ship all you lads a years worth of wines from all over Arethirl. From Alliria to hot lands of the Savannah."

Seredic recoiled when he talked about the Savannah.

"It's a deal!" the men said in unison while Seredic smiled. "Perfect," he said. "You have my word that will you get your drinks!"

"She was ugly anyway!" One of the men said at Lily while they scribbled their names and locations on a piece of parchment and gave it to Seredic.

"Don't insult this girl like that," Seredic said darkly. "She's lovely and pretty girl. Now go before I changed my mind."

The men left while the Halfling sighed. "Are you all right?" Seredic muttered to Lily.

 

[Lily]

Lily stayed seated on the dusty floor of the tavern until well after the ruffians who had assaulted her left. She'd been in precarious situations before on her travels but normally she was able to talk her way out of them. She had gotten quite good at avoiding rough areas and the tavern, though not the most upscale of places, didn't seem like the kind of place that would encourage men to act like animals.

As she rose to her feet she dusted off the legs of her traveling clothes and looked down towards Seredic with a simple, "thank you." She hadn't anticipated the wine critic to aid her. Especially after he had seemed so irritable upon her arrival here.

"Does this mean," she began to speak after the dust had faded from her trousers, "that we can conduct our interview?" The journalist eyed the halfling up and down once more. His clothes were still crusted from his own vomit. At least, she hoped it was his own vomit. "Or um, perhaps you wish to tidy up a bit and we can proceed in an hour or so?"

 

[Seredic]

Part of Seredic felt a bit guilty that his Wine products made some people into drunken lunatics. Who knows how many were harmed through drinking his product. The Halfling shook his head, that's not his fault if people are irresponsible for their bad habits. All Seredic did was give everyone regardless of class an opportunity to enjoy wine.

Seredic sighed heavily while Lilly thanked him, her thanks rung hollow to him. The Halfling was still not completely sober and she already annoyed him through obnoxious knocking. Seredic lumbered over to the drink that was on the floor, lifting the pint to his chest. "Ask away," Seredic continued to look into the Ale his reflection was a weathered, grey colored skeleton like face. His cheeks were seamed as though Seredic was a scrucnhed up walnut.

"I've just came to the Allrian borders a failure," Seredic growled drinking the stale beverage before him. "I ventured into the Savanah desert and found nothing but hell."