Sublime Showdown (Round 1: Faerie)

The Azure Dove was certainly not the most famous or even the cleanest bar in Wisteria. But, it still held a certain place in the hearts of the people. Tucked back in one of the corners, this cozy little bar was the oldest bar in Wisteria, having started up when the city was but a few elfish nomads looking for a place to settle. Nowadays, the only occupants are the odd sort of people that prefer privacy, and the bartender there was an old fart who can't let go of the past. Nevertheless, it served as a prime locale for gossip to flourish, and it was thus that Barkeep was drawn to that place.

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"Hey barkeep! Some more of this Blue Brew!"

"Coming right up."

The fabled Blue Brew, a recipe handed down among the proprietors of the Azure Dove over the years. This was the first thing Barkeep heard when he walked into the run-down building. He didn't know whether it was fate or coincidence, but he knew that this fabled Blue Brew was his ticket to owning the Azure Dove.

He looked around. The bar looked like it had seen better days. The tables were all dirty, and one of them was broken. A larger-than-normal rat scurried behind the bar, and was immediately killed by a flying bottle, courtesy of the bartender. One old elf glared at him with one eye from his dank corner. He, too, had a Blue Brew in hand. The boisterous young elf who had revealed the name of the drink had received his fill, and he was now slurring insults to his employer. There were a gaggle of witches in a booth, chatting rather openly about their latest sexual exploits. They all had Blue Brews.

With his lone tankard, he walked up to the grizzly old barkeep, and requested a Blue Brew. He sampled it a little bit with his tongue, and he found it to be disappointingly bitter. Nevertheless, he continued to take sips every once in a while, as he requested stories from the barkeep.

"So, what can you tell me about this fine city?"

"Ah, yes, Our Dear Wisteria of Old. It all started here at the Azure Dove, I'll have ye know. We were but young nomads, searching for a place in the world. Here, we discovered a sparkling blue spring, like the very stars had fallen in the water. Ye should've seen it, it was like... paradise. Why, when me and my wife (to-be at the time) chanced across it, we knew that this was the place for us. And so, I said to her, 'blah blah mumble mumble...'"

He droned on in this manner for quite a while. Barkeep had only asked him out of courtesy, for of course he knew of the city's origins. He was now regretting it, but at least he could sit in relative peace and have some more of this Blue Brew. He couldn't ever remember why he thought it was bitter, as he started taking longer gulps. It tasted absolutely heavenly. When he finished, he made to immediately request another one. As the barkeep poured another one, not even so much as pausing in his Great Tale, Barkeep used this moment of brief clarity to recollect his thoughts. He jerked back, set the down tankard rather heavily, causing a bruise to appear on his left arm, and ran out.

That Blue Brew... it was not natural! I mean, of course this land was not natural at all, and he should have suspected magical energies were behind everything, but it was foolish of him to assume that a bar would not serve magical drinks. Now, he had been influenced by the Blue Brew. He supposed it was fortunate that the only effect of the Blue Brew was elation and minor addiction. Next time, he would have to be more careful around magic. And he would definitely have to learn how to make Blue Brew. It was time for him to be a magical Barkeep.

He hurriedly strode back to the Azure Dove, ascertaining that his tankard was safe. Believe it or not, the old bartender was still going on. Someone commented that, yeah he's like that, and assured him to just go ahead and interrupt him. So, Barkeep gave a polite cough, and indicated that he wished to talk with the bartender.

"Oh? Yes, what did you want?"

"I wish... to know how Blue Brew is made."

"Well, you'd have to start working here, it's a bit of a trade secret, y'see. In fact, I'm glad you asked, because I need a coupla more hands around here."

"I would be delighted to work here, actually. I came here looking for a job, after all."

"Splendid! Your shift starts in 30 minutes. Until then, why not have a drink?"

He politely declined.