"Hey Fane! Can I get a shot of whiskey over here?" an older man with a leather vest yelled at a young man with black hair and blue eyes behind a bar.
The young man shot the older fellow a quick smile while reaching below the counter and pulling up a clear blue shot glass.
"You sure that's a good idea Victor? Not trying to compensate for something are you?" The young man said, his blue eyes sparkling in amusement.
"Damn it Fane!" Victor yelled causing everyone around him to laugh.
Fane just smirked as he turned around and grabbed a bottle off the top shelf and smoothly filled the glass, setting it down in front of the now flustered Victor. The older man attempted to hand the teen his card, but Fane just held a finger to his lips.
"On the house, but if you throw up on my floor I'll clean it with your vest" Fane stated in equal parts humor and seriousness.
Victor gulped heavily as his friends all ordered shots so they could match him. It was at that moment that a bell tolled causing the room to go quiet. Fane, knowing that it was seven o'clock, quickly filled several glasses with a cheap beer as patrons walked up to the bar and grabbed them. At the same time a man with a long white beard and deep set wrinkles on his face walked into an open spot near Fane.
"Hello, and welcome everyone to our little outpost, I would ask that everyone give a moment of silence to those who have fallen in foreign combat and afterwards join us in a toast" The old man said while lowering his head, after fifteen seconds he raised it and raised his glass "To those that went," He started.
"To those that went!" The bar chorused
"To those that are there still," He continued solemnly
"To those that are there still!" The patrons repeated in unison
"To those that have not returned" The old man's voice choked up, though it was barely noticeable
"To those that have not returned" The building rumbled at the sound of hundreds of people almost chanting the lines
"T-To those t-..." the old man's voice cut out as fresh tears rolled down his face unable to finish the line
"'To those that never will! Cheers!'" Everyone finished the final line for the old man as they raised their drinks into the air before tapping them on their respective tables and taking a long swig.
After the toast the old man was collected by some of his friends before everyone started talking again, the energy from before returning, almost with a vengeance. Fane found himself swamped with orders.
"Three beers over here," A man yelled.
Fane opened a cooler pulling a bottle opener off his belt and popping the caps with a practiced motion, slid the bottles over to the man.
"A Jack and Coke for me Fane!" A woman ordered with a sultry voice "On the rocks please."
Fane smiled and sent a thumbs up as he reached back and grabbed a glass. He then grabbed a scoop that was filled with ice and poured it into the glass. Reaching back he grabbed the bottle of Jack and skillfully poured a third of liquor into the glass before grabbing a hose and filling the rest of the glass with Coke.
"Here you go Stephanie!" He said with a smile as he placed the drink in front of the woman who took it and dropped a crisp twenty dollar bill on the counter, "Why thank you very much!"
"Of course, can't have such a handsome boy such as yourself being swept away by some of these desperate tramps" She said with a flirtatious smile, causing Fane to roll his eyes.
"Sure sure, remember the law now Stephanie," He stated factually, causing the woman to tap her lips.
"Only one more year if I remember correctly." She joked with a deliberate wink "Wait for me til then won't you?"
"Stephanie, you know the rules, and so do I" I joked back, causing her to let out a small laugh.
"Fane! I need a scotch over here!" An elderly man said and I turned away and pulled a bottle from the middle shelf and poured the slightly chilled liquor into a glass, and placed it in front of him on a napkin "Thank you kindly lad."
"Of course Mr. Slinner, and don't worry about payment, this one is on me." He said, causing the old man to stare slightly stunned before smiling.
"Thank you, truly" Mr. Slinner said with a touched voice, "This world needs more people like you and this bar."
"It's nothing at all sir, please, enjoy the drink," Fane said as he put the twenty from Stephanie into the register.
"Hey Bartender, can I get a Moskau Mule?" A younger looking delinquent said looking smug but Fane smirked and grabbed a copper cup and the absolut vodka
He poured one and a half ounces of the liquor into the glass, set the bottle down and pulled a lime out and cut it into fourths, putting a sixth of an ounce of juice in the cup before reaching beneath the counter and grabbing a slim can of ginger beer and pouring all six ounces into the cup, finishing the drink. He then placed the cup on a napkin in front of the delinquent.
"That'll be five dollars please. " He said calmly causing the delinquent to laugh and hand over the bill "Come on Thane, you can't get one over me that easily." He continued as more people lined up.
The next man in line was a regular who had a gleam in his eyes.
"Hey kid, get me a stars and stripes," He said with a challenging tone of voice.
"Coming right up!" Fane said with a determined look.
Fane reached for a stainless steel shaker and picked it up. He opened it up as he reached into the fridge and pulled out a container of blueberries. Pouring about five to seven berries into the shaker he used a masher and muddled the berries. He then set the one half of the shaker down and grabbed the bottle of blueberry vodka and the King of Spirits Gold Absinthe, pouring one ounce of the vodka and a fourth of the Absinthe into the shaker before putting both back on their respective shelves. He then grabbed a press and a half a lemon before squeezing a fourth of an ounce of lemon juice alongside a fourth of a simple syrup sweetener. After everything he poured ice into the cup and closed the shaker.
While shaking the drink he looked over the bar and let out a small contented smile at the joyous atmosphere.
After a minute of shaking he poured the mixture into a tall thin glass, throwing the shaker into a sink along with the ice and whatever was left. He then reached behind him and grabbed a raspberry brandy and poured just a dash into it. Reaching into the fridge he pulled another can of ginger beer and topped off the highball glass, finishing off the drink with a sugar cube.
"One Stars and Stripes for the Veteran" Fane said with a smile as the man smiled and took his drink, leaving a twenty on the counter.
Fane simply put the bill into the register and turned to the next customer. She was a younger woman with fiery red hair and green eyes. Freckles dotted her face and she wore a worried expression on her face as she locked eyes with Fane and gave a forced smile.
"I need an Angel Shot with a Twist please" She asked and Fane felt as if cold water was poured over his head.
He reached down and grabbed his bottle opener and flicked open the cork screw.
"Now are you looking for a darker or lighter addition to the drink?" Fane asked as he started looking around for anyone who could have been watching.
"Lighter, and could I get a Lemon Zest on top?" She nearly begged and he nodded as he reached down and made a glass of water and handing it to the girl.
Fane then looked over to the bouncer who was stationed near the door and locked eyes with the burly man. A look of complete understanding passed through the two men as a busty looking woman who overheard the conversation took over for Fane.
Fane walked out from behind the bar and met up with the redhead girl. The bouncer took his place in front of them as the girl sheepishly pointed to the man with his friends and another scared looking girl.
"Stay here," Fane said as he and the bouncer walked up to the group slowly gaining people around the two.
Around Fane and the bouncer were the delinquent from earlier and the veteran as well as Stephanie who was consoling the girl.
"Hey, I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to ask you four guys to leave" Fane said with a stern tone of voice causing the man and his three friends to look over and frown.
"Yeah, sure, we were just finishing up. Weren't we Alexia?" the man said but the bouncer just laid a hand on the man's shoulder.
"What he means is, get the fuck out before I throw you out" The big man said with a low growl forcing the man to his feet.
"On what grounds do you have to throw us out huh? We've done nothing wrong! And here I was told this was a good place to drink your woes away." He shot back with a withering glare.
"Alright then, by force it is" The bouncer said as he grabbed the man by his arms and lifted him up and started to carry him out.
His friends swiftly followed trying to convince the bouncer to let their friend go, but the man wasn't listening. Fane followed the group and watched as all four were forcefully removed from the establishment.
However, the man, furious that his scheme failed, pulled a snub nosed revolver out and fired it. Screams of panic echoed through the air as the man froze. Fane looked down and watched his white shirt turn a deep crimson as his legs lost strength.
"Fane!!!" someone shouted loudly as the man in question dropped to his knees not feeling anything
'A-Am I going to die?' was the first sobering thought that crossed Fane's mind that night as he dropped to the ground in a puddle of his own blood.
~
"Quiet, our god awakens" A hushed voice chastised others as Fane slowly came too.
His whole body hurt, even his head hurt as he tried to recall what had exactly happened. All he remembers was the seven O'clock toast, the multitude of orders and the girl who had ordered an angel shot. After that was the encounter with the man who had a gun.
'Ah… Right, he had a gun and he… shot me…' Fane thought with a dreary tone as he opened his eyes and saw a crowd of cowled individuals who were staring at him while bowing to him in complete silence.
"Uh… Um… What's going on here?" Fane asked with an almost scared voice.
"O-Our God Speaks! All hail our Lord Tavern" the man in the front shouted with what seemed to be fanatical glee.
"Oh-kay…" Fane scrambled back as his fight or flight instinct started to kick in.
At that moment a door opened behind the mass of cowled individuals and a woman with deep purple robes that hung loosely around her walked in. She had a black shirt and brown stockings and had gold pieces of armor along with golden accents on her outfit. Her purple red hair was straight but curled near the ends, which hung down to her waist, and her sharp dark chocolate brown eyes locked with Fane's icy blue.
The sharp clack of her heels sounded against the cold stone floor as everyone fell deathly silent at the sight of this imperial ruler that had appeared before them. The woman then stood in front of Fane and reached down with a gentle reverence as she put her hands beneath his arms and whispered.
"My Lord Tavern, please excuse my late arrival and allow me to help you up" She said in a very quiet and respectful voice as she picked Fane up and set him on his feet
Afterwards she bowed and took two steps back and dropped to a knee with a hand over her breast.
"My Lord Tavern, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for answering our summons! You, who grace Me with your divine presence, are our god and thus command us to carry out your will. Our world is soon to be destroyed by the Waves, I beg with all my heart and soul that you will lend your almighty strength to protect us and those who are unworthy of your mercy, for the sake of our world" She said with resolute conviction in her voice.
"Um… yeah… okay?" Fane said as he stared down at this girl who looked no older than seventeen.
"Your words while hesitant are accepted gratefully by your loyal subjects" She affirmed while keeping her head low "We know you do not grant your mercy easily"
"Um, excuse me, but I don't even know your name or what I'm doing here… could you please explain?" Fane asked desperately trying to figure out the situation.
The woman looked up with a wide eyed expression and stared deep into Fane's blue eyes.
"M-My lord is asking for My name…" She murmured before shaking her head and lowering it once again "My name is Alexia Lord Tavern, your Most loyal Vassal and as the Bardic Instrument implement I will do my utmost to serve You, My lord." She finished causing Fane's eyes to widen slightly.
'Alexia? Well at least its not Stephanie…' Fane thought with a sweat drop as he nodded.
"That is a beautiful name, it suits you very well." He said, causing the girl to shudder as she looked up.
"Thank you MY Lord Tavern, I shall carve your words into my memory," She said devoutly.
"Uh… Please stand, I can't have someone as beautiful as you kneeling before me." Fane admitted, "Please, explain to me what is going on in the world… and why you continue to call me your lord," Fane asked, causing Alexia to stand and bow deeply before moving close to him.
"Lord Tavern, you are the Holy God to whom we of the Cult of Liquor pray too. You are our savior." She said as she pulled a gilded platter from one of the hooded men and knelt once again as a plain silver ring appeared on the tray "Allow me to present to you, your first weapon form, the ring Bottle Opener," She said proudly.
"Weapon form? Alexia, please explain to me what is going on here. Where am I, why am I here, what is this cult?!" Fane started to hyperventilate due to the confusing mess he had just found himself in
"Lord Tavern…" She started and closed the distance between them but Fane just pushed her away as he pushed his back against a wall
"My name is Fane, Fane Cox!" He shouted "J-Just tell me what is going on!"
"Fane… Such a ho…" Alexia started but Fane had had enough.
"Alexia I command you, tell me what is going on!" He demanded, latching onto the singular fact that she said she was his most loyal vassal and trying to use that simple fact.
Alexia stiffened before dropping to a knee in fear.
"Lord Tavern, you were summoned by the Tavern Weapon Implement and have been chosen to fight against the waves. In order to do so you must level up by killing monsters and using your powerup methods to gain strength and experience. You have two Vassals under you, myself who holds the Bardic Instrument Vassal Implement and the other is the Bar Brawler Implement, who will meet with you later," She explained.
"What are these waves?" Fane asked sternly, still pressed against the wall as Alexia held out the gilded tray with the ring in the center.
"The Waves are a phenomenon that occurs once every three hundred years or so. The world is invaded by endless monsters that threaten our civilization and the Holy God is summoned in human form to combat them. To fight them you must use the full capabilities of your holy weapon, that being the Holy Tavern weapon currently located at your hip" Alexia said and Fane felt around his belt loop where his Bottle Opener usually was and found the selfsame tool.
Fane pulled it off his belt loop and studied it. It looked like a regular bottle opener just with a blue gem located in the connection between the actual opener and the handle of the tool. There were no extra extensions to the tool like the one He usually carried back at the bar which had a bottle opener, a can popper and a cork screw. This one was just a plain metal bottle opener. He stared at it for a moment before shaking his head and putting it back on his hip.
"How do I level up? And how do I check my level for that matter" Fane stated 'Finally this is getting somewhere…" He thought as he pulled himself off of the wall
"You must look to the corner of your vision and focus on the three dots located there" She explained "And to level up you must kill monsters" she finished not looking up
Fane looked around at the assembled cult members who were all bowed and quiet as the two heroes talked.
"Lord Tavern another way to gain power is to copy weapon forms, such as this ring. It will grant you additional stats and effects or sometimes skills" Alexia said looking up and offering the ring again
Fane walked up to the kneeling girl and hesitantly took the ring into his hand. As he grabbed it a notification appeared in his field of view.
[Weapon Copy Activated]
[Cobalt Bar Tenders Ring]
3 Unarmed Attack
Ability Locked Skill: Opener
Special Equip Effect Sleight of hand (Low)
"Are we sure we should… He didn't act like.." A voice whispered, his voice reached the front of the room Alexia spun around and while grabbing her Violin glared at the voice
"Erst Cacophony" She said coldly as she drew her bowstring across the instrument causing it to make a sharp sound causing the former believers ears to explode in blood
Alexia lowered her weapon and turned back to Fane.
"My Lord Tavern, I severely apologize for their lack of faith. Please take a few minutes to collect yourself while I instruct these lambs on how to conduct themselves" Alexia said before she stood up
She turned around and with a single look forced all forty hooded people to exit the room. Fane stood there looking aghast at the head in front of him.
"W…What…" He muttered in shock as he stumbled back
Leaning against the back wall he slowly slid down to a sitting position where he decided to focus on the three dots in the corner of his vision. As soon as he did, a transparent screen appeared in front of him showing his stats and available weapons. There was even a chart to show how well rounded he was.
"Well I'll be damned…" He muttered to himself as the door opened again
Fane looked almost afraid to see Alexia again but was surprised when a short girl with blush pink hair and black horns facing the door behind her. Scales, black as night, were spread across her skin, and a forked tail swayed behind her. She wore heavy looking armor with a thick sword strapped to her back.
"Are you Lord Tavern?" She asked with a happy and bubbly voice causing Fane to tilt his head
"Uh… I think?" He hesitated not knowing who the girl is
"Oh good! Alexia told me to show you around the place then to take you out leveling!" The girl said while jumping excitedly despite the heavy looking equipment
Fane stood up and looked at the girl warily before walking over straightening up his outfit which still had a large blood stain in it.
"My name is Fane, please don't call me Lord Tavern" He all but pleaded as the Girl smiled at him widely and nodded
"Of course!" She responded before pausing as if she realized something "My name is Ezia Skitz! Leader of the Reapers of Fate Party!" She said proudly while patting her chest
"It's a pleasure to meet you Ezia" Fane said with a small smile at the jubilant girl "Shall we get started on the tour then?" He asked causing Ezia to nod
"Yeah! Let's go! There is SO much to show you!" The excitable girl said before turning and bounding into the halls
