Thom accepted the offered glass graciously. He swirled the liquid once and brought the wine to his lips to enjoy the smell of it.
The woman was correct, the wine was indeed sweet. He tried not to judge it critically. Thom had sampled the finest wines in his time, but that was years past. Old habits die hard. Still, this was not bad as far as wine went. "Indeed. Such things make up life's small pleasures." He idly swirled the wine a few times before continuing. "Perhaps the story of..." The girl was a were, she might not like that one. "Or maybe not. Hm." He reached behind him so he could inspect the fabrics of his cloak.
Not that one. Or that one. Skip the love stories altogether. He placed a finger on one of the pieces, considering the golden fabric. "Perhaps the story of Druid Garis. Yes, that should do nicely for the time we have."
Thom cleared his throat and adjusted his cloak. He modulated his voice to convey gravity and solemness.
"Of all the great deeds of the Druids, many are worthy of story and song. Some slew monstrosities ten times their size, others have ended vampires hundreds of years old. What sets Druid Garis apart from them all? Certainly he was not the most feared of the Druids, nor the most powerful. But he was wise in a time when we were cut off from one another.
In his time traveling from one city to another was a dangerous proposition, even more-so than it is today. Traveling was a feat never accomplished without at least a full Church escort. The Dark Druids would attack any who dared to trespass into lands they called their own. Trees a hundred years old would uproot themselves at the behest of the Dark Druids and set themselves on the trespassers. Fey would make bodies for themselves ten meters tall and again as long, the wood and vine of their bodies making them nearly impossible to injure. Many died fighting such creatures.
Fed madness by the Fey, the Dark Druids gave more and more for power. But the more they gained, the more they lost of themselves. The Fey cared not for the plights of man, they were only interested in their deals and watching the ever-so-entertaining mortals tear one another apart. So the madness continued, until Garis.
Garis was the first of the Druids to extend a hand in friendship to those who dwelt in the cities. He sought balance in his own way. He sought out his enemies and make them an offer. In exchange for safe passage along certain parts of the forest he requested the use of hunters. He used these hunters to kill those who threatened that which he claimed. A bloody arrangement to be sure, but it allowed for the first large road on Darkova. Reliable trade between two cities began, and both prospered.
Time has mellowed this conflict. The more agreeable Druids began to claim land nearer the cities, and others claimed the wilds. The time between battles increased as the Druids reached an equilibrium with one another. Garis may have been lost in the tumult, but he was the first. All of this stemmed from one Druid willing to talk with those who hated him. This lesson must not be forgotten."
Thom smiled as he ended the story. He lifted the glass in a salute and took a sip from the glass. "Not one of my favorites, as it sounds more like a history lesson than a story... but it is short. Perhaps now I might ask a question of you." Thom leaned forward, his mustache drooping even more than usual as he frowned. "Do you plan to go see VanHelsing at his home?"