Vintners'

Vintners' in Thsúntos is an exclusive restaurant and nightclub sited on an island in a river delta, and built into ancient temple dedicated to an unknown god of music and wine.

A typical evening

An evening at Vintner's is not a simple meal, but an entire event in its own right.

Arrival and attire

One of the few islands in the delta not linked by bridges, the only way to get to Vintners' is by taking of the venues' fleet of taxiboats; rubywood skiffs with golden oars. These depart from a dedicated dock at a pre-arranged time, travelling in procession to the island, Upon arrival, guests - who are referred to as 'devotees' by the restaurant staff - are checked in and provided with a change of clothes and shoes that resemble the robes of the order that once tended the sacred site. They then partake in the initial libation, pouring a glass of wine into a wide stone bowl carved with the sign of the god. This done, the parties disperse to their tables and the evening begins.

Food and drink

Vintners' offers a selection of over 35 wines from its own vinyards on the mainland and on-site. All of Vintners' wines are made and consumed on the island. It is a blacklist offence to remove them from the premises.
The venue also farms its own oysterbeds. When consumed raw, the shellfish are delicacy of the region, and each plate is served with a guarantee of at least one pearl, which guests are permitted to keep. This is rare - when dissolved in Vinters' own wines and drunk, the pearls temporarily immerse the devotees into the Dream, allowing them to bathe in the presence of the god and see visions of a possible future.

Rumours

Sheltered from the land on all sides and with a staff bound to secrecy, Vintners' has become popular with celebrities from all walks of life, keen to get away from the public eye for a few hours. This intense emphasis on privacy, combined with a nameless, faceless proprietor who speaks only through chosen agents, has given rise to outrageous and unevidenced rumours about what happens on the island.
The restaurant has featured in several penny novels and "red reels" as the site of outrageous sexual activities, furtive political or criminal dealings, and even human sacrifice. The proprietor has consistently refused to dignify these allegations with a response but, in an effort to metaphorically open their doors without compromising their guests' privacy, they have repurposed the old temple's prayer tower, installing radio antennae and broadcasting live music throughout the evening.
This reputation, circulated among conspiracy theorists and hack journalists, and has offered a smokescreen for the activity taking place in the mainland nightclub, the Razorshell.

Type

Pub / Tavern / Restaurant