Life of the party?

Author's Note: This chapter is a bit darker in themes than normal. Struggled with what level of grit makes sense while keeping with the general lighter tone of the story. On that note, a warning in case you want to skip: A character is poisoned and it does not go well for them.

Of the three crowds, one lacked the coldness often associated with formal gatherings. Its constituents fully engaged in the antics of the center, paying little mind to posturing. As I approach, I notice it’s not just humans: people of various supernatural skin tones and sizes, men with singular eyes, a collection of less common beings and at least a dozen satyrs. Though the odd onlookers have nothing on the man in the center. The Celebrant stands bare chested, more than two meters tall, a sapling held on his shoulder blades with an urn of wine suspended from each end of the uprooted tree. In one of his hands is a horn of dark red wine and he is flanked by two women, one with a skin tone of green and other of blue. Facing the god is a satyr standing somewhat unsteadily, lowering a second horn of wine from their own lips. The Celebrant grins and with a mirthful voice says, "Come on Lucas, you've been training for this. Match me drink for drink as honor demands."

The satyr, Lucas responds, "M'lord, you've already been so generous...".

The Celebrant lets out a rueful chuckle, "That was not a request Lucas... let one of my attendants help succ-or your honor."

The woman with blue skin and auburn hair moves from The Celebrant's side. She is wearing only dark red body paint as clothing, the thick coating of dried wine barely preserving a trapping of modesty. She moves besides the satyr, one hand running up his thigh while she licks her tongue up the side of Lucas's neck. She purrs, "You taste good Lucas, don't you want to finish your glass and taste me afterwards?"

The saytr shudders at her attention and his pants visibly tighten, but the fear in his eyes is still wild. The woman sighs and says, "Let me help you..." as she grabs the satyr’s hand and moves the horn it's holding closer to the satyr's lips. His eyes panic but the blue skinned women has him entranced as the horn reaches his lips and the panic leaves the satyrs eyes as he begins to gulp down the wine. There are flashes of resistance in the satyrs eyes and some momentary **** sounds but in very little time the horn is emptied. The spell appears to break, and the satyr looks down at the empty horn, momentary relief in his eyes.

Then The Celebrant's voice speaks again, "Excellent! Now another...".

Lucas's relief shatters as he responds full of undisguised panic, "M'lord, tradition dictates only 3 horns...".

Then The Celebrant's voice speaks again, "What are rules and tradition to me, now drink!"

The blue skinned woman refills Lucas's horn and forces it to his mouth. As the **** hits the satyr's lips his eyes begin to glow, and with each gulp of wine shift between iridescent shades of pink, green and violet. A bubbling scream melodically shifts in tone as the colors do. The Celebrant's voice rumbles like primal drums as it instructs, "Yes! Embrace it all!"

The only response is a choked gurgle. The hall’s attention is squarely on the spectacle now and when I turn back to Lucas I see dark wine spilling down his chest. At least, it looks like wine... as my gaze drifts upwards to the satyr's face. I see his eyes are now bleeding as they release pulses of unnatural light. His legs shuffle, and then the satyr falls to the floor. The satyr's form is curled in on itself, his chest wheezing out pained coughs. The Celebrant's voice cuts over the sound of coughing, the voice cold and full of disgust, "Another failure."

My stomach lurches and I fight back the urge to retch. I look for anything to distract my mind from the scene in front of me. At the edge of the room, I see a man in regal garb exit the hall with a hooded woman. That might be The King... Not wanting to stay any longer, I break away from the current crowd to follow the couple.

I move as discreetly as I can to the side hallway the couple disappeared into. It's a long corridor with many adjoining rooms. Most are empty as I pass them and I see no sign of the couple. Then I pause and listen a moment as I hear a faint sound... Is that moans?