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[h2][color=darkorchid][i][b]Victoria Belmont[/b][/i][/color][/h2][i][b][color=9932cc]Half-Elf, Bard, Level 3[/color][/b][/i]
[color=9932cc][i][b]HP:[/b][/i][/color] 23 / 23	[color=9932cc][i][b]Armor Class:[/b][/i][/color] 15	[color=9932cc][i][b]Conditions:[/b][/i][/color] N/A
[color=9932cc][i][b]Location:[/b][/i][/color] Neil & Bob's Public House, Bar
[color=9932cc][i][b]Action:[/b][/i][/color] N/A
[color=9932cc][i][b]Bonus Action:[/b][/i][/color] N/A
[color=9932cc][i][b]Reaction:[/b][/i][/color] N/A 
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[right][img]https://i.ibb.co/gJmht9Q/Victoria-Post-Funeral.png[/img][/right]
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	The fact that Kathryn did not want another drink gave Victoria a touch of surprise, owing to memories of the last time they all sat down for supper and drinks. Not that she recalled the massively proportioned Knight lady being prone to keg stands, nor challenging people to feats of strength for free booze (none to which she had borne witness, anyway), but it just seemed off color for her. Maybe Kathryn was taking the investigation more seriously than herself. It made sense, Victoria had to admit. When she was part of another group of adventuring types, she mostly went along with the plans of more headstrong types and relied on her natural proclivities toward social interaction to get her through. And if Kat was the kind that took on a more professional demeanor when on-site, especially as compared to her, then this was probably a good thing. 

	Yet, despite the refusal of drinks, Victoria could not help but notice a fair amount of alcoholic beverages being assembled in front of the woman. She eyed it with some suspicion but said nothing, preferring a cocked eyebrow and slight head tilt to direct confrontation. Maybe a little smirk. Definitely a little smirk. 

	What did give Victoria a mote of concern was the assumption that Kosara and Hugh had followed. Were they not accounted for now? She had gone off with the L'Rose survivors only, to the best of her knowledge. This news was a little disconcerting. Almost as disconcerting that Marita was "working with the locals", even if those Cleric-y types leaned toward getting in good with the people. But to more serious affairs, Victoria hadn't seen Hugh since she left, and Kosara... A glance back in the direction of the door gave her a twinge of relief. The Tiefling woman had just arrived. And was administering aid to the person who had tried to (with his friends) solicit very non-consensual affection from her. Concern went to annoyance. This annoyance was followed up with a dismissive shake of her head when Marita got involved. For all Victoria cared, the man could be drug outside and piss himself, hopefully with the end result being that his own urine froze him to the wooden planking of the front porch and his dangling unmentionables got claimed by frostbite in the night. That thought brought a smile to the young Half-Elf's face. 

	Introductions were afoot, and so Victoria was bound by the guidelines of public engagement to respond accordingly. As the conversation began with words in the Common tongue of Humans, she answered in kind, [color=9932cc]"Well met, Sir Rickard Barriden,"[/color] extending a hand to greet with a more formal air. Her way of speaking his honorific of [i]Sir[/i], much like her address of Kathryn earlier as [i]Dame[/i], was indicative of the area of her own upbringing. Victoria recalled mentioning her family's place of origin around the rest of the party earlier that day, admittedly being an easy thing to forget. In any case, her words shifted effortlessly to the tongue of the High Elves, her words flowing melodically from her with flawless pitch and accent, [color=9932cc][i]"It pleases and surprises me to see one of your lineage this far into Human lands. And I would be remiss, Knight of the Sylvan Realms, to miss an opportunity to converse in the speech of my ancestors."[/i][/color] She giggled a little and reached for the decanter of wine and a glass upon the bar in front of them. If Kathryn was finished drinking for the evening, the Bard was certain that she wouldn't miss a glass of ...very fine wine... she realized, inhaling the vapors therein through her perky, slightly upturned nose. And if someone did happen to miss this wine, she had silver to compensate them. 

	A small sip and a satisfied smile later, Victoria continued speaking in Elven, [color=9932cc][i]"I lack, I notice, the fundamentals of manners when addressing a new acquaintance and beg your forgiveness. To repair; I am called Victoria Belmont, of the Ashhaven Belmont Clan, student of the Bardic College of the Grey Requiem. It is a pleasure, of course, to meet you."[/i][/color] One thing to note from the presentation of her full name was that it was Human of origin, as was the city from which she claimed to hail, for those who had cause to travel to such places. Mixed ancestry could easily explain this, but it occasionally took people by surprise, for whatever reason.  

	Another smile, warm and cheerful. Another sip of wine, cool and sweet. Her crystal blue eyes studied this Elf as she attempted to puzzle out the coincidence of their meeting and attempt to ascertain whether this was a fortuitous event, or an obvious, bald-faced trap. In the end, Victoria shrugged. It was what it was, and the end result would reveal itself sooner or later. Victoria switched back to Common, saying, [color=9932cc]"I am sorry about your friend, Sir Barriden. The understanding is given that there are a few disappearances here as of late."[/color] She looked back to Kathryn with her glass of wine raised, declaring, [color=9932cc]"This is [i]really[/i] good. Oh, don't mind that man on the floor. He deserves worse."[/color] Her smile returned, this time just as menacing as it was amused.