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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] Township Square 
[color=9932cc][i][b]Action:[/b][/i][/color] [i]Skill Check[/i] (Arcana x2)
[color=9932cc][i][b]Bonus Action:[/b][/i][/color] [color=black].[/color]
[color=9932cc][i][b]Reaction:[/b][/i][/color] N/A 
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[right][img]https://i.ibb.co/tpv4vyV/VicSS.png[/img][/right]
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	Almost totally bereft of spellcasting ability and having fully tapped out her Bardic abilities, Victoria did not want to get into another fight so soon. Hence, when the voice reverberated through her brain without actually speaking, her hand tightened around the hilt of her sword. The words cut into her, speaking just enough truth to cut to her center while still allowing her plausible deniability if questioned about it later. Naturally, she assumed that everyone had heard the words spoken about her, as she had heard the whispers of everyone else's secrets. Or hints of secrets. And of course, the reference toward promises of things fixed, problems  handled, etc., even if it also came with a threat lurking nearby. She did what she did for her own reasons, neither righteous nor ignoble in nature, and she would harm no one that she did not absolutely have to to ensure that her goal was met. But this? A contract with an unknown entity that just casually destroyed one of its own acolytes? And what was the payment for the boons offered?

	The truth was, Victoria was tempted. She already toyed with forces that many found abhorrent (unless they needed something), and had been exposed to many stories about people given choices like this. Admittedly, it usually didn't work out for the mortal in the end. But, if such a person was very clever or was able to bargain back out with something the entity in question wanted even more, they might walk away with a scrap more power, completely off the hook. But therein led to a different sort of problem for Victoria. She had once jumped into a poor decision, and this became a focal point in her life, around which everything following took heavy and direct influence. No, she just couldn't. There was still time to handle it on her own.

	The mental decision against it was followed swiftly by a sudden, sharp sensation in her midsection, like a sharpened hand of ice gripped her entrails and drove her to her knees. Maybe it was a coincidence. Then again, is was equally likely that she was a Bugbear alchemist. It left as quickly as it came, prompting Victoria to wonder if this was indeed related and not an unsubtle reminder of the wounds she received during the fight. So she picked herself up, barely registering the anguished call from Kosara yet responding with a glance and nod when she recovered. 

	Victoria rose, surveying their surroundings. It [i]felt[/i] like everything was over for now, but she knew full well that there were at least two more armed wererats out there someplace and she was not in the best condition to fend them off. The situation hinted that they had run off to save their own hides. Right then it would be an acceptable outcome, if potentially temporary. As Kathryn pulled the smouldering body out of the fire, it was met with a flare-up of the pitch fire. This tiny increase of light extended Victoria's vision just enough to make out a lumpy shape sitting to one side of the short road leading to the Municipal building. It was a fleeting moment, but enough to pique the Bard's curiosity. [color=9932cc]"I'll just be a moment,"[/color] she said absently. 

	A couple of steps brought her to the dusty remains of Cavendish, who happened to be in her way to her actual destination. She knelt carefully and snatched up a rhombus-shaped shard of the late Constable's bony remains and slipped it into a pouch. She might boast an interesting collection, given time and opportunity. But this wasn't her overall goal. Studied steps brought Victoria to the edge of the light, leaving only her outline visible to those back in the square proper. She went to one knee, opting for a quick stand if necessary, and set her sword down in easy reach while she inspected her find. 

	[color=9932cc]"Knapsack?"[/color] she said softly and with surprise. A [color=9932cc]"A nice one, too."[/color] She unbuckled the main section and looked inside. It contained books, mostly, as if the owner attended a large city's institute of higher learning. She gingerly slid one out and opened it with caution. What dim light there was allowed gave way to a revelation. Rituals. These were rituals. Skimming a few pages, Victoria was delighted to see that she understood some of them. In an mostly academic way, but she could process some of the information reliably. [color=9932cc]"Later, when it's safe,"[/color] she whispered. There were a few more things in here; ritual materials and inks, chalk, etc., but most of this mundane when compared to the knowledge inside of the books. This piqued the most studious of her curiosities. Victoria pocketed some of the sundries but lifted the knapsack up, recovered her sword, and returned to the rest of the group. 

	[color=9932cc]"Our adversary was a learned man, else he was attempting to become one,"[/color] he started, attempting as optimistic a voice as she was capable. There was no sense adding to the situational weight if she could help it, and morale was one of her profession's bailiwicks. [color=9932cc]"He likely also planned for an expedient getaway, given that this was packed up and ready to go, closer than reasonably nearby."[/color] She smiled, giving a look around at her recent associates (all of whom were still alive, if in various states of disrepair) and the flaming carnage around them. [color=9932cc]"I believe this qualifies as our act of altruism for the season,"[/color] she continued, her voice light and noncommittal as if speaking with humor in mind. [color=9932cc]"But permit me my point of selfishness, if you would please? I so enjoy quality leather, like this ...ridiculously well crafted knapsack."[/color] It was an accurate description. It looked like the kind of container designed to keep spellbooks safe, quite possibly because it [i]was[/i] designed for the purpose. [color=9932cc]"Also, I can make use of the knowledge inside, I am quite certain. Whatever clues we may glean from these materials, I intend to retain them. It is my sincerest hope that we might puzzle out a little bit more than we now know; I could not place another wiggly, asymmetrical piece upon the table, myself."[/color] She supposed it was due in part to her excitement at her find. Nobody was perfect, after all. Not even her, regardless of the positive opinion she might have for herself. Her history had definitely revealed that to her, reminders of which crept up daily. Her flaws, however, did not extend to the physical, noted by the dappling of Wererat Abomination fueled firelight across her delicate but hardset half-sylvan features, an expression of excitement and genuine curiosity making her eyes sparkle and face flush. Victoria picked up one of the books to give it a better look in the more favorable light, skimming a page or two. Then she reminded herself, [color=9932cc]"Later, later."[/color] They were not in a good place for academic perusal - yet.