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[h2][color=darkorchid][i][b]Victoria Belmont[/b][/i][/color][/h2][i][b][color=9932cc]Half-Elf, Bard, Level 5[/color][/b][/i]
[color=9932cc][i][b]HP:[/b][/i][/color] 33 / 33	[color=9932cc][i][b]Armor Class:[/b][/i][/color] 16	[color=9932cc][i][b]Conditions:[/b][/i][/color] N/A
[color=9932cc][i][b]Location:[/b][/i][/color] Rose River Vineyard (Main Thoroughfare)
[color=9932cc][i][b]Action:[/b][/i][/color] Skill Checks [i]([s]Medicine[/s], [s]Arcana[/s])[/i]
[color=9932cc][i][b]Bonus Action:[/b][/i][/color] [i][color=dimgray]Familiar Stuff[/color][/i]
[color=9932cc][i][b]Reaction:[/b][/i][/color] N/A
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[right][img]https://i.ibb.co/84xS62pB/Victoria-Alt-7-ss.png[/img][/right]
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	It was strange what one can get accustomed to in a short span of time. Not too long ago, Victoria didn't have the ability to bring her lesser undead thrall into being, and now she had so many day-to-day uses for her Morty, especially while traveling, that she wasn't sure how she got along without the ability before. And more recently, her Familiar - a companion and magical resource that was usually the province of Wizards, rare beyond rare for someone like herself - with it looking over Lizbeth elsewhere on the grounds, Victoria felt a little exposed without the use of its senses or availability to assist. And to a lesser degree, with her ritual books left under the watchful sockets of her thrall (where was that swine, anyway?), she was unable to manifest her Phantasmal Steed, the fastest, spookiest equine that she had ever beheld and, as one of her summons, was infinitely easier to ride than any mundane animal. Point of fact, without these at her disposal, it felt like her usefulness was noticeably reduced. The Bard had come to rely on their assistance. It was part of who she was, now. 

	Without them, Victoria would have to rely on naught but her formidable social skills, specialized spellcraft, basic skill with a long blade, notable wit, remarkable acrobatic proficiency, and literally superhuman charisma to fall back upon. Whatever is a lady to do? 

	The walk out to the site had been cold and uneventful, even if it felt like an event might occur at any moment. Morty still hadn't shown up yet, and so Victoria surmised that if he wasn't there by now, he wouldn't be. Something had happened to prevent the porcine companion's presence and she had to move forward with the situation. No sword, no books. Good knife, though. It would have to be enough. During the walk, Victoria listened to Kosara's musings about Laurent, and while she did not disagree with the concept of dealing with the man in such a way, this wasn't going to help anything. It reminded the Bard of Kosara's actions in the Public House back in the Avonshire Township, which was a situation that, while Victoria didn't start it, she handled it with more gusto than was necessary. The party Tiefling then went about making the situation worse. Again, principle of the thing, Victoria agreed with her. In practice, inflicting some manner of comeuppance upon the man, while certainly fun, would bring more trouble than she was willing to deal with. So she gave Kosara a smile and nod, but did not contribute to the conversation. 

	The suggestion that Victoria might have some added insight into the very strangely worked-upon corpse was valid, but first, she wished to handle a more mundane examination of the poor, dead fellow. It began with a quick and simple look at the qualities present in the skin, but the lighting just didn't want to work with her and the freezing temperatures had stiffened the material, not to mention discolor to a point that her ongoing studies in anatomy and medicine just weren't good enough to decipher. [color=9932cc]"Bad conditions to investigate. I should need to examine the remains elsewhere. Maybe while I'm not chattering my own rhythm section."[/color] It was a touch of sarcasm, but it was birthed of frustration. She could tell nothing from the remains as they lay there. 

	Dealing with her knowledge of all things arcane, she took a fresh look at the man she assumed was Toombes. [color=9932cc]"No... I cannot tell exactly, but this doesn't look like a basic Animation. I cannot say specifically what it [i]is[/i], but I would like to try and identify it in other ways."[/color] She did have spellcraft at her disposal, which would cut through a lot of difficulties. [color=9932cc]"I can ask him a few questions, but they will be limited. I shall wait for the others to arrive before I attempt this, but... Where did you say his skull was? I'm going to need something with a mouth. More or less. The skull will suffice nicely."[/color] It felt a little weird saying it out loud like this, but it [i]was[/i] within her wheelhouse. This was one of the things she had the magical resources to accomplish, be it a more recent development. In fact, the slightly excited expression on her face spoke volumes toward the fact that she was looking forward to doing this.