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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] Coach House
[color=9932cc][i][b]Action:[/b][/i][/color] Ritual Magic ([i]Gentle Repose[/i])
[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/84xS62pB/Victoria-Alt-7-ss.png[/img][/right]
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	Kosara's return prompted Victoria to action. Not a desire for sudden and swift movement, as one might if anticipating a skirmish to occur. This was done to hopefully spare Lizbeth the disservice of seeing the remains of Toombes levitate into the taproom of the Coach House. In fairness, she probably should have waited around for a bit longer outside to make sure that the transition was smooth, but the Bard was too caught up with her own plans of Ritual Magic (and no small desire to get someplace warm, to be honest) to give that the consideration that it was due. So when Kosara arrived, puppeting Toombes along with her, Victoria dropped the commentary she had intended with Lizbeth and moved to interpose herself between what remained of the corpse and the girl. [color=9932cc]"Kosara, please, ah..."[/color] began Victoria, looking to her fellow spellcaster and gesturing in a manner that implied fast consideration of he next words. [color=9932cc]"Storage!"[/color] she finally exclaimed, continuing with, [color=9932cc]"The storage area outside. I'm sure we may find a suitable place for his bones there. At least for now."[/color] 

	Victoria gathered up her Ritual book, a couple of materials, and wrapped her cloak tightly around herself. [color=9932cc]"I wish to handle this as soon as possible."[/color] She then looked to Lizbeth, offering, [color=9932cc]"If you are interested, I can demonstrate a practical and morally justifiable practice of Necromancy, such as it may be. To help your friend, I mean to say. If you are willing."[/color]
 
	Within Storage, Victoria set up quickly and got to work with equal haste. Though the walls had kept the winds at bay, it was still perilously cold outside and these temperatures had near to solidified Toombes's skin-clothes. It was gruesome. The Bard located a suitable crate - not the most dignified thing ever, but closable so that it would have been very difficult to open from the inside. Tapping a few nails back was a quick and dirty method, but overall it would do exactly what it was expected to. She hoped. Purely as a backup plan in cases something happened with her magic. [color=9932cc]"What I am doing here is a little more like what a Wizard might do than a Bard, so far as the meat of the spell is concerned. But if this is done properly, Monsieur Toombes will be safe in his earthly rest for a number of days, and perfectly preserved as he is now."[/color] The freezing temperatures would have a hand in this, but again, this was a "better safe than sorry" moment. Speaking of which, [color=9932cc]"If he re-reanimates before I complete the ritual, please treat the problem with violence. Thank you."[/color]

	Her book open and violin out, Victoria took to the Ritual as a seasoned professional might, intoning the occasional supplication to appropriate deities but mostly intoning arcane syllables. This did look like the method a Wizard might use for a ritual, until she added her own touches to it. Naturally, this involved putting bow to strings and beginning a traditional song common across cultures for its use at times of bereavement. Her hands trembled slightly in the frigid night air, but as soon as the first note played, an air of surgical, artistic dexterity took over. This was what she did, better than anyone she personally knew. The affair took, in total, just over ten minutes, after which Victoria took a blunt tool from the wall nearby and tapped the nails back down on the crate which now held the [i]gently reposing[/i] corpse of Toombes. [color=9932cc]"After the storm passes, we might find a better place for him. But the magic will keep us safe from him, and he from anything which would seek to disturb him."[/color]

	Victoria gathered up her things and prepared to face the wind once more. [color=9932cc]"I could use something stronger than tea,"[/color] she admitted. [color=9932cc]"Let's get back out of the cold."[/color]