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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] Casting [i]Prestidigitation[/i], Ritual Casting [i]Identify[/i]
[color=9932cc][i][b]Bonus Action:[/b][/i][/color] [color=black][i][b]Morty[/b][/i][/color]
[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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	The idea of a little dessert before turning in sounded satisfactory enough, but there were too many questions running around in Victoria's head to simply sit and wait for it. That, and a lack of appreciable skill in preparing anything but the most basic of foodstuffs for herself meant that she would not be able to assist, so, with a full belly and sense of purpose, she set out to solve what lesser mysteries she had the skill to accomplish. A quick mental command had her Morty trotting along at her heel, and the Bard took purposeful strides toward the door. 

	That was, until Baronfjord posed a question to her. [color=9932cc]"Graveyard soil? Quite, yes. It's a catch-all term for dirt taken from the resting place of a sentient, or place of memorial for the deceased. It's commonly used in necromantic rituals or as an alternate material component for some spellcraft. I've never had personal use for it, but I've seen it applied."[/color] She didn't quite get that the question was a bit of a ruse, and looked quizzically at the Dragonborn fellow when the conversation switched abruptly. [color=9932cc]"Lizbeth is a ...very special girl."[/color] She had not let on what she had observed personally about her yet, as the conversation simply hadn't some up yet and there seemed to be an element of trust which she did not feel like breaking. Not just yet. So she responded, [color=9932cc]"I will try to keep an eye on her, as I am able."[/color] The truth was, she was already keeping a proverbial eye on Lizbeth, based on her own observations. But if it made Baronfjord feel better to hear the words from her, it was an inexpensive gift to give. 

	Victoria kept her jaunt through the front door as brief as possible, not wishing to muddle the warmer inside air any more than she really needed to, and began to plod up the stairs after their host. Lizbeth's footprints made for excellent places to set her own boots during the ascent, as the younger woman had not quite completed her own tasks in the private rooms just yet. Morty's movements were less careful and more jostling, but they both eventually made their way upstairs without major incident. The dark and cold were not her friends this evening and she was looking forward to getting back indoors as quickly as possible. 

	Within the upper floor, Victoria could hear Lizbeth working in the room which Kathryn had been occupying. It was not a good time to interrupt her while she was mid-duty, so she moved down the short hallway and into her own room that she shared with Kosara, and Lizbeth from that first evening. The fire was already going, be it a bit low. It was a new fire, young in its overnight lifespan, but at least the main logs were catching properly. The Bard settled near to it and took up an unlit oil lamp. The "unlit" portion of that description was quickly remedied by an effortless thread of magic, and its wick extended to increase the illumination it gave off. Now, with enough light to comfortably read and enough heat to not be entirely uncomfortable, Victoria wrapped her new black and gold pashmina about her and settled in for some minor Ritual work. 

	Unlike the inexpert work of who she assumed was Monsieur Arnaud L'Rose, Victoria was specifically versed in Arcana and Arcane Rituals. She needed no graveyard soil nor extensive buildup of power. Hers was not on par with a full Wizard, but she was nevertheless capable of reaching the same conclusions. She kept her Ritual Book open before her, along with a couple of centering materials that, while not thoroughly [i]needed[/i], were a minor comfort and motivating tool. Among them was her set of Diving Bones she had been collecting and augmenting since her time in Fort Darenby. There was an unspoken irony in their presence here, especially as it related to the task. The first item to be placed under her magical scrutiny was the pendant, worked to excellently resemble an ideal bunch of grapes. Smallish, carved of extremely hard, dark wood upon a simple cord. It was stained slightly reddish and smelled faintly of wine, as if it had been soaked in the stuff for so long that the wood absorbed some of its properties. After a few minutes of tracing sigils into the air and pouring just the right amount of arcane power into the item, Victoria stopped, looked at the pendant, and smiled. [color=9932cc]"That would be useful for this group,"[/color] she mused aloud, then immediately moved on to the next item.

	This one was a black shaft of what she assumed was wood, with a clear but not-quite-transparent crystal mounted within it near to the thinner end. She regarded it briefly, holding it by the slightly thicker end where it might logically fall was the proper handle and gave it a flick through the air. It was comfortable in her hand with this motion. The piece seemed solid. Old, too. But classic, even textbook in construction, as if it was an early example of whatever it might be. Her Ritual began anew, detection magic applied in almost the most standard of ways; detail altered just slightly owing to the fact that a Bard cast this, and not a true Wizard. Still, as before, the end result was the same. [color=9932cc]"Interesting..."[/color] Victoria smiled and tucked the items away. Neither specifically seemed made for her professions, neither Bard nor Necromancer, even if both were useful enough. 

	Victoria rose and extinguished the lantern. She retrieved two books from her traveling chest and placed one on Lizbeth's bed, the other on hers, and left. By this time, Lizbeth was working on the stairs with a thick broom, batting away the snow like a girl of determination. Victoria paused for a moment to regard Lizbeth. Something seemed off but for the life of her, she simply could not place it. Perhaps she was just tired. Instead, the Bard carefully made her way past the young lady and gave her a warm smile, even if nothing else about her was especially toasty. [color=9932cc]"Thank you for the fire and such upstairs,"[/color] she began, trying to notice whatever she felt was different about Lizbeth but failing miserably in the darkness, even to the properties of vision granted her by her Sylvan heritage. [color=9932cc]"I left my copy of The White Book on your bed. You're welcome to borrow it for a time, but please be careful with it. It is difficult to find a copy in this part of the world."[/color] Her more serious nature drained back away, leaving an almost sisterly visage to the youthful Half-Elf. [color=9932cc]"Hey, don't be too long. I'm excited to see what Kosara has made for us. Aren't you?"[/color] A bright smile followed, and Victoria made her way back down the stairs (sans Morty) to return to the taproom. 

	Back inside, finally, Victoria strode over to the table whereupon the group had their evening's repast and, without ceremony or buildup to the grand event, lay down the grape bunch pendant. [color=9932cc]"Amulet of the Drunkard. Or a variation of it. This was created [i]here[/i]. It requires no attunement to use. Whomever wears this may consume one alcoholic drink per day that will act as a minor healing potion. Again, and this is baffling to me, [i]this was created here.[/i] And fairly recently."[/color]

	Moving on, Victoria placed the stick upon the table next to the amulet. [color=9932cc]"Wand of Magic Detection. This does exactly what it sounds like it should, a few times a day. This was once a very common item and I recall seeing a picture of one of these in a textbook. I just had to confirm."[/color]

	The arcane debriefing handled, Victoria gave a moment or two's worth of pause and shared, [color=9932cc]"I hold no specific desire for either of these and I'm willing to go along with whatever everyone decides. A lady might recommend seeing if the Mistress of the Estate has a claim to them if we wish to do more than borrow them for the meantime."[/color]

	[color=9932cc]"...so... Whatever are we doing for dessert?"[/color]