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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] Skill Check, [i](Arcana)[/i]
[color=9932cc][i][b]Bonus Action:[/b][/i][/color] [color=dimgray][i][b]Familiar[/b][/i][/color] stuff, [color=black][b]Morty[/b][/color]
[color=9932cc][i][b]Reaction:[/b][/i][/color] N/A
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[right][img]https://i.ibb.co/ZzgLdXRt/Victoria-Alt-8-ss2.png[/img][/right]
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	She almost didn't notice her Dragonborn associate standing at the top of the cellar stairs, behind the bar. When Kathryn answered her from said cellar, and Victoria glanced over in the direction of the sound, only to catch a startle. Exhaling deeply, she raised her hands, palm out as if in surrender, on either side of her face. [color=9932cc]"I surrender,"[/color] she said in a half-mocking tone. [color=9932cc]"Someone needs to put a bell on you."[/color] Jokes aside, she attempted a more diplomatic approach. [color=9932cc]"I apologize, Baronfjord, my thoughts are obviously elsewhere. I just rode in from Southmoor."[/color] Admittedly, it wasn't a long way to ride, literally just down the road, but were he to know the speed of travel she had just accomplished he might be impressed. 

	[color=9932cc]"I saw Kosara before I left town, actually. She seemed fine. It looked like she made a new friend, [i]as our Kosara does,[/i] but I did not inquire anything into it. Dwarven fellow. I left the Sending Stone with her, if she needs to make contact quickly."[/color] That said, she continued with a tangent of her previous thought, [color=9932cc]"I may have figured something out about our 'Prince' but I need to consult my books here, including the one I lent to Lizbeth. I might be onto something."[/color] The last sentence came out with a distant quality to her voice, as if she was still in the middle of puzzling something out. She quickly shook her head and snapped out of it. 

	It was around this time that she realized that she had been keeping Kathryn waiting more than a moment since she announced that they were in the cellar. [color=9932cc]"I shall be down presently!"[/color] she called in melodic tones, though she instead took up her teacup and refilled it with a dram of brandy from the bar. In a manner both classy and not-quite-ladylike, she threw its contents past her lips and let the taste linger with her for a second or two before allowing it passage onward. It was indeed very fine, well-aged brandy - with just a hint of something more mature than mere [i]age[/i]. Lovely. 

	And so it came to pass that Victoria took to the stairs down to the cellar, giving a quick, [color=9932cc]"Please excuse me,"[/color] as she passed by. She was pleased to see that Lizbeth was also down there with Kathryn. That would save a trip, as she could get back her book at least temporarily. [color=9932cc]"Lizbeth, it's good to see you! If you'll allow, I will need my copy of [i]The White Book[/i] back, at least for today. I could be onto something and I need it for reference. Please."[/color] 

	Victoria might have exited the room immediately following, as she was a lady on a mission. Unlike many Bards, her mission and role in the party seemed to have evolved primarily into studious research. And while she wondered why and/or how this happened, it was a fact that this particular topic was well within her wheelhouse. Conversely, [i]like[/i] many Bards, her attention shifted almost immediately when presented with something shiny. It was related to the topic at hand, intimately so, but it didn't help the stereotype that it was essentially a shiny rock that pulled her away from her task. [color=9932cc]"Is that..?"[/color] she began, almost crouching and flowing over to Kathryn as she held the green-black crystal. Her vision tunneled, voice again becoming distant behind the roar of her thoughts that only she could hear. Gingerly, Victoria reached out and took the shiny rock from Kathryn, her face painted with wonder. Victoria barely noticed when her face began to show the telltale signs that commonly appeared when she tapped into the abilities taught by her Bardic College; a darkening around her eyes and the appearance of black tears streaking artfully down her cheeks. She was able to suppress it with a mote of thought, but the wonder did not leave her features quite as easily. Bright, crystal-blue eyes regarded the item with something akin to shock. [color=9932cc]"Kathryn, why do you have a chunk of raw, uncut vivianite?"[/color] 

	A pause, as Victoria reflected upon her formal study in Arcana, and she explained, [color=9932cc]"Vivianite, hmm... Occurs naturally where there is a lot of death and not a lot of air. It also forms where there's a concentration of necrotic energy and time. Necromancers use it in arcane foci or as components in magical items. Some use it like an arcane battery, it's beyond me as to how. Where did you find this?"[/color] 

	Thoughts as to her initial reason for being back at the Coach House came flooding back. Victoria had at least half of an idea and had to follow up on it. [color=9932cc]"...I have to get to my books... I might be close to something important."[/color]