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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] N/A
[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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	A smile brightened on Victoria's face as Kosara bounded into the Coach House, reinforced by viewing the door starting to close back again. The Bard was apparently the only one who gave a mote of care toward warming the place or providing adequate light, at least by what she had witnessed personally. Maybe it was just the way of adventuring types, not unlike herself, to prefer gloomy surroundings. But there was a hint of grinning irony that Victoria was the one who was supposed to be comparatively spooky, yet she was the one lighting candles and supporting the fire. But with the focus being on the door tipping back to its original, closed position against the cold, the briefest chunk of horror crossed her vibrant, crystal blue eyes as another hand propped it right back open. It was the Dwarf that Kosara was with back in Southmoor. She toyed with the idea of playing at a joke; something about a stray following her home, but the idea died on the vine. There were far more important things afoot than being catty without reason, or even the luxury of boredom to motivate. Instead, she merely gave a dismissive yet polite intonation of, [color=9932cc]"Yes, of course. We met briefly. Pleasant afternoon, Master Daxos."[/color] Victoria wasn't sure what the appropriate honorific might have been in this situation and so kept it fairly generic, as it was for the other Dwarf nearby, Urmdrus. Regards to the point about the "fancy, sneaky, surly monk" was not lost on the Bard, who might have given the benefit of the doubt on the estimation of Daxos's character. But in truth, Victoria simply did not like the Monk to which he was being compared. He was rude. And loudly ignorant. And abandoned their mission.  

	There was a direct address from Kosara, as it pertained to Lizbeth, who was Victoria's priority at the moment. [color=9932cc]"No, she's..."[/color] There was a pause for thought. What exactly [i]did[/i] Victoria know about the specifics of the younger girl's situation? Nothing directly, as she thought of it. But there were compelling explanations suggested by the facts at hand, and what she knew of Arcana. [color=9932cc]"You aren't [i]wrong[/i], Kosara. But I believe that it is more complicated than that. She's ...one of us."[/color] Which of course she indicated in a broader sense; Victoria and Kosara shared an apparent gender in common with Lizbeth, but the only other component which appeared obvious was their shared ability to perform magic. Even if it came through vastly different sources. Fitting then that Lizbeth's came from yet another, quite unlikely source. [color=9932cc]"Sister of the Weave."[/color] It was a title that Victoria had used back in Darenby to describe herself and the Tiefling lady, though this seemed like years ago at this point. 

	The (re)appearance of Baronfjord and Kathryn were noted with a hint of interest. While she had no clue about hushed conversations, nor the contents therein, Victoria [i]was[/i] keenly interested in the happenings down in the cellar. So she put off the talk with Lizbeth for a moment to inquire. [color=9932cc]"Ah, there you two are. Have you made any progress? The curiosity is almost overwhelming."[/color] The last sentence was delivered with a bit of a rakish grin, meant to offset any seriousness in the statement while yet maintaining a desire to know.

	Returning to the neophyte Sorcerer, Victoria listened closely to the words that she used in describing her experiences. The first part, a question, hit her for a surprise. [color=9932cc]"If you don't like? Yes, I understand. This is a thing that has colored you, Miss L'Rose. Many of us don't like aspects of ourselves. But this [i]is[/i] who you are. You are Lizbeth L'Rose, wine heiress and curious, thoughtful little lady of broader Avonshire, who likes a Tinker's boy, insists on making her guests supper even though she has servants, and can drive a merchant wagon by herself. This new thing can't change any of that. But you [i]are[/i] this, too. And though I'm not a Sorcerer, I will help you however I can with the time I have. Alright?"[/color] Victoria kept her features warm and open, even if her thoughts were geared toward making bulletpoints of their discussion. This was amplified when Lizbeth began to talk about magical things she had been involved with, accidentally or otherwise. 

	Victoria knew about the coat that Lizbeth mended with magic. It was her own coat, and the damage was from a Goblin arrow that had gotten her. But she kept quiet. She suspected something about the Ankheg, but it was a genuine delight to have it confirmed. Making a coop full of chickens pass out was nothing short of humorous and genuinely made the Half-Elf giggle when she heard it. It must have been a confusing experience, but the thought of it was enough to crack her more solid demeanor. But two mentions brought Victoria back to seriousness. The first, being able to manifest the base abilities of a mindless Undead creature while maintaining her sapience - using the power without succumbing to it - was useful. Very useful in the right circumstances. But what did it leave her vulnerable to? The second one, getting scared and making herself hidden from sight, was a trick that was a little above the level of a neophyte spellcaster. Even if it only happened once, it meant that it was within her someplace, and just needed the right encouragement. Also, Lizbeth was likely a little more powerful than she was aware. [color=9932cc]"Invisible. That [i]is[/i] extraordinary. Do you have any other tricks that you are aware of? You might be surprised at what we could find, eventually."[/color]  

	Then inspiration struck Victoria. [color=9932cc]"Ahh, but here is a better question: Is there any trick that you [i]want[/i] to learn?"[/color] Her smile was warm but calculating. While the expression did in fact reach Victoria's eyes, it was uncertain whether this was genuine or the practiced social proficiency of one accustomed to acts of agile persuasion.