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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] 28 / 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 (Hidden Study/Cellar)
[color=9932cc][i][b]Action:[/b][/i][/color] Skill (Persuasion, [i][b]31[/b][/i])
[color=9932cc][i][b]Bonus Action:[/b][/i][/color] [color=black][b]Morty[/b][/color], [color=dimgray][b]Familiar[/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 crash in the other room - the sounds of swearing - and what amounted (she hoped) to victory. Her head was still swimming with what she hoped were the effects of a temporary condition, brought about by that interestingly arrangement of bones of unknown origin. Luckily enough for the Bard, her mind was clearing faster than she imagined it might, and the fuller use of her limbs returned in tandem. Victoria took some relief in the fact that she was able to contact her Familiar - her great, black Raven for which she still had to find a suitable name - even within her stupor. However, contact with her Thrall, Morty, was interrupted. There was some academic curiosity as to why that was. Perhaps the nature of a Familiar connection was closer, more personal, than that of an appropriated Thrall. Or maybe, the mindless boar was also somehow rendered inert by the power of the the snakey bone-creature. 

	Personal assessment over, she gave a quick glance around the rooms to see how the rest of her people were doing. Admittedly, some were rougher than others. Victoria's own head wound was relatively minor in comparison to other, more serious injuries sustained elsewhere. A drop in the bucket, which she might wrap up for herself in quick order. A little blood wasn't going to scare anyone here, and she could use a mote of magic to clean up any of her clothing it may have spilled upon. There were more qualified healers in the party then herself who could handle things and if help was needed, hopefully they knew to ask. 

	The thought did strike that, while she was in the middle of training in medicine and anatomy, Kosara's natural abilities to knit wounds far surpassed Victoria's own mundane ones. Or her magical ones. So her attention turned to the creatures who had attacked them. Victoria literally [i]Shattered[/i] one of them, and the other two were pulverized by fist and hammer. Giving a glance in the direction of the fallen bone serpent, Victoria called to Kathryn, [color=9932cc]"Lady Knight, in all of your destructive glory,"[/color] Victoria spoke playfully, even though her head was causing notable discomfort and another rivulet of life's crimson to color her face, [color=9932cc]"If you would be as kind, please leave the skulls of future conquests [i]more or less[/i] intact."[/color] She gave the idea a moment of consideration before amending with a sly smile, [color=9932cc]"The interesting ones, I mean to say. I've an idea about furthering my education."[/color] If she could find the skull of this "Prince Farid", what a prize that would make for her. Despite the condition of the party, or even her own condition, the semi-scrupulous Half-Elf nearly grinned with anticipation of her latest personal goal. 

	[color=9932cc]"If none of you mind, I am perfectly content with continuing our plan from before this afternoon's ...diversions. I will attempt to identify the items we have found here, and translate anything that needs it while you tend to the aftermath. I believe Lizbeth still has - "[/color]

	Victoria's eyes swept back to the girl, their hostess in this place, to see her condition. Yes, the items in question were still on or around her person, but she looked positively [i]traumatized[/i]. The girl was shivering, with tears spilling from her eyes silently. One hand still held her short, yasmin bladed sword. Victoria tucked away her instrument with practiced ease and held her arms open to Lizbeth. Taking a tentative step forward, she half-whispered, [color=9932cc]"Oh, my dear, sweet girl - Come to me, I've got you. You're safe now."[/color] The eyes of the Bard were still rimmed in black, her face still bore the cosmetic marks of channeling necrotic energy, but her expression bore the the honest features of someone with genuine concern. [color=9932cc]"I've been where you are now, or very close to it. It will be okay, I promise. You were [i]very[/i] brave."[/color]

	Sobbing now, just a little at first but turning into a torrent which blissfully began to clear out the worst of her apprehension, Lizbeth absently crossed the distance to Victoria and latched onto her.