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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 (Cellar -> Taproom)
[color=9932cc][i][b]Action:[/b][/i][/color] Skill N/A
[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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	The child was okay. This had, oddly, become important to Victoria as of late. They had similarities, she and Lizbeth, but whereas Victoria's foray into the postmortem arts had been voluntary (academic, even), Lizbeth's was thrust upon her with every breath she took from the day of her birth. All the same, the Bard recalled trying times in her own history, coming to grips with how her art was changing her. [color=9932cc][i]"You either press forward or let it consume you,"[/i][/color] she thought, hoping that their juvenile hostess would choose the former. Again, to her own surprise, Victoria wanted to make sure that it worked out that way for the girl. 

	[color=9932cc][i]"Funny,"[/i][/color] she whispered within the confines of her mind, [color=9932cc][i]"A couple of months ago, all I wanted to do was get to the coast and charter a ship to the north."[/i][/color] Circumstances certainly had a way of changing one's mind. 

	She looked to the girl to whom she had just given comfort, smiled, and said, [color=9932cc]"Thank you. Yes, please get that to a table upstairs, and don't worry about my books, I will handle that part myself. If you want to observe Ritual Magic, you are quite welcome to. If you truly are what I believe you to be, you shouldn't be innately able to use Ritual Magic as I do. Nevertheless, this will be edifying. Knowledge of general magic can only help you understand your own."[/color]

	Victoria gave a long look at her potential pupil and, despite the slow seep of her head wound, gave a strikingly positive expression and swept herself confidently toward the stairs leading back up to the taproom. There were light, dexterous steps as the fiery haired Half-Elf danced around pieces of shattered bone on her way out. Lizbeth was tight on her heels, followed by Morty (who was admittedly a little less spry of foot). Her hands were occupied with a scroll case, the crystal shard pendant, a small box wrapped in oilcloth, and the wands from the table. As Victoria passed by the destroyed bone-snake, she mused aloud, [color=9932cc]"I daresay the cleaning lady may never recover."[/color] It was delivered with light-hearted sarcasm, as a person attempting to lighten the mood. 

	Upon returning to the Taproom, Victoria extended her arms in an open, welcoming gesture when she realized that they had company. [color=9932cc]"Oh my, it is so amazing to see the both of you! Monsieurs Mosswater, it had completely slipped my mind that we had a Tea appointment today. My apologies, sincerely. We had a ...tiny incident in the cellar... that seemed to throw off our schedule for the day. Again, very sorry. And what a lovely arrangement you brought for us! Thank you; everything looks lovely. Just exquisite."[/color] She crossed the room to get to her small errand cart, pushed up along the wall in an out-of-the-way spot, and secured for herself her Ritual book, along with two more texts. [color=9932cc]"Regretfully, I may have to keep my time with you shorter than the others. I will try very hard to keep my work quiet, as not to disturb you all."[/color] 

	Victoria took the books over to the corner table which Lizbeth had set the items upon, and made sure she had room for her books and ritual materials. Casting bones, the marked black cloth, her carved femur flute, and her ever-present violin were made available, as were a couple of candles and a pearl set within a clasp. Not that it would be absolutely necessary, but her silver raven skull pendant and coin from the Jasidan temple were pinned upon her breast and tucked into her hatband, respectively. One last glance to the setting for Tea and she remarked, [color=9932cc]"Are those canapes? I [i]might[/i] be persuaded to postpone for minute or two."[/color] Despite the still present line of arterial red on the side of her visage, Victoria delivered the line with a sense of disarming joviality. She then smiled in a businesslike, almost predatory manner before cracking her knuckles and stating, [color=9932cc]"Let's get to work, then."[/color] 

	Morty, the ever-silent, burlap wrapped, porcine personal attendant took its attention away from Lizbeth, now that the emergency was handled. It trotted over next to where its mistress was seated and took up its usual stance, per mental instruction. The pair was soon joined by the fluttering of swift, black-feathered wings and studious eyes as Victoria's Raven lit upon the back of a nearby chair, cawed once, and was still.