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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 (Taproom)
[color=9932cc][i][b]Action:[/b][/i][/color] 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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	Victoria has been paying attention to Lizbeth, even if she was trying to look studious. After everything that has happened, she was trying to be a gracious hostess. More than that, she was throwing herself into training of all kinds with little regard to burning her candle at every end imaginable. On top of that, she was about to make them [i]soup.[/i] And then thanked them. Logically, this shouldn't have been something which made Victoria feel guilty. Or anything, really, as she was certain that she hadn't done anything wrong. But this felt off. Maybe the girl was attaching herself to them because the genuinely thought that they could teach her how to do all of the nifty things which adventurers could do, and she wanted this for herself. Or maybe, they represented her best method of surviving whatever was coming next and she was scared as all hells. So yes, as a possible lifeline, of course Lizbeth would cling to them, learn from them, and serve them homemade soup under what would be her roof in about a year. So yes, Victoria felt guilt. 

	Tarace snapped her out of it, with an only slightly obnoxious question fueled, she hoped, with mere enthusiasm and not something more sinister. [color=9932cc]"Yes, but I am actually from Ashhaven. It is a vassal city to Khimn."[/color] she replied softly. [color=9932cc]"There are Elves there."[/color] She blinked slowly, trying to parse out the more meek Halfling as well as provide a moment to smooth over her own feelings, related and unrelated, before explaining, [color=9932cc]"There is a long standing Elven settlement not [i]very[/i] far away from my home, and they like to visit as the occasion takes them. My family also has a trade relationship with them. We can get some really amazing fabrics and jewelry from them."[/color] She looked quite wistful as she pulled the memory of her earlier years to the forefront of her thoughts. [color=9932cc]"I have been through there a few times, with my family's caravans. It is a lovely place."[/color] She added as an afterthought, [color=9932cc]"Even if I have gotten remarks on my accent there. The Elves of Skara Kyril do think highly of themselves."[/color] 

	But she couldn't stop thinking about Lizbeth, who was in the kitchen preparing soup. No, she had to do something more substantial than translate texts and explain the arcane ramblings of a man who was clearly being taken advantage of and had no formal grasp on anything magical. Arnaud L'Rose knew more about what was going on here than he told anyone in his family, and those handwritten books might have been the only actual clues he left behind. It wasn't good enough. 

	Victoria listened to Kathryn as she attempted to unload a watch shift onto her, one which the tall Knight was not overly a fan of, herself. The Bard gave a appraising look in her direction but said nothing for the time being. Likewise, she listened to the words of Baronfjord, who was doing his part to organize the potential chaos of the coming nights on the Vineyard grounds. It took a moment, but she did finally respond to her Dragonborn associate. [color=9932cc]"Oh, but I'm never alone."[/color] She absently gave her animated, preserved boar a head pat, letting her fingers linger on one of its prominent tusks as she continued, seemingly to the gaunt, burlap-wrapped companion, [color=9932cc]"Isn't that right, Morty? There's a good pig."[/color] Her smile was equal parts sarcastic and playful. A quick mental request also brought her Raven Familiar fluttering over to her, which gave a single, barking [i]CAW[/i] as it presented itself for inspection. [color=9932cc]"And of course, my [i]Corvus Nocturnus[/i]."[/color] Her last issuance in the more scholarly tongue, a language she could not actually speak with any fluency but from which she drew some words and phrases that related to her studies. But it gave her pause. [color=9932cc]"Nox,"[/color] she stated flatly, conjugating the word as best she knew and writing it down while her [i]Comprehend Languages[/i] ritual was still active, to verify her suspicions. [color=9932cc]"Yes, that is a fine name. Nox."[/color] Victoria gently stroked her Raven behind its beak, resulting in a short series of croaks and chirps for her avian assistant. [color=9932cc]"Gorgeous."[/color] Apparently, she had chosen a name, and they both liked it. 

	Rising from her seat, Victoria wrapped her new pashmina about her shoulders and picked up her violin. Her other hand separated a single leaf of paper from her stack and set a pen next to it. Briskly, she responded to Kathryn's earlier suggestion about watch times. [color=9932cc]"Of course. I will take whichever watch you prefer. It doesn't matter. I'm leaving at first light, anyway."[/color] She spoke with the certainty of a lady who had made up her mind. Motioning to the paper and pen, she partially explained herself with, [color=9932cc]"Please have everyone come up with four questions you wish to ask Arnaud L'Rose. I'm tired of following a trail of breadcrumbs."[/color]