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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 -> Parts Beyond 
[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]Nox[/b][/color]
[color=9932cc][i][b]Reaction:[/b][/i][/color] N/A
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[right][img]https://i.ibb.co/V0kfR3Kz/Victoria-Update-II.png[/img][/right]
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	Victoria did not have a pleasant night. Sleep, necessary for both a spellcaster to keep a clear head and a lady to keep fresh, was interrupted. First by a turn at watch which was (admittedly, blessedly) uneventful, and then next by a series of dreams involving some of the most powerful and ruthless aspects of necromancy available. Part of her was jealous. The Wizardly aspect of her preferred school of magic was powerful and open to a myriad of interesting applications, while hers was more nuanced; more personal. And Victoria did want power, for her own reasons. But again, she was a far better Bard that she ever would have been a Wizard. The outfits were much nicer, too. 

        None of these revelations stopped her from having a rough night, and she didn't like it. The nature of her magic and how it manifested on her face might explain away any dark circles from fatigue, in their own twisted way, but Victoria was in a position where she simultaneously couldn't get back to sleep, and desperately wanted to rest. By the time Barbal Mosswater was screaming about dead bugs eating him, or whatever that was, she had made up her mind. Victoria's day started early. 

        She has mentioned first light, and that was likely coming soon, but she got the drop on it anyway. The last one on watch - Kosara - undoubtedly witnessed Victoria's departure from the upper floor. [color=9932cc]"Getting an early start of it,"[/color] she explained quietly, slipping past and out into the cold not-quite-morning. She has packed a few traveling necessities in her backpack which was slung nonchalantly over her shoulder, making the use of the handrail particularly good idea as she made her way down, and into the Tap Room proper. 

        A quick casting of Prestidigitation lit an oil lamp, now the only source of reliable illumination in the room. She made her way to the books and papers from the previous night, still resting where they were left, and sighed. [color=9932cc]"Only two of them,"[/color] she remarked. Two people had bothered to write anything down on the paper, and one of those was her traveling companion. Victoria was a little disappointed. But that was a minor complaint at this time. The Bard made her way into the kitchen to grab a few small, transportable things to make a meal of, wrapped them in cloth, and returned to the table. 

        A quick motion ripped the paper in half. Victoria retained the half with the questions written on them, and composed a message on the other: 

        [color=9932cc][i]Baronfjord, 

        Taking care of some quick business in Southmoor. Please meet me on the main road leaving the town for Avonshire. Thank you for coming with me. 

        V.[/i][/color]

        By the time first light lay its golden rays across a snowswept landscape, Victoria was sluggishly riding her regal (if eerie) Phantom Steed over where she was [i]mostly certain[/i] the road was. Accumulated snow made things harder but wasn't quite so bad over the beaten path as it was in the low areas. This did give the somewhat comical sight of Morty, rigged to its mistress's errand cart, struggling to push and climb over and through the snowfall, the contents of the tiny cart strapped down as snugly as was able. Nox circled overhead, occasionally calling out to announce its presence and returning to light upon Victoria, only to take to the sky once more. 

        The conversation ahead of Victoria was probably not going to be the most pleasant. Annick was not a fan of necromancy in general, and she was bringing a bona fide animated boar along with her. But this was necessary, and Annick was still her mentor. And what Victoria was about to do in Avonshire was to a friend of Annick's. No, she did not expect an easy conversation.