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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] Southmoor [i](Healer's Home -> By the Road)[/i] 
[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/FLStg7ks/Victoria-Screenshot-II.png[/img][/right]
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	It might be said with stunning accuracy that Annick Floquet had a set of longstanding prejudices at worst, ample and direct opinions at best. It might also be said, from Victoria's personal experience with the lady, that she had powerful reasons fueling those ample and direct opinions. It was miraculous that the Bard was able to get herself into a position to be taught by her in the first place. But here they were, sitting in Madame Floquet's house, drinking a cup of hot tea. 
       
        Facing the obviousness of both Victoria's preferred school of magic and the way in which it has been used since the dawn of time, she couldn't place a heavy fault of character upon her mentor. Just mentally catalogue the disapproval and be thankful that she was learning medicine and adjacent things from her. Ironically, learning this would make her a better, more polished Necromancer - especially if she began to take an interest in Golems or flesh sculpting. But that really wasn't her primary focus with the Art. 

        [color=9932cc]"Thank you very much for the tea, Madame Floquet, but if I don't leave soon, I won't make it to Avonshire before dark."[/color] Victoria spoke as politely as she might, which to be fair was something she did with proficiency. 


        [color=darkgray][b]"Business there. I remember."[/b][/color] said Annick, looking mildly annoyed. [color=darkgray][b]"Asking questions of a dead man. Bringing your personal pig corpse with you."[/b][/color] That last shot was accurate but unfair. 

        Instead of acting with indignance, Victoria giggled, just a little. [color=9932cc]"I call him Morty. And he's more like an extension of my ...hmm... force of personality."[/color] It wasn't wholly accurate, but more or less summarized. [color=9932cc]"Given something to inhabit, within most of the rules of Animation. Morty will stop functioning after a time. He doesn't become uncontrolled; doesn't cause havok. Morty simply [i]is[/i], until he is not. Or until I don't want him to be. He is quite safe, for a mindless but intuitive Thrall, and I can do this to corpses which are not boars, if I like. I do find that form to be more tolerable to strangers while still being amazingly useful."[/color] She smiled behind her cup of tea. [color=9932cc]"Everyone should have their own Morty."[/color] 

        In a deft and uncharacteristic shift of topic, Annick rather uncomfortably said, [color=darkgray][b]"Yes, well, I understand that you have your Necromancer business to attend, so don't let me keep you. Just try not to get yourself killed; gods forbid you make [i]me[/i] happy. But my daughter would miss you. Seems you're all she talks about these days."[/b][/color] 

        Ignoring more of the obvious, Victoria responded, [color=9932cc]"That's sweet. Annabelle has been a very good friend to me these last weeks, and I have learned a lot from her example. Where is she, anyway? I would not mind seeing her before I go."[/color]

        [color=darkgray][b]"She had to slip out. Take care of some things. Might be back in an hour or so."[/b][/color] It was stated flatly. [color=darkgray][b]"Here,"[/b][/color] Annick continued, handing Victoria a basket containing cinnamon scented bread and jars of preserved fruit. [color=darkgray][b]"Keep you warm for the trip. I know you like our pears here, so... Just bring the basket back, alright?"[/b][/color] The last bit showed a dramatic change in tone. 
       
        [color=9932cc]"I shall do just that,"[/color] answered Victoria, rising from her chair. [color=9932cc]"Thank you very much for your hospitality, and please tell Annabelle I'm sorry I missed her this morning."[/color] She paused briefly, [color=9932cc]"I don't know what to expect at the Vineyard, or if it's going to come this way. If something big happens..."[/color]

        Annick interrupted, [color=darkgray][b]"I've been preparing for Something Big to happen for decades. Since my girl was born. Before, even. You do your business and we'll see you after. Go on, now."[/b][/color]

        A handful of minutes later, Victoria found herself at the side of the road leading out of Southmoor to the north, sitting comfortably upon her Morty as if he was a low stool. Her Raven Familiar, Nox, let out a casual [color=black][i][b]CAW[/b][/i][/color] into the cold morning air. She tried not to think about the cold, instead wondering if Baronfjord got her message and wondered when he would be coming by; her hope being that he was only a short while behind her. So she waited, thumbing through one of the new texts on loan from Annick and occasionally waving or winking at townsfolk passing by on their early morning errands.