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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] 15	[color=9932cc][i][b]Conditions:[/b][/i][/color] N/A
[color=9932cc][i][b]Location:[/b][/i][/color] The Coach House: Kitchen -> Taproom
[color=9932cc][i][b]Action:[/b][/i][/color] Skill check ([i]Persuasion[/i], DC 10, Advantage)
[color=9932cc][i][b]Bonus Action:[/b][/i][/color] [color=black]Morty[/color], [color=dimgray]Familiar[/color]
[color=9932cc][i][b]Reaction:[/b][/i][/color] N/A
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[right][img]https://i.ibb.co/k55RrWV/Victoria-Alt-4-2.png[/img][/right]
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	Any color which tinged Victoria's cheeks took its icy leave. The vast majority of her instincts bade her to remove herself from this situation and see to her own interests. But this incident was embarrassing at best for Lizbeth, and the Bard had grown rather fond of her. Add to this that she was one of their hosts for the winter, or at least the niece of their host, and Victoria had no desire to lose their spot for the winter. Given a little thought, were they to be disinvited from the Vineyard, she might yet be able to go with her original plan to make it to the coast before the snows come, and acquire passage on a ship bound for her home to the north. Could she have made it in time, before the roads became perilous? Maybe. Quite possibly, in fact. Especially now that she had access to a stunningly fast [i]Phantasmal Steed[/i] that responded to her better than any real horse might. But this didn't account for her clothes or tools, nor her errand cart, equipment, and her Morty. And of course, as ran through her thoughts just a moment before, she had grown rather fond of Lizbeth L'Rose on a personal level. She seemed like a good kid with a ton of potential, a little of which she had already glimpsed. Victoria made her decision. 

	Folding her cloak back over one arm, Victoria wordlessly removed herself from the kitchen and followed Lizbeth out to the Taproom. There was a general lack of interest in the servants moving to clean the kitchen, as her intentions were focused on the young  lady in front of her. She draped her garment over the back of the chair nearest to her belongings on the table and kept a respectful distance, keeping herself to inquisitive yet casual tones as she spoke, first to their Dragonborn companion to offer a quick, [color=9932cc]"Oh, good morning, Baronfjord. I didn't hear you enter."[/color] Her attention then went back to Lizbeth. [color=9932cc]"She is a creature of the desert sands, as I am one of more temperate, cosmopolitan proclivities. As [i]you[/i] are of these rolling hills and fantastic, fertile soils. The songs of our lives all harmonize with the variety of our origins and the events which bring us to this moment. Ever changing moving forward; penned indelibly looking back. What is normal and expected of one song is unseemly, even grotesque to the ears of another listener. And if we're speaking confidentially, Miss L'Rose,"[/color] She bent down just a little and dropped her voice slightly to give the impression of privacy, [color=9932cc]"Of the two, I believe you are the more responsible."[/color] She let it the sentence hover, smiling at the girl preparing tea and toast. Standing back to full height and pitching her voice at normal levels, she concluded her thought with, [color=9932cc]"The variety and beauty of these songs, taken objectively, are amazing to behold. But if you find yourself uncomfortable like this again, do come to one of us about it, and it shall be handled. Okay, Lizbeth?"[/color] Victoria held her eyes with the steady surety of a promise. 

	Then she suddenly brightened. Her hand trailed over her new Ritual book; a lovingly crafted, if a bit macabre piece of work. [color=9932cc]"Oh, Lizbeth?"[/color] Victoria said playfully. Her smile broadened with potential mischief. [color=9932cc]"How about, while the tea steeps, I show you an interesting piece of magic? I could make someone - someone in this building, I don't know... [i]die[/i]. Then bring them back in a few minutes. Would that make you feel better?"[/color] She them whispered, [color=9932cc]"It would make [i]me[/i] feel better."[/color] 

	Intrigued, Lizbeth nodded her head. This decision might have gone either way, but something this off-the-wall piqued her curiosity enough to agree. 

	Victoria smiled in her small victory. She [i]really[/i] wanted to test this spell out and now she had an excuse. Gingerly tiptoeing to the kitchen door, she cracked it open slightly and asked aloud, [color=9932cc]"Lady Kathryn? Kat dearest, our friend is feeling a little down. Would you mind, if you please, helping me demonstrate an arcane ritual? I need a willing vi- [i]recipient[/i] of the energies. You shan't even feel a single pang of discomfort. Of that, I am [i]dead[/i] certain. Come, let us give Lizbeth a little show."[/color] Big smiles, bright eyes, graceful movements, and flowing optimism took over Victoria as she mentally poured over what may come next.