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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] Rose River Vineyard, Hidden Distillery -> Exterior Hidden Distillery
[color=9932cc][i][b]Action:[/b][/i][/color] Skill Check (Arcana)
[color=9932cc][i][b]Bonus Action:[/b][/i][/color] [color=dimgray]Familiar Stuff[/color], [color=black][b]Morty[/b][/color]
[color=9932cc][i][b]Reaction:[/b][/i][/color] N/A
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[right][img]https://i.ibb.co/jh8xJTp/Victoria-Alt-4.png[/img][/right]
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	Something was off about this place, and it wasn't just the fact that a piece of magic she was looking forward to using decided to fail on her. Victoria was certain she had done it correctly. So there had to be a caveat somewhere; a condition that existed or that wasn't fulfilled which muddled the spell somehow. Mentally, she prodded about for what that missing piece might be. There was usually a bit of wiggle room with things like this - exact wording to keep the practitioner of Arcana within certain lines of safety - so that a toe may step over a line or small liberties taken with minimal risk. But there were always hard and fast metrics that, when not adhered to, caused a spell to "fizzle". Victoria was certain that this happened here. 

	The subject of [i]Speak With Dead[/i] must not have been affected by it for ten days prior. Considering that the place was walled off, this was probably not the case. The corpse must have some semblance of a mouth, from which it may speak. This condition was filled. The corpse cannot be...

	A sudden flash of quiet inquiry flashed over Victoria's face, even as the markings of her preferred school of magic left her face. Sparkling, crystal blue eyes regarded the attempted subject of her spell with renewed interest, but she kept herself quiet. Guarded, even. The general consensus of people's faces brought her to the conclusion that there were notes of suspicion from the others, too. A quick mental command brought her Morty to interpose itself between her and the corpse, and she spoke with a projected, optimistic voice. [color=9932cc]"No, Master Baronfjord, I do not suspect that the surge altered my magic."[/color] She then looked to Kathryn, saying, [color=9932cc]"Perhaps we should get what we need and leave this place for now. The remains can be properly interred when we know more of them. Now if you all will please excuse me, I shall be right back, after getting a push cart from the workshed nearby."[/color] 

	Victoria met eyes with each of her companions present and then looked warily at the corpse she could not magically converse with just earlier. Her Morty maintained its interposing stance as she exited the distillery, careful not to stumble on her way back up to fresher air. Once out, Victoria did do as she said she would, but first gave her Raven Familiar a hard stare, imprinting a course of action that it may take involving staying put and lending its senses if necessary. Satisfied, the Bard twirled her cloak about her shoulders against the bracing winter wind, and set off for the nearby shed. She [i]was[/i] returning with a cart for a barrel or two of that lovely distilled spirit, and she hoped that her silent insistence for caution was received.