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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] Rose River Vineyard (Tasting Room)
[color=9932cc][i][b]Action:[/b][/i][/color] N/A
[color=9932cc][i][b]Bonus Action:[/b][/i][/color] [i][color=dimgray]Familiar Stuff[/color][/i]
[color=9932cc][i][b]Reaction:[/b][/i][/color] N/A
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[right][img]https://i.ibb.co/84xS62pB/Victoria-Alt-7-ss.png[/img][/right]
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	A hint of a derisive smile crept over Victoria's face as she watched the ongoing antics of the rest of her group, which gradually turned into something more positive. This wasn't the most formal of occasions, and she did have the social intelligence to note that she was a little overdressed for this occasion. Good for her though, she could pull it off nicely. That and, given the opportunity to express her base profession, she could get an easy pass on wearing clothing a little too grandiose for the moment. 

	Regrettably, the attire did get the notice of the farmer, Laurent. Having finished being ...snooty... to the only noble-born person of which she was aware for many leagues around, he apparently felt that the pretty girl in the expensive clothing would be an easier target. It wasn't anything overly insulting, but he was obviously vying for some form of social one-upsmanship, or attempting to get the woman to admit some lessened status which might make himself feel better. Well, seeing as she had helped do this man a favor not too horribly long ago and he still decided to act like this, Victoria felt it prudent to be as honest as she could, given the circumstances.

	[color=9932cc]"Of course Belmont is a Human name, Monsieur Laurent. So is Victoria. Humanity accounts for a full half of my lineage and as I mentioned earlier, I grew up among Humans in Ashhaven. To answer your question, I am a student of the Grey Requiem. I understand if you aren't familiar with our Bardic College, but I assure you I am as formally educated as any student of Lore."[/color] Her voice felt cold to her, and this was not the image she wished to project yet. So Victoria forced her face to soften and adopt a helpful if ignorant inflection, continuing, [color=9932cc]"Despite my family's more mercantile background, I am presently content to function as out little group's Arcanist. I have working knowledge of most subjects Arcane and Divine. I translate texts, interpret magical effects and apply investigative hypotheses to situations that require it."[/color] She leaned closer and half-whispered, [color=9932cc]"I even know a few tricks, if you'd care to see."[/color]

	Victoria beckoned the man another half-step closer as she held her palm up in front of her, gesturing as if she might attempt to fold the very fabrics of mana before her, even if any trained spellcaster could tell that this was nothing but common legerdemain, and not even very good, at that. So when she conjured her Raven Familiar into her open hand with a silent pulse of black energy and flutter of feathers, it may have come as a surprise to the unaware. A loud, distinct [color=black][b]"CAW!"[/b][/color] sounded in the mostly enclosed room, startling the older man in front of Victoria. Holding the same level of vocal optimism, Victoria commented, [color=9932cc]"I know a lot better tricks than that, too!"[/color] The immediate follow-up dropped the pretense with, [color=9932cc]"Ask the ankhegs that were destroying your farm."[/color] 

[center][img]https://i.ibb.co/Q30mPcF5/000-2.jpg[/img][/center]

	Thoroughly finished with the man and fully aware that she probably offended him, Victoria excused herself to return to her guest for the evening, who had made her way over to Lizbeth and Rens. She allowed her Raven to flutter about her person for a moment or two before dismissing it to its previous duties. Hoping to change the subject away from herself, she smiled and looked to her recent mentor, Annick. [color=9932cc]"Medician Floquet, you served in the last Necromantic War. You must have stories."[/color] It did not occur to her in that moment that this was thing that she suggested others away from; speaking to her about the Wars. The horrified look on her face indicated that she immediately remembered that this was a mistake. 

	All the same, the older Medician gave an answer. It was after staring at Victoria for a hard moment, but she did give something. [color=darkgray][b]"Okay. Do you want to hear about the time we had to infiltrate an enemy held building to steal back the bodies of our fallen before they got back up and tried to eat us? How about that time I got attached to a small unit of near-suicidal Army Scouts and made quiet harassing runs against Undead capable of flossing their teeth with our souls? But I think my favorite story was at the beginning, when they conscripted a Midwife and Herbalist, pressed her into the shortest possible course on battlefield surgery before shoving her into the front lines of a war she never asked for. Give the officers credit, they said I'd learn a lot in field experience. They were right. By week two, I wasn't even able to cry for the dead and dying anymore. I hope you never have to feel the ache of putting down someone close to you when they turned into a ghoul came for you in the night."[/b][/color] She gave a narrow-eyed look in Kosara's direction, then at Victoria. 

	Annick clenched her fists and sighed. [color=darkgray][b]"Sorry. I know you didn't mean anything by it. World's different now. Touchy subject. There's a reason I avoid people. Ask me later, please."[/b][/color] Almost on cue, it was around this time that Lizbeth was called upon to pour the new wine for the event. 

	Seeming to understand, Victoria offered, [color=darkorchid]"How about I get you a glass of the Honigblume for the toast? Maybe a bit of fruit? I'll just be a moment, promise."[/color] She kept to her word, selecting a small plate and a few bits of fruit and bread. Victoria drained the remains of the initial glass from earlier and deftly picked up two poured glasses of the honey-colored vintage, then returned. She listened to the short speech from Cecily, a lady who obviously had a lot of respect for the craftsmanship here, as well she should, in Victoria's opinion. Then she raised her glass along with the others. 

	Pure, sweet flavor manifested across her palate; at first seeming to be too sweet but quickly mellowing into complex and intoxicating sensations which had nothing to do with the alcohol in the mix. [color=9932cc]"My, but I think I have found a new favorite,"[/color] she breathed. Victoria usually leaned toward reds, or the occasional rosé, but this was outstanding. [color=9932cc]"Honigblume."[/color] It was more labor intensive then the other wines, owing to the harsher growing season and techniques needed to produce a wine from it, but so obviously worth it. [color=9932cc]"To the laborers and craftsfolk involved. Madame Cecily, Master Rens,"[/color] declared Victoria, raising her glass again to take another small sip. The fact that the same undercurrent of flavor present in the other wines, the brandy, and her Morty was [i]also[/i] present in this honey-sweet wine barely even registered to her, so alluring was this glass of ambrosia, fit for shiniest royalty. But it [i]was[/i] there.