<strong>Happenings --</strong><br/><br/>Hello, my darlings.  I recently returned from my brief adventure, but was a bit under the weather to post yesterday.  I feel well enough to continue this story today.  And so:<br/><br/>The inhabitant of this room listened to Ria intently.  Oh, the poor wretch so desperately wanted to believe her.  But how could he be certain that it was indeed Ria?   "You are a ploy by the dead one who speaks," he said suddenly.   "A trick devised to draw me out!"  But... Ria's calming voice thawed the man's hostility, and he became... indifferent to what would come.   "But how can I be sure?  Perhaps I am to be saved."<br/><br/>The Diplomacy DC for this character is DC 24.  He is hostile, but he has a -1 to CHA.  Ria identified herself, and as a priestess, she is well known about town.  So, she shall receive a +4 bonus to her check.  Furthermore, she receives an additional +1 to her check.  Ria's voice is... alluring.  The rule is that, a character's attitude toward you is improved by one step, and for every 5 by which your check result exceeds the DC, the character’s attitude toward you increases by one additional step.  The character moves from Hostile to Unfriendly, Unfriendly to Indifferent, to Indifferent to Friendly by GM exemption.<br/><br/>"...  No, I know this voice," the bewildered man says,  "for I have heard her sermon before."<br/><br/>There was movement behind the door.  The sound of things being dragged away.  Then a latch was unlocked, and the door swung wide open.  And who was there, but Roldare.<br/><br/>(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/cd/9b/0e/cd9b0ec31719697f472d9b5b42e7a50b.png)<br/><br/>Roldare was the town's cobbler.  In his youth, he was also an expert marksman.  Indeed, he still wields a gold-inlaid masterwork crossbow, with one bolt winched and pointed at you, but only for a moment.  Roldare was an uncommonly good rider on horseback, too.  If any of you have a skill point in ride, it is likely that Roldare was the one that trained you.  Although all of you know this man, his change--from the able-bodied cobbler to this sobbing man standing before you--was startling.<br/><br/>"...  The seekers of the flame!" he cried, nearly weeping.  "Come in, quickly!"<br/><br/>(https://i.imgur.com/K52AtoN.jpg)<br/><br/>The room he was in was not very large--about 10 feet by 20 feet, and it could scarcely contain everyone.  There are a number of bedrolls here, a pair of bullseye lanterns with 4 flasks of oil, 5 days’ worth of rations, and two potions clearly labeled as “healing” on one of the shelves.