<div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/gICaxXK.jpg)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="bbc_u"><strong>Torner, the Hanged Man</strong></span></span></div><br/>Torner bowed his head as the power of Valkur, unleashed by Leigh, devastated the living dead. He made the sign of the hammer, and uttered the ancient phrases in the Old Tongue to show his gratitude. The females turned to menace the halfling, and they achieved precious little inroads. The halfling seemed determined to hold tight to her secrets. The tall man glanced with blue eyes over to the farm house.<br/><br/>"We live in a world where the dead rise, dragons fly in the skies, and the gods grant their might to those with the wisdom and will to put it to use. Do not say that it is not possible that none of us might understand. This world is a wondrous place." Torner said, his sinister voice tinged with disappointment. He let his sword rest over one broad shoulder, and he locked eyes with the halfling when she glanced his way.<br/><br/>"I wish you to pause and consider your position for a moment. The people of this city are, in the main, humans. At the best of times they are uncharitable and mistrustful of those who are different. Superstition reigns over reason. The farmer whose land this is has already decided that you are a menace, and seeing the dead rise from his fields when we confronted you will cement his belief. He has long been sowing tales of necromancy returned, and he has made some inroads with his fellows in town. And now," Torner paused to let a free hand pan over the remains of the undead, "he has proof for any with eyes to see. Those who doubted will be converted, and those who believed will be affirmed.<br/><br/>"The tale is still known: two hundred years before three necromancers plied their dark craft to create an army of unhallowed dead to challenge the world. Their ambition caused them to turn upon each other and they were cast low. It is remembered that they were a human, an elf . . . and a halfling." Torner finished his speech, and let it hang in the air. He gave the halfling a heavy look, as if she ought to be able to draw sufficient conclusion.<br/><br/>"Your denials do little to allay suspicion."