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Message: <blockquote data-quote="PieAndDragon" data-source="post: 3121826" data-attributes="member: 18108">Barge ChaseDerris had hoped for a more glamorous start to his adventuring career. Hunting for halforcs in the slums of Junnis wasn't the lowest you could go, but it was close. The rancid smells and layers of filth were not endearing Barge End to him either. Luckily Layla knew what she was about, sweet-talking the first docker they came across into for directions to their prey. After navigating several twisting streets they had found the jetty they were looking for.As they scanned the rafts, barges and boats for a halforc with a large iron-capped tusk emerging from his mouth, a halfling woman working nearby shouted out "Irontusk, strangers looking for ya". Derris saw a halforc stand from a nearby shoddy boat and quickly assess them, before turning and leaping away to another boat. A cry went up from his companions and the chase was on. Derris lead the chase, running across one slippery deck and leaping to another with Bjorn close behind. From the edge of his vision the De Marco son saw Ra and Sam rushing off down an alley, hoping to cut off their prey if he cut into Barge End from another jetty. Derris had the feeling it was the bright robes of the priest which had given the away to start with. Cade and Krunk started taking pot shots at the halforc and Layla was gathering her magic to aid in the chase.Irontusk has having troubles of his own, caught in some sort of net or webbing as he fled from craft to craft. The sickly sweet stench of rotten fruit nearly overwhelmed Derris on the first boat he jumped to, and on the next his vision was filled with chicken feathers as the birds panicked in a nearby cage. He heard the barking of dogs and when the feathers cleared he could make three hounds on the boat at the end of the jetty he'd reached. The halforc was on the move again, with one of Cade's arrows in his shoulder. He heard Layla cursing the halfing about something but couldn't make out the details. Bjorn charged alongside him as they attempted to beat a path through the dogs. Two of the hounds slumped into a slumber as Layla's magic took hold on them and the third retreated to the far end of the boat, licking a bleeding flank. Derris heard snoring behind him and quickly glanced down to find the Olman asleep, no doubt caught at the same time as the hounds.Derris caught the halforc on a fishing boat, as Irontusk struggled through loose netting which had wrapped around his legs. The noble leapt to attack his foe, gritting his teeth through the pain as a club almost broke his thigh. He held up the Irontusk long enough for Layla to work more of her magic, his opponent slumping to the deck in a restful sleep. Before too long they had Irontusk bound on a jetty, with everyone gathered round.The priest walked a way off as they started to threaten their captive, who was reluctant at best to tell them anything. A thorough search had come up with a pouch of gold and some sort of map, but no key. Once they promised to let him go, his tongue loosened and he spilled the beans. "It were two days ago. Some thugs known as the Green Dagger Gang wanted a specific key for a hundred gold. No way I was gonna turn that down. Gave them it this morning and got my gold. Lost some already at cards with some dodgy blokes down the Brass Kettle.""Only saw two of 'em. One was real sick like, an' the one in charge was this rich-looking elf. All dressed in black they were, with little green dagger cloak-pins too. Hang out down at the River Quarter, squatting in some large 'ouse.""You gonna let me go now?"After making sure of the description of the house, they untied the halforc and threw him in the river. Derris watched him swim away through the dirty waters of Barge End, turning to follow his companions as they went to investigate the Green Dagger Gang.</blockquote>

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