Hornagrod

After what seemed like a month traveling down river, the barge made one more turn, and a enormous city came into view, the sea port of Hornagrod. Home to members of most of the civilized races, each having there, own little burrow , it was almost like having a dozen individual towns pushed up next to each other and separated with a wall around each. Infact the city watch, was composed of each race , and they only patrolled there races section, even though they answered to a city council made up of members from each race. The only areas that could be seen with mixed company was the warf district, near the sea port. The founding father, of Hornagrod, was a human named jondar Morningstar. Not that it was his family name but the prized weapon he used in combat. He had staked out this land when it was but a flat pice of ground near a river mouth. Not knowing if trade would ever come this way. He intended for this to be a convenient place to retire from adventuring. Decades later his sons had branched out up river connecting towns into a trade route.still to this day every third or fourth barge you see is owned by the Morningstar's. And other than a seat on the council, most of the land the town sat on was sold to each of the inhabiting races. Glavius Morningstar, sat as the head of the council, and acted as the commander of the city watch. He fancies himself as a master of tactics even though he has never fought in any real battles, beyond a training pit, or private instruction. To say his ego was quite inflated, by the people who took his money to instruct him, and he acted as if he owned the entire coastline as far as could be seen in Either direction.

He acted as if he still had power like his forefathers, to almost all the other members of the council he was a joke, even the captains of the city watch truly reported to other members of the council. The only reason he hadn't been assassiated, yet was his younger brother was actually someone most citizens of Hornagrod feared. A skilled killer and cruel man Named, marcilus.

Marcilus grew up on the decks of first the river barges his family owned and when he turned fourteen he took to high seas and crewed a pirate hunter, after a few years the ship he was on was heavily damaged in a three on one battle. After the ship sank he floated for days before washing ashore on a island that was a virtual paradise, until night fell. The sounds of demonic incantation's could be heard. As marcilus, followed the chants to there source, he found a band of darklings sacrificing some kind of creature unknown to him. Just as he felt he should retreat to the beach and try his luck back on the sea, he felt a blade touch down on his shoulder. For the next few years he served as slave to the darklings. Until he finally earned their trust and was made one of the tribe. They didn't hold anything back from him , they taught him to fight like them, hunt, and how to summon demons from the pits of hell to do his bidding. Once Marcilus had learned this last trick of the darklings and had proved his worth to the tribe, that night he murdered the entire enclave of darklings. Took what he needed or just wanted , drew the summoning / protection circle and called a demon forth, one powerful enough to Bring him back home, and he left the little island never to look back.

Once home he used his newly found skills to create his own underground organization with one goal, control of the city and all trade done up and down the river. If he couldn't strong arm a merchant or a faction or another criminal organization he would summon a denizen of hell to wipe them out. Before long, his was the only criminal organization in the confines of the city walls. All the merchants knew not to cross marcilus's guild of cut throats, and theives.

Marcilus knew if he could get his brothers seat on the council, he could operate out in the open. He could move out of the shadows and make stronger and bolder moves. Especially if he gained control of the city watch. He already had a few members of each race installed as watch members, just waiting for opportunities to arise, to make a profit or stall any investigation that would lead them back to his guild.

As the barge pulled into a slip at the dock, a rough looking pair of humans dressed in the cloaks of the city watch waited and watched as the crew finished tying up the craft.

Make way for inspection by the watch, the bigger of the two said. As the little one stepped on board.

Gorham was checking his pack as the watch man walked up and layed his club across the pack. What do we have here? Said the little man. Wouldn't be trying to hide anything from us now would you elf? He added.

Not at all, replyed Gorham. As the little man moved closer as if to open Gorham pack he froze unable to move. Not even his little finger could wiggle. He could not cry out for help from his companion, he felt his body turn cold. And then colder still. Gorham stepped closer to his side and said aloud, see good air nothing out of sorts here. Then whispered in the man's ear. Now little man if you ever dare touch me or my things again I'll leave you just like this. Do you understand, and I believe your inspection of this vessel to be over. With that Gorham secured his pack and released the human.

As soon as the man was free he stepped back turned and left the barge not even giving his companion a second look as he passed the man by. Oi, what's gotten into you? The big guy asked as the man passed him by. Without Receiving an explanation, He turned and followed his companion away from the docks. The big guy caught up to the little man and drug him into an ally and pinned him to a wall. What gives? He asked. The elf paralyzed me with magic but he didn't speak a word before it happened, and once I got a look at his face, it's him! The big guy raised his eye brows, it's who? he asked. The little guy went on , the elf in the picture, in the main hall of watch headquarters. The one on the wanted posters!

Back on the barge, Corllion had witnessed the entire exchange. And now knew without a doubt it was not Gorham that had sent the thugs to attack him before getting on the barge. This only left one uncertain member of the group. As the two watchmen left Corllion made his presence known, so do you think they will be back? He asked of Gorham, doubtful, those thug, probably took the dock assignment to try and swindle a few extra coins out of the crews that are trying to bring in illegal goods, so long as they paid they look the other way. If they don't they seize the goods and actually do there job, and most likely make some if not all of the shipment disappear , to be sold off to someone else for half the price, still lining there own pockets. Wow I didn't not know you where so well versed in how thing operate in a large city, much less the illegal side of the city watch, Said Corllion. Gorham took a deep breath and let it out, and spoke. I wish I didn't but I do, you see , this city was my home before joining the guild, and the lawful ways of my order was not always my way, a few centuries ago that was me wearing one of those cloaks. Before I got caught doing exactly what they where attempting to do. Corllion, took a min and digested what he had just been told by a high ranking member of the guild, that he was a long ago, a criminal that wore the uniform of a lawman.