The setting sun glanced off the waves breaking on the shore. Despite the late hour, the docks of Lions Arch were still bustling with activity and many sailors of all sorts were scurrying around the harbor. A merchant ship had just departed, making way for one of the most infamous ships in the Sea of Sorrows.
The Crimson Storm inched its way into port, deckhands hopping off to secure it once close enough. Amidst the discord, a gangplank was lowered and the crew began to disembark and scatter. A select few stayed waiting along the docks, a very scarred and bored looking Norn woman, a small twitchy human that kept fidgeting with her skirt, and a dark and jarring Sylvari woman who glanced around the docks suspiciously every few moments. The last to descent was another Sylvari, his face looked like burnt wood and his hair seemed to be charred ferns secured back in a ponytail.
As he left the docks the waiting group formed up behind him and they began to head very determinedly towards Traders Forum and cutting through the Grand Piazza.
A hush fell over the piazza as the group approached. Heads turning to stare in both awe and fear. The square was deadly quiet as they marched through. The small twitchy one looked around in disdain and turned to their Norn companion.
"I hate it when they do that." She grumbled. "The quiet thing, not the staring thing. I don't mind the staring, but it gets too damn quiet every time we go somewhere."
"Its either too quiet or screaming. Apparently theres no middle ground with us" The Norn woman replied.
"This is why we can't have nice things" The small human grumbled again, before she too fell silent and their group passed out of the Piazza.
A string of gossip followed them as they traveled through the city, and the Lionguard made themselves scarce. They stopped briefly to speak with one of the traders in the forum, and the female Sylvari broke off from their group to go take care of supply requisitions. The remaining three continued until they wound up in the Rosewind Tavern.
The ragtag group commandeered one of the many tables and ordered several rounds of drinks. Other members of the crew that had already found their way to the tavern shuffled over to join the rest of their crew and captain in drinking and merriment. Hours passed this way, until one by one, only the Captain and his inner circle remained, talking in hushed voices.
"Do you think the lions will try anything while we're here?" The small woman asked, whilst spinning a coin around on the table.
"Not if they know whats good for them, Malon" The Norn woman replied, all the drinking seemingly doing nothing to improve her mood.
"I'm not so sure, Nara, they've been getting bolder lately. Scarlet's attack has left them pretty desperate. They'll leap at the smallest hint of trouble." Malon said in doubt, continuing to play with her coin.
"Did you see the ones we passed on the way here?" The Captain himself finally spoke up. "They were practically wetting themselves in fear."
"You tend to have that effect on people, Nick." Nara stated before taking another swig from her pint.
"In any case, we won't be here long enough to draw much of their attention" He said.
"So, where too next, boss?" Malon had finally grown bored of her coin and had switched to fidgeting with one of her many gadgets.
"Well, I figure the crew has earned a good rest, so we'll remain here for the night, then around midday tomorrow we'll sail for Kryta. Hopefully we can slip out before any whispers try to make a move." Nacolai downed the rest of his drink and contemplated for a moment before deciding against ordering another.
They fell into companionable silence as they waited for their missing member to join them.
