The Captain didn't quite have the gold fever his lover did, but one never took up piracy without a bit of greed in his veins. He did his best to keep his eyes forward, toward the tangible sums he was about to make rather than the golden plaques that sat to his left and right. He kept forward, and Halfdan did as well. The big man was probably the most loyal crewmember Markus had, save Morgan and likely Sketti when he gave his word as a Dwarf. Even in the heart of the settlement, wide leaves and tropical fern-like plants popped up around them, the jungle sliding in, constantly trying to reclaim what had once been nothing but trees. 

Despite his travels, Markus had never been to Lustria proper before. There was talk of deadly diseases and ravenous beasts whenever the shrouded continent popped up in any conversation. He could believe it, even among the buildings here. There was the shrill sound of some strange insect and hoots of some unknown primate in the distance wherever he turned. Halfdan glanced around suspiciously, unused to anything south of the Empire, which was still very far below his native Norsca in latitude. Ahead of them an Arabyan couple passed. A man in a cloak of red with a sharp, black beard and smoldering eyes led a shapely woman in bedlah attire across the dirt. The man muttered something to her as if to scold, but she glanced at Markus and wiggled her eyebrows as she was dragged along. Markus had never had an Arabyan woman before, and if it had been six months ago he would have tried to pursue something. As of now he simply pushed onward.

"Everyone in the Old World is here." Halfdan said in his rough accent. "It's like Marienburg."

"If it's anything like Marienburg, there's going to be plenty of thieves so keep an eye out."

Finally the two saw what had to be the center of shipping. A squat building, eloquent in a certain fashion with ubiquitous carvings and golden filigree along a few pillars connected to an otherwise mundane, wooden structure. Unlike most other buildings, the windowsills and the door were painted, and a large sign labeled 'SHIPPING' sat above the front porch. Markus ordered Halfdan to stay outside and stand watch while he went in to conduct business. 

"Captain, Emma is gone." He said. 

Markus spun and looked around, having sworn she had been just behind them. He sighed audibly. "I should have known she would slip off. It's nothing, just stay here and I'll be back. She'll be back at the ship likely enough." He turned and stepped onto the porch, smoothing his hair as he was about to open the door. 

"Um Captain? She's back..." He said, halting Markus in his tracks. 
[hr] 
[i]5 minutes earlier[/i].  

Markus had disappeared and the streets sparkled with gold you could but touch were it not for the guards. A few grim-faced mercenaries stalked past her on some unknown business whilst a man in a feathered cap yodeled into the air, hoping beyond hope someone would toss him a coin. Something to her left caught her eye, and there was a boar's head made of pure gold set on a stand, a short mustachioed man with the smile of a shark bade her forward. 

"Vak'sha! You there! Yes, you look like a woman who knows her riches, yes? Resplendent in those robes. You must be a magician! Many men would pay handsomely for your skills, so I hear." He told her, giving her no real room to speak. This wasn't Emmaline's first con, but the Boar's head sparkled so deliciously in the gleaming sunlight. The man's nosering swayed as he bobbed forward, his eyes filled with lust, but not of gold. "You came in that caravel, yes? The Imperial one with the strange colors? Must be an important vessel with such nice cargo within its hold. Of course, you can always find more coins to add to your collection." 

Whatever he meant by any of this, it didn't really matter. He cackled and backed up a step, giving her a salute. "A pleasure to speak to someone so beautiful." 

Suddenly Emmaline's arms were grabbed by arms thrice as thick as hers, and her body was lifted up so she couldn't flee. If she turned to look, she would be face to face with one of the Norscan guards she had 'admired' less than an hour ago. The rugged man smiled, winking back. "I vwouldn't struaggle," He advised, his accent even thicker than Halfdan's. He likely left his homeland within the last two years. "Snapping a limb is something we vwill do if you resist. Now let us go vfind your captain, aye?"

It did not take very long for them to find him, just at the foot of the Shipping house.