Crow’s Nest Tavern is a standard tavern where normal folks can go for food and drink. The place closes down when the Captain’s Council is in order, but otherwise it’s a typical tavern.
AFAIK, there’s only those 8 members, which matches the number of captains in the Sea of Sorrows novel – since Kiel and Evon can’t simply buy and prove their way in without the populous voting like it was done in the novel, the process seems to have been changed while the number remained at 8 (with Cobiah’s Commodore successor (likely Dane then Lawson) not taking a Captain’s Council spot alongside Commodore – or at least Lawson doesn’t, as there’s an NPC that mentions the Commodore being an equal but separate body of power in the LA government).
Dear ANet writers,
Stop treating GW2 as a single story. Each Season and expansion should be their own story.
It would make sense for the Commodore to become a seperate body. After all, one of the issues raised in SoS against Cobiah once he started running LA was that he never went to sea which made calling him a captain questionable. Not having the Commodore as a captian dodges that issue. I wonder if the Commodore still has a vote.
She holds the answers to your LA government problems. Modernly.
The Captain’s Council is the ruling body of Lion’s Arch. They, along with the Commodore, wield all the power and authority in this city.
→ How do they both share that authority?
The Commodore has the ultimate authority in Lion’s Arch. However, he rarely makes a decision or move without the support of the Council.
→So it’s the Council who really run the show?
It’s more complicated than that. While the Commodore can’t overrule the council on any one issue, his vote means more than that of the other captains, especially when appointing new council members.
→ So, they truly are separate, but equal in power?
So long as the Commodore doesn’t appoint loyalists to the council, the system works.
→How does one become a member of the Captain’s Council?
Anyone can become a council member – all it takes is wealth, power, and influence. But seats are only up for purchase when a captain retires or dies. Or if someone proves themselves of exceptional value to the city.
Dear ANet writers,
Stop treating GW2 as a single story. Each Season and expansion should be their own story.
Assuming all the chairs are in fact filled, my guess would be Riel. The Order of Whispers got an observer into the Captain’s Council very early in its history, and I doubt they would’ve given the spot up.
R.I.P., Old Man of Auld Red Wharf. Gone but never forgotten.
Every captain is allowed to bring a second. I’d presume that the Commodore could as well, so Riel would take that position – but seconds don’t have a seat. Based on the novel.
But as Aaron implied – who says all ten seats are to be filled during Captain’s Council meetings?
Edit: Obviously the 10th seat is filled by Captain Smash! 8D
Dear ANet writers,
Stop treating GW2 as a single story. Each Season and expansion should be their own story.
At least as far as we’ve been shown in GW2.