The guard is a ragtag bunch of ne'er-do-wells who are generally more interested in lining their own pockets than in actually keeping the peace. They are often half-jokingly referred to by the honest public as the “Thieves Guild” of Highport. They can be counted on to turn a blind eye to just about any crime (or perceived crime) in return for a bribe. The cost for a trumped-up charge can be as low as a few gold, whereas to cover up something bigger like a murder might be a hundred gold at least. Only when the natural order gets out of hand will the guardsmen actually get involved and fight. If it can be swept under the rug, chances are they would prefer that route.