Sylvester Sweet looked across a row of ships settled along the docks, examining the deck of each with great scrutiny. Many were packed with shipwrights and groups of men working across the hulls and masts. Each company’s members shouted at one another, speaking of friendly rivalries or grudges or bets as to just whose skill was greatest with their particular tools. Seeing messes cleaned and problems fixed would be quite the cathartic way to spend the afternoon, but Sylvester wasn’t just out to kill time. Coming across a particular sloop concealing its sails, he noticed what looked like its crew trying to load on to it some pitch black barrels.
An older looking man was scanning the scenery around, perhaps keeping watch for witnesses. That and distinct color of that barrel was proof enough for the cowboy to take action. The man bent down to help hoist up the barrel onto the small ship, and Sylvester made his move, snaking through the crowd on the docks towards that barrel.
Still, the three men were struggling to lift up the barrel, with two below it and the third pulling up from the deck of the ship. Amidst their great effort, Sylvester boarded the ship, climbing up its starboard side from the docks and walking right by them to enter into the cabin. The entrance was clean and slick, without any confrontation or conflict to slow him down. Whilst inside the messy cabin, Sylvester tried to look about for any clues that pertained to his investigation, but no such luck found him. With a heavy thud from outside the cabin door, the barrel had been lifted, sounding the end of the cowboy’s grace period.
The man outside opened up the door to the cabin and felt a hoop of rope tighten around his neck, pulling him off to the side. Sylvester kicked shut the door and further constricted his hold on the ship’s captain. “'Wild Hare,' Rowan Monstalk,” Sylvester said, identifying his captive, “head of the Stick and Carrot Pirates, with a bounty of 2,500,000 beli, if I’m not mistaken.” Sylvester only included that last part as a courtesy. He was definitely not mistaken. "My name is Sylvester Sweet, and I would very much appreciate your cooperation this fine afternoon.”
An older looking man was scanning the scenery around, perhaps keeping watch for witnesses. That and distinct color of that barrel was proof enough for the cowboy to take action. The man bent down to help hoist up the barrel onto the small ship, and Sylvester made his move, snaking through the crowd on the docks towards that barrel.
Still, the three men were struggling to lift up the barrel, with two below it and the third pulling up from the deck of the ship. Amidst their great effort, Sylvester boarded the ship, climbing up its starboard side from the docks and walking right by them to enter into the cabin. The entrance was clean and slick, without any confrontation or conflict to slow him down. Whilst inside the messy cabin, Sylvester tried to look about for any clues that pertained to his investigation, but no such luck found him. With a heavy thud from outside the cabin door, the barrel had been lifted, sounding the end of the cowboy’s grace period.
The man outside opened up the door to the cabin and felt a hoop of rope tighten around his neck, pulling him off to the side. Sylvester kicked shut the door and further constricted his hold on the ship’s captain. “'Wild Hare,' Rowan Monstalk,” Sylvester said, identifying his captive, “head of the Stick and Carrot Pirates, with a bounty of 2,500,000 beli, if I’m not mistaken.” Sylvester only included that last part as a courtesy. He was definitely not mistaken. "My name is Sylvester Sweet, and I would very much appreciate your cooperation this fine afternoon.”