Syrup Village
Time: 1:00 PM
On the deck of the Queen Anne's Revenge, the lookout climbed down the mast quickly, stopping in front of Blackbeard. His face was tense, and the ocean's humidity made the sweat on his skin glisten.
—"Captain, we're just a few meters from the island. From what I could see, the inhabitants have taken shelter in their homes," —he said, pointing toward the shore.
Blackbeard studied the island carefully. A crooked smile crept onto his face as he spotted the small cabins scattered about and the imposing mansion towering in the distance.
—"Good," —he replied in a deep voice. —"Go tell the crew I'll be waiting for them here."
The lookout nodded and headed below deck. Meanwhile, Blackbeard pulled some tobacco from his pocket and began chewing it, his jaw moving rhythmically as his eyes remained fixed on the horizon.
It didn't take two minutes before the crew began to appear. There were about Three hundred men, including cooks and veterans, all forming a horizontal line in front of their captain. Some were nervous, others excited, but none dared look away from Blackbeard, who paced in front of them like a wolf inspecting his pack.
—"Alright, you sea rats!" —Blackbeard roared, his voice echoing across the deck. —"Today, we're heading to that island. I want jewels, gold, food, drink, and anything of value you can find. Everything collected goes in one place. And listen up: the first one I catch pocketing something for themselves, I'll cut their hand off."
A nervous murmur rippled through the line. Everyone knew Blackbeard's threats were no empty words.
—"Three of you will drop the anchor once we reach shore!" —he continued.
The men nodded again, some muttering prayers, others adjusting their weapons or taking long swigs of rum to steady their nerves.
Time: 1:15 PM
As the ship reached the shore, three crewmen dropped the anchor while the helmsman unfurled the black flag atop the mast. The banner flapped forcefully in the wind, casting a dark shadow over the island, as though heralding the arrival of chaos.
Blackbeard looked over his men. Some held falchions, others muskets, while Hernán and his cooks carried sharp kitchen knives. Each one was ready to pillage.
—"Go get the treasures!" —Blackbeard shouted, raising his falchion to the sky.
The crew roared in unison, quickly disembarking. Some jumped straight onto the shore, while others descended by rope.
From the deck, Blackbeard watched his crew scatter toward the village. He pulled out a pocket watch, checked the time, and muttered to himself:
—"1:30 PM."
He tucked the watch away and leaped onto the sand. His heavy frame landed with a thud, kicking up dust around him. Straightening up, he began walking toward the village.
The Pillaging of Syrup Village
When Blackbeard reached the village, the chaos had already begun. The screams of women, men, and children echoed everywhere. The sound of gunshots and clashing steel mixed with the noise of objects being overturned and looted.
But Blackbeard was unfazed. He strode calmly through the village streets, ignoring the cries and the echoes of destruction. His boots clacked against the cobblestones as his gaze swept the surroundings. The village wasn't large—just a few dozen houses and a couple of stables—but it had an air of decadent wealth.
After walking through several streets and crossing the village, Blackbeard arrived at the edge of town. There, he found a wooden sign with red-painted letters:
→ Syrupsworth Family Mansion – 120 meters
← Welcome to Syrup Village
He read the sign with a sardonic smile and continued walking, adjusting his falchion on his belt. His goal was clear: the mansion. That's where the true treasures would be, far from his crew's reach.
As Blackbeard advanced toward the imposing estate, the chaos continued to roar behind him. His crew was busy ransacking every corner of the village, leaving a trail of destruction and fear.
The Syrupsworth Mansion came into view.
The pirate captain saw no need to rush; he knew the best was yet to come.