The Pinnacle of the Winged Serpent: Voyage of the Figkaham: The Pinnacle of the Winged Serpent, #1

By S. C. Coleman

Following the events of the Glass Empires, Age of the Third Arcon, and Populla's Shadow, and Dawn of the Sun Panther, the Pinnacle of the Winged Serpent follows the exploits of four ships; seeking to make their mark on the coasts of the Greater Continent, and beyond. In these seafaring tales of danger and intrigue, many will succumb to shadow, while others might survive. In the voyage of the Figkaham, a vessel, built on a distant shore, will be cast into the developing conflict of the Greater Continent.

• Language: English
• Publisher: S. C. Coleman
• Release date: Sep 14, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215396025

Book preview

Summary:

Following the events of the Glass Empires, Age of the Third Arcon, and Populla’s Shadow, and Dawn of the Sun Panther, the Pinnacle of the Winged Serpent follows the exploits of four ships; seeking to make their mark on the coasts of the Greater Continent, and beyond. In these seafaring tales of danger and intrigue, many will succumb to shadow, while others might survive. In the voyage of the Figkaham, a vessel, built on a distant shore, will be cast into the developing conflict of the Greater Continent.

Chapter One

A Slap of the Glove

The watery moor of the Serpent’s Straight appeared in a deep green, close to the northern coast of the Greater Continent and the large bay that lay ahead. On this night, the skies were clear and the moon shone brightly, casting a reflection of itself onto the calm water. There was a disturbing peacefulness to this part of the Serpent’s Straight, which had come to be known as the long coast to the people of the Lesser Continent. Indeed, it was a long journey from the Northern Pass of Kugum, to the next friendly port; for a brief respite. The eerie quiet that clung to this part of the coast was believed to be a product of shadow, descending upon a cursed place. Lunksar, the presiding fortress over the large bay had long stood abandoned, and stared across the vast waterscape toward Hoheim; the only open port to dock in. However, Hoheim, while inhabited, was not a friendly place for the people of the Lesser Continent. So, they never docked at the place, but it felt more friendly to sail past the enemy port of Hoheim; when compared to the haunting atmosphere of the Lunskar ruins, and that giant statue that glared down upon visitors, with unblinking, lifeless, eyes. Lifeless Lunskar was joined by a host of trees, standing, like watchful sentinals, along every inch of this part of the coast; warding off any wayward boats or traders. None of the trees were clothed in leaves, instead they all had long branches, with spiky needles. The folk of the Lesser Continent called them long thorns, worn by the thorn trees. These thorny trees, once sighted, signaled the long voyage. Along this ominous coast, the Figkaham was already nearing the point that housed Lunskar.

The Figkaham might’ve felt a kinship with these trees of the coast, as it had been built from timber of the Greater Continent. However, the construction timber had been taken off the shores of the Greater Continent. Distant from its wooden origin, the Figkaham had been constructed at a place on the Lesser Continent, which was little known by inhabitants of this larger land; across the Serpent’s Straight. This boat was built at a place called Reighaven, an island situated off the coast of the Lesser Continent. Also, the ship’s own captain hailed from there. Strangely, this boat was built differently than others of the Lesser Continent; constructed from a variety of different woods, and built with a wide belly. She was a lumbering beast, wide and fat, but could still cut through the water at a rapid pace. The Figkaham was an experiment. Her designer had tried to make a ship that could just as easily sail through rivers, as it could through the straights. Surprisingly, instead of a deep bottom, it was the Figkaham’s wide bulk that had proved difficult for navigating rivers. Often, the ship would become lodged between river banks, and so the experiment had failed. However, the boat became useful for a different purpose. Due to its wide frame, the Figkaham had become effective at ramming other ships; which is where it derived its name. The Figkaham, or Sea Ram, was capable of striking and capsizing most other ships; not built as sturdy. Of course, the boat would need a considerable amount of momentum to do this, and most enemy vessels sunk before they could be turned over. Rather than a wide ranging trade vessel, the Figkaham had been incorporated into the Sea Hunts; as a combat vessel. She was the first, and only, of her kind; as the rest of the boats that accompanied her were constructed in the standard sea hunter fashion.

Ships of the Lesser Continent were generally built with three sections. There was a single hold, where everything was stored; even the crew. The main deck was above the hull, and was encased in a covering; which was often referred to as the small ship. The walls of each hunter were thick, and the, mostly wooden, small ship cover was no exception. Each of the sea hunters were built like wooden fortresses, and they were hard to penetrate, even with the famous Hohen heavy guns of the Greater Continent. Each ship could hold around forty crew members. However, one of the well known sea hunters carried around a hundred and eighty souls. These ships looked like slender, wooden, cupped hands; an odd design for most of the Greater Continent, but this boat shape had become the standard with those of the Lesser Continent. Each of these long ships were powered by sails, and there were more than one. The sails were arrayed in many ways. Some were designed like Hohen ships, clearly sharing a similar origin, and sloped off to the side; like large billowing wings. Yet, other ships boasted a different design, putting a sail only in front, or at the back. Eitherway, each sea hunter was designed so that its sails were not easily destroyed. The ships would not boast a main mast that could be easily cut down by Hohen guns, or something else that could split timber. The boats also had oars and manual power mechanisms, which would be used to drive the ship; in conjunction with the sails, in the case of an armed contest at sea, during a lull in the wind, or when there was no breeze at all. These oars could be manned from the main deck, under protection of the small ship covering. In addition, most of these ships were capable of travel into rivers, and shallow water. They were large canoes, which could reach places that few ships of the Greater Continent could. Naturally, the people of the Lesser Continent believed their sea hunters boasted the superior design, compared to other seafaring people, and the hunters were feared by all places that they raided.

Meanwhile, the captain of the Figkaham was equally as odd, as his wooden, sea-going, partner. Despite growing up on the bleak island of Reighaven, known as the Port of Rain, Gaaham was a well natured seafarer. He was old, which was an oddity in itself, and he was one of the few voyagers to sail past the northern coast of the Greater Continent. In fact, he was probably the most traveled person from either of the two continents. Reighaven was no easy place to arrive at, nor find. It was considered as the only open port on the northern coast of the Lesser Continent; since the rest of the Lesser Continent’s northern coast was as hostile as the Greater Continent’s. Meanwhile, the majority of sea hunters were taken from the stock of the southern coast, of the Lesser Continent, and the Figkaham’s company was no exception. In fact, Gaaham was the only sailor from the northern coast that joined the sea hunts of the Serpent’s Straight.

Gaaham had grown used to working with the hot headed youth that captained most of the Lesser Continent’s sea hunter vessels. Despite the youthful fire in the bellies of other Lesser Continent sailors, Gaaham had little trouble with most of his fellow shipmen, and they often heeded his council. Gaaham had grown famous on the Lesser Continent. From the northern coast to the southern one, Gaaham was the most famous of seafaring adventurers, and became known for the luck he brought to any sea hunt. All fleets wanted Gaaham, and his Figkaham, alongside their vessels; mostly for the supersticious luck that he brought. Although, it was mainly due to his cautious nature, and desire for good harmony among friends, which carried Gaaham into his later moons.