Wulgoth's calloused hands gripped the mounted shooter as he focused in through the reticle. It had taken the Org-Humas a full day to get adjusted to the constant movement of the small, three-manned airship, but he was beginning to get the hang of shooting. He was in tunnel vision now, eyes focused only through the small metal ring, awaiting for his targets to appear. Then his prey finally came into view, and without a moment to readjust his aim, or calculate wind resistance, he pulled the trigger hard with grim satisfaction. Confetti streamers and sparklers spiraled out through the thick muzzle, showering a group of children that were playing on a rooftop below. Wulgoth laughed menacingly as they screamed for cover, dodging the party paraphernalia that rained down on them like hellfire. "Celebrate this!" He laughed. "Damn it, Wulgoth!" The second crewman yelled into his ear but the Org-Humas didn't stop firing. "Stop! We need to save the rest for the finale!" Wulgoth eventually released the triggers. "You're right..." He said, turning to the Ranath. His golden-hazel eyes burned into his with a sudden revelation. "There will be more people gathered at the King's Square. More people for me to shoot." The fangs at the ends of his mouth protruded as he smiled. "No... for the last time, Wulgoth,, we do not shoot the confetti at people. We're supposed to aim up and away from crowds." The Ranath said as slowly as he could, hoping Wulgoth will get the message the seventh time. The Org-Humas simply nodded. "k..." The Ranath rolled his eyes and stomped away from the small bridge, and within ten paces was near the pilot. "I can't bloody wait until this damn celebration is over. Why did they assign him to this detail anyway?" The humas pilot chuckled. "Same reason we all got assigned to this shit detail; he got himself in trouble." "Don't worry..." Wulgoth yelled back at them. The Ranath cringed at the realization that the Org-Humas heard everything he had said. "Looks like the finale is underway." The pilot traced Wulgoth's finger to another Airship flying parallel to them. The crewmen dropped an orange colored banner, signaling them to approach the King's Square for the finale. The pilot redirected his course. "ETA is two minutes. Wulgoth, refill the shooting tubes with everything we have left and Kizan drop the orange banner to cue the rest of the fleet." The pilot ordered, flipping on a switch beside the navigation wheel. The giant speakers fastened along the hull of the ship crackled to life, and the sound of an eloquent, middle-aged man rang out into the denizens below: "Fellow Venastians! Please make way to the King's Square. Once again, please make way to the King's Square. If you are lost, please ask the nearest T.A.C. officer and they will happily escort you to the proper location." After priming the tube shooters, Wulgoth leaned over the rail and watched the herds of people shuffling toward the King's Square like ants. "Finally...." Wulgoth whispered to himself. Three days on this assignment was more than enough punishment for punching his superior officer. It was a given that he was going to get reassigned for his erratic behavior. He only hoped that whatever it was, wasn't going to be anything like this. ---- [center][img]http://lvlt.bioware.cdn.ea.com/bioware/u/f/eagames/bioware/dragonage2/assets/gallery/concepts/gallows-01-courtyard-p.jpg[/img][/center] Within an hour the entire open courtyard of King's Square was crammed with people; a sea of faces, stretching out to as far as the eye could see. Airships had congregated around the perimeter behind the towering statues of Kadesan kings, whose crowned heads peaked just over the guarded fortress walls of Marrow Lock. The airships' speakers no longer had their announcements blaring. Instead, the soothing sounds of an orchestra amplified through their speakers. Then the crowd erupted in cheer, and the orchestra switched to a celebratory entrance hummed by trumpets and drums. King Chogutai appeared in front of the platform, his golden crown sparkling like a radiant star as he faced hundreds with a confident stride. The crowd's cheer erupted once more as The Eight Sages of The Arcane Coalition filed in after King Chogutai, and lined up around him. Composed of all races and all territories, they each had individual characteristics that made them stick out from one another. They bowed graciously to King Chogutai, whose generosity for the Coalition seemed to know no bounds. In between the war murals shone against the walls behind him, along with The Eight Sages at his side, the great Kadesan King emanated power that demanded respect. The Humas King had not ruled during a war period, but his long beard and hair casted a grizzly warrior that seemed out of place in the bright royal garments he wore for this occasion. The music died off, cueing everyone in attendance to be still, and King Chogutai awaited patiently until the square went silent. "Fellow Venestians!" His powerful voice echoed from the airship speakers, traveling throughout the entirety of Marrow Lock. "For three days we have celebrated. For three days we have raised our goblets and danced with glee. I have opened the heart of my kingdom to you with welcome arms; to join me on this momentous occasion, where, 150 years ago, brave men came together and sought progress. To the Arcane Coalition!" The king shook his fist in the air, igniting a roaring cheer that thundered throughout Marrow Lock. He turned to The Eight and bowed, whom in returned, bowed even lower. "Know that these honorable sages have guided us into an age of progression! Know that they have done impossible things for Venastia! Like unite Imygden and Kadesa -- as one!!!" The Eight bowed off to the sides, allowing King Malor Von Imygdal to enter the scene from the background. The sound of thousands breaking out in chants that glorified the two kings was enough to send goose bumps through the thick skin of a full blooded Org. King Malor Von Imygdal looked like King Chogutai's more clean shaven equal, with the exception of his pointy Ranath ears. He gave off an air of royalty that Chogutai did not have, yet one's prowess did not overpower the other. "Know this!" The Imygden King said with a powerful growl. "Our kingdoms will continue to stand by the Coalition, for we are freethinking rulers! Your pursuits in Science and Magic will never be shackled behind old laws and religion! Such a privilege can only be granted freely in our realm!" "So enjoy this day," King Chogutai spoke. "and live out your lives with ambition!" The Eight Sages raised their hands high and released bright colored energies out into the air. They spiraled together, vanishing for a moment into the clouds. Then, a giant phoenix revealed itself, covering the entirety of Marrow Lock's skies. It stretched its wings back then flapped, shooting out streams of energy that took on the shape of smaller birds. One by one, they ignited the skies into misty hazes of fireworks. Airships played celebratory music that sprung the crowds into dance as confetti streamers rained down on them. ---- Marrow Lock Airship Docking Bay Sir Dimitry Kovalev glanced at the giant time piece on his palm. By now, Jim Wallaceburg's men are delivering a letter to nine T.A.C. operatives. The letter will boast of their accomplishments and congratulate them for their successful careers. It would then give them directions to Kovalev's location on Marrow Lock's Airship Bay, where they would take on their first assignment as an Intercepter. He leaned against one of the stacked cargo supplies on the raised dock platform, occasionally looking over his shoulder in hopes to find their airship finally approaching for dock. "Damn Airship should have already been here 10 minutes ago." Dmitry did not factor in the amount of airway traffic there would be for the celebration. Jim Wallaceburg gave Kovalev the impression that their privately reserved lot had a designated airway that could bypass the main routes. Suddenly, a suspicious group of men had caught his eye. Ten men, four Orgs and several Ranaths in their ranks, poured in through an alleyway entrance of the docking bay and they all stared unflinchingly at the stacks of cargo supplies that surrounded Dmitry. "You must be Sir Dmitry Kovalev, yeah?" One of them yelled out, obviously the leader of the pack. They approached the dock slowly. Dmitry could see their hands wrapped around objects, but the cloaks they wore made it hard to see what kind of weapons they had. "And how would you know that?" He asked, gripping the handle of his pistol strapped to his hip. "You should be more careful where you buy your supplies." The leader snarled. "Not all of us love the Coalition. Especially those associated with the thieves guild." Dmitry clenched his teeth and cursed at Jim Wallaceburg for his incompetence. Kovalev knew from the get-go that getting their supplies from an outside company was a bad idea, but Jim swore by their authenticity -- mainly for their cheap prices. These armed thieves were likely hired by a worker, probably the owner himself, to retrieve the purchased inventory. "Let's take back what's ours gents!" The leader rallied his cronies, and swords and pistols appeared from their cloaks. "Well, this isn't good..." Dmitry sighed, whipping out his pistol and hip fired a round into the assaulting crowd. "Nope. Not good at all."