[b]First Blow[/b] – [i]Alexander Lyre[/i]

Alexander shifted slightly, as the water mage, Maher, parted the mist with ease. The sudden increase in visibility was a double edged sword, as the light revealed five shambling undead in tattered uniforms. The sight of the similarly clad foes sent another shudder of disgust, and his face tightened into a stiff neutral expression. It seems whoever was the liche had taken down his fair share of groups after his [i]’life’[/i] before. From a distance, he couldn’t make out any distinguishing features, but perhaps a quick look closer would yield some better results.

A second red flare was now visible, clear from the cloaking soup of the unnatural fog. He forced a quick, relaxing deep breath to ease the tension in his white knuckled hands. A swift, efficient motion sheathed both weapons, and a close observer might observed some nerves by the characteristic lack of flourishes. Instead, Alex eased back his long coat to bare the twin ivory handled pistols hanging low on his hips, out of the way of the twin swords and the hip draw rig. 

[i]"I'm going to try and knock a few of them down so we can dispatch and get past them faster, after that I suggest we make for Ms. Vesper with haste, I can’t imagine that second flare is a good sign."[/i]

Alex nodded, “Fast and hot then.” Engraved blued steel began to gleam in the new-found sun light, as confident leather clad hands drew the pair of master-crafted pistols. A snarling smile etched deeper into Alex’s taut muscles. The anti-mage unshouldered his shield and sword and began to charge. Maher let loose a trio of water blasts, knocking their targets off their feet. 

 “I’ll cover,” Alex growled, and lined up his first two shots. [i]Need to go for the head.[/i] He waited just an extra moment lining up his shots on the undead still standing. The pistols roared as one. The flame and a noxious black smoke erupted from the snarling dragons etched into the pistols. Four red slices of garnet glinted in the sun, pronouncing doom from the distance. Alex never hesitated, fingers already running through an instinctive reload process, even as he stepped through the foul cloud of smoke to line up his second pair of shots.