[center] [h2] [color=00aeef]Gaius Secondus[/color] [/h2] [/center]

	Gaius never got to implement his plan, Smiles got trigger happy and everything went straight to hell. Gaius glanced around, decided that the others could handle the grunts, and took off after the leader. He climbed up the ladder with caution, holding his breath as he climbed through the rabidly thickening smoke. He stopped briefly when he thought to tie a hankerchief he had in one of his many pockets over his mouth and nose. As he climbed the ladder, he angrily thought, [i]That amateur, if I was in his shoes I would have set an ambush at the top, or at least cut the ladder, maybe weakening a few rungs. Then again, why did he corner himself in the first place?[/i] He got up and found the bandit facing down Dylan and Syrena. Gaius didn't bother announcing his presence, he brought his tome out, muttered the familiar chant and sent a bolt of lightning coursing between his allies at the bandit. Unfortunately, luck wasn't with him, the unpredictable lightning magic missed his target, but the metal of the sword in the floor attracted it and caught the current.

[center] [h2] Lilith Merdox [/h2] [/center]

	As soon as the bandit leader dropped the dancer, Lilith charged in to protect her. She fended off the reminder of the bandits, intent on protecting the dancer and Nickolas long enough for Marcus to check and treat their wounds. Lilith managed to slip inside one's guard and slash open an artery, killing him in a spray of blood. [i]six[/i]. She looked around quickly, checking on the others. Most of the rest of the bandits in sight were either dead or dying, except for a few still fighting here and there. She flicked her sword, to clear the blood away, spraying droplets in a crimson arc. [i]You know, for a rag-tag bunch, their bravery is respectable.[/i] She noted.[i] After all that, they came together one last time, and very few actually fled. Maybe, they have a lot of faith in their leader, if so, I can almost respect that.[/i]