In the courtyard, the enemy made the decision to open the main gate of the keep from within, which prompted their forces in the courtyard to go into a full retreat before they could be surrounded entirely. Ri'vashi ordered her force to push the attack as they were fleeing, cutting down at least a quarter of them before they could make it to their keep. For their sacrifice, however, the enemy was able to join up with reinforcements from within the keep to create a defensive line just outside the gate itself. It was a chokepoint, so they could not be surrounded, and they could not be as easily overwhelmed. 

On the western wall, Ra'jorr's group had made it to the keep, and were already crossing the bridge to head inside. Fortunately, Peiter was able to find someone with the authority to post some archers on the wall, near the main gate to the courtyard. He started to make his way back to the center to rejoin Gallus, though he did not like the look of the chokepoint he would be fighting in. 

Meanwhile, Meesei's arms pulsed with electricity as her spell charged in power. The Suthay-raht before her bolstered his ward as much as possible to prepare, but it was simply not enough. There was a frighteningly loud crack of what was essentially thunder as the bolt struck, and immediately broke his ward. She followed through with another, concentrated bolt of equal strength to finish him off, then cast a series of chain lightning bolts into the rest of the enemy. They were weaker, and not immediately lethal, but they could injure and stun anyone they passed through. There were other mages among the enemy that could block the progress of the lightning, but the effect was still enough to give the lycans' even more momentum. There was no one to help Janius' opponent, so he had all the time he needed to finish him off. 

In the keep, on the balcony just above the courtyard, there was some movement. There was an imposingly large Khajiit in heavy armor, with a few others around him. They were not archers, but rather, just seemed to be watching the battle beneath them. The largest of them seemed to be giving orders to the others, who were rushing off one by one. Since they were not immediately threats, most of those below were not focused on the balcony, but the armor of the large Khajiit caught Lorag's eye. "It's [i]him[/i]." He growled.