Despite the enemy's attempted preparations, the combined efforts of their mages was more than enough to break the wards protecting the enemy frontline, and the volley of fire, ice, and electricity that followed broke any semblance of cohesion among the first few rows of soldiers at the doors. Some were killed outright by shards of ice, while the fire maimed others, and the electricity stunned many more. The charge of allied soldiers that followed immediately afterwards was almost unopposed for a few seconds. 

Both Ri'vashi and Lorag hit the enemy like battering rams. Even once they reached the point where the enemy was organized enough to fight back, the momentum they carried with them inspired many of the soldiers around them. The shield wall they had been facing had broken, so the enemy was now more vulnerable. Lorag picked out the most imposing opponent in his immediate line of sight: a greatsword-wielding Cathay, and took a swing directly for her head. She could not swing quickly enough to parry entirely, and only succeeded in moving his hammer just enough to make him slam his weapon into her shoulder instead. There was a loud crack and a scream of pain due to her now-shattered shoulderblade. Even for a Khajitt of a Cathay's stature, Lorag was not a force to be ignored. He would have finished her off, but one his soldiers stuck a spear into her side, then her wounded shoulder, then her neck in three rapid thrusts. With only one arm to fight with, she simply could not parry effectively. 

The push past the gate allowed the lycan forces to start fanning out to use their numbers more effectively, but it also lead them into one of the enemy's traps. The room they had charged into was rather large, with a second level above them that allowed the enemy to attack them from above. Not only were there archers around the perimeter above them, but there were two oil pots positioned directly above. As soon as they had advanced far enough, the enemy dropped boiling oil straight into their ranks, one to their far left flank, and another closer to Meesei's pack. Most of their frontline was unharmed, but those that were affected were horrendously injured. Some of the oil splashed onto Ra'kalesh's back, and burned intensely enough that even he could not stop himself from dropping to the ground with a scream. For the Bosmer member of Ri'vashi's pride, Do'ajee, and several other soldiers, however, it was much worse. They had most of their bodies covered, and for them, there would be no hope.