Just as Do’Karth was beginning to fear his strength would give out, the Chaurus suddenly reared back with a horrific screech as the bug flailed in evident pain. The khajiit’s savior leapt down, surprising Do’Karth as he took the offered hand to be pulled to his feet. Sagex was certainly an unconventional fellow; between scaling city walls while being fired upon and nearly blowing himself up to strike back at the Kamals, Do’Karth was unsure of where to rank mounting and avoiding getting bucked off of a Chaurus on the scale of utterly insane things the Imperial was fond of doing. “It’s going to take you some effort to impress me after that,” Do’Karth said as they retreated back to safety, where the group was forming defensive positions, shielding from arrows and blunting attacks. “Do’Karth thanks you. He wouldn’t have gotten out of that without help.” 

Back amongst the ranks and relative safety, Do’Karth joined the line, noticing his comrades had already felled a number of the falmer. Mages cast magelight off of the stalactites and ceiling to both illuminate the battleground and in a misguided attempt to blind the falmer, which continued on, oblivious to the light; they were blind, after all. The chaurus, as well, adjusted fast and continued to spit their venom and try to pry away shields to get at the prey behind. Do’Karth kept behind the safety of the shields, thrusting his staff at exposed pale flesh and numerous eyes that flashed just within reach. He might not be a killer, but nothing in his code forbade him from crippling or blinding his foes, and insects were an entirely different matter. 

Noticing Sevine struggling in a similar predicament as he faced only moments ago, the khajiit rushed towards one of the fallen falmer, grabbing its hideous chitin sword from its body, cleaved nearly in two from the stroke of a battle axe. This was the first time in as long as Do’Karth could remember handling a sword. With a fiery resolve, the khajiit gripped the handle tightly as he closed on the charus, its hideous side eyes turning to face him. Too late to react, Do’Karth roared as he drove the blade into the largest of the pale blue orbs, piercing deep into the Chaurus’ head. It’s mandibles twitched as its brain fired off mixed signals, and it stumbled backwards as if drunk, collapsing after several moments, life leaving it. Do’Karth panted, bringing his staff back into both hands. A falmer charged him with a poisoned axe, only to be rewarded with the heavy strike of a quarter staff into its throat. With a heavy swing near the end of the staff, Do’Karth smashed the falmer in the neck, setting the creature sprawling across the floor. It was impossible to feel pity for these awful creatures; they were beyond salvation and only knew hatred and murder… and possibly worse. Tales of people taken by the falmer were the things that kept one up at night.

“Their numbers are thinning, I think we’re pushing them back!” A voice called from somewhere in the ranks. With renewed vigor, the formation pushed forward against their assailants, who were suddenly thrust into the unenviable position of being put on the defensive. Bodies were scattered across the floor with surprisingly few casualties among the company, and there was little sentiment to escaping out into the storm while luck favoured them. 

Do’Karth grinned at Sevine. “Khajiit has your back. Together, then?” he asked, grasping Solveig by the shoulder encouragingly. “Do’Karth will not allow you to fall today, Solveig. Perhaps this is the day you earn your name, hm? Cast your fear upon them! Let them only wonder what shape the deadly warrior that slain them with each blow looks like, but let your name be one that makes them quake in fear of the surface!” the khajiit shouted, stepping forward to engage his next foe, whom he handily disarmed with a strike before knocking its chitin helm right from its brow with the staff. They had caught him at a disadvantage and he had nearly paid with his life; now it was time to take advantage over the falmer’s fatal miscalculation.