Friends in the Right Places

A million things seemed to happen all at once, shattering the silent atmosphere without any forewarning whatsoever. All at once the world seemed to tip and fall; in fact this was most likely an optical illusion caused by the carriage being tipped and falling flat on its side and sliding towards the ravine.

Standing where the carriage had been stood a Senche-raht, 13 feet tall and immensely built, sand rolled off of it like water. Over the next hill of sand, a pair of tiger like creatures came hurdling towards front two of guards, ripping them off their horses while they where gaping at the enormous Khajiiti that had just risen from the sand.

As the 10 remaining guards either ran to help their formerly mounted comrades, or made a cautious semi-circle around the Senche-raht. At the (now unguarded) rear of the caravan 3 Suthay-raht seemed to climb out of the sand, they scampered silently to the cages holding all Khajiit prisoners, one of them picked the locks and the other two handed the prisoners spears and knives as they flooded out, the Imperial soldiers, outnumbered and unprepared were overwhelmed.

However that is what it looked like, to those unfortunate enough to be in the flipped front carriage, unable to see this they could only gather what was happening from the confusing array of sounds,

"Rwaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrg!"

"By Stendarr that's a… ahh! Gerrit off a me!"

"Hold on Asibicus, form smart circle round it lads."

"Back! Back you beast!"

"Hey what are you doing….. O, crap…"

20 voices cried out together "Ahhhhhh!"

Sounds of battle

During all this screaming and charging the lock-picking Suthay-raht approached the toppled carriage. His eyes immediately met with the unnamed little fellow,

"Jimaga! Darguo thought you died!"

The short fellow smiled and laughed for the first time all day,

"I'm not in Leyawiin yet Darguo! Go on get me out you fool kitten." the lock picker gracefully climbed onto the cage and unlocked the door (which was now the roof) with a satisfying click and pulled out the now named Jimaga, Darguo was about to offer his clawed hand to the next person when Jimaga nudged him,

"We don't help slavers and tree hoppers." Darguo paused to take a deeper look at them "What about Nord?" Jimaga shook his head and the door was about to close when Elgard grabbed hold of Darguo's leg and yanked him in, and pinned him against the floor bars.

Elgard kept his voice down so as not to draw any attention from the fighters still battling the Imperials

"Lock us in and your buddy stays!"

Jimaga cautiously opened the door all the way

"Give him to me first."

"No let me out first!"

"Excuse me" said Novena raising her hand "Why don't you let us out first" (she pointed to herself and Ferdain) ", then release your friend and then the Nord?"

Everyone silently agreed, and to everyone's surprise a moment later they were standing beside the toppled carriage in 2 lines, one Khajiit and the other foreigners. Darguo broke the silence "Darguo hears saying of live and let live… perhaps we should do this tonight?" But Jimaga shook his head again "They know our names and faces, they get caught then they could reveal us, putting everyone in danger. Besides I still have to teach that big Ice man about what makes us Ohmes."

Darguo shrugged and handed his friend a dagger before drawing one of his own. Novena and Ferdain backed off towards the flipped carriage but Elgard held his ground, people would assume the unarmed man was at the disadvantage in this situation, and that would be true were that man not a professionally trained wrestler and boxer as Elgard happened to be. Tossing off his thick burlap shirt he revealed an amazingly muscular frame, 6 pack and all! Both Khajiit stopped mid-step, Novena smiled in relief and Ferdain began clapping his hands at the showing of manliness.

Both Khajiit men seemed angry at being outdone and began moving towards the Nord like a pair of wolves. Elgard backed towards the ravine some more, bracing for their move; it came from Darguo, a low aimed short jab that Elgard barely caught, but grabbed with both hands.

Holding onto Darguo's arm he lowered his whole body while pivoting on his heels, he spun the Cathay-raht with all his strength, releasing him so that he landed head first into one of the softer curves into the ravine, after all Elgard figured, the Khajiit was just helping his friend and who was he to judge? However when Elgard turned to face Jimaga he found that the Ohmes was upon him already with knife drawn back with both hands to strike with a great deal of force. Elgard winced as he prepared to die… As a few seconds of recoiling passed the Nord began to wonder if stab wounds weren't as painful as he had been raised to believe; looking again he saw Jimaga just as he had stood a second ago only his hands now hung limp at his side. Novena stood a few feet away hands raised and a green mist dispersing around them, looking back at the paralyzed Jimaga, Elgard gave a mirthless laugh before grabbing the Khajiit by the scruff of his neck; and after delivering several full strength punches directly to his face, he hurled his limp little body into the ravine as well.