-----The Dread Pirate looks dubiously at the armored woman, "Surrounded? By four? I could understand seeking shelter and puttin yer back to the wall if there were ten or more of 'em, but four? How many of ye are there in yer group, ten or eleven? Armored and trained in fightin. I could probably kill four werebeasts by meself. I'm in favor o' lockin away our horses right now. But I'm wonderin who ye are. If ye be the healing help Marast went lookin fer, then we need to stop playin with the werebeasts and get ye movin on to where yer more needed. If that means me friends and I have to deal with a couple o' werebeasts, then I for one say we do so right now. I have a couple more enchanted blades in the wagon, they should work fairly well fer killin werebeasts. If a couple o' yer soldierly types want to accompany us on a little huntin trip and borrow those blades they'd be more than welcome." Dread begins leading Joren to the stables, ignoring Abram and the other member of Sol's group.
-----The woman simply replies to Kazel by extending her arms indicating the priests and the guards that accompany her.
-----She then walks beside the Dread Pirate staring ahead of her as they round the tavern where the stable lies. Her voice takes a 'matter of fact' tone as she says, "Did you not hear me say their numbers may be increasing? My mission is to lead this troop to the Town of Redmarsh and I mean to get there with the entire troop intact. There is no doubt a capable fighter could bring down such a beast though one bite could bring the curse of Lycanthrope upon oneself. I do not wish to weigh foolishness against the needs of the citizens of Redmarsh."
-----Reaching the stable building, the armored woman opens a side door for the Pirate to lead his pony in. As she does, she adds, "The woods are home to them. They have the advantage. I want a well thought out plan of action before I risk anyone, . . . and that includes you and your companions."
-----Without changing the expression on her face, she finishes with, "Enough talk out here. The night is listening."
-----The soldiers take up a defensive position around the horses and wagon as they likewise move toward the stable building. The two priests open the doors to permit the riders inside. The two guards from Oakwood follow quietly behind the armored woman.
-----Inside, the stable building is large enough to house the wagon and all the steeds are lead to stalls. Some of the stalls are already taken up by the mounts belonging to the troop from Oakwood.
-----Marast stands quietly beside the Dread Pirate glaring at Abram and his companion.
-----After the soldiers have helped with securing the horses, the woman quietly says, "Same positions as before." The soldiers then take up key spots spaced about the interior.
-----Just then another animalistic wail sounds throughout the forest though, for the moment, its origin sounds a bit further in the woods.
-----A small lamp is lit and the woman turns toward the trio. "First things, first," she says, her voice calm and even, "I am Xavia Parian, a paladin of Joren. I know who you are. I need to know of the current conditions in the Town of Redmarsh and the countryside that surrounds it." She raises her chin awaiting an answer.
-----"Oh, ok," Kazel shrugs as she inspects the stables. "Cos I was sure you were pointing us to hole up inside that tavern where everyone came out of, while the horses are s'posed to hide for themselves. What were you doing in that tavern anyway?"
-----Inside the stables, the Dread Pirate shrugs his shoulders and replies, "It's been my experience that inaction is just sometimes just as bad as rushing ahead without a well thought out plan. In this case, I'd say it's worse. After Redmarsh, I'd say that any sort of contagion that spreads itself like lycanthropy needs to be wiped out as soon as possible. Speakin o' which, Redmarsh was plagued with a dragon, which is currently deceased, and an evil priest who was the progenitor of the plague that was smiting the countryside. Fortunately, we managed to slay the evil priest and kill his undead guardians, but I believe the plague still exists. The plague in question seems to kill the host, then it causes them to raise up as undead themselves. Quite a bit of the town was affected. I imagine a goodly portion o' yer job is goin to be draggin corpses outta town fer burnin, afore they rise up and go berserk."
-----The Dread Pirate taps his fingers on a small table and continues, "Without someone who can track those werebeasts by daylight, I'd say we have little choice but to simply go out there and have at 'em. And hope we get all of 'em. As fer gettin infected with lycanthropy, we are fortunate enough to have brought a priest of Ora with us. He might be able to tell you more of the plague and the priest who was responsible. He might also be able to cure lycanthropy, but I don't know fer certain."