-----The Dread Pirate scowls and mutters under his breath, then says, "Fine, we'll help you kill the werewolves, then we'll leave. Joren help you if you try to arrest us after we assist you." An irritated grimace stretched across his face, the Dread Pirate stumps his way back into the tavern and sits down.
-----Seth shakes his head and sits down in the wagon. He moves close to where Amdracks is laying in the wagon and whispers to him. "Are you hiding from her? or meditating?"
-----Strangely, the mage priest does not answer. His eyes remain closed and his breathing is deep and even. Amdracks lies there as if he is in a deep slumber.
-----Runik stands slack-jawed as the Dread Pirate sits down. The dwarf then shoulders his weapon and walks over to Kazel grumbling.
-----A loud slam echoes within the stable building and as everyone turns they see Krord standing by one of the walls, his hands still balled into fists. The wood in the nearby wall looks cracked where obviously the mercenary had expressed his anger. The soldiers next to him stare with wide eyes until they catch Krord's glare. They then go quietly about their watch.
-----Marast squats down close to one stall. The elf remains tense and the lantern light catches an angry gleam from his catlike eyes.
-----Brandel quietly goes around to his fellow mercenaries, calmly whispering to them. Krord seems to calm at the young man's words. Brandel then climbs into the seat of the wagon to check on the resting occupants and treasure. His eyes then fall on the small girl who sits in the bed of the vehicle observing the walls with expressionless eyes. "Rest, little one," Brandel tells her. The little girl looks at Kazel to see what she is doing.
-----Xavia continues to stand in the doorway between the tavern and the stables with a tired expression on her face.
-----"Fine, we've wasted enough time about this," Kazel says as she looks sideways into the tavern. "If Dread is willing to stay, then we'll all stay, if only to protect the girl from the likes of you."
-----"Now," she moves towards the wagon as she continues, but her eyes stay on the doorway. "If you've got a brilliant strategy that makes holing up in this tavern a good thing, say it already. And please move away from the door. You're blocking my view, and not in a very safe place to be."
-----As the Dread Pirate sits at the table, he suddenly becomes aware of a low rumbling noise. This is followed by a slight vibration that he feels from the bench he sits on. The soldiers that are near the fireplace taking care of the melting process, suddenly stand looking about with alertness on their faces.
-----"Now what?" Abrams snarls from his place at the window. He and the other Oakwood guard turn their focus to the inside of the building. They peer around looking at the exposed beams of the rafters, then the walls and finally the floor.
-----Xavia looks around with a cautious confused expression. She likewise focuses her attention into the tavern.
-----The sound and the vibrating seem to slowly be building.
-----The Dread Pirate leaps to his feet in consternation, then runs towards the doorway of the tavern, yelling, "If it be an earthquake, ye might want to get away from the fire. Or it might be somethin tunnelin into the tavern."
-----The Dread Pirate braces himself against the door and draws his cutlass, waiting for whatever is approaching.
-----Xavia draws her own sword and cautiously moves into the tavern room. The Lady Paladin holds her other hand out as if for balance as if to steady herself against the odd sensation felt in the building.
-----Time seems to slow down as the Dread Pirate suddenly sees the flooring in at least three places in the room bulge. The sharp sound of wood cracking precedes the explosive force of dark shapes bursting up through the floor.
-----Suddenly Gimplefwick sees a huge wolfen form emerging just a few feet in front of him. The beast is covered with thick fur while large wolf like ears top its head. Tense tight muscles cross its back as the thing seeks to rise onto the flooring. Luckily the monster has its back to the halfling obviously unaware of the Dread Pirate's presence. Its focus seems to be riveted on Xavia.
-----Across the way, the Dread Pirate sees a soldier scream as the poor human is pulled downward through another huge hole.
-----Runik and Brandel suddenly appear at the door between the tavern and the stables. The dwarf yells out, "Th' beast's be breakin' up from under!" With a dwarven battlecry, he and Brandel then run into the tavern room.