Xavier's confidence was shook by Ishmark's instructions.  He had assumed he was fighting the living and had chosen to fight with a sword, he had nearly forgotten the spear he had used as a staff on the trip here.  He sheathed his sword, somewhat reluctantly but opted to follow the local knowledge over his own instinct.  He had been so wrong about so many things here in Barovia and he just couldn't afford to be wrong again.  He hefted the spear, feeling the stout staff, it wasn't his preferred weapon but it made sense.  It would be a bit clumsy in the doorway but once outside he would have more room to work with it.<br/><br/>He took a last look at his compatriots, such an eclectic mix of souls, he wished there was more trust or even a hint of camaraderie but a base impulse for self preservation was about all they had in common.  It would have to do, he thought to himself as he gave Esperanza one last look, hoping it wasn't the last time he saw her truly alive.  It was against odds that all of them would survive this night, perhaps even that any of them would.  He shook that thought from his head, thoughts could be deadly at such times and he couldn't afford to be anything but positive that they would live.  He had to keep the faith.<br/><br/>He nodded to Ishmark's plan and stood clear of the door, spear held in both hands, more like a staff than a spear.  He noted well what he said about bashing skulls as the smell of whatever horror seeped through the door.  A moment of disgust took hold of him at the first sight of the zombies but he quickly recovered.  He waited for Bucren's first arrow to hit home.  He took a deep breath of foul air and held the spear at arms length, eager to keep the undead horrors as far from him as possible.  He had to hold it at a diagonal to get through the doorway but rushed through with all his might.  He cleared the doorway but merely pushed them back, if they could be killed it would take more than that to do it.  He left Ishmark to head towards his love shack as he stepped to the side to get room to swing his spread like a cudgel, allowing the others to exit behind him and follow Ishmark.  He brought the oak shaft down heavily upon one head, crushing the skull and watching with satisfaction as the creature buckled and feel lifeless to the ground.  If he could kill one he could kill more.  He resisted the temptation to check on Esperanza, he would best serve her by helping to keep the path clear.