Holy crap did those guys surprise me.

My lvl 51 warrior (maxed one- and two-handed trees, and well over the armor cap) ran up to three of them, thinking maybe we could be lycanthrope buddies - since I'm a werewolf and all.

NOPE. It's been many moons (read: levels) since I've had to use that many potions in a fight. Those things will mess your stuff up. Beware.