The group headed out to the mansion, and discovered that the area of mutation was spreading outwards.  They encountered and slew two mutated humans and a mutated wolverine, then gathered the samples of plant life, soil and animal matter that Leah Redoak had requested.  They then returned to the village of Grollek's Grove with the samples.

The next morning, Leah advised them that:

• the mutations were a magical curse, not a poison or disease
• the curse was demonic in nature, and still active
• the curse likely had a physical focus item, which would radiate chaos and evil
• destroying the focus would prevent the curse from spreading any further, though cursed creatures and vegetation would remain affected unless targeted with powerful magical cleansing (heal, hallow, miracle, or wish)
• if the group brought her some wood from deep inside the cursed area, Leah could fashion protective amulets to temporarily ward the heroes from the curse 

The group returned to the mansion, entered the grounds, and chopped several branches from a tree near the building itself.  They fought off a massive, mutated newt-thing in the process.  Then they went back to town again.

Overnight, Leah made the amulets while the group had a chat with Thyran, a wizard that they found somewhat unsettling - probably because his reaction to ebing told that the curse was demonic in nature was to suggest that the easiest means of lifting it would be to bargain with whatever demon had created it.  However, as they lacked any concrete proof he was an evil-doer, rather than just misguided, they decided to simply avoid him.

On their third trip to the mansion, the party discovered that one part of the garden, just outside two doors in the southern wall, appeared to have been carefully tended within the last day or so.  However, after listening at one of the doors (which was barred from the outside) and hearing the sound of rats, they elected not to investigate either door at this time.

Shortly after this, the group encountered four demon mists.  These strange aberrations sent several party members temporarily insane, and proved quite resistant to normal weapons, but were eventually overcome.  The pool around which the mists were lurking proved to have a very strong aura of chaos and evil.  With an hour's work or so, the group pin-pointed a small black stone, carved with obscene glyphs, which appeared to be the 'focus item' Leah had mentioned.  Taking care not to touch the horrid device, they used magic to destroy it.

The curse apparently prevented from spreading, the group withdrew half a mile and camped overnight, planning to return the next morning.  Their remaining goals:

• rescue of any survivors
• determine the fate of Lord Beval's son and his daughter-in-law
• find evidence of who was behind the curse