After last time, we had eight horses from Lars’s crew. Seeing as how horses are pretty expensive, we decide to keep four for ourselves and sell four back to the Roadwardens. After all, they belonged to them in the first place, before Lars and his crew went rogue.

Jorg tells us that there is a nearby town with an above average rate of chaos mutations. Since it’s on the way to Altdorf, we decide to give it a shot.

We head north along the main road, and two days later find a side road to Priestlicheim. The side road is significantly smaller, and the forest closes in on both sides. Some ways down the road, we come upon a group of hobgoblins harassing a cart driver. Immediately, we drop from our horses and rush to help.

The hobgoblins leave the farmer alone and charge in against us. Hennessey, as usual, shuts them down with his bolas, brining them to the ground. As soon as they are entangled, everyone else takes advantage. In a hail of arrows, two of the hobgoblins are turned into bloody pincushions. The third trades blows with Corvin, neither able to gain the advantage. Breaking the stalemate, Tardach fires an arrow into his left arm, staggering the vile creature. Following that, Angran’s arrow takes him in the knee shredding his leg and bringing him down.

The farmer is quite grateful, but all he has to offer us is oats and grain for our horses. What a letdown…

We arrive at Priestlicheim late at night, and head directly to an inn to spend the night. The next morning we head off to the monastery to seek adventure. The monks immediately recognize us as adventurers. We are introduced to Brother Charles, who tells us that there is a particularly violent mutant who is terrorizing the countryside. He asks us to head out into the forest and eliminate him. Corvin shivers with fear and disgust, as he is revolted by the idea of mutants. Crossing his fingers, he makes a sign to ward off evil.

Striking off into the woods, it doesn’t take us long to find a pack of mutants. Three horrible creatures try to hide, but we still manage to spot them, so they crash out of the woods and attack. Warped beyond recognition, they have tentacles, eyestalks, claws, and other hideous mutations.

Hennessey rushes in, bolas flying, but the mutants manage to dodge. One runs up to Hennessey and slashes him across the arm. Another hulking mutant charges in, but Tardach looses an arrow which knocks him off his feet and he collapses, unconscious. The other two press the attack, but we manage to hold them off. Again, Corvin tries to engage them in melee, while everyone else fires from range. Tardach scores hit after hit with his elfbow, inflicting massive damage on the mutants. Corvin manages to crush one’s arm, killing him from massive blood loss. Hennessey charges the unconscious hulk and finishes him with a spear blow to the head.

Face to face with one of the mutants, Angran attempts a shock spell, but fails miserably. Worse yet, he loses control of the magical energies and is surrounded by an eerie light. The foul power of chaos begins to seep into his mind, but he strengthens his resolve and does not yield to the force of darkness and insanity.

After dodging a blow from the creature, Angran tries again and manages to connect with a shock. The creature is caught unaware and stunned. Taking advantage of the creature’s weakened state, Hennessey and Corvin charge in, but fail miserably in their attacks. Angran is forced to shock him yet again, giving everyone else another chance to wail on him. With that we are able to pound him into oblivion.