The Visitor

The party is able to do the usual of getting some sleep and then going to the Eschbach Shields to get breakfast. They are likely to hear whispers that someone is looking a person or persons to take an item from Eschbach to Orleans. A written copy is posted on the town's notice board.

It says that a person called Alfher, stating they can be found at the Eschbach Shields and have the item to be took to Orleans. There they will deliver it to Countess Gabriele de Rais.

Some may find Alfher odd, even quite creepy. There is something strange about him but most can't exactly put their finger on it. He seems to eat maggots if they spend too much time around, eating one at a time. Also, he seems to take to checking & being careful around both Timble and Arne. He is the Star Spawn Seer in disguise with illusions on top.

He gives them the box wrapped in plain brown paper and tied with strong string. He tells them that it contains a very rare item in a silver box, and opening it is dangerous if not deadly to those within 60 feet, unless they have the specific key of which only one exists and the client has that.

He'll say that it is to be delivered to Countess Gabrielle de Rais unopened and no tampering in it. She will pay them handsomely if asked.

They can take it to Gabrielle without any problem and get at least 1000 gold if not more. The only way is to deliver as is without any examination or damage caused.

If the players decide to take a look at it, they damage the outer packaging and then see a silver metal box 3" by 3" by 3". There is a strange lock that looks as if it takes a key sideways in it and three small pits where it is to be held when opening it. If held and unlocked correctly the pits will suck out a drop of blood out of the finger tips.

It has scenes on the panels of strangely warped creatures all over it. These seem to be having some sort of ecstatic orgy of some type with what appear to be clouds swirling around them.

If the players decide to force the lock, they get a shock. It appears to explode open with enough force to send a sickening yellow cloud of excruciating deadly poison up to 60 feet in every direction going round corners etc.

This causes 50 10d10 poison damage and a successful DC 18 Constitution saving throw to take half damage and avoid the Poisoned condition.

It will discolour the silver box showing it was opened, and anyone who survives will see that there is a shard of amber inside containing the essence of an unborn dark god, and anyone who dies within the 60 foot range of the box, it will feed on the soul, break the amber and disappear in the direction of the Central Massif.

Obviously this breaks the trade deal and the surviving members will not get paid and the injury and death it causes is seen as punishment enough. At least for the time being....