Nalla, there is an aura of evocation magic around the stone chest.

Telias watches from behind. "Open it with something that isn't your hands. If my years have taught me anything it is don't touch things you do not understand."

"Be careful there is magic coming from it." Nalla warns as she motions for Sunshine to back away from it as she once more brings up her Mage Hand to mess about with the chest at range if no one has any other ideas.

Fine, says Hulil.  Don't open it.  It's trapped, of course.  Just wanted to get you invested in finding a cure, that's all.  So, you going to kill me, or hear me out?

Sunshine had already had a hand outstretched when Nalla calls her back. She lets out a small noise of surprise - not a squeak, thank you - and backpedals to the rest of the group. Then she shoots a glare at the dwarf. "Well, I know which option I'd prefer," she says.

With the rising tension, Verdan steps forward. "We are here largely to gather information on this affliction which seems to be rolling through town. Though it doesn't seem like anyone actually wants our help with the welcomes we've been getting. At this particular point, leaving you alive is slightly more beneficial to us... so I'd suggest you start talking."

Hulil walks over to the stone chest, speaks a sentence in a language that none of you understand, and opens the lid.  She wraps her hand in a piece of cloth and then detaches a small blue vial from a mechanism in the trap's lid, and turns to show it to you.  This is it.  This is what is killing me.  She smiles unpleasantly.  You can touch it if you like.  But I wouldn't, if I were you.  Except I did, obviously, and with her other hand she points to the icy veins covering her face.  My sister stole them.  From Pelc's Curiosities.  Seemed like they might make a nice profit to the right buyers, you know?

So, I heard about this sickness.  Not completely sure, but it matches the stories.  Explorers up in Eiselcross, they sometimes get something like this.  Always fatal.  They call it the 'frigid woe'.  So, my plan was to get to Shadycreek Run and see if I can find someone there who knows of a cure.  Not likely, but it's the best hope I've got.  If you're working for Elro, then you should probably know that my sister got her hands on two vials, and I sold one of them already.  To Irven Liel, a merchant staying at the Jolly Dwarf in town.  I needed money for the trip, you know?  Anyways, you might want to let him know.

But I've got a deal for you.  I'll let you have this vial, and everything else in the chest, if you keep investigating this thing and let me come along.  

Verdan's eyes go wide at the mention of Eiselcross. "This... substance... that causes the Frozen Woe... is from the ruins?" He looks almost like he's been punched in the gut, staggering slightly, "What makes you think anyone in Shadycreek would be able to help you? The way I see it, unless you have a contact with the Assembly or the Cobalt Soul there, I doubt that group of thieves and criminals would do us much good." He ponders for a moment before continuing, "First things first, we should certainly warn Irven about the danger he is in. I have no particular hesitation with allowing you to join us, as long as you don't continue to try to kill us slowly with the weapon contained in that vial..."

You'd be surprised what you can find in Shadycreek Run, but.... hey, if you have a better idea, I'm happy enough.  Hulil looks at the others, awaiting their responses.  And no, I'm not gonna try to kill you.  You can take the vial if you want.  Just be careful with it.

Sunshine's tail twitches behind her, the best sign of her unease. Her fingers play with the edge of her sleeves, brushing against her daggers reassuringly, as she thinks it over.

"Goin' back to town and tellin' this guy what he's got seems reasonable," she says slowly. "But she's got a point. Shadycreek Run is a solid startin' point. I've heard that people know things there, and if they don't, then they know more people who might." A small shrug. "We ain't got anythin' to lose by investigatin' there, anyway."

Her red eyes narrow now at Hulil. "And I ain't touchin' that vial, thanks."

Telias shakes his head a bit. "The only cure will be north. The tribes have not explored as much of the ruins of Molaesmyr as they think so I highly doubt they have anything."

You grab the stuff from the stone chest, and depart the cave with Hulil in tow.  She looks wary and unhappy, but also resigned that this is her best chance.  The elf she sends off somewhere; she doesn't inform you where, and if you ask she just laughs at you.

What you find in the chest is:  
a gilded scroll case covered in a cosmological map of the multiverse (worth 15 gp)
a jade statuette of a storm giant (25 gp)
a quiver containing six +1 arrows
a silver ring set with a jasper stone (50 gp)
415 cp, 234 sp, 43 ep, and 112 gp
a receipt indicating that Hulil sold a blue glass vial to Irven Liel for 100 gp

With the death of the owner of Pelc's Curiosities, there is nowhere in Palebank village to sell any of the items; you will have to wait until you find a suitable merchant.

As you reach the village, you see the inn, the Jolly Dwarf, where you spent last night and where Irven Liel is apparently staying.  You can go there, or to speak immediately with your employer Elro Aldataur.

"I think it wise that we go talk to Elro to discuss what we have learned even if it is not much. Should we split into two groups so that we do not miss a chance to talk to either?" Nalla asks as they return to the village.

Sunshine keeps her distance from Hulil as they return to town, definitely not trusting her in the absolute slightest. She'd almost been infected by whatever this way; she thinks she's allowed to hold a grudge for a bit. Back in town, she looks up at Nalla and nods. "Sure, splittin' up might be fastest, and then we can get a move on to where we need to be goin'," she says. "I'll take the merchant - I'm way better at bein' friendly than bein' respectful, so one of you should take Elro instead."

Telias shrugs. "I can go to Elro."

So the party splits into two groups.

The first group, led by Nalla, walks across the village and finds Elro at home.  He opens the door and greets you:  It is good to see you.  I hope your friends are also well.  Have you any news for me?

The second group, led by Sunshine, enters the Jolly Dwarf.  The innkeeper, Arl Bortock, is in his usual place behind the bar, and as it's early in the day still, the common room is mostly empty.  Arl looks up, gives a friendly smile, and goes back to cleaning a tankard.

Telias is with Nalla, let me know where Mr. Fists and Verdan are.

"We have found that more then we originally though have come down with the sickness. Hulil is suffering with it but has an item that may have caused it. She has given it to us on the condition that we let her come along to find a cure." Nalla explains to him, looking to the others to see if they have more details to add.

Verdan follows the group to Irven, more interested in any new information they might find rather than reporting what they already know.

Nalla, Elro frowns and looks around.  Hulil?  Is that Tulgi the Trapper's sister?  I've never met her.  You say you found an 'item' that caused Urgon's death.  What is this item?  And how did this Hulil have it?

(Hulil accompanied the other group to the tavern, not wanting to meet with Elro.)