"I'm hoping its a burst of daylight. We can deliver it. You speak of a favor, what do we get for doing this favor?"

Eggo Lass gets tense as the interloper casts a spell on Bilyur, readying for a fight. But the gnome's calm despite the attempted magic relaxes her and Hugh's delightful musing puts her at ease... for now. Plus, even if not useful soon, the stranger seemed willing to divulge some information. She awaits the reply to Bilyur's query.

Sly is too cautious to touch the box, but she gives it a side-eye, examining it for magical symbols, common spellcasting tricks and origin [arcana: 11]. She thinks that she can examine it later, but for now she waits for the explanation by the shadowy figure.

"Also, do you know where the red knight is that allegedly haunts this dungeon?"

The figure seems to be more at ease now, Bilyur’s light reaction to having a spell cast on him has definitely calmed his nerves. He then takes a deep breath and hesitantly says ‘The bag contains a Fiend inside of it that’s only friendly to the Scarlet Oracle and no one else. It’s there are as a precaution to stop anyone from stealing the other items in the parcel. However, it will remain asleep until the bag is opened. In the two years I’ve had the parcel in my possession, it hasn’t stirred at all, so please don’t let it dissuade you from taking it.’ He then answers Hugh’s question ‘I don’t have many possessions, if any at all, but I know the Scarlet Oracle will reward whoever brings her the parcel handsomely. That’s the only reason I ever chose to become its courier and enter the Dungeon. I’m an Arcane Trickster, you see, but I picked up all my spells from random spellbooks, ruins and other sources of magic I found. I even made some spells myself, which I could show you if you want. However, my use of experimental and risky magic in close proximity to the Shadow Weave led it to leak into the Weave I manipulated, and started to twist my form.’ He notes the expressions on the faces of the magic users in the party and says ‘Don’t worry, if you’re educated in the ways of magic and use it responsibly, you shouldn’t have any negative side effects from the Shadow Weave, especially since I doubt you’ll be in here as long as I’ve been’ Finally, he answers Sly’s question. ‘Through that door to the south is a room that has the entrance to the largest room in the sewers where all of the sewage eventually flows. That’s where the Red Knight dwells, and also where the exit to the next dungeon is.’

Eggo Lass becomes even more perplexed upon learning the stranger is a rogue. Individually stronger than any one of them, what could've made him think he wasn't strong enough to go forward? Was it cowardice? Or perhaps something tied to the shadow weave and his strange magics.

"You mentioned you felt too weak to go forward. Yet this is only the third dungeon and you seem relatively skilled. Did you have a poor encounter with the red knight? Or hear rumors of what was to come that caused you to hesitate?" She's rather unnerved at the prospect of his magics, suspecting they bear a role in his current lack of advancement.

"What are the other items in the parcel? And what do you know about the Red Knight?"

The figure gives a chuckle at Eggo Lass's query. 'I got through the first dungeon at record pace, blasting my way through with a mish mash of found and borrowed spells. But when I travelled to the second, a terrible illness overcame me. It was like I had an allergic reaction to the Shadow Weave. I spent a year and a half living with that peppermint-obsessed halfling trying to recover, but to no avail. If anything the symptoms became worse, and accelerated if I cast any spells. Even that Suggestion spell I cast on your gnome friend did me no good.' He pulls back the tatters of robe on his forearm to reveal his limb has became more thin and hook-like. Unbeknownst to any of you, unless you had had first hand experience with the Shadowfell and its creatures, the figure is showing signs of slowly turning into a Sorrowsworn. The figure continues 'Anyway, after that year and a half of doing nothing but getting worse, I decided I had to continue. But when I made it here, I had completely lost all hope. The portal had taken so much out of me that I doubt I could even survive another Shadow Weave interaction. So, with a heavy heart, I decided it was time to part with my cargo and pass it on to a trustworthy party.' He then turns to Hugh and says, 'I know just as much as you do about the Red Knight, all I know is what I've gathered from the hallucinations and fever dreams of my Shadow Weave sickness, so nothing more or less then what any passing adventurer would learn.' His face then turns stony serious and rather frightening as he adresses Hugh's first question 'I will tell you what the parcel contains, but only if you swear on your oath that you will not be dissuaded from taking the parcel and will not tell anyone outside of your party what is inside, unless you have to pass it on to some unfortunate group in the instance where you cannot progress. Do we have a deal?' He then extends his long, pale, bony and all together twisted hand for a handshake.

Sly is skeptical when the man talks about the spells he came up with. "Interesting. I wouldn't be opposed to learning new spells, but I'm afraid I don't have the means to inscribe them properly. Thank you for the offer nonetheless."

The wizard is ambivalent about the box they were asked to deliver and its contents. As long as the *thing* within was contained and it did not fall to her to carry it around, she was happy to oblige.

Bilyur nods at the creature, "I will make a monk's oath to you," and closes his eyes, takes the creatures hand, and kneels down. 

Hugh extends his hand, "I solemnly swear on Granny Gonagins soul that I will continue your quest."

The figure just smiles and says 'Your loss' when Sly says she cannot record the spells he has devised. He then shakes both Bilyur and Hugh's hand, and since they swore an oath he feels you can be trusted to learn the secret of what's within the parcel. 'The parcel contains a letter addressed to the Scarlet Oracle, the Fiend I have already told you of, and an enchanted, still beating heart. It was the heart of a powerful berserker, but was torn from him in battle. I am not sure what the Scarlet Oracle's use for the heart is, but it is vital that it makes it to her.'

"It sounds like it wouldn't do us any good to open the parcel, so you have my word as well." Sly says, although she has pointedly positioned herself far enough away to make it clear that she does not wish to shake the hook-like hand.

"Since you have been here a while, have you seen a tabaxi pass through? This would have been recent."

"And, if you may, we got told that we should not engage Arganth in combat. Would you concur?"

'Yes, I saw a tabaxi pass through recently, or more accurately sprint through. She seemed to be going at quite a pace so I didn't get any opportunity to observe her to see if she was fit for taking the parcel, but since she appeared to be alone I wouldn't have given it to her anyway. I of all people would know that a single person can't make it through the dungeons alone. As for combat with Arganth, I'd recommend you steer clear of a fight. I did manage a conversation with him before the nearby Shadow Weave started giving me a migraine, and he seemed a melancholy but honourable person. Just be polite and he will allow you passage.'

Sly nods thoughtfully, inclining her head in a show of thanks. "That is valuable information." She jots down a few notes in her book.

Loath to promise things she didn't know how to achieve, the tiefling adds: "If the source of your affliction is the shadow weave, we may yet put an end to it. But it won't be soon." Her words stop there, but her eyes communicate an apology. It might be too late for this man already.

She looks to the others and waits to see if they have any other business before moving on.

Bilyur stays kneeling on the ground, "I will make a promise to you. If we break the Shadow Weave, and it does not heal you, do you wish me to put an end to your misery?"

Eggo Lass thinks about it, hesitant to enter into a verbal contract with the stranger. She says nothing as the group speaks.

But if pressed she will tell him she has no interest in betraying her fellow party members decisions with the bag so long as they draw breath. 

The figure sighs and says 'You're a compassionate bunch, I like that. If you do manage to destroy the Shadow Weave, I've got no idea what will happen to me, though my condition gets worse by the day, so my time may already be up. The illness clouds my brain as well, you see. I've already started to forget vital information, like where I come from, my name...what my life was like outside the dungeon.' You can see the figures eyes well up with inky blackness. You would assume he's crying, but can't be sure. 'I've served my life purpose as long as that parcel reaches the Scarlet Oracle, and then I will require nothing more in life. It's safe to say I'll be turned to a shadowy beast before that happens though, so for now I'm going go search this sewers for somewhere to dwell and live out my final moments. The tunnels go deeper from here, and I'm sure they'll be another untouched chamber in which I can make my den. I wish you all the best of luck in your mission. I'll see you on the other side.' And with that, the nameless figure stands up, takes a few long-limbed strides to the balcony of the sewer chamber, and acrobatically dives into the waterfall like a fish, and vanishes into the depths of the sewer system.

"Thank you. Farewell."

Sly looks after the figure with a cautious expression. 'Well, there he goes.' She looks at her notes. Annoyed, she realizes that she doesn't have his name. Looking to the others, she says "Shall we proceed? It seems like the knight is close and so is the exit."

Bilyur nods, eyes downcast. "

" He mutters in gnomish.

"I agree, lets press on," Hugh moves to the uninvestigated exit, and takes out his tools. After a careful examination of the door, he then 

• searches for traps (Perception: 9
• attempts to disarm trap if needed (Thieves' Tools: 15 (Dex Bonus))
• attempts to unlock door if needed (Thieves' Tools: 10 (Dex Bonus))

"That is the as good as I can get it," Hugh declares as he steps aside.