The Delivery- Encounter. The PCs encounter a very obviously powerful and malevolent being (such as a fiend or high level spellcaster) who nonetheless gives them a powerful, but not very useful to them, magic item for free. If asked he will explain, truthfully, that he does not expect the PCs to survive their quest to defeat the BBEG, who is the item's intemded ultimate recipient.
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In A Similar Vein- Encounter. Another encounter with an incongruously helpful evil character. This time they are offered healing by a Sibriex demon. Who does all the healing via highly invasive (even when the would is superficial) surgery, . Without any anesthetic. Or handwashing. Or properly sharpened tools. The wound repair is mechanically as goos as magic, but leaves gruesome scars and a high chance of infection plus a will save is required to get through the operation without either squirming and making the woulds worse, or else developing a pathological fear of slashing weapons that can cause them to become shaken in combat
EDIT:
In A Similar Vein- Encounter. Another encounter with an incongruously helpful evil character. This time they are offered healing by a Sibriex demon. Who does all the healing via highly invasive (even when the would is superficial) surgery, . Without any anesthetic. Or handwashing. Or properly sharpened tools. The wound repair is mechanically as goos as magic, but leaves gruesome scars and a high chance of infection plus a will save is required to get through the operation without either squirming and making the woulds worse, or else developing a pathological fear of slashing weapons that can cause them to become shaken in combat
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