[@Rune_Alchemist] It would vary depending on the type of item you'd receive. An artifact could come in the form of a weapon that would have the ability to emit flames, maybe a piece of jewelry that would grant its user the ability to fly, or perhaps a flower that never withers and releases some sort of noxious scent.

As for the goals, at the start, it'll be purely exploration, but maybe other would want to hunt for treasure, discover some strange civilization, study the fauna and flora of the world they'll be exploring. It really depends on the characters that are part of the expedition and the things that they could encounter.

Hopefully, my answers had some merit in them.