Wulgar does not gather the finer subtleties of Lisichka's words and origin, but none the less his BS meter is giving him a serious warning.  "Right.  Seems like we opened up the flask of a lawyer.  Next!"  Unless there are other objections or further questions that someone has, he will urge Lisichka back into the flask and unstopper the flask with the small hand in the river of water.  

"I admit I'm not that convinced anymore." Avarice says as Lisichka returns to the flask. "I would think most of us would not consider it a sin to outwit someone else. And we should not let appearances fool us, even if they would give us a strong sense of distrust."

     "Wait, wait, wait just a minute...  Before we dismiss Lisichka, I would like to extend an offer to her," Mulligan says hurriedly, before the next bottle can be opened.

     Mulligan then turns to Lisichka, adopting his most charming and influential manner.  He doesn't seek to deceive or trick this creature (why con a con man?) but instead makes what he assumes is a ludicrous offer but one which could still be tempting.  

     "You admit that your life is in our hands," Mulligan points out.  "That any deal to ensure you remain breathing will be accepted and followed.  I'm inclined to believe you.  On that, at least.  As such the deal I propose is this:  You tell us everything you know regarding this situation.  About our jailer, about the jail, about the way out, about any others you may know about that may be trapped here.  You hold nothing back.  You share everything.  Every scrap of information which could possibly be useful to us..."

     Mulligan pauses for effect at this point, putting on an appearance of considering what to offer in exchange.

     "You, in return, get our honest and thoughtful consideration of sparing you.  Of choosing you to be the one that we save.  That is it, just honest consideration..."  Mulligan holds up his hands to fend off any interruption or outburst at this.  "As you say, your life is in our hands.  You are not in a position of strength in this negotiation.  You want us to think you hold the cards but the truth is that it is we that do so."

     "If you do not tell us everything, here and now, then we all believe you to be a trickster, a deceiver...  A lawyer," This last remark is said in the most biting way possible.  "You would get no future consideration of us choosing to save you.  Your life would be forfeit once we uncorked the next bottle.  So sad.  Too bad.  Goodbye Lisichka."

     "But as I said... a full accounting?  Here and now?  You still have a chance at life.  We would not be dismissing your selection out of hand.  If you do truly value your life, your only chance, small as it may be, is telling us everything now.  You think it is a bargaining chip to withhold the knowledge because we may die without it?  Well, my friend, we do not believe that.  We do not believe you.  Your one and only chance to convince us is right now.  A full reveal," Mulligan concludes and then leans back against the wall in the most relaxed and patient pose he can muster.

 Keyleth raises one eyebrow. "So our captor is the petty sort? Punishes someone for outwitting him?" She isn't sure whether to believe that or not. She tries to discern an answer.

Insight: 31

Keyleth's keen senses can tell Lisichka is, to put it mildly, a master of words and negotiation - she has been entirely forthright with the party so far, though she is clearly still nursing her cards. Strangely, Keyleth gets the sense Lisichka seemed to have expected Mulligan's offer - and judging by her response, knew exactly how to respond. This arcanaloth is a survivor, and plays a hard bargain - her life is at stake, after all, and with a 30+, you can tell the arcanaloth is secretly fearful for its life considering the situation beyond her composed demeanor.

Varan turns towards the room's stone-carved walls and requests an answer into the air - and, perhaps unexpectedly, a moment later, the same voice from before rings out in response, originating from everywhere and nowhere - shaking you to the core. 

"Why show remorse to one who exploits others through technicality - twisting words and will to their desire?" is all the voice says. 

Lisichka's eyes widen as Wulgar reaches for her flask in an almost pleading look before Mulligan interferes. She releases a quick sigh and regains her composure - and interest - as Mulligan proposes an offer. "I have never tricked anyone in my work. The contracts I penned were always clear and open for all to read. I should not take the blame for the naivety of others, no? Mulligan - with all due respect, the others trapped in here are of the worst walks of life roaming the planes. I have no reason to believe the six of you will be truthful if I state everything I know, for you may simply pass me up after I've given you what I do know. I will respond with a counteroffer - I will present a sufficient amount of facts and proof to confirm my claims are true. Consider it a copay. Half will be revealed now, half upon my release. What I do ensure is any contract I agree to, I will follow to the very letter. You only need to state the terms - if they are to my liking, meaning you guarantee my life, I will happily follow the conditions you place upon my release."

"Here is what you should know - the being who trapped you here isn't as honorable as he thinks he is. In fact, I know one of you is here because another being bribed the creator to watch one of you run through these halls of misery. Something or other about the cost of ignorance and theft. In fact, he has fallen from grace for his very concepts of placing others through trials - his judgement has been led astray by time and wear. I know his name and what he is, for I have convicted him of crimes which led to his downfall - though that will be revealed upon my release."

"I additionally know twelve of the several dozen also wandering these halls. I will inform you of six. A speechless Kenku, lost to the whims of the spores which feast on her soul. Leviticus Solemnsworn, a man I previously met in Sigil - while not a dealbreaker, he is a contract-maker. Sold his soul to the devils of Avernus. Calibri Demescus, a human noble of Waterdeep knee-deep in a human trafficking scandal only kept alive by the bribes he delivers to the enforcers of the city. Two Eladrin twins, each representing the ugly faces of despair; called Misery and Mockery, they are rebels and anarchists seeking to sow chaos wherever they run. Finally, Myrdo Durnon, a dwarven healer who preaches death." 

“Finally, as this may be curious to one of you in specific. A white dragonborn who cheated death once, pledging revenge on those who bested him.”

"As for escape? There is none. We are in a conjured demiplane cast through a strange fusion of arcane and divine magic. I believe we are floating amidst the astral sea in a dimensionally-locked prison, though the exact location of this place is mere conjecture on my end. I urge you to consider what I have to offer - my intellect, spellcasting, and prowess in combat will certainly be useful as well."

"Prowess in combat."  Wulgar repeats with a flat face.  "Ok.  Thank you."  He moves forward and turns to the others, about to seal the flask shut and open the next unless he is stopped.  "Mulligan?  Any other questions for Lisichka?"

Ragnar seems disappointed.

"No escape? Are you going to tell us anything we don't already know?"

He waits for the arcanaloth to be sent back into its flask. 

The arcanaloth seems to be fighting panic. “Alright, alright! You know those crystals that transport you to other places in this dungeon? if you get enough of them - four is most likely enough - they can serve as a material component for a teleport spell to break through the magic locking this place down.”

 "Well, go on."  Avarice says plainly after a moment of silence.

     “We should move on,” Mulligan says in answer to Wulgar.  “Claims to have never tricked anyone, to only have worked in words?  Words are the trickiest things ever invented.  Never trust one who is too good with them…”

     “Says they cannot be blamed for the nnaïveté  of others, but it is that naïveté that all wordsmiths prey upon…”

     “And finally says no escape, though once in a panic suggests a possible way out via a teleport spell.”

     “The creature is surely telling as much truth as possible while still hiding what it feels is truly important.  The more we believe it, the more it will deceive us.” Mulligan concludes.

Varan's eyes widen in surprise when their caretaker answers his rhetorical question.  He shares a look with his allies to confirm they all heard it as well.  There are many implications... but it also tips the scales toward one of the theories percolating in Varan's mind.

"Relax, Lisichka.  You've done all in your power to convince us.  The matter is in our hands now, but you've given us a great deal to consider."  Varan will nod to Wulgar suggesting he return the arcanaloth to the flask and move on to the next one.

Varan will also cast his eye toward his allies' equipment, for the first time taking stock of what magic items they possess.  He is particularly looking to see if any of them possess a ring of mind shielding.

"Right then.  Back you go, Lisichka."  He opens the flask of the small hand stretching out of the moving river of water, and when Lisichka goes back into his iron flask he closes the stopper.  "Now who is next..."

Hearing the voice of the group's captor makes Keyleth's blood run cold. Whoever did this is watching them. This clearly sick person, or thing, she isn't even sure anymore, whatever he is, he's watching.

Lisichka's words about someone being here due to a bribe, about ignorance and theft, get the elf's attention. "Well," she remarks. "Varan, I suppose that answers your earlier question about why he deemed me enough of a criminal to belong here."

     "You, sure... But I'm an innocent and everyone loves me!" Mulligan says with a smile and a gleam in his eye.  He more or less believes it.

     And...  How much time is left on his Zone of Truth 10 minutes?  If it's over, or about so, he will recast it...

Keyleth, rather than responding verbally, simply gives Mulligan an are you sure about that look.

Wulgar pipes up at that, "Hah!  Methinks that you could spin a line of BS as good or better than that creature we just put back in the flask.  You're so good at it, you half convince yourself!  Hah!"  Wulgar snickers to himself.  Then he awaits the creature from the small hand in the running water flask to emerge for questioning.

It seems Lisichka wanted to continue speaking, a pleading look in her eyes, before her form turns to shadow and funnels back into the flask in a vortex-like fashion. 

Choosing the third of four flasks, Wulgar opens the hatch - and, in identical fashion to the previous two, another shape spills on the ground. She just barely slips through the Zone of Truth spell. 

DM screen:

Portrait:

 A pale woman bundled in dirtied rags and patchwork clothes greets your eyes. It appears the wrinkles in her face aren't necessarily due to age - likely stress and worry. She doesn't stand; rather, she crouches on the ground and leans against a wall. Her face momentarily jumps in surprise before her red-rimmed eyes, indicative of one who had been recently crying, settle on the flask in Wulgar's clawed hand. Tears spring in her eyes as an ugly sob escapes her lips. She does her best to gain a semblance of composure, though she clearly seems to be struggling through tears. 

"I am Elrin. I - I'm sorry." She holds up a hand in apology as she cries - her face seems scarred, as do her wrists. "I awoke to a lightless room, a voice - a voice rang in my head, he said that I'd be - I'd be judged for what I've done." She wipes a dirty rag over her eyes. "The voice said some people would come - come by and choose one to survive...I'm sorry, I'm trying to keep myself together." Her eyes flit towards the image on the flask and she breaks down in tears again. "I know what I did; I think about it every breathing moment. Neglect, he said. Neglect. I dozed off in a glade while taking the family for a picnic and - and my son...Tristan, was his name; oh, little Tristan - fell into the river...his scream woke me up, but it was too late. I couldn't save him. I was so struck with grief I didn't leave my bed for months. My husband left, and I did nothing but sit and brood, letting my two remaining children fend for themselves and me. I fell asleep, and I woke here. I know not if this is a dream or my own damnation...the only thing I wish for is to see my children." 

Ragnar scoffs inwardly. This one was perfect- her story of grief and pain was heart-shattering. It was too perfect. 

For confirmation, he whispers to Mulligan. "This one has broken your spell? That takes a strong mind. Something's wrong."

Wulgar frowns at Elrin, saying “There has to be more to it than that.  Being put in here for falling asleep and an accident occurring, being a bad mother.  That doesn’t make sense.  There must be more that you have done to land in a place like this, can you tell us more about your life, and elaborate further?”

     Mulligan considers a moment before replying to Ragnar.  “Could be this place itself is interfering with the spell.  Was a long shot at best…”

     Wandering over to Wulgar, Mulligan suggests “This whole thing is crazy. Nobody is suggesting our jailer has an enlightened sense of crime and punishment.  If everything is black and white…” in a whisper, ending with a shrug.

     “Ma’am, we sympathize.  We really do.  And we did not ask to be in this position… you are obviously suffering more than we but we are all victims here.  Let me ask you this…  If you were spared, then what?  What would you do differently?  How?  We’ve no idea how long you’ve been trapped or if you’d ever see your children again.  What would you do if you were given back life?”