Sly looks over to the others, saying: "In that case, I propose to head back to the room with the statue and continue on. What say you?"

To Efavil she says: "There is an unconscious elf we rescued from the first dungeon back in the entrance chamber. From what I hear, she was imprisoned for a long time and may need some calming remedies to help her get aquainted back into the 'real' world. Something to soothe the soul. Do you have anything like that here?"

‘Hmm, I don’t have anything specific for your problem, but perhaps you could prepare some of those Liferoots you took in a way that could help her?’

Eggo Lass nods in agreement with Sly's suggestion. She eyes the fire in the other room with one last look and is ready to head on, after the potential issue with the elf lady's unconsciousness is solved.

Here are a couple of characters, let me know if one of them would work for your campaign. If they are too far out there I have some more mainstream ones as well.

Goblin Druid - Circle of Spores
https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/123712303

or

Aarokocra Druid - Life Domain
https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/123712303

All that are willing head out the south door that connects to the long 60 feet corridor back to the statue room and are met with a unexpected sight. About 15 feet down the corridor stands Ivory, her spellbook in one hand and her paw outstretched in a fist in the other. At first it's unclear what she's doing, but as you peek further down the corridor you come to the unsettling realisation of what's truly going on. Aria is awake, and located 30 feet away at the entrance to the first room where you left her; clearly she woke up a little earlier than expected and came out here looking for you, but now she seems to be paralysed and struggling limply, stuck to the spot as if by some invisible force.

Ivory's ears perk up as she hears you all coming through the door. 'Ah, I wondered when you'd have caught up. I seem to have fell behind on time as I just can't figure out the password for the statue, and the abjuration magic around it is too strong for me too bypass. As for this elf, they stumbled out of the room up there, and so thinking she was a threat I subdued her with a Hold Person spell.' Spotting the look on Aria's face as she sees you, Ivory begins to put two and two together. 'Oh, so you know each other? Excellent!' Turning to face you but still keeping Aria magically restrained Ivory says 'If you know the pass phrase, give it up now and I'll let this elf maiden go. And if you're not willing to give it up, I'll magically probe your brains for the word and take her with me as well, though she may end up being just a drain on my time and resources. Don't go trying to act hero and fight me either, I'm leagues ahead of all of you in terms of experience, to attack me would be a death sentence and I don't want to get my paws dirty just yet.' She ends that sentences with a wry and smug smile, and says 'So what will it be?'

Eggo Lass thinks for a moment. What did they know about the cat-[1gp]? Well she was a wizard. She'd cast knock in the previous dungeon. And if she still had a spell slot to be threatening detect thoughts then that required at least 3 lv2 spell slots. So at minimum a lv3 wizard that had taken a short rest or a lv4 one. Either way that would leave her with 4 lv1 spell slots, assuming she hadn't spent any. Considering she knew at least 3 lv2 spells, odds favored the 4th level with potentially 2 2nd level spell slots still available. Of course the cat-[1gp] could know higher level spells that hadn't been cast, putting the theoretical limit much higher. But forcing her to try and probe their minds, well that would expend her resources. And even if they couldn't quit catch up to her yet it could allow them to recoup resources here with Effavil before pursuing the cat-[1gp] once again.

She smiles, thinking about how a detect thoughts would require a dropping of the hold person. Telepathically she asks Aria, "How rested are you?"

'I'm okay, just a bit drowsy, that's all' Aria telepathically responds. 'I've not quite gotten used to being back in the real world as everything still feels a bit like a dream, but I think I've regained a slight bit of sanity,' You see a weak smile spread on her face as she messages you that. 'There was clearly something in that mirror made to madden people, I'd hazard a guess that if I had stayed much longer I would have gone completely loopy! As for Ivory, I think she's much stronger than she's letting on, so I wouldn't dare attack her myself if I could. And not to be selfish, but I'd rather not be taken with her as she'll probably end up using me as cannon fodder for some trap or some other inhumane purpose.'

Quote from stewartbobby312 >>

Here are a couple of characters, let me know if one of them would work for your campaign. If they are too far out there I have some more mainstream ones as well.

Goblin Druid - Circle of Spores
https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/123712303

or

Aarokocra Druid - Life Domain
https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/123712303

 Hi, I think you might have clicked the wrong forum. If not, we are unfortunately not currently recruiting.

Sly is tense, tries not to show it. There the tabaxi was, still in the same dungeon as they. After thinking quickly over their options, the tiefling didn't think that there was any good reason not to give Ivory what she wanted.

If anything, the powerful wizard would blast away the dangers ahead. Ivory could be used as a tool. Sly very much liked that idea.

She looks over to the others, gauging their reactions. To buy time, she asks: "Well, you're clearly superior to us, no discussion. But do you think you're a match for the Blood Archivist?"

Eggo Lass frowns upon learning Ivory could be stronger than she hoped. Oh well. A fight for another day. As Sly speaks she decides to add on, "Of course she's a match for the Blood Archivist. A wizard like her that can cast," she pauses, thinking of spells to laud and gauge if Ivory feels smug about them, "fireball, or polymorph, would surely be able to defeat such a one. I'm sure she'd waltz into that room, put a geas on that ol' coot, and have him slap himself silly until a neat and tidy finger of death did the trick."

Insight: 9+1 = 10
//trying to see if she has any insight into Ivory's spell list, hoping the tabaxi's hubris leads to her revealing any tells

//if needed
Deception: 20+6 = 26
//not sure if this is needed, or if advantage might apply if we're working together? since Eggo Lass certainly does not idolize Ivory

'You do flatter me, but I don't yet have the capabilities to take on the Blood Archivist himself with the spells I possess at my current stage. However, I have 98 more dungeons to train and grow, and with each one I'll become stronger.' she then takes an idle leaf through her spellbook and says 'If only I had mastered that Legend Lore spell I wouldn't have had to engage in this fiasco. Oh well, just a few more days of training with it and I'll have it down to a t! I appreciate that you recognise my superiority though, such an attitude will suit you well when I become queen! Now, as a little practice run to show me your obedience, why don't you tell me the passcode?'

Sly placidly listens to Ivory, showing an appropriate amount of interest. Her eyes take in the details of the tabaxis spellbook. Surely, that thing must be a trove of valuable information. Well, nothing to be done about it now. Who knew what Ivory was capable of, what powers she hadn't shown up to this point.

Since there was no protest from any of the others in the group, Sly says: "You have us outmatched. The password is: Peppermint."

Ivory gives another smug smile and releases her balled fist, allowing Aria to fall to the ground as she dispels Hold Person. 'Thank you, your obedience will serve you well later!' she says, before turning away from you and making her way down the corridor to the statue room, stepping over Aria as if she wasn't there with a flick of her tail.

Sly looks after Ivory for the double purpose of making sure the tabaxi didn't try anything else hostile and also to stare daggers in her back. Then the tiefling heads over to Aria. "You woke earlier than I expected. We absconded the first dungeon with you in tow, because you were unconscious and our abilities seem ill suited to healing. When we left you in the first room, I didn't think the feline would sneak around behind our backs. How are you feeling?"

To the party at large Sly says: "It is my recommendation that we stay here until the cantancerous wizard is well and truly gone. Perhaps an hour of rest in the library area?"

"A rest sounds delightful!" says Eggo Lass, holding back the urge to be sick after complimenting Ivory. A nice toasty library just a short walk- the goat. Well if Effavil seemed trouble they could just blame Ivory. 

Bilyur remains calm throughout the entire interaction, however, as soon as the tabaxi has left the room, he slams both fists into the wall. 

Unarmed strike, 20 to hit, 5 damage

Unarmed strike, bonus action, 22 to hit, six damage.

Hugh's eyes snap open, "Sorry about that folks, I seem to have caught a nasty case of the NPC flu. Hopefully it is done now. Now, let me see what I can find out," he inclines his head around the room, the words spoken in a very hushed whisper. Moving slowly and cautiously to the corridor, stepping around Aria, Hugh takes a quick peek down the hall. "Was there any sort of Catnip in the garden?" If there was, "May I have some, just in case," he says with a grin.

Perception 18 to check the condition down the hall.

If Ivory is no longer in sight, Hugh slips into the corridor trying to catch sight of or hear Ivory and then tail her, Stealth 9

If Hugh notices Ivory moving back towards the group (and him since he is between her and them), he will flatten himself against the wall and then carefully get the CatNip ready if it was there.

Aria gives a firm smile to Sly and says, 'I'm really starting to feel my senses come back to me, though a rest would be great.' Hugh finds no Catnip in the garden but when they check the main hall they spot the stone statue moving, marching back into place in front of the door before freezing again; Ivory clearly wasted no time in moving to the second half of the dungeon. I think everyone is happy to take a short rest in the study so feel free to do that, recover any hit points and do some downtime activities

Sly spends the time leisurely going up and down the bookcase, looking for tomes about how to keep small houseplants alive. Perhaps one of these would be comprehensive enough to be useful in their journey. Nature was a subject that eluded her and here was a veritable trove of information on the subject.

OoC: Effectively, Sly would intuitively search for a book that qualifies for borrowed knowledge, a spell that she doesn't have yet.

You examine the books on the shelves and curiously find that they’re all blank, inside and out, so maybe they are purely decorative? However, you assume that the copy of Houseplant Necromancy you took from the first room should do the trick for Borrowed Knowledge (as would Pots Fit for Gods and The Turtle of Tyraa)