Lost Lab of Kwalish

L'Chuck brings his echo back into the crawlspace, stopping it 10ft inside before returning his senses to his own body. He picks up his sword and stands up, placing he great blade on his back and climbing the ladder. He will make for Gravity and Ana, rather than the companions he doesn't know or trust as well, but not hiding anything from them if they are near enough to hear. In a low whisper, "They seem to have a penchant for draining things from their prisoners, so I strongly advise against capture. Nolzur is through there, half-dead or more by my reckoning. Looks to me to be his blood that they are draining for their pigment. Couldn't see this Phenex fella there though. Might cause a fuss if these muralists lost some of their colour too, though they are easily enough silenced..."

Gravity attempts to pay attention to the words though she's growing more anxious with time, she is gradually becoming twitchy and reactive which might be influenced by the newly collected information regarding the mobility of the architect. She has been trying to remember a common aspect or lore that may link the architect's fondness of traps, Demilich, binding a Balor and keeping Nolzur imprisoned for some kind of horrific experiment.

"The small group of seemingly loyal adventurers asked for our help, and I fear that we may need their help to release Nolzur. It's similar to the idea of mutual exploitation, but in a positive way. Let's get out of the entrance passage and dig deeper into the dungeon."

Intelligence: History 11

Kilis listen to L’Chuck and feels relieved that the blood didn’t come from one of the paladins. She felt a twinge of pity for the creature down there. But that was not her mission, sometimes the sea was cruel. 

“The best way forward is the corridor then” she concludes looking toward the pit and then with a sigh lifts her eyes towards the corridor.

Quote from PolarBearSoup >>

L'Chuck brings his echo back into the crawlspace, stopping it 10ft inside before returning his senses to his own body. He picks up his sword and stands up, placing he great blade on his back and climbing the ladder. He will make for Gravity and Ana, rather than the companions he doesn't know or trust as well, but not hiding anything from them if they are near enough to hear. In a low whisper, "They seem to have a penchant for draining things from their prisoners, so I strongly advise against capture. Nolzur is through there, half-dead or more by my reckoning. Looks to me to be his blood that they are draining for their pigment. Couldn't see this Phenex fella there though. Might cause a fuss if these muralists lost some of their colour too, though they are easily enough silenced..."

 <I don't know how this guy knows Nolzur, but he very well could have a preexisting relationship with him, especially given the pirate background.  I think that would be neat.  Not sure what terms the pair of you might be on, though.  That's on you.>

Quote from InkedBee >>

Gravity attempts to pay attention to the words though she's growing more anxious with time, she is gradually becoming twitchy and reactive which might be influenced by the newly collected information regarding the mobility of the architect. She has been trying to remember a common aspect or lore that may link the architect's fondness of traps, Demilich, binding a Balor and keeping Nolzur imprisoned for some kind of horrific experiment.

"The small group of seemingly loyal adventurers asked for our help, and I fear that we may need their help to release Nolzur. It's similar to the idea of mutual exploitation, but in a positive way. Let's get out of the entrance passage and dig deeper into the dungeon."

Intelligence: History 18

 You can literally just help him if you want to.  He's just down there drained of blood.  Healing magic would be the most direct thing to do.  Mind you, if you do know if him, he is a neutral master thief.  

At this point in history... he hasn't really done anything noteworthy and gotten caught.

5 

You hear soft footsteps coming from further down the crawlspace. A tiefling artisan with a bucket approaches from the opposite direction from the one you came.

(I'm assuming you're walking a bit hunched over to get through this space.  That's my interpretation of 'crawlspace' in this context.)

<I'm not sure if the party us splitting or what, based in the above lines, so here's the case if anyone is in the hole:>

Noting the party as she nears, the teifling challenges you, "Oi! We barely got enough pigment as it is sharing with the muralists, now what are you lot looking to paint?  I haven't seen any of you around before.  Jusr what are you doing down here, exactly?"

<And if not, this (in reference to the ground level corridor, not in a pit):>

This section of the wall has not yet been plastered or painted over, leaving an open doorway leading west. The pit before the doorway is crossed by a series of wooden planks.

<If you follow this route, I'll need a group Dex saves DC10 to safely cross the plank. If the party is split, just the members attempting to cross are averaged.>

Tetrevess will continue with the group, just following along. He doesn’t want to save the prisoner yet- maybe later.  

14 dex.   He passes a rope to his companions and uses it to cross  “ hold the rope,  although the planks look sturdy enough- If anyone falls, this should help”  

"Ah..we're new recruits. Boss Moghadam has sent us here to install a glyph trap, repair the weird-looking machine and craft a pair of hairbrush customized for his stunning haircut"

Gravity will blurt out the compilation of half-truths while attempting to squeeze herself through the narrow space. She has decided to help Nolzur escape from the prison, which is her first and foremost duty.

Charisma: Deception 21

"Glyph does seem like a fine idea.  I'm not the boss' biggest fan, but credit where it's due.  Can you set it to keep out any live stirges? Not enough to go around as it is." The tieflong replies.

She unwraps the unconscious Nolzur's bandaged arm and tries desperately to wring a few more drops of sanguine pigment into her bucket.  The labor is nearly fruitless.

She wraps him again, frowning.  "Never enough to go around.  Wonder if that alchemist has any other pupils able to produce such rare vermillion hues." She muses as she saunters back the way she came (forward relative to the path you've traveled to arrive here).

Nolzur Gravity and any PCs in her company are alone in the pit at this point.

Seeing Gravity disappear in to the small tunnel Kili’s resolve crumble. With a dead sigh, that sounds more like someone blowing bubbles, she klimbs down the ladder and follows Gravity.

”Let me past so I can get a look” she tells Gravity as she squeezes past her in the tunnel. 

Annoyed with herself for the detour she gives the strange man a crude look over and then reaches out and touch his arm. She makes a small prayer that sound like trickling water.

cure wounds 3rd level: 23

When she removes her hand, the mans wrist, where she touched him, looks a bit damp.

She turns to Gravity.

”We need to get him out of here”

Gravity chuckles lightly with astonishment when she finds Kili inside the crawl space. She will respond to her proposal by saying:

"Thank you. Madame Kili, 'tis but the work of a moment. But, let me do a quick scan of the place, when my friend Captain L'Chuck might want to interrogate Nolzur."

She will use her Shortbow to make tapping noise on the floor and place her ear against the wall in order to find some kind of secret door or alternative route.

Intelligence: Investigation 25 (Advantage from 'Dungeon Delver' feat)

<You're already in a cell midway through a crawlspace at the bottom of a hidden pit trap.  This is the secret route.  It does keep going east, deeper into the dungeon, the way the artisan went.>

Nolzur awakens, as a hint of color returns to his pale flesh.  "Please, no more.  Just let me die,  already.  I can't take any more of this!" the thief begs.

Gravity casts Prestidigitation on Nolzur's face in order to soil it and make it difficult to recognize at first glance. Then she will remove her polaroid glasses, and oversized robe; finally handing over the items to the thief so that he can cover his wounded hands or other distinguishable marks.

"We're here to rescue you, and if you want we can escort you outside of the hell hole. Hurry up, get on your feet and march!"

“Let me go first, I will try and distract the muralists so you can take our new friend and mix him in with our group” Kili says to Gravity and start to go back the passage the way the cam. She will climb up the ladder, making as much noise as she can with her scale male.

She’ll walk over to the working muralist and start overwhelmingly throw flattery araund.

” What an AMAZING pice of grass, I can almost smell the green field. And you my friend, I have never screen such natural talent at painting .. whatever that thing is. Oh how can you mix colours so perfectly master muralists?”

"Gads, thank you for coming to my aid.  Did Thesselar send you? It doesn't matter.  However yoi got here, I'm grateful.  You won't regret it.  Now let's get out of here." The alert but disoriented thief urges.

The exsanguinated Nolzur is still getting his footing after so long laying in the dungeon cell, but manages with yiur help to once again ascend the ladder.

<I know he's got a disguise, but I'm guessing you're also trying to be stealthy, so make 2 checks.  First a stealth with advantage from Kilis distraction (DC13) if that fails, you've still got the deception check, DC16, straight.  I think Gravity should roll these, as Nolzur is both an NPC and really relying on her at the moment. >

Raeland waits at the bottom of the pit for the rescue team to emerge, helping Kilis out of the crawlspace and on her way up the ladder. As Nolzur exits the crawlspace, Raeland extends his hand to help the man up, "As I live and breathe, I didn't think I would get to see your sorry face again!" He pauses, waiting for any sogn of recognition, though expecting none. "Didn't think you'd remember me. Guess we can save the reunion for once we have you out of here. Get up the ladder." Raeland undoes his bandana and ties it around Nolzur's head, hiding his hair before sending him up and turning to help Gravity out of the crawlspace. "Let's hope that'a enough to get him out of here. Do good girl."

"Raeland? You old sea dog! What are you after, then?  You find something in the sea of falling stars that led you here?  Made your way to the interior of the isle if Lith?  Don't tell me you came all the way here looking for me. I know I said I'd pay you back one day, but but there's no chance you're so desperate for a few hayar (yellow pearls used as currency) that you'd track me down here."

Dexterity: Stealth

Gravity lifts herself out of the pit and examines her surrounding carefully, especially she will squint her eyes in order to take a look at the entrance of the tomb then averting her gaze to watch the current condition of Tarnhem, the captive Balor. 

"Nolzur, skip the niceties and hold my hand, I'll pull you out. We don't want to get caught red-handed by the boss Stirge."

Tarnhem is laying on the ground, still breathing but looking weaker than before.  Apparently the exchange strained him to his limits.

The crew manages to sneak Nolzur past the muralists.

<Are you taking him out past the dwarves or over the pit to the rest of the dungeon?  The former seems more likely and I won't require another stealth check if you want it he's out on his own and grateful.  You should at least talk to him once more, though before you turn him loose, uness you're keeping him with you.   Up to you. >