Checking out the Pathfinders seems like a good option, IMO. They're a great way to find places to explore for loot and XP. They probably won't be overly prejudiced either, IIRC. Still not sure about Sirim, though.
We should consider visiting an Abadaran bank, too. Those bank notes we've been carrying around almost since the beginning could be worth something.
After we get Sirim back to a position of security and they feel safe, a tricksy wizard who we helped might consent to being under a temporary non-lying-curse, or some other strong method of disallowing lies.
Ripping the idea of how to check for
genuine honesty from Dimension 20 season 16, "Neverafter".
My thinking is we ask a resonable set of questions, "do you intend to fuck us over", and - grabbing from the wiki - we ask something that has a similar effect to:
Rapunzel, despite being uncomfortable around witches, had had a meeting with the Baba Yaga for help. In this conversation, Baba Yaga swore to snatch the tongue out of Rapunzel's mouth if she ever told a lie. After Rapunzel's imploring speech [spoken while under a spell of 'not-lying'], Baba Yaga She then asked the princess, "If instead of threatening based on whether you uttered a lie, I had instead conditioned my statement on you telling the truth, would I now hold your tongue in my hand?" With that, Rapunzel curtseyed, and left without speaking, meaning that she wasn't being entirely truthful.
Basically, we ask the questions, and then we ask "were you
honest with us about with previous answers rather than merely
not lying?"
[Also, what are the specifics of what is going on with you possessing/surviving through your familiar? We might accept being morally flexable in times of desperation, but there is a limit and we don't want to get entangled with someone who's happy to be... really shitty.]
Honestly, a level 5+ wizard could book passage on a boat easily enough imo, if only with the promise of payment at port in terms of money or a few stashed magic items. Especially if they can point to a group like the Pathfinders and say one is a member.
The desire to avoid embarrassment about their circumstances still sounds like a lie to me
----
Aside from me wanting to give Sirim a chance - which means consensually questioning them while they can not lie - after we get to port and they feel secure in their position - I really do like the bank and Pathfinders idea.
----
My piority is:
1. Lich
2. Gorok's folk
3. Cash out the bank notes if possible
4. Pathfinders for general plot hooks and general plot hook accessories. If there's any group who can be expected to be 'probably-good-folk bearing evil aligned magic items' it's probably the Pathfinders.
----
Though the first three are likely to be hooks on their own, iirc, DP said as much regarding the bank notes at least.