Sieg turns to look at his companion after addressing those words to him... only to find that he's run off to the fighting pit to grab himself a stick.

Talon races down the the fighting pit to grab that quarterstaff he was eying earlier. He feels he's being pretty sneaky until he hears a hissing voice calling after him, "Talon! TalonismeCliptip! Talon where you going!?"

Nevertheless, he manages to get to the pit and get close enough to put his hands on the staff before a massive hand grabs the staff, holding it still and husky, gravely voice says, "Oy! The **** you doin' ya nasty little grumpkin! Hands off!"

Talon turns and sees a bulky human bouncer looming over him with impatience in his eyes.

Talon explains that he thought he was allowed to take the weapon since it was offered right before the fight with Fistmeat. His eyes grow wide and puppydog-like over the course of his plea. The whole time, in the background, Cliptip can be heard shouting, "Talon! Overhere! Howcome you don't look?"

The bouncer, thrown by this endearing display, looks over to Gleb who sees what's going on and silently waves the problem away as if to say, "Go. Let him take it."

In response, the bouncer releases the staff and says. "Alright, ya little beast. Take it and get clear a here before I change my mind 'n make a belt of ya. Shoo!"  With that, the bouncer feints an attack, trying to chase Talon away, then returns to his duties.

Cliptip finally races over to Talon, out of breath and says, "Taloncome. Onifax says something big is happened. Wants lots of helpers to come by do some big helping. And I said 'ooh, I know I'll find Talon' and so I came to find you and they said you were a fighting and went woom! vooom! scratch! and I said that sound like Talon he's super greatest and they say get outtahere and I say no I gotto find Talon and they say he's in back and so I go in back and then you run out here and then you grab that stick and man says, 'hey, why you grab that stick!' and then you said that smart thing to him and now you have the stick and I runned up and said Taloncome. Onifax says something big is happened. And then it was now." 

Cliptip stands there catching her breath for a moment, just staring at Talon and blinking, waiting for the inevitable accolades she'll receive from him for delivering that message.

Talon finally gets away with the quarterstaff, grinning like a fiend as he looks at his new weapon.  It seems the tussle in the arena was enough to make him consider some new options.  He stops dead in his tracks, though, as he hears a familiar voice.  

The red Kobold studies Cliptip for a moment, looking stunned that the other Kobold is still there.  He hears Sieg calling, and, finding himself the center of attention from Brother Emmitt, Sieg, and Cliptip, and slowly takes up a power stance, his little chest puffed out, his hands on his hips; he doesn't look like the same scared Kobold he was just a little bit ago when he stepped into the arena to be mostly just a distraction for Sieg's fight with Fistmeat.  He actually looks confident.  

As he listens, a small, bright red frill extends from his chin, showing off just how strong and sexy he is for a male Kobold, like he's suddenly king of the world.  He tilts his head back, showing this bright red fan off for everyone to see (in what is would probably be seen as an obscene gesture from anyone who understood Kobold physiology or sociological signals...) while he listens to Cliptip's message.  

"Oooh....yesyes, Cliptip, I am very important."  Talon confirms, his chest puffed out like he's arrow-proof.  "Cliptip was right to come find Talon, yes!  I will bring my assistant, Sieg, and we will do big helping!  Oh, but yes Sieg, this is a goodgoodchance to see friend Onifax too yes!  Ah, but Cliptip this place is dangerous and no place for you!  Theythem were right to keeps you out!  And you are right!  Talon is very smart and yes, now is over and then is then and now so we must go before then gets here!"  

Seamew Sewers

Time of Day -- 3AM

(Atmospheric Sound)

Cliptip quickly leads Sieg and Talon through a maze of narrow alleyways... As she moves, she occasionally makes sudden maneuvers ducking into random corners and changing up her speed erratically. Before either of you have a chance to ask why, you realize you're being followed. Human men wearing armor like that adorned by Brother Emmitt's personal guards try their best to keep you in line of sight. However, their efforts are too clumsy while Cliptip & Talon's familiarity with the town's shadows are as sharp as can be.

Eventually, Cliptip leads you into an abandoned building with a broken stone floor that provides easy access to the sewer and storm drain system below. Almost at the same time, another pair of kobolds emerge from the building and dart forward, continuing along your previous path... A well-timed decoy. It's the first time Sieg has ever really seen how clever and well-organized some of these kobolds can be.

The three of you nimbly climb down into the sewer system, following a well-worn path toward what appears to be a solid wall. Cliptip knocks on a metal pipe and a secret door slides open, allowing you access to a stone room where a half-dozen kobolds sit on their haunches... One of them turns to look at the new arrivals. Talon recognizes him immediately as Spike, a nasty-looking, critter with a tail that ends in a gnarled tangle of spikes. He sports a rusty broken blade strapped to his back. Upon seeing Talon he sneers and lets out an almost involuntary hiss... The crimson frills under his neck blossoming only slightly before settling back into place.

The group of kobolds give their full attention to Onifax, a tall, green-scaled dragonborn of difficult-to-read gender wearing a respectable robe. 

She appears to be giving them instructions. "...without putting our operation in jeopardy. If these two really were escaping that ship, that means someone's going to come looking for them, sooner rather than later. And that why I need you all to be extra careful to keep intruders out... In fact, I'm even willing to give each of you a shiny new copper. I mean it. One for every day you're able to keep the bad humans away. Now, how does that sound to you?"

The kobolds all eagerly hiss with enthusiasm at the prospect of all those shiny coppers in their pockets... As they do, the dragonborn turns to you both, raises an eyebrow ridge with some level of concern and says. "Ah... Talon... Dear boy...  Good of you to join the rest of us down below..." She gives Sieg an appraising look, barely concealing the frustration in her voice. "And... who, might I ask, is this companion of yours that you've led down to my private sanctum?"

Talon's eyes meet Spike's and the two growl at each other for a moment while Talon sizes up his rival.  He instantly forgets about Spike when Onifax starts talking.  His eyes light up as if his own personal Messiah has just addressed him.  

"Ah,oh, this is Sieg!"  Talon says with excitement thrusting both hands at Sieg as if to say 'ta-da'.  "He is very tough and very smartsmart!  He is Talon's friend and helps have Talon survive hm!  Sieg and Talon and can do anything together!  True verymuch!"  

Onifax looks to Sieg, his voice heavy with suspicion... "I don't doubt it..."

The dragonborn casually squares herself with the Eladrin, jaw firm, managing a slow but steady intake of breath before she asks... "So, tell me, Smart-Smart Sieg... Aside from your benevolent interest in keeping our mutual friend here alive... what brings you down here into the bowls of Seamew? Rare to see anyone come down here without a purpose. Is there something I can help you with?"

"I see..." Says Onifax, eyeing the eladrin's ears. "...well... she's right...

Turning to the gathered kobolds, she barks something in draconic.

Immediately, the kobolds, including Cliptip scatter. Onifax gestures to Talon, however, suggesting it's alright for him to stay.

As the kobolds leave, the dragonborn relaxes slightly, and a hint of green mist escapes from her nostrils. Her searching expression measures Sieg's reaction as she explains... "I put the call out wide for some extra security... I have reason to believe some trade rivals might take action against my business and I need to make sure my interests stay protected... These rivals... A certain group of humans... They have a bit of an itch when it comes to folks who aren't quite like them...  bit of fascination... envy... bitterness... something maybe a little darker... Possibly you know the ones I mean. They've been docked since this morning. Big naked man on the sail. Causing a big fuss around town."

Onifax lets the implied question hang for a moment before continuing, "Anyway. These humans... Their reactions can be hard to predict... but I know enough about them to understand they can't be reasoned with..." As she talks, she reaches into her pocket and produces a pair of gold coins. "But I get the sense you can be reasoned with... Am I right about that?"

With a bit of sleight-of-hand, Onifax makes the coins seem disappear as she places a single finger against her lips and continues in a whisper... "Shhh... Don't tell the kobolds..."

With another flick of her wrist, she summons the coins again and extends one of them out for Sieg to take. "The first is for your silence. The second is for your help... And two more for each day you secure the safety of my operation... But first I need to know that I can trust you..." She nods towards Talon. "You've earned Talon's respect... That's good. Seems like you've looked after him... and for no gain of your own that I can figure. That either makes you very stupid or very loyal... And you don't strike me as a stupid."

She moves closer, eying Sieg intensely. "But, tell me, Smart-Smart Sieg... How far can you be relied on? Are you ready to go against an organized operation, hellbent on rounding up beings like yourself and sucking the living magic right out of your veins?" He taps the remaining gold coin against the back of a chair for emphasis, an eerie echo of Brother Emmitt's behavior back at the Fool's Boon... and then he points a steady finger at both of you. "Have you ever faced down something like that? When you're backed against a wall... How do I know you won't betray me to save your own skin?"

Onifax considers your words for a long moment, pokerfaced... Then her mouth curls into a teeth-baring grin.

"I think I see how you've managed to stay alive so long." She says. "I'm curious to know what sort of promises were made... You'll have to tell me all about that... But, I sense you're a clever fellow and realize those humans are like to turn on you the moment you're no longer of use..."

She scratches her chin again. "What I need is a clever fellow who can put up the sort of fight my friends can't manage on their own. Someone to stay close at hand, protect from any human incursions and help carry out any emergency plans for defense or escape if necessary..." She stops again, apparently considering how much she wants to say.  "Someone who's willing to adapt as new information comes to light... Can you do this?"

Onifax's eyes narrow slightly in something like a smile."Alright then... Let's see how good of an ally you can be."

She then looks to Talon, haunching a bit to bring herself a bit closer to his level. "Talon, you clever little kobold, you've done very good. Why don't you and your smartsmart friend go make yourself comfortable in one of the bunk tent? You can show him how we handle patrols in the morning." 

As the kobold leads his friend out of the chamber, Sieg sees Onifax's expression shift slightly to reveal just a hint of concern as she shuts and bars the door behind them...

Seamew Sewers

5 o'clock AM

Talon leads Sieg to a ramshackle encampment constructed along the banks of the flowing sewer. The stench is foul and the bedding is vermin infested but it's a homecoming for Talon and not the worst place Sieg has ever crashed. After a bit of activity among the other kobolds things start to quiet down enough to settle in for a full rest.

All the while, neither of you can quite shake the sense that someone or something is watching you... Not from a nearby shadow or corner... but from somewhere else... biding their time.

The next morning...

1st of Mathair "Feast of the Mother Moon"

12 o'clock PM

Remarkably, the kobold troops allow you a full evenings rest before rousting you both from your slumber. You're provided access to the kobolds armory (granting you free access to any simple weapon). Talon leads a rough tour of the sewers, giving Sieg a firsthand view of his companion's true breadth of knowledge about the world that exists under the town. Nothing seems out of place... except for your sighting of a hooded man who seemed far too well-equipped for the sewer to have wandered here by mistake... The man disappears from sight almost as soon as you notice him, but the odd way he looked at Sieg left one word lingering in the eladrin's head.... "spy".

Talon's initial reaction is panic. He recognizes the foe immediately as a purser... An informal collection of freelance hunters and trappers who prowl the sewers with the sole purpose of killing kobolds. Why he'd run from being spotted by Talon... or why he'd have an interest in spotting Sieg is something neither of you can quite figure.

As you make your way back to give your report to Onifax you notice an odd-looking trio of new arrivals disembarking from a small keelboat near one of the storm drain access points -- A dark-skinned human woman in smuggler's gear, a curious looking halfling in farmers clothes, and a nervous-looking humanoid rabbit. You see the three of them being led into Onifax's chamber as you approach.

You're about to follow when the kobold Spike blocks your path, having been given guard duty at the storm drain access point. A hiss from Talon and an explanation from Sieg is enough to get the ornery kobold to back away and let you follow the new arrivals inside.

To be continued in a new thread...