"Good.  You can't dangle a carrot as juicy as treasure hunting and then take it back.  Yes, we owe you a marker and probably then some.  A contact?  How would we know this contact is from you and not..."  she doesn't want to say his name.

She smiles at Dardek, "Right." and she pokes him in the side with her elbow.  She then looks to the others to see who all will be traveling with them, and if they agree on the dwarves or think that one of the other options would be better.

Pal's eyes bulge when he sees Dardek approach him with finger outstretched, he'll gasp and hop away from the poke, "D-don't touch m-me!" Then, as Dardek displays contrition he'll blink a few times and and mumble, "It's... It's fine..."

When more people enter the room Pal will hurry back over to Nib and stand behind him, watching the proceedings with wide, blinking eyes. Hearing Onifax's explanation regarding the herbs, Pal will say, "Did you say spellcasting? As in magic? Do you know how to do magic?" He'll turn and indicate Nib, "That's why we left home, to find the lost magic and return it to the world, for the benefit of all." As Onifax continues her explanation of their options, Pal gains a look of consternation upon his face, "The way you speak about the Reclaimers... It sounds like you think they're bad or evil, but I've heard of them as benevolent. Seeking to return magic to the world, for everyone to use..."

When Ashley addresses him, Pal will blush and avert his eyes. He'll rub the back of his head and fleetingly return eye contact, "Er..." Thinking of Onifax's warning about these nebulous Pursuers valuing his pelt, Pal will decide that he would indeed feel safer traveling in a larger group, "Sure."

Pal's not yet comfortable enough in this group to offer an opinion on what they should do, but he'll tentatively mention that he can speak Dwarvish, Elvish, and Halfling.

Dardek sitting, watching and listening the bunny rabbit speak feels a pit in his stomach. He meekly speaks up "They put me in chains and locked me in a cell....."

Ashley regards the hare warily. "Return magic to the world?  You sound like a Reclaimer, that's for sure.  How do you propose to do that?  Take it from those that come by it naturally?  That's what they do.  At least attempt.  I have been a damn lab rat my entire life.  Benevolent?!"  She speaks this last word with complete and utter exasperation, "I doubt any sane person would call what they do benevolent."

She walks over and sits next to Dardek, looking down at her feet, she wipes a tear that has rolled down her cheek, "I won't ever go back there.  I won't."  She looks up to Pal with fear and anger in her eyes, "You can't make me."

Dardek places a hand on Ashley’s arm in what he thinks is a consoling way. He saw a cleric do this once to another cleric who was upset at how far one of the tests had gone they performed on him

"No one's going back." Says Onifax, her voice severe. Her eyes lingering not on Ashley but Sieg...

After a moment her stern expression shifts slightly into a slight grin. "Where would be the profit in that?"

She shifts her attention to Pal. "I'm no spell-caster... Just a simple merchant... And contrary to what some believe, magic was never lost... It thrives all around us... It's a way of life among the faefolk and their kin... Gods bestow its power to their followers... It flows through the veins of some since birth." She looks meaningfully towards Dardek comforting Ashley, before turning back to Pal, as if to say... "See?"

She squares her shoulders for a moment, a frank tone coming to her voice, "It's not anyone's to find, or restore... And those who claim otherwise are missing its beauty... the beauty of something cannot be perceived... yet we all know is there... An ephemeral thread that links everything... From the breath of a newborn babe to gale force winds of a mighty hurricane... It cannot be tamed. It can only be embraced." 

She gently motions for Pal to close the distance between himself and the two mysteries, Dardek and Ashley. "If you want to learn about magic. I urge you reject the ones who wish to bring it to heel... and instead, travel alongside those who've lived with it all their lives."

Leaving Pal with that thought, Onifax moves to her desk and stretches out a map, motioning for the others to gather around her.  (See below)

She taps on it, indicating toward Sieg and Talon. "Traveling to the dwarven nations should be simple enough, assuming our kobold friend here can help get you folks out of the city. The trade road would be a risk, but it will make for easier traveling than traversing the wilds of the Charnal Range. And, again, there's no guarantee the dwarves would provide sanctuary. The bond between humans and the dwarven nations is strong and their feelings towards the reclamation movement varies from nation to nation and clan to clan."

She taps on the body of water between the body of water between the Bramblebottom Woods and Rocholl Groves. "The town of Caieli, on the southern bank of Goosetear Lake was founded by beings of half-elven descent. Their relationship between both humans and elves is a complicated one. However, if you can win their favor, they may help you find passage on a caravan to travel north, beyond this region, to Faeglen Forest. It's a harrowing journey and frought with uncertainty... However, if you can earn the respect of the elves, your protection against the reclaimers will be ironclad."

She moves her finger all around the map. "Of course, there are countless other places to hide out and lay low if you want to forge your own path... Just steer clear of Castellum. The fortified human city will almost certainly harbor sympathies for the Reclaimers... Also, while the human rangers of Roan reject the encroachment of imperious outsiders such as the reclaimers.... They tend to be suspicious of nonhuman folk. Approach with care."

Finally, with a flourish, she rolls up the map and offers it to you all. "Just let me know where you're headed, and I'll send a familiar face to meet you." 

He looks to Alianor. She lets out a huff. "It's gonna cost ya." She says.

Onifax nods and smiles. "I'd expect nothing less.. Once we're back in communication, we'll discuss next steps..."

She regards you all with a devilish smile. "If it's treasure hunting you want, I think I can oblige... Looking at you all, I see plenty of opportunities if you're willing to take the risk."

Her smile drops again and her demeanor shifts. "So where will it be? And decide quickly, because every minute we wait, Brother Emmitt's hired dogs are moving closer to sniffing us out"

Pal will turn to Dardek and Ashely, his hands drawn up to his chest, "I... I'm sorry... I didn't... I only..." He'll sigh and rub the back of his head, "I'm not here to make anyone do anything. I was told the Reclaimers wanted to do good things and that's what I wanted to do, so I left my home with my friend Nib and sought them out... My first journey off the farm hasn't been quite what I have expected... I've learned a few things... Some things still don't make sense... But I do know that I want to do good and help people. If you're amenable to it, I'd like to start by helping you."

Dardek looks at Ashley and then at everyone else "I will do what Ashley does....I am not fighter. I have read lots of books and as you may have guessed....I can do things that are sought by the reclaimers and others......"

Ashley listens intently to Onifax, and slowly starts changing her mind.  There was just so much information and shoot... she wasn't used to making decisions, all decisions were always made for her.  Even what she ate, was made for her.  The possibilities that are laid out in front of her excite her and fill her with trepidation.  

Before commenting, she looks to Pal as he apologizes and her eyes soften.  "Sounds like you've been pretty sheltered your life as well.  You up for an adventure?  Heading out into the wilderness?  If so, I'd like to show you what I know, cause doing good?  We need more of that in this world."

"I worry about going to the dwarves and running into those that sympathize with the Reclaimers.  I kind of stick out and the half-elves are starting to sound more of a better situation?  Ironclad protection?"  she smiles, "Now that's what I would love.  Onifax, any idea on how to win their favor?  Are these the ones that require a gift, or.." she looks at the dragonborn with a quizzical face, but then to the others, wondering what they are thinking and feeling time ticking away and it is starting to make her fret.

To Ashley, Onifax replies, "The half-elves of Caeili require no such tribute. However, the full-blooded elves of the Faeglen Forest almost certainly will. With some persuasion, it's possible you can win favor of the half-elves who might be able to provide an introduction... However, relations between the two bloodlines can be strained at times. Bringing a rare offering is a surer way to win their hearts, should they be reticent about extending their protection to outsiders.""

She nods toward her desk. "I always have leads about where you might find a treasure worth their attention... However, any treasure worth finding is sure to involve a good number of dangers to navigate... and I'll, of course, expect my cut for pointing you in the right direction."

Just then, something occurs to her... "The delivery I was expecting from the Church of the Endless Wanderer might be just the thing you need... If you can ever find what happened to the courier..."

Onifax clarifies. "I don't believe my contact ever made it to the city, or they would have come straight here. Most likely they were headed down the Faergach by barge."

Alianor adds, "She's a wicked river when she wants t' be... Especially over long hauls... She'll lure ye inte thinkin' she's yer sweetheart, then..." She slaps her palms together loudly as if to say "bam".

Onifax seems uncomfortable with the prospect. "I hope that's not the case, though it's probably likely..." She shakes her head, banishing the result. "...they were to deliver some sort of artifact of their faith. Something I was intended to offer up to local collectors on consignment. It's been a difficult year for The Church of the Eternal Wanderer. Changing migratory patterns have altered their traditional food supply and they've been reduced to trading assets to feed their households.

"The terms and details of our arrangement were to arrive along with the artifact... So, I'm as much in the dark as you are. One thing I know for sure is that it must have been something of impressive value, based on the buyers the church wanted to target."

She regards both Ashley and Sieg. "And that's the sort of thing that will win you the favor of the elves..." 

She hesitates a moment, adopting a somewhat diplomatic tone and distinctly not looking at Sieg. "They are an extremely proud people and they live remarkably long lives. Their standards for what makes a 'worthy' tribute are a bit higher than you might find in your local human settlement. If you want in, you'll need to impress them... And they are not easily impressed."

Recalling the dead man Nib and he passed on their way to Seamew, Pal will pipe up, "Nib and I passed someone who crashed their boat and... died... while we were headed here. Vegepygmies also... Er... used their corpse for shelter... But there was a chest amid the wreckage, we never did see what was inside... I wonder if this was your lost courier?"

Nib has been sitting there pulling his lip, listening to the back and forth, his head rotating around like it was on a swivel.  At this point he blurts out “Yeah, I can getcha there.  It was creepy!  I poked it with an oar, but this creepy little thing came out of the body, he didn’t look like a fun guy.”  He turns looking at Pal, questioning look, “Vegepigmies?  Is that the not-so fun guy that you were mentioning?  I’m glad we ran away from them!  But maybe… if we had all of you….”  He looks around.  “We could pop that chest open and maybe the treasure is there!”  He keeps talking to himself.  “Or I could stab em if i need to…” he puts his hand on his dagger, then brings it out for a moment to see the gleam in the light, he looks proud on his face, like he is a little big man, appearing slightly cocky for a moment, then he puts it back away and pats it.   

“Yeah, I could handle it.”  He puts his thumbs underneath the straps on his back and flares them out, making his little chest seem bigger.  “I’ll protect ya Pal, and we’ll get that treasure, sure enough!  Are we all together on it?  Then maybe we can see the elves!”  

Talon listens to all this, having a sullen countenance over his body as he nervously rubs his hands together.  He listens, and watches Onifax, and notices that she doesn't acknowledge him in all this...though he hopes this is because she knows what he knows...and that is how to get them out of the city.  

"Ooho soo..."  The Kobold says, clearing his throat and ignoring all this talk of people who seem to live entirely too long (something Talon and his kin literally know nothing about) and river travel and Vegimite or whatever living in people's dead bodies...  "...we can go through the sewers, yessa, these manbuilt sewers, and we go into the Stinkroots!"  

He declares this, slowly becoming a little more confident sounding and looking.  

"NothinggoodintheStinkroots!  Much dangers!  But nothing and no one would look for us there, hm!  Underground streams and stuff, they take us out of See-moo and away from Pursers and Reclaimer dogs looking for us down herein the the manbuilts!  Oh but...Talon, I'm not really sure where the Stinkroots go, only been so far into them, but out of the city!  Oh, and yes, also, yesyes, Talon can gets us above ground anywhere in the city we wants to be, hm.  Yes yes yes yes yes, very much easy, we go where's we wants in the sewers and Stinkroots!  But, oh, yes, but, Talon doesn't know much uhm...navibugating beyond that..."  

Dardek puts his face in his hands and quietly says "I am going to be captured again"

Onifax turns her attention to the ambitious kobold for the first time, considering his suggestion... "It's a risky prospect, but it could work." She looks to the others. "The sewers contain a few access points to some natural caverns that travel under the city wall. The stinkroots is what the kobolds call them. They're a viable path out of the city if you can avoid the natural predators who use the caverns as a hunting ground."

She looks back town to Onifax, giving a respectful smile. "It's a good idea, Talon. You're a very smart and very brave kobold."

Just then, there's a knock on the door and another kobold, Cliptip, peeks in, chattering something to Onifax in an uncommon language.

For those who speak Draconic:

Onifax turns to you all, "I'm afraid your time's up. They're on their way and the kobolds can only keep them distracted for so long. I'll have contacts looking out for you in both Caeli and in the halls of the Dwarven nations. We'll be in touch once you're safe. For now though, you need to leave..."

Outside, you hear the other kobolds mobilizing. A lot of action. Now is your window to escape if you want...

Would you like to make your escape? If so, which way do you want to go?

You could head up to the surface... Out through the storm drain... Or head deeper into the sewers to try the stinkrook caverns.

Those are just a few suggestions. If you have other ideas, you're welcome to try.

Talon looks almost panicked when Onifax announces that their time is up.  He looks around, at his new uhm...uh...acquaintances, and then to Sieg, and from Sieg to Onifax, and from Onifax to Cliptip and...and...and his eyes linger on Cliptip for a moment, longer than the others.  

"Oh."  Talon says meekly before she goes back out the door to do whatever work the Kobolds are going go have to do to cause a distraction.  "Bye."  

He raises one clawed hand in Cliptip's direction and seems stalled for what else to say.  It doesn't last long once she's closed the door.  

"TalonhopesSpikediesyeah!"  He says, absentmindedly and to no one in particular.  "Oh, Stinkroots then, here we-us go!"  

He takes a moment to grab for Onifax's hand.  The action is quick and as unnatural looking to those around him as it is for him to be doing it.  He snicker-snaps a few jittering, reptilian words in an uncommon language to Onifax.  

In Draconian:

He says, looking at the door where Cliptip has gone. 

In Draconian: 

 And then he releases her, instead grabbing for whatever hands he finds first...apparently Sieg's and Ashley's.

"WEGOWEGOINGWEGOINGRUNRUNYOURASSOFFTHEYGONNASSKINSUSALIVE!"