He watches the kobold approach with a look of suspicion on his face, the kind he reserves for those he does not know or trust and nearly everyone else. One of Élie's special projects, no doubt, he thinks to himself. The wizard had such odd views on how participation in government should work, and who should be among those participating. This meant the cast of characters trickling into the city for this convention were quite colorful—sometimes literally. Even the ones that were only human.

The sewer kobolds were not exactly a secret, but still, it was a surprise that one of them had apparently made the journey to outside to attend. The surprise isn't visible on the Inquisitor's face—the scowl is more or less permanent and unchanging. But the presence of one of their species was not something he had counted on. Elie would be happy though. Just as well. It's his convention and his country.

He winces internally. Not only his. Shawil was tied up with it now too. He isn't quite certain about the whole thing. He thinks it might be some sort of revenge by Alfirin. But it was framed as a duty and an opportunity, and he is nothing if not bound to rise to the occasion for both of these.

Right now, in this moment, that takes the form of welcoming this kobold. "Greetings," he says in Taldane, making an effort to hide any trace of an accent. "I am Shawil. Are you your community's chosen representative for the convention?" he asks.

Kicharchu doesn't know all of those words! "I am Kicharchu!" they say. Probably an appropriate remark for any situation where you're openly interacting with somebody instead of hiding in their rafters waiting for them to go to sleep. "I am here to everybody talking about everything! Me, I am everybody!"

Oh joy.

"Yes. You certainly are," he says quietly. His face never changes expression. "Greetings, Kicharchu. Where have you come from?"

"Kobolds live in the sewers thousands of them worse than rats," says Kicharchu very seriously. The words are all strung together, like they think it's a few big words, kobolds liveinthesewers thousandsofthem worsethanrats.

He nods solemnly, greeting the diplomat. "Of course. We are glad you could come. I am certain your contributions will be most welcome." There is no hint of sarcasm in his voice.

"Just a moment. Let me introduce you to the person responsible for everybody talking about everything."

Élie, he says in the Telepathic Bond. I have a dignitary here for the convention you should meet. Someone important. West entrance.

Knowing the inquisitor, there's even odds it's the archduke of somewhere-or-other or the boy about the whitewash in the new hall. Of course, he lives in hope. It's very likely all the archdukes are busy. 

Half a moment. He teleports. 

"Hello! Are you the human of the great work of everybody talking about everything?"

blink blink blink

"Why, yes! I am the human! What is it you're wishing to talk about?"

"Everything! I am everybody too! I am Kicharchu."

"...You know," he says slowly, "You're perfectly right. It was my oversight not to have thought of it. The question is, are you a Chelish everybody?"

Meanwhile, he addresses the general telepathic bond. I've got a kobold at the door, and I do believe he's asking to be admitted as a delegate.  

Kicharchu tilts their head. "I walked here," they reply, in case that's helpful information.

It is helpful information! "And how long did you walk?"

"Not long! We are down, not overthehillsandfaraway."

"He's from the sewers," he volunteers helpfully.

Was he elected somewhere? Alfirin asks from halfway across the city.

Is it Chelish? Naima asks, from Vudra.

He is Kicharchu. He is an everybody. From the sewers, he explains.

He's local, and he can hardly be the delegate from Westcrown unless she went in for a surprise reincarnate in the past six hours. 

"Kicharchu, did your – people – choose for you to come here?"

"They wanted me to stay with them, but I said, no, I will go to the place of the great work!"

Thanks Shawil, that explains everything.

You're welcome, he replies. Elie is working on finding out more.

The Inquisitor has never wanted his companion to be the one conducting an interrogation more.

"I see." 

He seems to have elected himself. 

A creature of initiative. You've got to respect it.

Oh, I'm inclined to let him in. I think he would be – educational.