Kal and The Watcher called Bob

You have no luck finding "Bob" but as you are about to head back to the others, a smelly peasant with crooked teeth and pock marked face herding a team of oxen down the street glances at you and smiles a crooked smile before doffing his hat. When the hat is back in place, he has changed in appearance and "Bob" stands in his place.
"I too have a special hat, now tell me former Shadeling, what can 'umble Bob do for ye?"

"Bob" scratches the back of his head

Not sure I have much I can teach you. You're better at springing locks and death machines, you could kill a bloke by stabbing him in the kidneys whilst his back is turned quicker than I could for sure. We all have our gifts my lady, to have too many... Now that would be greedy, a bloke or lass who knew too much wouldn't know where to put him or herself!.
Besides, what would you care to have me teach you and what would I get in return? It seems as if most of your mentors have met with sticky ends or vanished up their own arses!

Bob smiles and then chuckles

I like you young Kal, you've got balls. Though you may have reached for steel a tad too early, I understand that you adventurers have seen and been through some sights Bob never has, but then to actually seek me out and ask for a drop or two of whats in me noggin... Well, that I can't deny.

"Bob" leads you through the bustle of the early crowds and to a small tavern on a corner, a tavern with no music and where all the patrons sip alone and in the shadows, many with faces obscured by hoods or even scarves.
Your senses pick out weapons hidden beneath long, well travelled cloaks and the mud and other stains on their torn and self mended clothing reveals that these are not normal smallfolk.
Some notice your attention so you think best to turn away so as not to cause any offence for this is obviously a literal den of theives.
He takes you to an unwanted table in a cosy, and a burly, hirsute keep places two tankards of ale before both of you and walks away without so much as a grunt.

You're the best I've seen at hiding, that's for sure, and I won't let you into my little secret about how I found you, or how a detect magic never works on me either. Some stuff I have to take to me grave.
Now, you want to know 'the cant'? That's a tall order for it is only spoken by those in guilds and taught by those in guilds. You join a guild of rogues and it's a way of talking without some watchman or lionar understanding.
They try and learn it of course but the reason it's a 'secret' language is that only the guild folk know it, protect it and change it every so often to keep it as such. So, adventurers, out on their quests and away from other guilders, they never get the chance to learn the new 'cant' and when they get home, everyone's babbling on in a whole new tongue that you then have to learn again.

He takes a swallow of his ale and wipes his mouth on his sleeve.

The thing about reputation, is that it comes to those who deliberately or accidental like, actually want it. I'll tell you this, I knew you were coming to the city long before you got here. That gives the likes of me time to find out about you and as Steelbridge aint' too far away, it only took a little hop skip and jump into the Helmlands to have a little sniff around.
One thing is as sure as sure, and that is that folk have mouths and like to use em' so when tap rooms are singing your lots praises and blessings for all to hear from Athkatla to Ilmwatch, it's impossible to keep anything to yourself. Though it is a hard job sifting through the lies to find the nuggets of truth.

He belches loudly after taking another long gulp.

Tell me, is it true you killed an ogre while sitting on the privy?

Blimey, now that is a tale I aint heard.

He scratches the back of his head and looks Kal up and down.

Alright, you want to learn the 'cant' then you have to meet my boss and join the guild. It's a nice cosy set up we've got and we aint' murderers, assassins or anything sinister. We nick stuff for sure, but we mostly deal with information.
Don't fret, it doesn't mean you can't do nowt else, but you have to swear that the guild gets first pick on certain information and a cut of anything you happen to find.
We learn where and what to listen for and I tell ye, a few loose mouths and a few well placed falcons or thumbs can be as dangerous as any sword or spell.
But before all that, I have to know you're trustworthy. Your reputation for leaving dead bodies behind is well known and after what happened to the guild in Crimmor... Well, folk in low places would see you as a bad penny.
But old Bob's got a feeling...

He looks into Kal's eyes for a few seconds then finishes his ale, belches and heads to the door.

I'll come back to ye in a few days and let you know what the boss said.

He pulls his collars up, wraps his cloak about him and heads out into the drizzle and mud.