Lorien listens intently to the people voicing their concerns and hopes. He shakes his head and sighs. Getting up he looks around the room, making eye contact with as many as possible.
"We really don't know for sure. I suspect the effect is partially magical in nature, and mundane tricks don't work so well against magic. But, similar magics need to be heard for them to work. I would wager that wax doesn't work at close range since it only muffles the sound, but it reduces the distance at which you can hear them. So, I am sorry my friends, I can not give you a definite answer. We will be using it in the hope that it might help at least a little, so it wouldn't hurt you to try it as well. Just don't put your trust in it."
The inn's patrons hang on your every word. Several of them had witnessed your performances from the night before, so they seem to take your words to heart. A few of them seem a bit disheartened by the end of your speech, but, overall, the feeling in the room is a little more positive. Rosemergy and a few of the others look like they want you to sing.
Lorien has been walking around the room as he speaks, to put weight on his words. He reaches the dwarf's table and sits down.
"Good day master smith. I hear that you might be able to procure us some wax."
The dwarf hadn't seemed to be paying attention to your words. You notice right away that he is odd looking, for a dwarf. He clothes are those of a seasoned smith, yet he has shells and cockles woven into his hair and beard. He definitely smells like a forge, but also bit like the sea. He wears heavy looking sandals and his legs are bare beneath his knees.
Bronzethegn waits as Roesmergy fills his tankard and places a plate of fish and boiled seaweed in front of him. He sniffs the food with joy before smiling with a large toothy grin.
"Ah, now that's a breakfast. Thank you Rosie."
"You're welcome, you old seahorse." She smiles at him and pulls on his whiskers. He guffaws at her joke.
"Now then," he glaces at you before digging into his food.
"I did overhear what you said about the wax. It's good that you're not relying on it ta protect you completely. And, aye, I do have some wax that I use at me forge. Beeswax is good for all sorts of things, including me beard. While I don't have extra that I can give you, I can point you in the right direction ta buy more. Me supplier, Mithgan, lives along the Roan River between Brecon and Kells roughly 30 miles ta the west. It's easy riding from here ta there, but it will cut inta yer time. I probably have enough beeswax ta fill up all of yer ears one time. But it would use up most of me supply."
He looks you right in the eye.
"I'm sure someone would be willing ta pay for me lost time. I have several projects that I need ta finish today and tomorrow and without me wax, I'll have ta push back me deadlines."
Sensing that his companion's answer does not provide the reassurance these people need Phar rises. "We will know for certain when we return. Perhaps after our work is done there will no longer a need to fear such creatures as we will put them all to blade and arrow." He raises a glass. "A round for the house that you may all toast to our success." He takes out a couple of gold coins to make good on his offer.
Bronzethegn glances over his shoulder at Phar when he hears the elf offer a round for the house. He quickly drains his drink and raises his glass to Phar before placing it on the bar close to Rosemergy. She quickly refills his drink before going over to the table to gather up Phar's gold. She spends the next few minutes filling up everyone's drinks before retreating back behind the bar. She looks very tired. Bronzethegn looks at her with a bit of concern.
The patrons show their appreciation to Phar will raised mugs, handshakes, and a few slaps on his back. Raius calmly walks up to Phar and speaks to him in a
unusual Elven dialect.
"Thanks to you and to the mountain and its lofty winds." It is an old honorific rarely used anymore in the Kingdom of the Silver Leaves. Strange, as far as you know, you've never heard a human speak those words before. Of course, this is not Silverleaf.
Raius then looks at Aureus and smiles cautiously before going back to his own table. His discomfort has lessened somewhat, but he still glances at Phar a few more times.
More locals enter the inn. Several of them gather around Lorien. He recognizes them from the night before.
"Sing!" Someone exclaims from the far side of the inn.
"Sing another song for us, Meister!"
The patrons begin passing around a bowel, which quickly fills with coppers and few silvers. Rosemergy gives it to Lorien with a smile.
"One more song for us all before you face the winged beasts?"
