A grin and chuckle emerge from Alzhalim "Yes on both accounts, my friend. My father is a hardy man, indeed… I only hope I am as hardy as he is! I'll try to bribe one of the wenches, see what comes from that… what is the best way, in your experience to formulate a question?"
Merlin now views the man with suspicion wondering if he is a spy or just the child of bad luck so he asks, "Are the people of this town aware of your upbringing? Wouldn't they consider yourself an enemy to the state?" For the wench he replies, "Ask what you are looking for… a job, work, the name of whatever you're good at I guess."
"Ah, I see your raised brow and feel the need to apologize. I am not someone who seeks to tear down these walls, I merely wish to reinforce them through communication and laughter, as we are doing now. Thank you for the information, Merlin, if ye require anything of me, ye need but ask."
Curious about all the loud laughter and noise Thorin checks to see if a new wench is serving but instead sees two men talking so keeps on going to his previous destination.
The Town's Tavern Wench calls for a Having a Laugh of which incompetent Alzhalim accepted. Alzhalim attempts to tell a joke, but it is so flat that no one laughs so someone lets out a few farts. Alzhalim has not the Joker Skill but unwisely thinks to be better than the Tavern's Challenge much to detriment of Alzhalim. What an embarrassing situation! That brings on some giddy laughs.
"Me? I'm no teller of jokes, look for someone else and next time you address me its either mam, Queen Krusten or your majesty, not Krusten." She smiles at the wench with the offer and takes a seat to see who will 'tell a joke'.