He really is weak to flattery. When most of the reaction you face is mistrust at best, flattery to a fragile and self-inflated ego is tantalising nourishment.

"Not much," he admits, "there are plenty who have been here longer than me, although their level of friendliness varies. Being visibly different doesn't, at least, seem to have produced me any issues."

So hopefully the elf situation will pass without incident, at least among the party. The locals, well that's another story.