This provokes some kind of surprised comment to the other colorfully armored people.

An armored person suggests something and Blai's interlocutor says something that, just from the tone, is probably "I guess."

And then they are interrupted. Someone else enters the room and draws everyone's attention. He is yet another of the pointy-eared people; he's not wearing armor right now, just a jumpsuit, and he has tattoos on his face and ears (everyone else in this barracks also has visible tattoos on their ears and on their faces if they have their helmets off; the hungry civilians earlier did not have tattoos). He walks like he's in charge. He looks right at Blai.

That intimidating behavior can't stop Blai (from sitting here) because Blai can't read ignores emotional blackmail just like emotional regular mail!

People here are mostly taller than Blai; this person is taller than the local average, tall and broad-shouldered and full of catlike confidence.

He walks up to Blai. He says something curt to the person who was showing Blai pictures, and that person responds by showing Blai a picture of some old ruins, mostly very square buildings that look like they were once very well-made, but also exactly one extremely out-of-place small round building that looks a bit thrown-together.

He doesn't recognize that one either. There is a pattern here.

Another curt order. Back to the drawing of a creature. The person who is obviously in charge points to the picture of the creature, and to Blai's mace.

"I've never seen a demon that looked like that but the mace isn't particular."

Another order and Blai is shown the map again. The person who is obviously in charge points to the city on the map, then points to the ground. He gestures all around the city on the map, and then has Blai shown the creature again.

"I think possibly we should have this conversation again in the morning when I can cast Comprehend Languages and you can use words to explain your strategic situation."

Unfortunately no one else has that here either so no one knows what that means.

He sighs. He gestures at the table and raises his eyebrows a bit.

"I can't do the food thing again, I get one spell of that circle per day."

The person who is obviously in charge gives more orders to the others and then leaves. The person with the pictures tries pointing at the picture of the creature and naming it.

He repeats the word cooperatively.

He tries more words. Map. Table. Haven (the city). Blayde (the guy with pictures). KG (the armored people). Oracle (a statue with two extremely bulging eyes, maybe, if that's even supposed to be a face at all). Wasteland (barren ground around a purple puddle).

He can remember the name of the city and the name of the guy. He's not amazing at retaining non-proper nouns, though if they try enough he will start getting out paper and a pen to indicate that he isn't, like, forgetting on purpose.

In the total absence of any reason to believe they have any other options for establishing communication, Blayde will absolutely keep trying common nouns. Also verbs - walk, jump, bite, write.

"Bite" is such a concerning choice of first vocabulary term. Can Blai steer this at all? Get a word for the sun and for words themselves?

Sure! Words are "words"! And here are some disambiguating pictures so they can name both the yellow sun and the green one!

.......oh no he has absolutely no idea what that will do. He looks at the two suns situation with considerable consternation.

Blayde awkwardly attempts to sympathize with his apparent distaste for the green sun.

Can he get them to tell him if the suns rise at the same time or not?

No! That is, yes, he can. They don’t.

Oh no.

Blayde is going to try sleep-related vocabulary in case that helps!