How about trade around here?
Trade has taken a real nose dive since those Orcies have shown up. Me do something against it? Phex protect me!
These are certainly trying times, but at least trading has become truly Phex-blessed now.
While I am struggling to keep in business down here, trade is reaching new heights in Thorwal.
It’s not as bad as everybody keeps claiming it is. If you tithe to the Fox, you can still make a profit even now.
What herbs can you recommend?
Now, the most important thing to consider is how long they keep, because, if you don’t watch out for that, they’ll do more harm than good.
It’s very much dependent on the climate, how long a herb stays fresh. You should always keep an eye on that.
If you get sick, start by taking a good, strong dose of belmart. Usually, that’ll do the trick.
For wounds, you should use whirlweed. That’ll make it heal almost overnight. Loneberries are very good, too.
Mandrake is something you should sell to alchemists; it is pretty useless for anything else.
If you want to get your strength back, make some tea from gulmond leaves.
Joruga will forestall an outbreak of rabies.
The joruga root needs preparation, but it is an excellent cure for rabies.
Four-leaf loneberries are a powerful, medicinal herb. You can even eat theberries raw.
For any kind of magic potion, you will need kairan!
Personally, I’ve never quite understood what thonnys is supposed to be good for, but magicians are prepared to pay good money for it.
For a decent Expurgicum, you will need shurin bulb.
Donf is a strong medicine against various kinds of diseases.
Each and everything is a poison; whether it’ll do harm or cure you depends entirely on the dosage. That’s what I always say.
Many healing potions include tarnele.
Olgin root is a great kind of herb; the thing with it is simply that you have to cook it first.
A paste made from atmon increases your physical prowess. Very useful, that.
For a decent kind of elixir, you’ll need some finage.
Finage has a positive effect on general weakness.
Ilmen leaves are a weak hallucinogen.
We are interested in learning more about weapons. Could you give us a hint on that subject?
It’s an unfortunate fact that the most effective weapons are also the least handy.
With axes, you can wear as much armor as you like; it doesn’t hinder you much with those things.
With some weapons, carrying a dagger in your left hand makes parrying much easier.
Now me, what I say is you have to take good care of it, and your trusty sword will give you that much more pleasure.
Personally, I think that nothing can top a trusty sword.
Swords and axes — that stuff is only good for clumsy head bashers. The sheer elegance of an epee will make any swordsman turn pale.
Sometimes it’s better to choose a less effective weapon so you have a better chance of parrying the weapon of your opponent. For instance, parrying anything with an axe is difficult enough, but if you’re up against a morning star, it becomes nearly impossible.
The stronger you are, the more damage your weapon makes. It’s just that the effect becomes noticeable sooner or later, depending on the type of weapon.
Not everybody is allowed to use just any weapon. Most of the especially effective ones are reserved for the graduates of a warrior academy.
You should choose a weapon of the general type you are skilled with. It’s not much use to fight with a mace if you are much more familiar with a pointed, piercing weapon than a blunt striking weapon. That goes even when the other weapon has a higher damage factor. Your missing skill in its use is generally far more decisive.
There is nothing that can top Dwarvish steel.
You can handle a short sword same as you would a dagger.
Take the Tuzakian, now. That is one of the most elegant and also most deadly swords you can get. Mind you, it’s a two-handed weapon.
A warhammer is a magnificent weapon, I tell you, but you have to get a firm grip on it with both hands.
If you are fighting against animals, always carry a shield. Believe you me: it’ll increase your life expectancy.
Could you tell us a bit about the diseases prevalent around here?
The best cure against a fever is still belmart.
Watch out for tetanus; that’s a real doozy to treat.
Keep well away from brackish water; it’ll turn all your bodily fluids brackish as well.
That’s the worst thing about those Orcs: They don’t clean their weapons. A lot more have died from tetanus after fighting them than ever did from their blades.
The best way to treat any disease is to see a healer and get plenty of rest.
Take olgin root, keep your wounds scrupulously clean, and pray to Peraine, and you have nothing to fear.
Zombies and Mummies can carry all kinds of dangerous diseases.
You can get numbskull faster than you think.
Always remember to treat numbskull. It can turn into blue cough real fast otherwise!
Paralysis is a dangerous disease — the only cure there is against it is donf!
Do you know your way around poisons?
If you ever get a real dose of poison into you, you might want to try your luck with magic.
Olgin root — and you’ll be safe for some days afterward.
You might try taking menchal. It helps somewhat.
Some poisons will kill you, but there’s only a few of those. Now, of course, if you’re wounded…
Nah, you’ve come to the wrong person to ask about that.
Godforsaken alchemistic brews. I don’t want anything to do with that.
Belmart is quite a potent cure for some poisons.
Shurin bulb is the base ingredient of many blade poisons.
Might you give us some introduction into the art of smithery?
You don’t look like someone who’d know what I’d be talking about.
In the olden days, when there was still some real steel, the things that were possible then! All the stuff you see nowadays is just hackwork.
That’s no art. It’s a craft, and a very special one to boot!
The most effective weapons are those custom forged for their owners.
Could you give us a few hints about the art of hunting?
Don’t start a fight against an angry rhino!
Karens are easy prey.
A stag is a game worthy of a true huntsman!
Auroxen can hide in the forest.
An infuriated wild boar is a dangerous opponent.
Watch out for rabid animals!