Herbalist Barnaby(Czech: Kořenář Barnabáš) is a reclusive man living north of Trosky Castle, in a modest forest hut surrounded by a small herb garden with only his dog for company.
After completing The Best for Last, he can teach the following skills:
Growing up, Barnaby was taught all about herbs and alchemy by his very strict grandmother, who would constantly test him on all the knowledge she was teaching him and slap him on the ear if he made a mistake. This relentless teaching method paid off though, as Barnaby was able to commit to memory every recipe and being able to eyeball ingredient amounts instead of having to measure it out.
When he was younger, he worked as a hired hand in Troskowitz and where a girl, Sarah, took an interest in him. However, Barnaby had no interest in her and told her straight away. When Sarah complained to her brother though, her brother figured out Barnaby was gay and used this as an excuse to gather some of his friends and attack Barnaby. Realizing they'd otherwise beat him to death, Barnaby managed to fight them off. However, everyone else in the area viewed Barnaby with disdain.
In turn, Barnaby took to living a solitary life, away from everyone in the woods north of Trosky. Despite knowing the dangers of living in isolation, he does enjoy the solitude it gives and, likely due to his appearance of being poor, unscrupulous people in the area leave him alone. Villagers in the area though don't even try to hide their dislike of him, but come running to him for assistance each time they have a cut or medical issue. While this bothers him with their attitude, he takes it in stride that at least they don't threaten to burn his home down.
Dialogue[]
(Enemy camp tip.)
Henry: "Do you live here all alone? In a wilderness like this?"
Barnaby: "What wilderness? Walk a few paces and you come to a bloody great castle. And I'm not really alone. Animals are company too."
Henry: "I understand. I prefer being on my own as well."
Barnaby: "But don't think I'm a hermit. People sometimes come to get ointments or herbs, and I'm glad to see them. But greeting neighbours and listening to gossip every day? I'd rather not, thanks."
Henry: "Isn't it dangerous? What if someone wanted to rob you? Or worse."
Barnaby: "It's true, I don't always sleep easy here. The castle may as well not be there for all the protection it gives me. You get strange people wandering around from time to time. The kind best avoided by honest folk. My advice to you is to be careful. I recently saw two vagabonds like that. No doubt they don't think I'm worth the effort, but I still lock the door every night and push a bench up against it."
Henry: "Where exactly did you come across them?"
Barnaby: "In the rocks above my cottage. Be careful if you go there."
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(How did you get into herbalism?)
Henry: "Why did you become a herbalist?"
Barnaby: "Let me guess, it seems like a woman's work to you, eh?"
Henry: "Aye, I don't know any men who are herbalists, unless you count apothecaries and charlatans." / "No, I didn't mean it like that, it's just that the only herbalists I know are women - you're the first male one I've met."
Barnaby: "My grandmother taught me everything I know. She used to take me with her to the forest, and told me something about every herb she picked. What it's called, where it grows, and what it's good for. And in the evenings, she tested me mercilessly on everything. If I made a single mistake, I got a slap on the ear."
Henry: "You memorized everything? No recipes?"
Barnaby: "Why? I keep all the recipes in my head, and measure out the ingredients by eye."
Henry: "Isn't it dangerous not knowing the exact amounts and mixing the potions by eye?"
Barnaby: "Maybe for me. If I lick my fingers while crushing some herb paris, for instance! But I've never poisoned anyone yet. Well, at least not by mistake."
Henry: "But people trust you anyway, since they buy salves and healing potions from you?"
Barnaby: "What else can they do? The only real apothecary here is Emmerich and he charges a lot. Besides, he moved here from the city."
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(Skill teacher.)
Henry: "You said you could teach me something, what was it?"
Barnaby: "Other than fighting, I'm pretty familiar with all sorts of herbs. People come to me with various maladies…"
Henry: "And you always heal them?"
Barnaby: "Always? Always when there's still time. Sometimes they'd be better off going straight to the priest…"
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(Unarmed skill.)
Henry: "Show me some of those wrestling tricks of yours! How is it that you're so quick?"
Barnaby: "You just need to look into your opponent's eyes. As soon as he grimaces, frowns, or takes a deep breath, you know he's going to attack."
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(Alchemy skill.)
Henry: "Tell me how I can dry herbs better, without them catching mold right away."
Barnaby: "Drying them isn't always the best solution. Sometimes it helps to put them in oil, lard or alcohol. Salves are good for burns, and herbal liqueurs, they're the best cure of all!"
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(Survival skill.)
Henry: "You live here alone, so I reckon you know how to take care of yourself."
Barnaby: "Aye, I get by on my own. The woods give me everything I need."
