Rethrion is a Forlorn alchemist and doctor who would like to help people not die of disease. He's also a fraud and con man, since his best cure for disease is "the placebo effect."

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Yet when the sickness was sore in the land,
And neither planets nor herbs assuaged,
They took their lives in their lancet-hands
And, oh, what a wonderful war they waged!
Yes, when the crosses were chalked on the door-
(Yes, when the terrible dead-cart rolled! )
Excellent courage our fathers bore--
None too learned, but nobly bold
Into the fight went our fathers of old.
- Rudyard Kipling, "Our Fathers of Old"