Csil

Csil is a healer operating in Britain during Ultima VII.

Description
An enigmatic but obviously knowledgeable man, Csil claimed to have previously been named Abrams, but to have taken on his current appellation after some form of "advancement." Originally hailing from New Magincia during his apprenticeship, the seasoned healer had eventually expanded to practice medicine in both Moonglow and in Britain. After a time, Csil even garnered the attention of Lord British, himself, and was called upon to treat the monarch for malady of the blood.

Experience with cases of infection such as he had seen in the sovereign eventually gave Csil insight into new theories of illness, and at the time of the Avatar's adventures involving the Black Gate, the enterprising scientist was in the early stages of discovering the pathogenic theory of disease, having hypothesized that microbiotic organisms were the cause of many ailments. While Csil had not yet developed the observational equipment necessary to observe microbes, the healer was enthusiastic about the possibility of discovering such beings, and hoped that they might be someday counteracted by "antibiotic" preparations. The Avatar, equipped with knowledge of germ theory from their technologically advanced home world of Earth, had the option of either encouraging or discouraging Csil's research.

Like many medically trained persons of the age, Csil felt uncomfortable regarding the sentiments espoused by the Fellowship, which dissuaded its followers from seeking the aid of traditional healers. Csil argued that the society embraced a masochistic philosophy in which pain was something to be suffered through for the sake of "worthiness" - a point of view which he vehemently opposed.

It is ultimately unknown if Csil's insight ever bore fruit for Britannia's medical sciences, as little trace of his progressive ideas could be found in the lands wracked by the Great Cataclysm in Ultima IX's late Age of Armageddon. If any advancements were made in the realms of microbiology, it seems that they either failed to take hold or fell from common knowledge during this era of decline.

Trivia

 * Csil's portrait is based on Jeffrey Abrams, a winner of the Ultima VI Immortality Contest. It is probable that this individual is also the origin of his previous name before adopting the appellation, Csil.
 * If Shamino is present in the party while talking to Csil, he will recommend the healer, citing that he had previously rendered him assistance with an embarrassing intimate problem.
 * It is mentioned by Miranda in Anton's  Key to the Black Gate that Csil's practice suffers due to its proximity to Lord British, who is apparently well renowned for offering his skills in the healing arts without charge.
 * Csil's feelings of conflict with the Fellowship regarding healing echo modern clashes between religious adherents and medicine, such as the Church of Scientology's rejection of psychiatry, the  Jehovah's Witnesses' refusal to engage in blood transfusions, or some  Christian Scientists' reliance on prayer alone to heal the sick.

Services
Prices in Ultima VII were as follows: