Just walking from Ferry to Arelium, first NPC on the road :
a wounded dwarven merchant
You ask Hans Dandruff about help.
Hans Dandruff hardly manages to whisper 'I was attacked by a group of dark
elven bandits. I was hit by this arrow, please remove it! '  
You successfully remove the arrow from the chest of the merchant. 
Hans Dandruff exclaims 'Oh thank you! This feels so good!'

And then, nothing. Ok... moving on.