He is one of a mere two NPCs in the quest not to ask a favour. (He does not think you are capable of doing what he needs done.) The other is Captain Shanks, who simply refuses to do favours and makes you do it yourself. It is possible that he is the brother of Hieronymus Avlafrim, as he describes his brother as an 'expert flight engineer'. Hieronymus was a gnomic inventor residing in a Lumbridge cow pen, helping players fly his Gnomecopter invention before it was discontinued. He also plays a part in the Gnome Restaurant minigame, and will mostly give herb tips, such as noted toadflax.