At one point when I had less than 5 crystals he told me that he needs resources, and there was a 'note' in blue in the conversation box.

About the scaly bracers, maybe they give a boost to the scragg you summon with permafrost? Still not worth it, since the spell is too slow but that would be a reason for their existence at least.

@Deepsoul
No can do my friend, all summons by default have neutral moral and can change that by in game effects (plague , spell battle cry etc). So item doesn`t affect them, since it count as prebattle condition.

Thanks for the list! :) But seems some of them has been balanced in Warriors of the north.
Atleast 'Flaming Eyes' now give 20% leadership/1 fight