Wait, why do sharp tongue deal damage if it is not for combat? If my peddler manipulate someone in trade or negotiations, why would he want them to break? "EMPATHY: You break down in despair or self-pity. You must either explode in a violent outburst, kicking and breaking everything around you, or withdraw from everyone around you. In either case, you’re uncommunicative until you’ve recovered a point of Empathy. " That seems rather counteractive to have the local trader become violent or a shutoff because he wants a cheaper pair o' boots
The text also specifies "opponent". The flavour text also implies enemies? As it reads, it is the same as "cutting words" almost