They are quest items, but if I remember correctly, you can complete the quest without them (the Langolin Quest).
As for the money cheats, you will find that if you have a character with the theft skill, and you husband your cash carefully, after a while, money ceases to be much of a concern. It is tough early on when you have to repair and you want to buy that nice shiny new amulet/ring/weapon etc. but trust me, it does get easier
