Several newb questions.

[dorn]

I tried searching but came up with nothing. I've several things which are confusing me so I'll just number them.

1) Items have a race property but what does it do?

2) A couple times now I've gone to a shop and then come back later and suddenly they have new units. What causes this? Is it level based or some such?

3) Do units ever restock? I was able to buy 4 royal thorns at one point but now none of the shops I've discovered has them.

4) Say a battlefield chest has an item in it and the enemy grabs it first. Will I get the item when I defeat them?

That's all the questions I can remember right now but I'm sure I'll have more soon. Thanks to anyone who can offer some help.