Sanuarach Mine (Quest)

Sanuarach Mine
Atar and Ainethach confront each other over the mine.
Quest Giver	Atar Ainethach
Location	Karthwasten
Reward	Leveled Access to Orc Strongholds (conditional)
Type	Miscellaneous quest
Quest ID	FreeformKarthwastenA

For other uses, see Sanuarach Mine.

"The Silver-Bloods are trying to muscle in on my land. Forsworn attack the mines, and suddenly all these sellswords show up to "help." They won't let anyone work until I sell it off."

―Ainethach

Sanuarach Mine is a quest available in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim in which the Dragonborn must resolve a dispute in Karthwasten between the local owner of the mine and a group of mercenaries.

Objectives

1. Convince Atar to leave Sanuarach Mine or Convince Ainethach to sell
2. Tell Ainethach that Atar has been dealt with (if siding with Ainethach)
3. Tell Atar that Ainethach has been dealt with (if siding with Atar)

Walkthrough

Upon reaching Karthwasten for the first time, the Dragonborn will witness a discussion between Atar and Ainethach. It seems that Atar and his group of mercenaries have been hired by the Silver-Blood Family to "protect" the mines from the Forsworn. It is up to the Dragonborn to either convince Atar to leave with his band of thugs or convince Ainethach to sell the mine to the Silver-Blood Family.

Regardless of whom the Dragonborn helps, the other should be persuaded or intimidated. Reporting back to whomever the Dragonborn agreed to help will result in a leveled gold reward.

If Atar is talked to first (and his pocket picked for 250 ), then Ainethach intimidated into selling, the reward can be received from Atar. Killing Atar and his men and then reporting back to Ainethach will reward the Dragonborn with another leveled amount of septims.

Rewards

The Dragonborn will receive the same leveled reward regardless of who is sided with.

Level
1–9	400
10–19	600
20–29	800
30–39	1000
40+	1200

Journal

Sanuarach Mine – FreeformKarthwastenA
ID	Journal Entry
20	Objective 10: Convince Atar to leave Sanuarach Mine
25	Objective 30: Tell Ainethach that Atar has been dealt with
30	Objective 10: Convince Atar to leave Sauranach [sic] [Do not change this to Sanuarach. This misspelled word is how it appears in-game.] Mine
Or
30	Objective 20: Convince Ainethach to sell Saunaruch [sic] [Do not change this to Sanuarach. This misspelled word is how it appears in-game.] Mine
35	Objective 40: Tell Atar that Ainethach has been dealt with

Trivia

• This quest can be finished very quickly by speaking to Atar, Ainethach, Atar (in that order), or by speaking to Ainethach, Atar, Ainethach (in that order) quickly. If the Dragonborn takes too long, Atar will go inside the Sanuarach Mine with the mercenaries and the Dragonborn will have to run inside to meet him there.
• The most rewarding way to finish this quest is by intimidating Ainethach to sell the mine, then going inside the mine and collecting the pay from Atar. Atar and his thugs can then be killed, and then Ainethach talked to and told that the Silver-Bloods "won't be a problem anymore." This will award the Dragonborn both rewards for completing the quest, some extra Gold and possibly an Amulet of Dibella from one of the mercenaries.
• If the Dragonborn decides not to kill Atar, he can always be pickpocketed for 250 , which doesn't require a very high Pickpocket level to be successful. This, combined with the 1200 obtained from completing the quest, is a pretty good deal for such a simple quest.
• Intimidating Atar into leaving will also complete the quest "Hired Muscle" given by Farkas from the Companions.
• Aiding Ainethach will cause Lash gra-Dushnikh to grant the Dragonborn access to Orc Strongholds.
• With the Dawnguard add-on, it may be possible that Atar is a victim of kidnap. When attempting to rescue him, he may be hostile and attack unless calmed.