Goton and Olov had in fact established a mine several days’ journey from Nibenay, but the “gold” they found quickly proved to be worthless pyrite (fool’s gold). When they went in search of another vein to work, the brothers instead stumbled across an ancient graveyard, its long-buried contents eroding out of the crumbling hills and tumbling to the ground. Thanking the elements for their good luck, they gathered up what grave goods they could, returned to their mine for their remaining supplies, and then traveled back to Nibenay.

Once back in the city, Goton and Olov made contact with their cousin Thued, a poisoner active in Nibenay’s Bard’s Quarter with whom they had done business in the past. Thued helped the brothers trade the looted goods for gold dust and nuggets that could be used to “prove” the profitability of their “mine” to potential investors. Once they secured a number of investors, the dwarves used the funds to purchase food, water, several pack animals, and mining supplies, and headed back out to the site, but tragedy was waiting for them.

The graveyard they had discovered had been part of a domain from the Green Age, and as such was guarded by a meorty. This ancient guardian - the Law-Keeper Alvise of Rinaldo - had not considered the collecting grave goods from eroded burials to be looting, but did take exception to Goton and Olov digging into the hills to loot additional graves. The meorty’s justice was swift and fierce - she quickly appeared before the brothers as they first broke ground, pronouncing their judgement as she struck. Olov was wounded first and immediately bolted, escaping back to their mine and assuming his brother was right behind him. Instead, Goton had been cornered by the ancient protector and captured. Today, both of the brothers exist as undead creatures.

NPCs:

Olov Saltscraper: Olov died of his wounds soon after reaching the mine. Wracked with guilt over having abandoned both his mining efforts and his brother to an undead horror, Olov arose as a dwarven banshee the day after his death, and now haunts their failed mine. He can only be put to rest by bringing him his brother’s remains.

Goton Saltscraper: Executed for his crimes, Goton was then reanimated by Alvise, who now forces the undead dwarf to patrol the graveyard to prevent further desecration. He can hear his brother’s anguished wails in the dead of night, and knows full well what they mean. With the meorty’s commands still ringing in his mind and compelling his obedience, only a single thought now occupies his mind as he patrols the ancient graveyard: which of them is the more damned? The one existing in guilt-ridden, solitary anguish, or the one forced to serve their slayer for all time?

Thued the Poisoner: The dwarven poisonmaster still plies his trade in Nibenay’s Bard’s Quarter, ducking his cousins’ creditors and the assassins that are searching for them. Thued believes that the brothers did not simply run off with the invested funds, as he saw both the looted grave goods and purchased mining supplies for himself, but has largely given up on clearing their names given the overwhelming public opinion of them.

Law-Keeper Alvise of Rinaldo: An ancient undead guardian from the long-vanished domain of Rinaldo, Alvise is nearly incomprehensible to modern Athasians, as she speaks no tongue that is still in use. Comprehension, however, is not required for the punishment of transgressions - like the graverobbing of Goton and Olov Saltscraper - so she continues her unceasing vigil over what remains of Rinaldo and its laws. The undying guardian commands Goton through the link they share, directing him to patrol the ancient graveyard despite his inability to understand her actual words.

Lady Thida Kagar: Heir apparent to House Kagar, Thida is a noblewoman in a troubling position - it was she who agreed to fund the Saltscrapers’ mining venture, and now their disappearance has put her very existence of her house in jeopardy. As such, Thida is particularly vicious in her pursuit of the brothers, having hired numerous assassins and bounty hunters to find the Saltscrapers and restore some modicum of respect to her house - all of whom have failed or disappeared so far. If convinced to hire further investigators, Thida can give them a general description of where the brothers’ mine was located (to within a few dozen miles - they weren’t so foolish as to provide the mine’s exact location).

Rumors:

• Have you heard? The Kagar family got scammed by a pair of dwarves! Word is that the templars are even looking to confiscate their lands and property for gross incompetence now.
• Psst, hey, you. Did you see or hear anything about a couple of dwarven brothers out in the wastes? It’s worth some silver if you do; but, lie to me and I’ll gut you!
• I hear that Thued the Poisoner is paying for information about Olov and Goton Saltscraper - probably looking to kill them himself before someone else can…
• Well…don’t tell anyone, but Goton sometimes talks in his sleep and once kept muttering something about a “cleft rock.” When I asked him about it though, he told me to never mention it to ANYBODY, ever. Do you think that’s maybe where their mine is?
• I heard a caravan got REALLY lost a few days ago and stumbled into some nest of undead. Apparently an undead dwarf attacked and killed some of the caravan’s guards, but they said it looked surprisingly “fresh”… Weird, huh?

Adventure Hooks:

A Poisoner’s Plea: A dwarven bard approaches the PCs, seeking to hire them. Introducing himself as Thued the Poisoner, he tells them he’s looking for the Saltscraper brothers - not to seek revenge, but to clear his family name. Thued reveals that Olov and Goton are his cousins, that he assisted them with securing funding for their mine, and that he knows they never intended to flee with the investments (though he is reluctant to reveal the gold nuggets scam). He now seeks to locate his kin and discover what happened to them, if only to clear their names.

An Igno0ble Situation: Contacts from the nobles of House Kagar reach out, eager for assistance. The Kagars are in a difficult position - having lost a good deal of power and influence after the debacle with the Saltscrapers, they seek to take charge of the situation - preferably by getting their money back or collecting the brothers’ heads - before their rivals can destroy them.

A Killer Tip: After the PCs have been active in the area for a while, assassins and bounty hunters begin to hound their heels, sure that they know something about Olov and Goton. Most attempt to capture the party for interrogation or follow them to the brothers, but one - sick of the impossibly deadly assignment - instead approaches them with information. He offers to sell the location of the mine to the PCs, but can the party find the brothers before the other seekers grow tired of waiting and move to extract the information from the PCs?

A Solid Prophecy: The priests of the city’s Earth Temple reach out with a prophecy regarding the Saltscrapers which they believe also concerns the PCs: “When vein fails and sacred Earth crumbles, those who sought shall fall, and those who have fallen shall rise. But seekers beware their cries, lest many a seeker dies.” Can the PCs decipher the prophecy before they fall prey to its threats?