Ainethach is a Breton who runs the small mining town of Karthwasten and owns its Sanuarach Mine. His family has held Karthwasten for generations, which he points out is rare for anyone in the region who isn’t a Nord. It hasn’t made him popular: he complains that the Nords suspect him of working with the Forsworn, while the Forsworn think he’s in league with the Nords.
Where to find them
When you first arrive in Karthwasten, he’s in the middle of a heated argument with Atar and his mercenaries about the mine.
Quests
Sanuarach Mine – after Forsworn attacked the mine, sellswords paid by the Silver-Blood family showed up to “help”. Now they won’t leave or let anyone work until Ainethach sells the mine to cover their services. He calls it robbery. You can:
- Side with Ainethach and get Atar’s crew to leave (through persuasion, a bribe or intimidation) or simply kill them.
- Side with Atar and pressure Ainethach to sell, with persuasion, a better gold offer of your own or a threat.
Either way, you get a leveled gold reward.
Follower & marriage
Ainethach is a marriage candidate. As your spouse, he earns 100 gold per day and holds on to it until you ask for it, so there’s no need to collect daily.
Personality & relationships
Ainethach is stubborn, proud and deeply suspicious of the Silver-Bloods, whom he describes as a family of thieves running a corrupt empire out of Markarth and intent on owning everything. When you persuade the sellswords to go, he’s realistic: the Silver-Bloods will be back, but at least his people can work again. His right-hand man Ragnar is fiercely loyal to him, and the miners all point visitors his way.
Good to know
- The game files list the cook’s helpers Voada and Rondach as his children, although nothing in-game mentions it. Kill them during “Recipe for Disaster” and he may send thugs after you.
- If you’ve helped him and he later dies in a random attack, you may receive a letter of inheritance with 100 gold.
Quick facts
- Race: Breton
- Gender: Male
- Level: 6
- Class: Miner
- Status: Killable
- Found in: Karthwasten
- Base ID: 00013B69
Also in Karthwasten
Atar, Belchimac, Enmon, Fjotra, Lash gra-Dushnikh, Mena, Ragnar.
Race, level, class and factions read from the Skyrim game files; story details checked against community wiki articles and written in our own words.