The Mastosi Shamash was raised in Rusatar and grew up to be one of the best bounty hunters Rusatar had arguably ever seen in its history. When attempting to collect on his last bounty for Hadrian Pilario (the illegitimate son of a late Cáer in the Adógan region of Castrillis) in Ka'krina, he was offered a deal: Let Hadrian go, and he would receive the deed to Deasmunach Manor- as well as Lordship over its nearby village of Wímbornn by proxy.

Shamah accepted the deal for the deed, and set off to Castrillis to claim his prize ... Only to find a neglected and desolate village in need of assistance. He of course encountered skepticism and resistance in Wímbornn upon his arrival; the people of this rural village were wary of a stranger claiming to be their new Cáer. He would have to earn their trust, according to Sister Ibott Beath. His first order of business, then, in her mind, should be to reopen the Mines north of the village.

Before the events of the White War ended trade between Elnair and Dior, Wímbornn had operated a modest quarry-mine that produced ironstone, clay, and workable rock for repairs along the Gaime Highway. When trade collapsed, the mine became unnecessary. It was sealed after several fatal cave-ins during its final winter of operation. With supplies in the village dwindling, reopening even part of the mine could mean repaired plows, proper nails, and braced roofs before next winter. The village cannot afford to ignore it. And so if Shamah wishes to be the new Cáer, Sister Beath believes he can get into the villagers' good graces by reopening the mine.

Agreeing, Shamah hired a Terosi Caravan Guard named Malachite to assist him, and the two set off for the Mine.