Ottzel is a dwindling village in the Skaag Hills, ruled by Lady Femeke.[1a]
In a ploy to bring in some new blood to the town, Femeke claimed to have found a vein of silver, and sold claims to several miners. The vein, however, is fictitious. The miners are already on the way, but rather than admit wrongdoing, Lady Femeke hired the eccentric Dwarf prospector Eldruc Ironeye to locate an actual vein of silver. But Eldruc has troubles of his own. He's in debt, and his wife and three brothers demand that he return home immediately to begin paying it off.[1a]