ok i cant find out how to start this quest , which town does it start , the ratlings at the burned house never actually say for me to kill the stout way down at the vault,even though i know thats what i must eventually do , but i havent been given the assassin dagger quest yet HELP PLEASE !!

Ask them about a "Job". It'll be in your talk list after Scanthril mentions Grundel. He'll then ask if you want to be in on the "real action." That's the start of the quest.

-Sazerac

As a professional courtesy I should point out that you may want to be careful who you kill in the Stout Mines. I had an unfortunate disagreement with a certain thief which seems to have prevented my getting the Quest to terminate him and become an assassin!

Well, naturally, you want to GET the quest before you kill Raskalion! That's true for any of the quests you perform.

-Sazerac