Noonan sprinkles holy water.
The goblin strokes his pharaohnic beard, which momentarily pops off as he listens to your request before he turns around and hurriedly reattaches it to his face.
It's Kizxik, actually. As it happens I have a very fine selection of scrolls available for purchase at the very reasonable price of 100 gold pieces - they cover the complete history of Osiriani nobility from the first pharaoh to right this minute!
He points to several beautiful teak handled scrolls of obvious vellum.
I have a slightly less-nice set of scroll that covers the period of Kelish occupation.
Here he pulls out several much more worn scrolls with what look like pottery sticking out either side.
I also have a chapbook called "The Loves of Princess Amira" which purports to tell the life of an early princess of Osirion who scandalized the nation. I've been told itt's very...stimulating.
At this declaration he points towards a "bargain basket" that contains some books, a small figurine suitable as a toy and several vials labeled "Experimental".
100 seems pricey...
The book is 5 coppers, like everything in that bin. If you do buy one of the vials I'd very much appreciate it if you told me what it does when you drink it; or throw it; or just leave it in your pack for a few weeks.
He turns back to Shad.
I assure you it's eminently reasonable! The scrolls are bound around the finest teak from the depths of the Mwangi Expanse, drawn on the most exquisite papyrus - so fine you can't even see the joints! The illumination is exquisite and it is copied from the master set of scrolls maintained by the priesthood of Abadar in Sothis, written by a family of scribes that is unbroken for these last 4000 years! At 100 gold it's a bargain of the greatest measure.
appraise
Is it really worth that?
There's a lot of scrolls on offer and the collection is so extensive that you realize it could count as a library for Knowledge (Nobility) rolls.
Shad grumbles and pulls out some gems worth 100
These better be worth it Gregg
Shadier than a perfect day back home I tell ya!
It's Kixzik, thank you. Do I call you by the wrong name after correcting you? And it's a book, not a...well, you know. If you want that sort of thing head to the temple of Calistria.
Tariq twirled his broad curve bladed knife around and around his thumb joint.
"Crap! I can't get this cartouche . . . I should have gone with the group to get a drink if nothing else."
Hail Sarenrae! May this library be blessed in her name.
Shad shrugs and collects his books and heads back to the library
"Ah yes, these scrolls help bridge the gaps between the styles of the pre-hedonic and post-formation era styles . . . Hummmmm."
zzZzzzzz. Noonan seems to have settled in for his midday nap. He needs more naps these days.
Zzzzz...Martha! Time for my prune juice. zzzzz
Tariq uncovers further information regarding the tomb - The architect Chisisek designed and built Hakotep’s pyramid. When construction was completed, Chisisek was killed and buried in a hidden tomb to preserve the pyramid’s secrets. No plans of the pyramid seem to have survived.
"But guys! . . . There's more . . . "
"Can someone help me with this part right here though? Is this a vulture, a raven, or something else? . . . "
Noonan rolls over and looks at a book.
I think I saw this on some noble that visited one. Looks like an emu.
"Ah yes and that brings us to the number 26! . . . "
Well we are getting somewhere and will be out soon I hope, I need a nice hot towel wrap.
Dwalindor wants to get back to his lady love so let's do this!
Noonan chants and casts Ancestral Communion gaining some aid on puzzling out the histories.
Natural 20 again, we nailed this one.
Get her some nice chocolates, booze, flowers and a bard to sing love songs. Butter her up after all the favors she gave us.
Further research reveals more information to Tariq:
The Sky Pharaoh’s pyramid was capable of f light, and when Hakotep’s body was entombed within, the pyramid vanished into the sky. None know where the tomb now lies, or if it still soars through the skies over Osirion.
Although none know the location of Chisisek’s tomb, his funeral was commemorated in a fresco in the Vault’s rotunda by the greatest artist of the age, Hor-hepu.
By studying the fresco painted on the true dome of the rotunda, you learn that Chisisek’s tomb, sealed with his double hieroglyph of an owl inside a house, is said to be located “across two bridges, where the sphinxes ponder the crook, the scarab, and the sun.”
You recognize the riddle as a reference to the area between the Crook and Scarab rivers and the Pillars of the Sun mountains—a desert region called the Parched Dunes—though the tomb’s exact location is not pinpointed.
The geometric shapes on the fresco are far more than just design elements; they represent a fantastic weapon of vast size used against winged cities populated with strange figures bearing weapons that launch black fire. You identify these cities and figures as Shory.
Tariq snaps his fingers!
". . . But there is more, there are cleverly hidden layers here. See? The riddle is used as a reference to the area between the Crook and Scarab rivers and the Pillars of the Sun mountains—a desert region called the Parched Dunes—though the tomb’s exact location is not pinpointed. Have you heard of that desert Diwali?"
arcana
these images are a weapon...looks powerful
It's from Pathfinder Unchained I think. PCs get 2 background skill points per level they can use for a set number of skills - just Google "background skills pathfinder". Basically it gives you skills useful out of combat like appraise or profession. There's knowledge skills too but not monster identifying ones.
Since a lot of players optimize their characters for combat it gives you a way to let classes that are skill poor, like fighters and clerics, have more to do outside of combat.