I am going to guess that mentioning the Thassilon name is not too much of a stretch, but chances are much of what your bard knows will be shrouded in myth and ages and ages of exaggeration and fabrication. Just my 2 cents.
Looking for DM advice mainly...I'm unsure how much natives know about Thassilon and all the legends and everything it entails.
I agree with Last Rogue. The name of Thassilon should be around. Any specifics are going to be clouded in myth, legend, and superstition. And even then, such information would have to emanate from someone with serious skills in Knowledge (history) and, to some extent, Knowledge (local)...and maybe even Knowledge (architecture), and so on...depending on the exact nature of what they're wanting to know.
Can PC's take Thassilonian as a language?
I think so. But it won't be a language that's still in active use. I think the best example to follow is to examine the NPCs.
For instance...
In Burnt Offerings, the D15. Research Room has Lyrie Akenja helping to research the Thassilonian ruins. Under her languages, it lists Thassilonian. She also has Knowledge (arcana), Knowledge (architecture and engineering), and Knowledge (local) to draw upon. And she's got comprehend languages and read magic, too. Therefore, if this short-lived human wizardess from Magnimar can have Thassilonian as a known language, so can your PCs.
Even so, I would think Speak Language (Thassilonian) would mostly come in handy for reading Thassilonian runes and script...as opposed to speaking it aloud with someone. I suppose the PCs could talk with Erylium in Thassilonian, if they wanted...or Lyrie. Of course, there may be more chances to use that skill down the road as the adventure path develops. Skills like Decipher Script could still come in handy, too, even if they don't take Thassilonian as a language, though.
Also, take a look at the treasure from B8. Ancient Study, which mentions there's a spell scroll that has a -10 penalty to figure out with a Spellcraft check unless the reader can read Thassilonian. To me, that would imply that there are people out there who still can.
Also, look at B11. Meditation Chamber, where Thassilonian runes are present in the half-formed musings of Scribbler's spirit. Again, it states, "Someone who can read Thassilonian script may recognize snatches of words here and there in these shapes."
In B13. Cathedral of Wrath, Erylium can speak Thassilonian.
And lastly, in E8. Communication Room, there's a really great silent image of Karzoug's last message cycling over and over...and he's speaking in Thassilonian. So, if you want your PCs to have a chance to decipher that message, they either need a handy comprehend languages, or if someone already knows Thassilonian, it's that much easier.
Hope that helps,
--Neil
Creative Director
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A PC can indeed speak Thassilonian, althoguh since very few living creatures alive today have ever heard it spoken aloud, it'll sound weird to a native speaker like Erylium.
As for how much to reveal to the PCs who make knowledge check type things... not much. In Burnt Offerings, in fact, I wouldn't reveal anything but what the adventure says to reveal. Simply describe the ancient Thassilonian stuff, confirm it's ancient, and say that there's really not much to know.
In Pathfinder 2, the PCs learn a bit more about the Sihedron Rune. It's a DC 30 Knowledge (arcana or history) check to recognize the Sihedron Rune as a symbol for ancient Thassilonian magic, and that's more or less the baseline to roll to learn anything about the ancient empire. Which means that until PCs are 4th level or so, it's gonna be nearly impossible for them to make the skill check anyway.