[Gameplay] 5. Best Left Buried

"Then it seems we are meant to escort you home. One of your people ran off earlier, if we run into them, perhaps you can talk some sense into them coming with and seeking repentance."

After relinquishing this place and the fallen of their valuables, Tabat helps set their bodies respectfully out, their arms crossed over their chests, then leaves with the others to return this gut stone.

Tabat nods his head in respect. "First, I humbly request that you consider collecting your people's bodies and giving them a proper funeral. They may have been led astray but they deserve as much. Otherwise, I would remind you why we are here - undead have awakened in startling numbers and are attacking the city outside this Necropolis. We believe the source of these creatures lies somewhere within these walls, but are at a loss as to where we should look. Have your people seen anything out of the ordinary very recently? Strangers coming and going where they typically do not? Or have they heard any whispers of other necromancy going on?"

"This is intriguing," Tabat says, "some sort of star chart."

He looks to the others, "I wonder if this might be the same golden mask that was missing from that tomb? There could be a connection."

"I'd be willing to bet that you're right," Iseret nods.

Youve learned what you can learn from the Xotl. Where to next? I've updated the handout with the clues.

"Well, I think that's our next destination," Tabat says, taking the scrap star chart and putting it neatly in his belt pouch. "Thank you , Unwrapped Harmony. We will take our leave and trouble your people no more this day. Know that you have friends outside the Necropolis, should you need them."

Your most direct route would be to go to P and then head north along the line the first compass pointed, stopping at the interesting locations you find including M and O where the last two compasses are.

Confident now, Tabat leads to the next point on the map.

P. OBSERVATORY OF TRUTH AND WISDOM

This house of learning and record keeping was dedicated to the Ancient Osirian deities Maat and Thoth, the goddess of celestial order and truth and god of the moon and wisdom, respectively. Here, astronomers once studied the heavens, tracking the movements of celestial bodies and supplying Wati’s various mapmakers and travelers with accurate measurements and predictions.

The Observatory of Truth and Wisdom is a simple affair, consisting of a single floor with a three-story tower in the center. The tower’s top level is exposed to the skies above, with various markings on the walls to indicate the position of the sun and stars on important dates.

The doors are open, but dust hasn't blown in, indicating that they opened very recently and weren't closed behind.

The interior of the observatory’s main floor is decorated in blue tiles and murals of major constellations and celestial events.

"Be wary, friends, we appear not to be the first visitors here." Tabat slowly heads inside. He draws forth his shield and khopesh.

'The person in the mask maybe?' Khadi falls into her usual position in the middle of the group as they enter.

When the observatory was transformed into a tomb, artisans worked subtle death motifs into the decorations, and anyone fluent in Ancient Osiriani discovers many prayers to Pharasma worked into the decorative trim.

In addition, an enormous spiral mosaic, partially obscured by a tattered tarpaulin, is built into the floor of the tower. You note this as the holy symbol of Pharasma, but Tabat can see that the observatory was dedicated to Maat and Thoth, two deities with little, if any, relation to Pharasma.

Tabat finds several star charts on the premises. Although none of those found match the scrap you received from Unwrapped Harmony, they’re of the same type and format, making it very likely that the piece the dark folk discovered came from this location.

Anyone fluent in Ancient Osiriani with even modest religious knowledge can recognize all of the common prayers and affirmations to the Lady of Graves worked into the building’s decor save the phrase, "All who live must pass through the doorway of death to face her judgment."

As an Osirionologist, Iseret is fluent in Ancient Osiriani.

There is an unintersting puzzle here but solving it is necessary so I'll simply narrate it when we start the next bit. So that means that we cross a milestone and ...

You advance to Level 6!