Hanifa nearly lost her temper a few times with Menya, but held her tongue whenever the catgirl made significant progress.  Over time she and Ragrump decided that it would be best to take a breather from the work, for their own exhaustion and sanity.<br/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">1. Gotta check the Tome of Horrors, it might have something useful on mummies or other Osirionite undead, which might come in handy if they end up pyramid delving... ooh, is that a sparkly vampire?<br/><br/>2. Looking up Ulunat in The Many Blasphemies of Rovagug!</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>1. The Tome of Horrors briefly delves into Osirion history, from the many varieties of sphinxes to alternate burial rites and mummy preparation.  One part discussed a construct known as the Mummy Golem, which is not in fact a corpse but a series of bandages surrounding a humanoid sculpture held together by magic.  Its form is particularly vulnerable to fire and most magic weapons except for slashing ones (lucky for Menya her body wrap claws count as both, if she ever runs into one).<br/><br/>2. Festering Ulunat, the Unholy First, is one of Rovagug's oldest spawn.  It devastated the empire of Ninshabur in -3923 AR and destroyed entire armies of the Jistka Imperium.  It was finally brought low by Azghaad, powered by the will of Nethys to penetrate its magic-immune carapace and deliver the slaying blow.  The corpse of the creature became a national symbol of Osirion, its oldest city of Sothis built around it, and the stylized golden scarab on the country's flag is a toned-down version of Ulunat.  Many of Rovagug's minions believe that it can be awoken, and regularly travel to Sothis to enact foul rites they believe will lead to its return.<br/><br/><br/><br/>Hanifa's eyes widened as she looked over the notes jotted down by Menya, a tapestry of individual evidence making a greater whole.  "Wow, this is amazing!" she gasped.<br/><br/><em>Menya gains 1,600 experience points for her sublime research.</em><br/><br/>"Yes, yes, that makes sense," she said upon hearing Menya's plan about further inquiries into the Spire and Fizza.  "Ragrump, what do you know?"<br/><br/>"Fizza?  A very talented and beloved follower of the All-Seeing (one of Nethys' many titles).  A lot of folk were worried about her loyalty to Osirion, but over time she demonstrated the conviction that both nations were better off prosperous than warring against each other."<br/><br/><br/>Asking around about Fizza brought similar statements.  During her stay in Sothis her many magical talents and services proved invaluable.  Although many regular Osirions do not know or admit it, she helped build shaped some of their most enduring aqueducts and city walls, still enchanted to this day.  During the Qadiran invasion of 1532 AR, significant portions of Azghaad's Spire were destroyed as part of the new regime's plans of wiping out Osirion's cultural legacies, although a mere 13 years ago (4611 AR) the High Priestess of Pharasma helped rebuild the structure to even greater heights.  Now a new amber-colored capstone of desert glass sits at the very top.  This last bit the priests are curiously silent about this feature, turning the conversation to other subjects or talking more about Fizza.<br/><br/>"The apparent silence about the Spire's captsone seems quite odd," Hanifa whispered.  "Maybe it has something to do with the Crown, or maybe it's just a red herring."<br/><br/>Eventually the string of conversations made their way back to Cerfetutan, the old lady who greeted Menya and Hanifa at the entrance now sitting at a table sipping tea.  "Please respect our privacy in these matters, for the Spire itself is a sacred site.  Priests and priestesses serve for years become they're ever admitted into the innermost circles.  Tea anyone?"<br/><br/>"We'll inquire no further," Hanifa said as she took a seat, "but we do need to find out more about Fizza and the Forgotten Crown.  Might she have had a hand in its construction, being from Nex and all?"<br/><br/>Cerfetutan shook her head.  "No, at least not by the account of records.  During her stay it's believed that her presence led to the consideration of improving Osirionian-Nexian relationships.  I wouldn't be surprised, however, if she helped fashion it."<br/><br/>"We spent a whole night studying, and learned that the Crown's blueprints were fashioned in this very temple."<br/><br/>The priestess laughed.  "Even if that were true, it's not something we'd lend to just any inquiring minds.  You're not the first ones to go asking around for the Crown.  To what purpose do you seek it?"<br/><br/>"Menya's a scholar and Osiron native, as am I.  As both our duty to illuminate our cultural heritage, and to chronicle all knowledge for the Pathfinder Society, is why we inquire.  And hearing of others is news to me.  But first, the Crown."<br/><br/>"Right."  Cerfetutan took another sip to clear her throat before continuing.  "The Crown's magic is powerful and unique, unable to be easily replicated.  After its creation the blueprints were to be buried in Pharaoh Acherres II's tomb, along with the very same inventors.  Perhaps if Fizza did indeed help build the Crown, then her final resting place would be in that pyramid.  It was built on the southern edge of the Pillars of the Sun."<br/><br/>"That's an easy travel down the River Sphinx and west," Hanifa said.  "Anyway, what about the other folks asking around?"<br/><br/><br/>"Hmmm, the first group were merchants of the Aspis Consortium, some Garundi but mostly Keleshites led by a woman.  She made plenty of offers, mostly monetary, if we told them everything that we knew about the Crown, although they weren't satisfied with all our answers.  She second group were pilgrims from Avistan.  Chelixians, I believe, for their heavy-clad leader and pentagram symbols.  I never saw their land firsthand, but apparently devil-worship's very popular in the north.  They did not get very far, and their leader put us on edge.  There was an...aura about her."<br/><br/>"Thank you for your help," Hanifa said with a bow.  "Menya and I can take things from here."<br/><br/><br/><br/><em>Menya has a few choices now.  One, they can head directly to Acherres II's tomb.  Two, they can search for the two other groups around Sothis to discern their motivations.  Three, inquire more into the Spire (although it may not be directly relevant to the quest).  Four, take some time to explore the city and go on sidequests, shopping, and the like.  Five, any other idea that you can come up with!</em>