In the aftermath of recovering the funerary mask of the Forgotten Pharaoh from the necromancer Nebtah-Khufre, the Ruby Scarabs found themselves in possession of the mask after the priests of both Nethys and Pharasma declined to take responsibility for it. The priests advised the Scarabs to travel to Tephu, Wati's sister city across the River Sphinx, where the famed Grand Library might contain more information about the mysterious Forgotten Pharaoh.
The mask was a powerful magical artifact in addition to being sought after by the Cult of the Forgotten Pharaoh, which caused the Scarabs some concern. They considered destroying it, but all indications were that it would be nearly impossible for them to destroy the mask. The only safe place they could think to leave it was with one of the temples, but as the high priests of both temples had refused it, they were obliged to take it with them. Uto reluctantly decided to wear it, since among its powers were the ability to monitor the health of his companions and to recognize undead creatures.
The Scarabs departed from Wati and took a ferry up the Sphinx to Tephu. The ferryman was a little displeased with providing transport for a full-grown lioness when Sula and Nyema boarded, and charged them extra for transportation.
On arriving at the docks in Tephu, the Ruby Scarabs were faced with the largest city any of them had ever visited before. One of the other ferry passengers had pointed out the vast blue-tiled dome of the Grand Library rising above the rooftops as they approached. The streets were thronged with merchants, peddlers, and hawkers of all kinds, selling every imaginable ware from camels to dates to boys and girls. The cacophony was overwhelming. Never had any of the Scarabs seen so many people in one place. It became apparent that hiring a guide to show them around the city would be wise. Now that they were on shore they could no longer see the Library through all of the other structures that surrounded it. There were plenty of street urchins offering to show them the way to various locations of interest to visitors, but they chose a boy named Abdallah who seemed clever and successfully played on their sympathy.
Before they left Wati, Ptemenib had told them to seek out the Caravan's End, which was run by his cousin. But they decided to seek the Library first. Abdallah showed them the way into the Old City where the Library stood. No peddlers were permitted there, but the streets were still busy with people going about their business. The Scarabs all noted that the guards at the Sun Gate seemed to be admitting only well-to-do pilgrims or beggars. Abdallah showed them the way to the Plaza of Bright Horizon, which separated the Grand Library from the Sanctuary of Nethys. They also saw the Houses of Order and Wisdom, the temples to the old gods Maat and Thoth, which pleased Azzaria as her people still followed the old gods. She had chosen Abdallah as guide in part because he wore the emblem of Ra.
The Library was an enormous building, towering the height of six ordinary houses above them. As the Scarabs approached the entrance Kaa observed that there were traps set there. The entry was flanked by two large statues of sphinxes, and they saw a lantern that appeared to be somehow made of water. On approaching one of the Library curators they learned that the Library commanded a fee of 50 gold pieces per visitor per day. This was far more than they had expected to pay, though it was not beyond their means. Uto showed the curator the letter of introduction sent by Sebti the Crocodile, but that made no difference to the fee. The Scarabs discussed the cost among themselves, and decided to return on the following day to begin their research after Uto had re-attuned the mask's powers to make it more useful for that purpose.
Abdallah showed them to the Caravan's End, which lay on the northern edge of the city not far from the reed beds that had given Tephu its nickname of 'City of Papyrus.' The inn was quite large and boasted a spacious stable and paddock area, where the group saw giant birds and huge reptiles in addition to horses and camels. Ptemenib's cousin, Ptolemny, greeted them pleasantly and when he learned that Ptemenib had sent them he offered them three days lodging and meals free of charge - though that offer did not extend to Nyema. Ptolemny also requested that Nyema sleep in the stable to avoid frightening the other guests.
While showing the Scarabs around the city, Abdallah had mentioned other libraries in addition to the Grand Library. That evening in the common room of Caravan's End, Kaa asked if any of the other guests knew of such libraries. He was told of a library called the Spiral Archive that was reputed to lie beneath the Grand Library, as well as a place called either the Shrouded Path or the Shrouded Walk, and the library of the Temple of Thoth. Later, Uto went with Abdallah to his family home to recruit his brothers and sisters to watch out for anyone following or asking about the Ruby Scarabs. While he was there he offered healing to any who were ill, used his magic to provide water for them, and arranged with Abdallah's father for Abdallah to serve the Scarabs for an entire week.
The next day Uto attuned the Forgotten Pharaoh's mask to help him research in the Library. They found that the outer area of the Grand Library's innumerable shelves could be accessed without paying the fee. The Scarabs gleaned all the information they could from these outer stacks that day, and returned to them on the following day to go to the upper levels. Uto fell from a ladder, but was able to cast a spell to prevent himself from coming to harm. Among the scrolls discovered in the upper levels was a six thousand year old scroll that referenced, Hakotep, the Forgotten Pharaoh. This scroll led them to yet more documents that could only be found in the Spiral Archive. They soon found that the Spiral Archive did indeed lie beneath the Library as they had been told. The bronze Door of the Eye, where the heiroglyph of an eye formed the keyhole, led into the Spiral Archive. Kaa detected a trap on the door. A curator explained that access to the Spiral Archive could only be granted by the high priestess of Nethys, Deka An-Keret, hat-ya of Tephu. To gain an audience with the hat-ya, the Ruby Scarabs would need to see Deaconess Hekhek.
That evening while her comrades slept in Caravan's End, Sula transformed into a young lioness and went hunting outside the city with Nyema. When they returned, the two slept together in the stable. The next morning the Scarabs went to the temple of Nethys to find out if they could see the hat-ya, but there had been no response to their request. They went out into the city to seek a way to earn some coin. Uto couldn't refrain from offering healing to the sick and was nearly mobbed by beggars. The party went back to the Temple of Nethys later, and were pleased to be told that they could see the hat-ya. But their elation was quickly lost when they saw Deka An-Keret themselves, and despite their letter of introduction from Sebti the Crocodile and the Temple of Nethys in Wati, the hat-ya refused to allow them entry into the Spiral Archive. Before the Scarabs could leave the hat-ya's office, she was interrupted by the arrival of an oiled slave boy, who told her that Muminofrah, the Fan-Bearer at the Right Hand of the Ruby Prince, commanded her immediate attendance. It was apparent to the Scarabs that the hat-ya was not pleased by this summons.
After the hat-ya left, Uto and Kaa asked the slave who Muminofrah was. The boy explained that she was the representative of the Ruby Prince, currently staying at the royal Palace of Gentle Reeds. When the slave had departed, Kaa suggested that perhaps the Scarabs should seek an audience with Muminofrah to ask her for permission to visit the Spiral Archive. Uto went outside and took flight in search of the slave. He found the boy near the Gate of the Moon and landed in front of him to ask him how to gain an audience with the Right Hand.
Once he had acquired the information he sought, Uto returned to the others and they had Abdallah lead them to the palace. There they found that Muminofrah was on her pleasure barge on the river. When the guards stopped the party, Uto told them that the Ruby Scarabs were the Heroes of Wati, and they were allowed to board the huge and ornate barge. They didn't see the hat-ya. After waiting for some time among a group of other people seeking an audience with the Right Hand, the Scarabs were called into her presence. After they were announced, Muminofrah appeared to be quite taken with Uto and summoned him to her side. Her behavior toward the tall half-orc was very flirtatious.
Muminofrah asked if the Ruby Scarabs had entertaining skills. To please her, Azzaria tumbled acrobatically, Sula transformed into a lioness, Kaa performed some martial katas and concluded his display with a burst of fire, and Uto demonstrated his magical hair. While this was going on the hat-ya arrived. Muminofrah then asked Uto to return later, after she had bathed. At Uto's request, she commanded a scribe to prepare a writ giving the Ruby Scarabs admission to the Spiral Archive for three days. The writ was to be given to the hat-ya, so as he passed the hat-ya on the way out, Uto used his hair to hand her the writ.
That evening Uto returned to the palace as Muminofrah had suggested, but he never saw her. The next morning the Scarabs went to the Library to visit the Spiral Archive.
A curator admitted them through the Door of the Eye. The heavy bronze door moved surprisingly easily. The curator told the Scarabs they must return before sunset, and advised them to avoid the antechamber which held a demon guardian that had once slain some previous visitors to the Archive. They set up an hourglass to tell them when to leave, for the Archive was underground and lacked any windows to show them the time of day. When they passed by the antechamber the curator had warned them against, they spied a demon that resembled a minotaur. Igby realized that the creature was actually a daemon, not a demon. They all heard a voice in their minds demanding, "Tell me your names so I can scrawl them on the wall of the dead."
Ignoring this menacing welcome, the party passed on to a reading room that stood to one side of the passageway. They were surprised to find a woman wearing a voluminous red hood sitting there, as they hadn't expected anyone else to have been given access to the Archive. They wondered if she might be another guardian creature. When the Ruby Scarabs entered the reading room, the woman introduced herself as Udjebet and told them she sought the Uraeus Ring. None of them had ever heard of it. Udjebet didn't elaborate on why she sought it, but Kaa observed that she wore a ring on every finger. When Udjebet asked the Scarabs to bring her any information they found about the Uraeus Ring, they agreed, and Kaa offered her a ring he had found in Wati, which she accepted.
In return for their agreement and the ring Kaa presented to her, Udjebet then escorted them down a winding passage to where a silver statue that resembled a human form made of cloud or mist stood. Udjebet then showed the Scarabs the actual Archive - a circular chamber descending deep beneath the earth, designed to resemble a rolled-up scroll. A spiral stone staircase gave access to each level, but the levels were also joined by narrow bridges made of magically-strengthened papyrus. After guiding the Scarabs to the Archive, Udjebet returned to the reading room.
The floors of the Archive and the bridges were so narrow that it was awkward to stand on them. Uto nearly had a fatal accident when he fell, and was only saved by his own magic. As the hours passed, Kaa and Uto found that the copies of scrolls from Hakotep's tomb that they sought had been moved from their appointed location, but further research revealed where they rested. These texts, written in ancient Osiriani, told of the Sky Pharaoh and displayed the symbol of a winged pyramid. The scrolls also mentioned a war in a city in the clouds, and a powerful weapon, but additional information was missing. It appeared that the Forgotten Pharaoh had been seeking stolen magic left by the Shory Empire, which had once been involved in a war with the Osirians that had ultimately led to the Keleshite takeover of Osirion. Other texts mentioned a sky burial and a winged tomb, and an organization called the Sacrosanct Order of the Blue Feather. The texts revealed that the Sky Pharaoh's heart and mask had been stolen from his tomb, and that his successor Djederet II had made efforts to round up all of the Order of the Blue Feather members and question them. The results of that questioning could be found in the Scrolls of Inquiry. The Scarabs searched for the Scrolls of Inquiry but they could not be found in the Spiral Archive. They had been moved to another library known as the Dark Depository. This was a disappointment to the Scarabs. But they did learn in their research that the Sacrosanct Order of the Blue Feather were a group of priests of Nethys dedicated to preserving knowledge. In this case, it seemed that the Order might have been dedicated to preserving - but not sharing - their knowledge of the Sky Pharaoh.
As their time limit was approaching its end, the Ruby Scarabs headed back toward the Door of the Eye. As they passed the antechamber, Kaa paused to converse with the daemon, trying to to engage it and provide it with a distraction from its endless servitude, but he found no success.
The following morning, a slave arrived at Caravan's End to deliver to the Ruby Scarabs a summons from Muminofrah the Fan-Bearer at the Right Hand of the Ruby Prince. When they arrived at the Palace of Gentle Reeds, they were told that Muminofrah had declared this day a public holiday and decreed that there should be a chariot race in celebration. Chariots drawn by prized racing camels would race through the city for her entertainment, driven by those whom she had summoned to the palace - which included the Ruby Scarabs.
Next: Part 16: Into the Dark Depository
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