The Rubric of Zarkhaddos

The book is made of tanned and dyed human flesh and it's pages weathered old parchment inked in blood. The book is bound with thin silvery chains and a small lock that keeps it closed. This method was commonly used by the College of Magic when they uncovered knowledge not meant for mortal eyes. The chains and lock are almost always magically forged and difficult to break.
The small manuscript found with the book details its acquisition by the College of Magic some three hundred and fifty years ago. An expedition sent to the borderlands between the desert and the Balmoran plains reportedly discovered a burial chamber that contained this book and many other relics from the Silent War that consumed the deserts around Baradrad.
If the lock is open the book can be read. After successfully studying the works the reader will come away with the following key facts as well as any in-game benefits mentioned below:

Zarkhaddos, the great enemy of Baradrad, was once the ever-living ruler of an empire that existed long before the founding of Baradrad. The region was once fertile and full of life but it was all scoured away to feed the growing appetite of Zarkhaddos.

Necromancy is fueled by negative energy, death energy, and doesn't require the Leylines of Tairos to function.

Zarkhaddos is believed to be immortal and indestructible. His essence is said to be tethered to the desert itself or some relic that lays buried beneath it.

Entire legions of undead warriors and constructs lay buried beneath the desert sand, entombed within crypts made by Zarkhaddos' empire.

This empire was believed to have existed at the same time as the Serpent People and died out long before the war that led to the Serpents' extinction. They are believed to have invented undeath.

RPG Datasheet

Requires three Knowledge Baradrad checks at DC 14 or Knowledge Arcana checks at 18 to successfully complete. Each check requires one day of study.
Upon successfully completing the third check the reader will gain the skill two levels in Knowledge: Baradrad skill and will gain a +1 circumstance bonus toward any social roll involving undead.
The book is also a source to learn the following spells: Repair Undead, Command Undead, Howling Agony, Sands of Time, Animate Dead, Bestow Curse, Magic Jar, Circle of Death, Control Undead and Create Greater Undead
The first time a party member reads the book a reward of 1000XP will be added to the next Experience Point reward. This represents them sharing what they've learned with the party and the party becoming more knowledgeable for it.

First Acquired: Tower of Loame in High Point
Current Owner: Inheritors of the Seward Estate
Author: Zarkhaddos

Item type

Book / Document

Rarity

Unique

Base Price

600-900 gold

Raw materials & Components

Mortal flesh