The Drunken Lizard Pub

The description of this challenge says you have to raise 20 skills to lvl 5. There are 14 skills that can be raised using trainers. There are 6 other skills which can be learned from books and then raised to lv5 using bonuses from items - does this count for the achievement or do you have to raise all the skills to lv5 without items?

I honestly don't remember how the rules were enforced, but I think you need to have those skills above 5 naturally (training or skill point use). Item bonuses do not count. Though I could be wrong. It's been a long time since I've dove that deep into the code.

That's my recollection as well. You need to get the skills on your character sheet, pre-item bonus. Books and trainers definitely work.