Part 42: Because One “White Guy in Arabia” Rip-off Isn’t Enough…

Chapter 21: Because One “White Guy in Arabia” Rip-off Isn’t Enough…

When we last left our hero…


Observing the sunrise, Nike von Slartibartfast posed for the camera as he awaited the caravan’s arrival.


However, disaster struck as a massive army of bandits besieged our hero!

And now, the thrilling conclusion:


And the soundtrack.


Rasier

Man, what an asshole.


Might as well see who’s around.


The Blue Parrot Inn

*A hush comes over the bar as people notice you and eye you sullenly.*

Will you look what crawled in from the desert? He has been out in the sun for so long, his hair has gone yellow!
Well, actually—
Now, now, Wilmer, he is a stranger to our fair city. You wouldn’t want to give the wrong opinion about the hospitality of Rasier. Come here, stranger. I see you have already made the acquaintance of Khaveen, our illustrious Captain of the Raseirian Guard, so perhaps you already have an idea of Raseirian hospitality. Come here, sit down, and let us have a little chat, you and I.


Alright, so I don’t really know why the hero looks like he’s wearing Harpo’s wig for this scene.


Still, I get the impression that I can forgive the strange appearances when there’s less detail.

I am Ferrari. Signor Ferrari to you. But perhaps a word of caution. In a city such as Rasier, there are many depths to the problems. Do not try to change things here too quickly.
Well, I just got here. It’s not like people are going to flag me down in the streets to have me join their rebellions or something.
Perhaps this is for the best, no? You will find that the system is not so bad, once you get used to it. However, it would be very dangerous to try to alter that system. You might make enemies.
I think I’ve already got one. I freed Ad Avis’ apprentice and now he hates me or something.
*Ahem* Some names are best left unspoken, stranger. Enough of such morbid thoughts, though. Perhaps we should share a drink in honor of our new relationship. Would you prefer Raseirish Coffee, or a Djinn Sling?
Wait, you guys have booze here? Well sign me up!
A wise choice. I dislike a man who doesn’t drink. It reveals a distinct lack of trust. And you can trust me, my good sir. Wilmer, a drink for our young friend.


Let us drink to our fortunate meeting!

*The drink is sweet, with a very bitter aftertaste. It has an odd, almost chemical, taste. You feel strange for a few seconds, but the feeling passes. Ferrari starts to ask some very probing questions, but you evade most of them.*

You are a very closed-mouth individual. You handle your drink very well. I trust you will handle yourself in Raseir as well.

I don’t know which stat is linked to this test, but Nike’s were obviously high enough. Assuming you don’t train to perfection, however, you’re probably best off “STAND”-ing instead of drinking, which Ferrari also accepts, since he can understand why you wouldn’t trust him.

Hey Ferrari, I heard from Dinarzad that you were the man to use this on, so…

*You perform the thief’s sign.*

Ah, when I first saw you, I said to myself, there is a man who knows how to play the game. I appreciate that in a man. Know this, though. I am the thieves’ guild here. Do not even think of using your skills around here without consulting me first.
Hey, don’t worry man, I wouldn’t even know the first place to start.
Excellent. We will reserve a room here for you tonight. You will need to return here before dark, for it is forbidden to be out at night. Join me this evening and we will talk some more. I have some information which may prove useful to you. I will see you later. I have some thinking to do now.


Sling me, and keep them coming.


It might be based on Vitality, but you can only drink 4-5 Slings before you get too drunk to live in a bar like this.


And I thought the roads in Shapier were dreary. What the hell happened here?

For some reason, Quest for Glory 2 doesn’t let you rest just anywhere. This doesn’t matter much when you can always go back to the inn in Shapier, but all you can do in Raseir is take a walk and set the time lapse system to “Fastest.” Luckily, it starts out in mid-afternoon, so there isn’t much time to fritter away. One thing the remake definitely does better is that it gives you the ability to rest nearly everywhere.


Same guards, same patterns, and yet this somehow feels more threatening.


Come join me here, my dear sir. You are still a novelty in Raseir, and I take a vested interest in all things new. It is time we discussed some things together, you and I.


I wish to tell you a story, a fable that has a moral. How you choose to react to this moral is your own life. As you well know, the old Emir was deposed last year, and his brother took over the palace.
I didn’t know the new guy was his own brother, actually.
Unimportant. What is important is that Raseir used to be a place with very few laws and restrictions; a place where the streets were filled with people and merchants and water flowed free from the fountain. That has changed with the coming of Khaveen and his master.
Right, Ad—
I believe I have warned you against this once already, friend.
Alright, if you say so.
Better. Now, with their coming, a new order has been established. The weak have perished or fled. Only the strong who adapted remain. Those that could not adapt were destroyed. You are strong, but it remains to be seen how adaptable you are. It would be a great shame for you to wind up in Khaveen’s dungeon.
Well, that’s nice of you. But I haven’t even told you my name, have I?
Don’t worry, your reputation precedes you. Enough of that for now. I have someone I would like you to meet. Ugarte, I would like to introduce you to Nike von Slartibartfast.


I am very pleased to make your acquaintance. I have heard much about you already.
They tried so hard to ugly up Peter Lorre, but it just wasn't possible.

Ugarte, here, provides an invaluable service to this community. He obtains for others things which are otherwise unattainable.
For a nominal fee, of course.
It seems he has some information for you.
A rumor, perhaps, that may influence your actions. I will be happy to share such information for, say, five dinars?
Only five? Fine, the damn things are coming out of my ears at this point.
Khaveen has sent the word out to his men that you are to be watched at all times. It seems that, ah, Someone is very interested in your actions. You should be aware that Khaveen does not usually greet strangers at the gate. You were expected.
Why would He take an interest?
There is the little matter of a prophecy to be fulfilled and this one may be the one.
I suspected before that you were a very dangerous man to have around, Nike. It seems I am correct. Still, it will be very interesting to see how this game plays out. You may stay tonight in the first room past the door on the left.
So I’ve been meaning to ask, but why does water cost so much around here? Don’t you guys have a magic fountain like Shapier?
Oh no, the fountain in Raseir has dried up long ago.
Oh yeah, I think I heard that before. Would water happen to be one of the “unattainable” things you can get?


Since the fountain has dried up, the only place to get water is from the Emir’s men. The only place other than myself, that is. It is surprising how much water is worth to one who is thirsty.
I’ll keep that in mind if I ever run out. If I’m even staying in town long enough. See you two crazy cats around.
Watch your back.
Sleep well. I should like to speak with you tomorrow about the use of your skills. As head of all illegal activity in Raseir, I am an influential and respected man, and I have no intention of letting an amateur jeopardize my position, if you understand my meaning. Good night, for now.
_{Amateur? But I’m a union member!}



Signor Ferrari sends his regrets, but he had some rather disturbing news. He will talk to you this evening.


Might as well go for another walk.


Damn, that sure is a dry fountain. Wait, why are there so many guards around?



Do not interfere!
Hero, you must help me! Do something!
There are no heroes in this town. You of all men should know that, Ugarte.
I know very little. What is going on? I am innocent of any wrongdoing.




I don’t know how that water bag could have gotten there. Someone must have planted it on me.
Waterskins under your tunic, Ugarte? You know that smuggling water is a crime against the State. You also know what we do to criminals like you.
No, no, please. I am innocent! I do not know how it got there. No! Hero…Help!


This is the fate of anyone who breaks the rules of the city. Remember this, and see that you do not suffer the same fate.


_{All I learned is to take care to not get caught.} Hey, who’s that?
If you are truly a hero, follow me!
I’ll be damned. This “hero” thing makes joining rebellions easier than I thought.


Please, enter quickly before the guards come!


Zayishah


Please, you must help me. Take off your clothes.
Well, I don’t normally do this _{despite how often I’d like to,} but okay.
I must leave the city before I am forced to marry Khaveen. I have heard you are a hero. With your help, I can be out of the city before nightfall. I wish to disguise myself as you and leave with your visa, so please, let me exchange clothes with you.
…Oh. Nuts. Hey, who are you, anyway?
My name is Zayishah, daughter of Emir Ali al-Din Hasan.
Wait, I thought the old Emir’s name was Arus.
He is my uncle, yes.
Uncle? Shouldn’t you be the evil princess, then?
No! My father has been manipulated against his will, forced to do these things at another’s bidding.
Right, Ad Avis. Everyone here seems to cringe when I say his name, though.
Because they fear him. But I hate him, even more than Khaveen. It is he who destroyed my uncle Arus and made Raseir the terrible place it now is. Ad Avis was my uncle’s vizier. There are only two passions to Ad Avis: complete Power, and complete Control. He will stop at nothing to gain those. Ad Avis is a master of magic and exults in showing off how powerful he is. He has boasted that soon he will have the power to rule the world. I can only hope he is mistaken.
Aw man, and I’m the only one who can do anything about it, huh? Enough angsting, though. Why are you girls dressed up in the bik…veils?
All the women must stay in the harem now, hiding their faces behind veils. Did you know it is forbidden for a man to speak to a woman unless she is his mother, daughter, or wife? It is all Ad Avis’ doing. He must really hate women.
Or maybe just one woman in particular.
Do you know something?
Naw, just speculating. Well, if I’ve gotta get naked for the Cause, then…hey wait, Sheema gave me a spare. Here you go.
Thank you so very much.






So why did Sheema pack you a wig?
I don’t know, but I had some fun earlier using it to mess with Ferrari.
How do I look? Do you think this will fool anybody? It’s so nice not to have to wear a stupid veil.
And it’s really creepy to see a female version of me walking around.
Please, in order to leave the city I need one more thing, although it will be dangerous for you. I must have your visa.
But…I can’t leave town without it.
If you are successful, having a visa will be unnecessary.
Well, alright.
Here is my mirror. You have but to show it to any woman in the palace and she will aid you. Again, my thanks and may fortune favor you. Farewell.


…And now my visa is everywhere I want to be.
If you need a place of safety in the palace sometime, the harem will welcome you for the aid you gave my mistress. I shall tie a veil from the battlements at night to guide you. Thank you greatly, Effendi Hero.
Who are you, anyway?
I am Mayzun. I have been Zayishah’s servant ever since we were children, and her slave ever since Ad Avis made slaves. I would kill Khaveen before letting him touch my mistress.
What’s so bad about him, anyway? Besides the obvious, I mean.
Have you seen how he stares when he watches a prisoner tortured? He looks at my mistress the same way.
Ooh.