Part 63: Getting Accepted

Chapter 15: Getting Accepted


Habari, hero.
Mzuri, Laibon. I’m sure you’ve already heard about the prisoner.
Yes. Now that you have turned the prisoner into a woman, she will stay in the cage until she tells us where her village hides, or when someone buys her for a bride. Her husband will soon know where the village be, and we will have the Spear of Death again.
And how exactly do you know that she will be compliant?
It is the wife’s position to tell her husband what he asks. You will see, one way or another, her husband will get her to take him to her village.
I…see. Out of curiosity, what is the “bride price” you have set for her?
Already my son Yesufu has asked for the bride price. I do not want him to marry an enemy, so I have set the bride price high. The price shall be one fine robe, one fine spear, and five zebra skins.
Is that all?
Yes.
And anyone could pay the bride price and get access to her?
Normally only a Simbani warrior can pay a bride price for a Simbani woman, but the prisoner be not Simbani, so I will make an exception.
I’ll be right back.



Only warriors of the Simbani may buy this bride. If you are interested in the Leopardman woman, you must become a Simbani warrior in an initiation ritual.
This seems somehow unnecessary, but alright. What’s involved in becoming a warrior?
To be a Simbani warrior, you must undergo tests of skill, courage, and wisdom. Learn the ways of the Simbani, practice our skills. When you are ready, bring to me the horn of the Running Death, the dinosaur of the savanna.
Sure thing. Maybe I’ll find one on my way over to Tarna.


Man, practicing the ways of the Simbani can get pretty repetitive.





Hajambo, bwana.
Good day. Five of your finest zebra pelts, if you please.
As you say, bwana.
Man, you really don’t get fired up about anything, do you?
As you say, bwana.


Greetings, sir, greetings! Are you in need of a better weapon?
Actually, I could really use a ceremonial spear.
So you are getting close with the locals, eh? Good luck!
That sounded entirely more suggestive than it should.


Naharak sa'id, effendi.
A fine robe, please. Any color will do.
It is yours.
Excellent. Just another day or so and I can finally start making some real progress.


Oh, what a happy day! Master has come back!
Yes, right. Would you be willing to sell me thirty meals’ worth of rations at seven commons each?
Oh, yes! If Master gives me a price, I must accept!
Very well, then.


Hey, you! Blondie! Ya gotta help me. Listen, I’m begging ya. Ya gotta meet me in this bazaar tonight. I need ya ta help me.
You’re that thief from before, aren’t you? The one who fell over when I cast Calm?
Not my fault! I was off balance, I’m telling ya! But come on, man, please, no one else around here will even talk to me! Yer breaking some kinda law just by looking at me!
We’d better hasten our business together, then. Very well, I will meet with you, but only because it is so close to sunset anyway.
Thanks, man, you’re a real lifesaver. Just don’t forget.


You came!
I waited for ten minutes before walking north. It wasn’t exactly difficult to find you.
Whatever, man, I’m just glad I got someone to talk to again.
So, Mr. Thief, why were you trying to steal from the money changer so blatantly?
Look, call me Harami, please. I stopped here in Tarna with the last caravan, thinking to pick up a few things here and there, and go on my way. How was I supposed to know there was going to be no more caravans coming here? Ok, no big deal, I can make a living for a while. Next thing I know is I’m caught and they bring up all kinds of things they say I stole. How’d they know? If I knew they saw me, I wouldn’t have stolen in the first place.
That’s not exactly the kind of behavior that criminal trials are supposed to reinforce. So what’s it like losing your honor?
Big deal, I thought. What kind of punishment is losing honor? I never had much to do with honor anyway. Now I know what they mean when they say “without honor.” It means no one can talk to me. It means no one even looks at me. It’s as if I was dead or something. I’ve got no place to stay except in the tents of the bazaar at night. I got no use for money, I can’t buy anything. I can’t even get away because no caravans are coming because of the war rumors.
How have you even survived this long?
That dog guy leaves behind some meat at night, but it still ain’t that much. And it’s a good thing it’s still warm at night, else I’da frozen to death by now.
So why turn to me? I am sort of responsible for your downfall.
‘Cause you’re the only guy who can help. No one talks to me, but I do hear a lot of rumors. I heard you was trying to stop this war. Well, I’m not much for politics, but go for it! Stop this war and then the caravans will come back again. Then maybe I can get away to some place where they only cut off your hand if they catch you stealing.
Well, I didn’t exactly need your support in order to further the peacemaking efforts, but I suppose I can appreciate your enthusiasm. Look, do you need some money or food? I’d feel kind of bad leaving you here like this.
It’s not like me to refuse easy money, but I got no use for it. No one will let me buy anything anyway. I’ll take the meat, though; it’ll be nice eating something that ain’t half rancid.
You’re welcome. I should get going now, though.
Hey look, take care, huh? I mean, like, you’re the only pal I got. I don’t want to lose you.
You do realize just how gay you sounded there, right?
At this point, I don’t even give a shit.

As much of an Honor mill as the beggar was back in Shapeir, Harami here goes one better. Every time you offer him money, Harami will refuse, but your Honor skill will go up. Just hold Enter down for five minutes and suddenly you’ve got a free 300 and every paladin skill available.



Hey, so, it’s not that important, but I figured you should know.

*You make the thief’s sign.*

So the guy who caught me is a thief, huh? That figures.
Just like the old adage. Sorry about that dagger.
Nah, it’s no trouble, really. You only hit me with the handle and tripped me up. I gotta tell ya, though, you gotta play it safe. You don’t want to be stuck here like me without honor. There’s no guild here to help you when you get caught.
I know. The closest thing to it is the rope seller, and he just offers acrobatic lessons. And he calls us “brethren.” I don’t know what’s up with that.
You think he’ll react if I give him the sign? I could really use someone to get me some food.
I dunno. Maybe.
Well thanks for letting me know, man.
Society’s rebels gotta stick together, I guess.




Sorry to barge in on you this late, but I thought you should hear about this. The Simbani managed to capture a Leopardman, but after I applied a dispel potion it became apparent that she was more aptly describable as a Leopardwoman.
A captive Leopardwoman? If I know the Simbani, they will try to sell her as a wife.
It may be wise for you to purchase this Leopard Lady for a wife. Only then will you be able to free her and gain her trust.
I figured that only her husband would be allowed to set her free. How are things going on this end?
I am hoping we can convince the Simbani and Leopardmen leaders to come to a peace conference at the Hall of Judgment. If we can get them to speak about their problems with each other, perhaps we can come to a peaceful solution.
Wouldn’t the Leopardmen leaders consider the Hall non-neutral territory?
Getting the two together is the important factor, and having them meet in a place like the Hall of Judgment should hopefully keep things civil. I am sorry I can do so little to help you, my friend. I am not used to letting others risk their lives while I do not. Still, you saved Shapeir through your actions. I know you can save Tarna.
If you do locate the demons, seek the Gate Orb. It will be somewhere near a World Gate, and it will be guarded. If you can force the orb back through the gate, then the gate will be destroyed.
The orb would not be able to power the gate from the other side?
Passing through would create a feedback loop: the orb would try to absorb the energy of the portal it is trying to power, and the very movement of the magical energy would destroy them both. Remember, though, that you will not be able to cast magic on the Gate Orb directly. Once you force it through the gate, the demons left in this world will be defeated easily.
How could you know for certain?
The demons are acting too subtly. Rumors and hints, but no real sightings—I think the demons need this war to create enough death so they can fully manifest in our world. Still, I worry. I feel like a pawn in some great war game. I have no control over the future, and I’m not sure which side will win.
It will be all right, my love. Nike is a true hero, and will bring us peace.
Prince, listen to me. I am afraid that others will try to use you as a pawn in this war game as well. I have a feeling that things will soon be much worse than they are. Do not give up, no matter what happens. Only you can stop the demons now.
Don’t worry, Kreesha. After all, the underestimated pawn can sometimes reach the enemy’s home and become a queen.
That doesn’t seem like it came out right.




There has been one monster in the savanna who I have not yet mentioned, even though I have encountered him once or twice before. This is the big yellow dinosaur of the savanna, and man can he pack a punch. This is the thing you have to kill to get the horn for the initiation. All four classes can grab as many horns as they want, but only the fighter and the paladin actually need any, and only one at that. It is nice to have a big, pointless pile of them after grinding stats, though.



What’s going on? I feel different somehow. Is this…

I know magic!

I guess you need a Magic stat to access the magic screen, because that five is actually quite pointless. The healing ability runs on stamina, not mana. Nevertheless, the Magic stat does go up as you practice the healing ability, plus it will provide a hidden bonus when we get to QfG4. But more on that when we get there.


I got that horn for you now, Mr. Laibon.
Mzuri, young hero. You are indeed worthy to undergo the Simbani initiation ritual if this is so. Tomorrow we shall hold an initiation ritual to see if you are worthy to become a Simbani warrior. My son Yesufu has given me the dinosaur horn and will soon be initiated as well. We will see who will make the best Simbani warrior. Haya, hero Nike. Kwa heri.

*You go to your hut and rest up for the next day.*


There’s an audio bug that occurs after the spear throwing contest where the success music plays over and over again. I don’t have much at my disposal for video editing, but I did what I could to fix it. Also, Yesufu will always win the third lap, no matter what you Vitality score is or whether you helped him or not. I think I might have won some of the other race sections if I had been maxed out, though. Finally, if you manage to lose the entire competition to Yesufu, he will be magnanimous and let you choose instead.


Unless you decide to be a huge dick and not help him when he trips. It's nice that they don't let you wander around in an unwinnable situation, at least.


However, you have both proved yourselves to be warriors of the Simbani. Nimefurahi. You may ask of me what it be that you desire.
Well, I AM a Simbani warrior now, so…can I have the Magic Drum?
This Drum of Magic be the Simbani people’s. You now be a Simbani warrior, and so you may hold the drum. Keep it safe, and do not let the Leopardmen have it until we have back the Spear of Death.
Don’t worry, getting you guys your—our Spear back is my top priority. Hey, could you sell me that hot Leopard Lady chick now?