Duncan IV

Turpan Khanate was a beautiful place, if desolate. Or it would be beautiful if its quietude weren’t interrupted by the screams of its people around them just outside the palace doors. Where Khanate’s citizens had wandered in the early hours of the morning that day, preparing their wares for markets and going on errands, they now were running from demons. The place was supposed to be China and while everyone looked Chinese, the architecture and sand sounded more Arabian.

“Don’t you think this is a little much?” I asked. Nasira gave no indication she had heard me as she sat on the throne, surrounded by naked asian girls that she was holding the leashes of, “All we need is the princess, right?”

To help Nasira take the former Sultan’s place as the ruler of Turpan Khanate and acquire a lamp from some cave. I still wasn’t entirely sure of the use of that, as it was in Nasira’s terms of agreement for working with mother in the first place, rather than for any good intentions, but they did it anyways.

Mother walked over and looked outside the windows just as I did.

I saw several guards outside try to put up a fight against the dark creatures that was quickly lost.

Mother said, "You may have a point.”

At this, she turned to Nasira, who was still leering at the sight of several palace guards putting up a struggle against the demons.

“Don’t get greedy, Nasira,” mother reminded, “All you said you needed to dispose of were the ones who would be in our way. Wouldn’t that only include the Sultan and his most ardent supporters in court?”

Nasira finally tore her eyes away from the proceedings to fix the two of them with a sneer, “I must make them forget my days of humiliation and remind them of my newfound power as their first female Sultan. For a task such as this, fear is a strong scepter to rule with.”

“And a double-edged sword,” mother added as her eyes flickered back to the remaining civilians in the streets.

“Hm. The girl’s more trouble than she’s worth,” Nasira looked to mother as she asked, “Are you sure we need her?”

“Yes, and you know quite well why we need her," Mother narrowed her eyes back at Nasira, "You said you had things under control.”

"Turpan Khanate is full of holes for rats to hide in," Nasira put an especial amount of disgust in her voice on the word "rats", "If the princess is that important, we'll find her. Find Badroulbadour and bring her to me at once."

"Don't steep yourself in darkness too long," mother said, "The darkness consumes the careless."

Nasira chuckled, “Your concern is… touching. But hardly necessary. I’m sure she will be found quite soon,” before tightening her hand on her staff.

“Be sure of that, or else,” mother threatened, and turned to walk through a portal.

I could see Nasira already readying for their work, and currently busy ordering around numbers of demons on where to begin searching for the princess.

"Why do you want some old oil lamp anyway? You already have a genie," I said.

Nasira summoned her genie out of her ring. This genie was a skeleton like figure who was humanoid in appearance.

He had a wide mouth and red eyes. Despite his skeletal appearance, he had spiked hair.

"The lamp contains a more powerful genie. I have already sent someone to retrieve it for me," Nasira said.

"You mean Aladdin? Once you have your lamp, you won't have any use for the ring. Can I have it once you've got the amp?" I asked.