"The Magic of Scherezade" FAQ

by Vaustein

One day peaceful Arabia was attacked by the demons. The evil magician Sabaron summoned them from the dark world for his evil desire. One brave magician attempted to fight him, but he failed and his sweetheart was taken and all his memories erased. He was even thrown into a different time period. Do you remember this? The young magician is you. Only you can save Arabia. Please fight Sabaron again!

It is my pleasure to make available this FAQ for "The Magic of Scherezade", a Nintendo Entertainment System game release by Culture Brain c1989. MOS holds a distinguished position among the old NES classics for its mixture of game play concepts, the depth of options, classy graphics, and an excellent soundtrack. MOS was reviewed in the second issue of GamePro magazine, and in Game Players (Vol. 1 #4, I believe) by the legendary William "The General" Trotter. Both reviews heaped praise on the originality and beauty of MOS. I cannot help but agree.

This FAQ is written based upon my own experience with the game, having played through it entirely and seen all the puzzles and game locations. My design objectives are to provide an effective walkthrough of the puzzles, and to augment the manual. I cannot claim to have replaced the manual entirely; I don't have one since I bought the game used. Therefore, feel free to contact me via email with additional information from the manual. Furthermore, small bits of information herein may be erroneous or incomplete. Feel free to email me with additions or corrections.

Exact directions on how to get everywhere are not provided. Most of the game's maze-like structure is fairly easy to navigate. It really is difficult to get lost. However, such details are provided for a few areas that are particularly difficult to navigate, or that have very easy-to-remember directions.

Spirit of the Blue Star, what brings you to my blessed mosque?

Terms and Abbreviations
The Tale of Scherezade - Overview/general hints
Lists of Items, Spells, and Businesses
World One - Water World Mooroon
World Two - Desert World Alalart
World Three - Forest World Samalkand
World Four - Flower World Celestern
World Five - Evil Magician Sabaron

Terms and Abbreviations

ADVC - Adventure Game Combat. Combat which occurs in during normal travel in "overhead" mode. This requires some digital dexterity.
Ally - Companions of the hero. They are found during your travels through Arabia, and are ready to fight and to die for your cause.
ASE - Alalart Solar Eclipse. A cosmic event which occurs when the moon blocks out the Blue Star Airosche.
C - Rupies. The unit of currency. Also called "coins".
Directions - North, South, East, West = N, S, E, W (up, down, right, left)
E - Experience. As experience increases, maximum HP and MP increases, attacks become stronger, and new spells are learned.
Form - Formation. As new allies are found, new formations become available for RPG combat mode. Each formation makes one particularly powerful offensive spell available.
GM - Great Magic. Great Magics are given by wise men, one per world. They can only be cast once, and only during the Alalart Solar Eclipse.
HP - Hit Points. Measure of health, as any RPG buff knows. When it hits zero, you get an all-expenses-paid trip to the halls of Allah.
MF - Magic Field. A Rupia Tree will appear here and grant you lots of money if you planted a Rupia Seed during the ASE in the corresponding Magic Field in the past.
MP - Magic Points. Most spells consume a portion of these.
NPC - Non player-character. Everyone who is not the hero.
PC - Player-character. The hero, whom you directly control. It would be incorrect to refer to him as "Isfa", since you play the descendant of Isfa.
RPGC - Role Playing Game Combat. Randomly occurs when the PC walks off a screen. In this mode, allies may assist in the fight, and the player must make tactical decisions.
TD - Time Door. Each world has a Time Door through which travel from the present to the past or future is possible.

The Tale of Scherezade

The Five Worlds of Arabia, ruled by the good Sultan Feisal, are besieged by terrible demons. The demons have been summoned by the evil magician Sabaron, who desires the kingdom and the Sultan's daughter Scherezade. The most powerful of the demons is Goragora, who will surely be unstoppable if allowed to enter this world. The descendant of the heroic magician Isfa and Scherezade's true love fought against Sabaron but was unprepared, and Sabaron hurled the youth back through time. A vision of his love and the appearance of Coronya the Time Fairy gives the heir to Isfa's legacy the courage to face Sabaron again!

Each of the five worlds holds a different demon to be dealt with, and each world has a Time Door permitting travel between the the present and either the past or future. Our protagonist must find companions in each world to assist him in the battle against Sabaron and Goragora. These allies often bring with them special items that enhance the hero's power.

The young magician has access to many spells and weapons, and may alter his powers by changing his class to Fighter, Saint, or Magician. As a Fighter, sword attacks are most powerful. As a Magician, magic rod attacks are quite potent. The Saint has weaker overall attack power than the other two classes, but is unaffected by "fields" that cause damage when walked over. I recommend that the Saint class be avoided unless it is required to solve a puzzle. Otherwise, use Fighter class for most of each world. The Fighter class is best for fending off most opposition. When you are ready to enter a demon's palace, though, switch to Magician. Failing to do so will make the fights against demons much more difficult, since magic rods are necessary to harm them.

One of the interesting twists of this game is that the typical adventure game style of top-down-viewed action fighting is complemented by random role-playing game combat scenes. In RPG combat, the player selects from among his allies to assist in the fight, and chooses moves for his side. Then, in common computer RPG style, each sides takes turns executing their moves for each turn. Mercenary troops may be hired to fight with the hero in RPG combat situations, and I strongly recommend having some with you at all times. Whenever you have the opportunity, try to hire enough of them to bring their total number to at least eight. They are hired in sets of four.

There are two game events that are not thoroughly addressed in this document. One is the appearance of a veiled woman who gives away 50 coins. Must be a rich merchant's widow. The other event is "magic icons", large brick circles with engraved hexagrams which restore your MP when you step on them.

Here are a few special passwords that you can enter.

xW (1W, 2W, etc.): Starts you on World x with maximum experience, bountiful supplies, and all allies and special items found. All that is left to do is to destroy the world's demon.
Wx (W1, W2, etc.): Starts you on World x with minimum experience, scant supplies, and no allies nor any special items found.
SOUND: Activates the sound test. Use UP and DOWN to cycle through the entrancing musical tracks, and START to play them.

Lists of Items, Spells, and Businesses

ITEM LIST
Item Name	Item Description
Bread	Restores 50 HP automatically when HP falls to 0.
Mashroob	Restores 50 MP automatically when MP falls to 0.
Key	Opens closed doors in palaces.
Amulet	???
Rupia Seed	Makes PC invisible and invulnerable. Also planted in MFs.
Magic Carpet	Warps PC out of palaces and caves. Also transports to towns visited in current time.
Horn	Animates statues in palace rooms with closed doors. Just run into a statue, destroy them all, and the door opens.
Hammer	Invokes falling stars to attack all enemies on screen.
Map	Displays position in palaces and mazes on a square grid. Hit SELECT.
Swords	Several types. A melee weapon most effective by Fighter class.
Magic Rods	Several types. A range weapon most effective by Magician class.

BUSINESS LIST
Type	Description
Shop	Sells items. Standard stock includes bread, mashroob, r. seeds, m. carpets.
Hotel	Sleeping here recovers the HP and MP of PC and allies.
Mosque	Come here to change class, get a password, and resurrect fallen allies.
Casino	Gamble for money here. Odds are better during ASE.
Mercs	Hire troops in sets of 4. Troops fight with the PC in RPGC, and grow in strength each world.
Magic University	Take courses to learn about Forms and GMs. Swords and Rods are often given for courses completed.

PC SPELL LIST - Available when experience levels increase
Name	MP Cost	World	Effect
Pampoo	2	1	+10 HP
Bolttor1	4	1	Damages 1 enemy in ADVC, 5 in RPGC
Oprin	5	1	Open secret passages. Should only be used where indicated.
Defenee	2	1	Enhances armor, lessening damage
Corbock	2	2	Turns enemies into defenseless creatures
Flamol1	20	2	Damages all enemies
Bolttor2	5	3	Upgrade of Bolttor1
Shrink	2	3	Upgrade of Corbock
Flamol2	25	3	Upgrade of Flamol1
Ramipas	10	3	Prevents being ambushed in adventure mode, and prevents RPGC altogether
Bolttor3	???	4	Upgrade of Bolttor2
Caraba	20	4	Upgrade of Shrink
Marita	4	5	+50 HP (upgrade of Pampoo)
Flamol3	30	5	Upgrade of Flamol2

NPC SPELL LIST - Very incomplete. Only applies to RPGC
Name	Effect
Mymy	Stops enemies from attacking
Seal	Stops enemies from casting spells
Silleit	Turns caster into mirror
Whistle	All allies of caster recover MP
Matato	All allies of caster recover MP
Perius	Summons rain to damage all enemies

FORM SPELL LIST
Name	Form	Use VS	Effect
Gyzacorn	Cygnus	Basido Squad	Killer winds, damage all enemies
Moniburn	Libra	Air Squad	Turns enemies into fireworks, killing them
Tornador	Aries	Fire Squad	Killer winds, damage all enemies
Stardon	Sirius	Gilas Regiment	Stars falls, damaging all enemies
Thundern	Kaitos	Magma Regiment	Thunder, damaging all enemies
Firebolt	Dragon	Razlon and Zodor Divisions	Major fire damage, most effective offensive spell

GM SPELL LIST - Granted by one wise man per world. Used only once, during ASE.
Name	Effect
Monecom	Sets C to 999, gives Bread and Mashroob also
Raincom	Stops constant damage during travel in W2
Springcom	Stops constant damage during travel in W3
Moscom	Causes Mosque to appear for class change
Libcom	Resurrects and fully restores HP and MP of PC and allies

World 1 - Water World Mooroon

CAPTIVE - Princess Ashelato	DEMON - Water Demon Gilga
TD - Pier NE of Rudoria	MF Pres - South shore of lake, E of Rudoria	MF Past - Same as in present
GM - Monecom; Cave in the past

PRESENT CONDITIONS

NOTE - The ally Kebabu is in this world somewhere. I've forgotten where, but you'll find him soon enough. Sorry :-)
Town of Meshudo: Hotel; Mosque; Shop; Game starts here.
Town of Rudoria: Shop; Hotel; Jad (hint about TD)
Town of Poponill: Hotel; Casino; Dogos (tips)
- To get to the next two locations, jump off North Cape (NE of Poponill) with Faruk in party
Mermaid Town of Horen: Shop(keys, horns); Mercs
Palace of Aqua: Home of Gilga. Bring keys and horns. When you find a room with a locked door and two statues, run into one, then destroy them when they animate.
Water Demon Gilga: Attack all wide-open eyes with Flame rod (2 shots each). Use Pampoo as needed after Thunder attacks. When Gilga changes form, destroy each one at a time with Flame.

PAST CONDITIONS (50 years). Towns are generally in the same places as in the present in this world.

Town of Rudorra: Magic Univ. (has Scimitar sword, Flame rod); Shop; Mosque
Town of Horen: Hotel; Mercs; Shop; Faruk (ally)
Cave: S of Horen

World Two - Desert World Alalart

CAPTIVE - Princess Ishutal	DEMON - Curly
TD - 6S 1E of Copanes	MF Pres - 2N 4E of Malart	MF Past - S of Alart
GM - Raincom; 3N 1E of Malart

PRESENT CONDITIONS

Town of Malart (START): Shop; Mosque
Town of Copanes (E of Malart): Hotel; Shop; Gun Meca (ally)
There might be a third town.
Palace of Curly: Go E beyond two locked doors to find Epin (ally).
Demon Curly: Make sure Epin in party. Use Flamol1 7 or 8 times, then attack with Stardust rod when Curly changes form

PAST CONDITIONS (300 years)

Cave (SW of Alart): Supica (ally); Watch out for trap floors that drop you down into a pit, you'll have to re-enter the cave again if you fall into one.
Town of Alart: Talk to people here, then return to present to get Gun Meca. Shop(maps); Magic U.(Dragoon swd/Stardust rod); Mosque; Lah (Ally, has Magic Boots)
Town of Sudari: Lots of Oprin stairs here. 2 shops; Casino; Mercs; Hotel

World Three - Forest World Samalkand

CAPTIVE - Princess Roxanne	DEMON - Troll
TD - SW of Kasimeel	MF Pres - N of exit from Kashina's Cave	MF Past - NE of TD
GM - Springcom; 1W 2N of Nubia

NOTE: In this world, you will notice that the bees and bandits that attack you during your travels often turn into creepy bat-like things when you attack them. When they are in their sickening form, you have roughly 30 seconds to destroy them before a grim reaper-like ghost appears. The ghost will doggedly follow you everywhere, and it can take a lot of punishment before it goes down.

PRESENT CONDITIONS

Town of Nubia: Hotel; Shop
Cimaron Tree (W of Kasimeel): Note reference to Saint; get password CHOCOLA
Town of Kasimeel: Magic U. (Red Armor); Shop; Mosque (become a saint here before travelling to the future); Hotel (25C)
Kashina's Cave (Far W of Kasimeel): need Cimaron Seed from future for lighting. Go NW for Kashim's sword, NE for the exit near Troll's Palace.
Frozen Palace: 1N 1W 1N from Kashim's Cave exit
Town of Passora: Shop(amulets, horn, key); Mustafa (Ally), give him 100c; Hotel
Frozen Palace: Ignore the door guarded by statues
Demon Troll: Upstairs; Use rod against him. When he changes shape, shoot his eyes out one at a time.

FUTURE CONDITIONS (30 years)

Cimaron Tree: 1W 2N of TD. Answer NO, then give password CHOCOLA for Cimaron Seed
Town of Kasimeel: Shop; Hotel
Town of Nubia: Supapa the Dollmaker creates Pukin (Ally) from Cimaron Seed; Shop(maps); Mercs; Casino

World Four - Flower World Celestern

CAPTIVE - King Feisal	DEMON - Fire Demon Salamander
TD - SE of Chigris	MF Pres - W of Chigris	MF Past - Through the forest to the lava area, then 1E 1N 1W
GM - Moscom; Yufla Palace in past

PRESENT CONDITIONS

Town of Yufla: Shop; Mercs; Casino; Hotel
Desert Area: The path from Yufla leads to a desert maze. Though it appears large and formidable, it's very easy to navigate. It has two exits besides the entrance from Yufla. To the SW there is the Town of Chigris in a lava-filled area, and to the SE is a blighted forest and the town of Pao.
Town of Chigris: Hotel; Mosque; Shop(maps)
Town of Pao: Shop(keys, horns, amulets); Magic U. (Crystal rod)
Fire Palace (SE of Pao): Find Gubibi (ally, has Holy Robe) 1N of entrance before going back in time. Do NOT confront Salamander!!

PAST CONDITIONS (3000 years)

Fairy Town: Michael Jackson; Richard Simmons ;-) Shop; Mosque
Lava Area: The path from Fairy Town leads from a forest to a land of ashes. Go far NW for Lava Cape, far E for Yufla Palace. Go N on a pier near Yufla Palace to find a Magic Icon.
Town of Lava (jump into Lava Cape if you have Gubibi): Rainy (ally, you must be a fighter, and answer NO to both questions or game ends!); exit to shore of Lava Cape
Fire Palace: Rostam sword is on second floor, NW corner.
Demon Salamander: Shoot Salamander in the eyes with your rod as quickly as possible. He moves fast, and he gradually heals.

World Five - Evil Magician Sabaron

CAPTIVE - Princess Scherezade	DEMON - Goragora
TD - Fire Palace	MF Pres - None	MF Past - None
GM - Libcom; SE of Chigris

Town of Yufla: Shop; Casino; Hassan (last ally); Hotel
Town of Pao: Shop(keys, horns, amulets); Approach Kaji with Legend sword to get Armor of Light.
Mercs: SW of Forest Maze entrance
Town of Chigris: Hotel; Shop(maps)
Fire Palace: Cave entrance here. In the cave, walk 2E, 1N, take stairs, 1E, 1S, take stairs, 1S, 1E, 1N to Magic U. Follow your current path W to find the entrace to Sabaron's Palace and the TD.
Sabaron's Palace: Head E, N, and W as far as possible. Talk to Sabaron, answer CORONYA (duh!), get Isfa rod. Go S to a Magic Icon, then S to a place that looks like glowing bubbles.
"Glowing Bubbles": N, E, N, W, N, N to get to Airosche's room. Stand on moon and shoot N (if you don't hear a bell, try to stand more on the moon). Stand on the sun and shoot N. Stand on the hexagram that appears and shoot N when the hexagram glows blue. The fight with Goragora begins!
Archdemon Goragora: Move away from his maw while constantly hitting him with BOLTTOR3. When he changes shape, shoot him with the Isfa rod. By the way, be sure to have plenty of bread and mashroob before taking him on. If you are lacking supplies, there is a shop in the SW quadrant of a large central room.

PAST CONDITIONS (3000 years)

Light Palace: Look at your map. Work your way to the square on the map that is 2N and 3E from the TD. Walk through a jar near the bottom of the screen. Walk 2S, 1E, enter N door, then next N door to claim the Legend sword and your birthright as the descendant of Isfa!
Return to the present, go to Pao, talk to Kaji, then go 1S of Pao and step between the two trees adjacent to the lake. Go S along the path that appears, get Armor of Light.

This document was written by Justin S. Davis ("Vaustein"), 7/2/97.
Email Vaustein
This document may be distributed for viewing and downloading so long as the source is not modified in any way.