The Forty Thieves are a group of bandits encountered by Ali Baba. The bandits of Serenia's fabled Endless Desert are quite reminiscent of them, and perhaps are the same ones.
Background[]
Most folk knew the tales told of the of the thieves of the Endless Desert. They were a two-score band of cutthroats who preyed on the caravans and travelers there.[1]
Those desperadoes also concealed their treasure behind a portal that could only be opened by the sound of a magical phrase. The Serenian bandits' main strengths are utter ruthlessness and extreme intelligence. The leaders of these brigands had once been students of natural order, magic, and philosophy. They soon differed with their teachers, however, over just what constitutes good and evil. Their studies led them down the dark path that equates might with right and gold with good. Eventually, surrounded by others of the same unsavory leanings, they left their university for the gold and blood-filled life of preying on desert caravans and travelers. When they left, they took the contents of the school's treasury with them.[2]
Unlike the bandits of Llewdor, the Brat Catpack, they have a strict moral code--although one, of a truly black and perverse type. From their perspective, their actions are quite moral. They are apparently still at large.[3]
Famous tales are told of when Ali Baba encountered the thieves. They used the magic incantation, "Open, Sesame!" the same spell used to open the Desert Temple. In order to enter that particular lair, though, they weren't required to use a magic staff.[4]
These bandits are vicious and think nothing of violence.
Behind the scenes[]
These are called "Bandits" in the KQ5 hintbook.
The forty bandits/thieves are based off the story of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves.
The KQ5 novel in the companion says the Serenian bandits are two-score; a score is 'twenty', two-score is 'forty'.
The script files calls the guy who falls out of the tent as the Drunk Guy or the Drunk
Abdul Alhazred shares some similarities to the forty thieves in culture and personality. He himself is a magician thief. Both have been described as "Arabs/Arabians".