Moustafa

Moustafa is a green Nomadimouse that appear in Paper Mario. He lives in Dry Dry Outpost, where he acts as the leader of a secret group of honorable thieves within the town. Mario and his party must find Moustafa during the events of Chapter 2 in order to reach the Dry Dry Ruins.

Moustafa's name is a pun on the common Muslim given name Mustafa (a name which in Arabic means "the Chosen One") combined with the word mouse. His original Japanese name "Lawrence" is possibly derived from the 1962 historical epic film , based on the life of British military officer 's experiences in the Arabian Peninsula during World War I.

Paper Mario
Upon arriving at the Dry Dry Outpost in Chapter 2, Mario learns that he must speak with Moustafa in order to reach the Dry Dry Ruins and rescue the Star Spirit that is imprisoned there. In order to gain an audience, however, he must first exchange items for information from an informant known as Sheek. If Mario gives Sheek his favorite thing - a Lemon obtained from the oasis in the desert - Sheek will instruct him to purchase a Dried Shroom and a Dusty Hammer, in that order, from the outpost shop.

This secret combination is known only to Moustafa and his affiliates; purchasing the two items in the designated order leads the shopkeeper to tell Mario that Moustafa resides at the highest point of Dry Dry Outpost, and that he will need to keep climbing higher and higher in order to meet with the leader. Obtaining this hint from Sheek is not necessary for the secret code to work, however. Returning to the door where Sheek is first found and continuing up through the buildings beyond it eventually leads Mario and the party to Moustafa's chamber, where they discover that the informant Sheek is in fact Moustafa himself: "Sheek" is the disguise he uses when out and about in the outpost. If Moustafa is found without speaking to Sheek first, he will remark that Mario "must be very lucky."

After detailing his status and a protector of Dry Dry Ruins, Moustafa gives Mario the Pulse Stone, which helps the party discover the location of the ruins and raise them from the desert sands. If Mario visits Moustafa after defeating Tutankoopa in the Dry Dry Ruins, he will be shocked upon learning that minions of Bowser were in the Dry Dry Ruins, and express gratitude for getting rid of them.

A letter from Moustafa can be obtained by Mario later in the game, and Moustafa appears in the post-game parade along with several other Nomadimice, stopping to talk with Rowf and Rhuff before continuing onward.

An unnamed Toad in Toad Town, located near the port, will reveal that, having become lost in Dry Dry Desert, he was saved by Moustafa, who brought him to Dry Dry Outpost. It was there that Moustafa revealed to the Toad a large secret, though what this secret was is unrevealed. Additionally, the Nomadimouse seems to have met Moustafa, as the latter had sent him a letter; where the Nomadimouse met Moustafa is unrevealed, indeed, the Nomadimouse only had vague memories of meeting Moustafa at one time.

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
In Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, Moustafa is mentioned in Lumpy's diary, where he says he received assistance from Moustafa during his search of oil in Dry Dry Desert. Again, Moustafa asked "if you're a nice guy then give me something nice". Despite Lumpy giving nothing, Moustafa still took Lumpy to the location where there was oil.

Tattle

 * This is Sheek. You'd think the guy could shake the dust from his clothes! If I didn't know he was an information trader, I'd say we should steer clear of him. Still, he's our best soure for gossip... As adventurers, we have to deal with all kinds!
 * Da Da Da Duuum! Sheek reveals his true self! ...I guess that means he's the boss everyone talks about. Oh... I was expecting Moustafa to look a lot cooler.

Trivia

 * The name of Moustafa's alter-ego, "Sheek", is reminiscent of Princess Zelda's alter-ego Sheik from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Both characters are royals who don an alter-ego as a disguise. In addition, Goombario seems to recite the classic Zelda melody ("Da Da Da Duuum!" meaning the player has obtained a treasure in the series) if he uses Tattle on the recently-revealed Moustafa. Moustafa's alter-ego may also be derived from the word "Sikh", a follower of the religion Sikhism, or the Arab title "Sheikh", meaning "elder".
 * The requirement to meeting Moustafa (not as Sheek) by buying a Dried Shroom and Dusty Hammer is similar to the sequel's requirement to meeting Don Pianta, another Dried Shroom and a Dizzy Dial.

Maustafa