The Expedition Begins, Pearl & Topaz Necromancers, Archaeology

[Cocytus]

"Much has changed since the Empririal Age. No one cares about anyone else anymore. It's about everyone else first. You are lucky to find a few desent people like Circe, Ovid, Wilhelm, Armony, I think Greta, and a few of my other friends. Especially the princess. Or, her descendent, Kasai. However, she had.....disappeared some time ago."

[Styx]

Somnat sighed. "I see...I wish I could see the princess again. My family really did come to hard times after the death of Kushnak. When that woman went down, thousands went with her." Of course, nobody had ever been able to pinpoint Kushnak's death place, or find her corpse. She'd simply disappeared and was never seen again. His dark eyes looked upon Strife. "I understand you had a reincarnation by now, but I'll put it this way; you're still my prince in spirit. For that, you have my allegiance, even in these troubled times."

[Cocytus]

" thank you for that, Somnat. However, please. I am no longer a prince. I turned away from that path when I entered the Gate. Nowadays, there are merely dictatorships and democracy's. Very few, if any, monarchies still reside. It is saddening and enlightening all at the same time." Strife sighed as he looked towards the sky." If you don't mind, I would like to ask my first question. Is that alright?"

[Styx]

Somnat nodded and flexed a bit in his chair. "You are free to ask me whatever you like, Your Majesty," he insisted, not really caring if Strife considered himself a prince anymore or not. "Nothing is off limits."

[Cocytus]

"Thank you. Now, if you don't mind answering...." Strife looked Somnat in the eyes, but his eyes were forced away from a painful life." Tell me....What was my rule like. Was my father and I noble. Did my family rule peacefully, or were we......" Strife was about to tear up of fear of the answer." Were we evil dictators. Please, do not be afraid of answering truthfully. I just... I have to know what my real family is like. I have to make sure that they were nothing like my step-father."

[Styx]

"Your family was honorable," Somnat insisted, "and it was for that honor so many in your clan died. My family was still around in those days; I saw the entire kingdom collapse." He sighed a bit, but was unable to blanch; he was way too dark to do that, seeing as his skin was very close to the literal sense of black. The scorpion tail on his body stabbed another scorpion on the earth, piercing instantly. "Now I have a question; this Amestris my guide mentioned...do you have a king or is it one of those democracies you just talked about?"

[Cocytus]

"Personaly, I think it is a dictatorship inforced by the Military. However, if you ask anyone, they will tell you it is a Democracy. However, it is a democracy run by the militar. We do nothing that concerns the votes of the people. Unfortunatly, I am one of those who no one cares about. I'm not even a certified State Alchemist. It's just, somehow. I end up doing to Military's dirty work for them on the rare ocassion without being asked." Strife spoke as he sighed." I even killed my step-father which made all of the MIlitary tingle with glee."

[Styx]

Somnat sighed in relief; a part of him was glad to see the military had taken top priority in at least one of these modern countries. That made quite a relief on his part. "I'm sure you have another question you'd like to ask me before I ask this other question..." He wanted to know the answer to this one rather deeply; were there other chimeras out there, like him? Or was it that nobody else in the world wanted to transmute animals and humans together? It'd once been an art!

[Cocytus]

" As a matter f fact, I do have one. What happened to the Chimerate Kingdom. After my brother nad I stuffed Saihi away in an artificial part of the Gate? I was indisposed of for several years, and I have no idea what happened during the decline. I know my mother and father had died against Saihi, and me and my brother could not take the throne. The princess was....." Strife had to gulp to get the net word out." ...murdered. So, what happened. Why is it not around anymore?"

[Styx]

"Your generation was the last generation to rule as monarchs, just like Kushnak prophesied," Somnat explained. "I'll help you hunt her down, if you like; she can answer far more than I could ever dream of telling you. Souls never change; how else do you think I'd recognize you as my prince?" There was more to it than that, but now wasn't the time to tell Strife Renwald/Peacecraft what happened when the Five Generals took over...it was a disaster.

[Cocytus]

"I see. Please understand, you are by no means required to help me find her reincarnation. Any evidence as to her personality and who she is will be aa big help. YOu have answered all of the wquestions I believe I should ask. Now, I will answer any of yours. Please, do not be afraid to ask." Strife spoke as he eyed Somnat up." Do not hold any questions back. Please, you have done far more for me than I could ever do for you. Give me any wuestion that needs to be asked."

[Styx]

"I know the name Kushnak goes by these days," Somnat insisted, "but my one request for now is that I stay at your side for the time being until I get used to how life goes in this day and era. Allow me to continue the expedition. I'll be able to lead you all over the empire and show you where the entire geography of our small kingdom rests under the sand."

[Cocytus]

"That is no problem. We are only more than happy to except you here. We can start the expi----." Strife was stopped by the sudden chime of the dinner bell. Ovid stood at the dinner tent, and he stood there chiming away alerting everyone of the meal's completion." Food's ready! Come and get it!" He yelled. Suddenly, from the van came Greta and Armony. Then Eislstein came from the map tent. They all entered the dinner tent." I'm sure you are starved. Please, come join us in supper." Strife said standing up giving Somant his hand as a gesture of friendship, and to help him reach his feet.

[Styx]

This was the first time in a long time that anyone had offered a hand in friendship to a person of the Scorpion Clan, but it felt great. Somnat gave his prince a very gracious smile as he held out his hand (closing the pincers above it) as he got up. "Thank you; while there, maybe I can apologize to Circe for earlier...I really didn't mean to insult her."

~~~

That bell was going to give her a migraine if it kept on. Why in the Hell did Ovid have to ring it that hard? All she'd done was drink six bottles, doze off for a few hours, and now the Hangover from Hell had come down upon Circe Aeolia's head. She trudged out of the van, quite unhappily shitfaced, looking like a zombie. "Food..." she grumbled, skulking past Armony and Greta.

[Cocytus]

"Uhhh...Circe? Are you alright?" Ovid asked her as he hid the bell behind his back."She's alright. She just had all of the schnapps." Greta said rather like a smartalic."Greta! Don't be mean to our benefactor and tomb raider." Wilhelm spoke."Now, what is for dinner, Ovid?" HE asked." Turkey, mash potatoes, carrots, green beans, and for dessert....." Ovid held back some excitment." The best apple pie anyone has ever tasted!"