"House Phoenix has a few armorers that are quite skilled. Though they charge more for non-members. Usually if you have anything that's more potent than a simple +1 armor that's where you should go. Other than that, there's a dwarf named Gundren who runs a small armory in the Diurnal District. He might be able to make something with your adamntine armor."

Thank you for the recommendation. I will see you tomorrow. Tomoe goes up to where ever Lucia is in the shop and holds her hand. See anything you like?

Lucia says, "Not really. I kinda like my current outfit over anything that I can see here." 

She said she might have something new tomorrow. We should come back then and see.  What would you like to do next? She holds Lucia's hand tight, interlocking their fingers.

Lucia thinks for a bit and says, "I'm honestly not quite sure. Maybe we can go watch some wrestling. The legal arena fights that doesn't have battles to the death."

Sounds fun. Let us make our way there.

The pair heads to the arena where legal pit fights are held. It's refreshing not being surrounded by death and destruction all the time. Today the arena seems more crowded than usual. Lucia and Tomoe secure some seats and sit together. Instead of shirtless men and women wrestling in the mud though, instead what they see are armored knights in red armor, coming out on top of horses, wielding wooden lances. It seem today it's a House Phoenix jousting exhibition.

From the way the warriors are holding their weapons, it is clear that the knights of House Phoenix are seasoned warriors who can handle themselves in combat, unlike the normal wrestlers. The jousting lances were designed to break easily. Between every rounds there is a few minutes rest where war mages repair the broken lances with multiple castings of Mending.

Lucia says, "You know Chief, these monthly exhibitions held by House Phoenix are done in the memory of the blood sport tradition the empire had in the 2nd Star. During that age, there were daily battles to the death held at the capital, Imperial City in the name of the old god of War. Sometimes I wonder what life would have been like during the 2nd Star Age. House Thunderbird was the criminal Thieves' Guild. There was the Arcane University under the Mage Guild instead of House Serpent. The Fighter's Guild was more decentralized than House Phoenix. Then of course you have the various lost technology and magic and you have old heroes and villains like Go'an, The Abyss Queen, The Tusked Prince, Valeria running around. The Guard was the Imperial Legion and they were one of the most powerful forces in the land instead of the sorry state it is in right now. You had Bahamut and Tiamat, the twin dragon archangels who fought to keep the Deep Demons away instead of just Tiamat. And you had Yuan-Ti walking and living in harmony among the other races instead of being consumed by the heresy. Sometimes I wish I could live in that age just to see what it was like." 

(Thats the star age where I said Edo established its isolation policy right?)

((Well, if I remember correctly, you said the isolation policy happened due to a rise in cult worship and other bad stuff that was a side effect of the old pantheon of gods being replaced by the new pantheon. So that would mean it's before that policy as at that time, the old pantheon would still be active and the demon war wouldn't have happened yet. Edo's Isolation policy would have started at the very beginning of the current star age. The time Lucia is talking about is the age that was right before this current one.))

(Ah, I'll have to make up some vague history for that tike period)

((At that age, the people of Chronero would have known about Edo but only as "Mysterious Edo". Basically a far east land that they know exists but nothing else about its culture and people. The high ranking members of the Imperial Legion would have used a mysterious and powerful sword of Edo design called "Edo Long Sword". While they would think it was mysterious and powerful, it was just a Katana +2))

Tomoe listens to  Lucia with intent. It reminds her of her old history lessons. What do you know if my homeland during thise times? She asks Lucia.

Lucia says with a shrug, "Not very much. I don't think this land had much interaction with your country during that age. Your country was referred to as 'Mysterious Edo' so there is that." Lucia then remembers a small bit of trivia and adds, "Oh and the order that's the emperor's personal body guards and warriors, The Rook Knights, used magic swords brought over from your country known as Edo Longsword. I've never seen an Edo Longsword though so I don't really know what those swords looked like or how they were magic." Lucia suddenly sees an opportunity to learn something that very few people in Chronero would know. She asks, "Do you know about what was happening in your country in the 2nd Star age?"

We were not as organized and unified as we are now. That happened after when we had to deal with a rise in dark cultists. We were a collection of warring states. A vast collection of territories ruled by by noble families all vying for power and control over each other. Tomoe pauses for a moment. I do not recall any makes making swords though. During that time we did have many legendary smith's who's mastery of the forge has yet to be reproduced. But i doubt there was anything actually magical. Though i suppose its possible. That was along time ago and alot of records were lost during the unification wars. Tomoe pauses again to gauge Lucia's reaction before she continues.

Lucia seems interested in the history of Tomoe's home. Normally an Inquisitor like Lucia would jump at the chance to learn more about cults because the vast majority of Inquisitors join the Heresy Division. However Lucia was more focused on gangs and detective work so she mostly investigates normal criminals. Still the fact that there seemed to be cultists in Edo as well is highly interesting to her. She does seem a bit puzzled when Tomoe mentions that Edo had no magical swords in that age. She says, "Wait, no magic swords? That's weird. I KNOW that the Edo Longsword exists and it's probably magic because the same swords have been passed down for generations among the Rook Knights. They still use them to this day. It's possible that the Edo Longsword is a name we gave it and it's called something else by the people who made it. Maybe if we ever got to see one, you'd know better what it actually is? Wait no. Actually it's better if we never get to see it 'cause the only way  to get one would be in places where old Rook Knights had died so that place probably has demonic presence too strong for us to handle or by slaying a Rook Knight. I don't know about you but I'd rather not get my soul sucked out or have my head parted from my shoulders." She chuckles a bit at the jest. 

Tomoe laughs with her. Such a fate is not worth tempting, but it is possible they had some enchantment. The records are mostly lost from that time, as far as weapons go. No sword from that time is in use today. They are family relics and are highly protected. I have only seen my family's sword on one occasion. Modern smiths in Edo have no magic and rely on those who can invoke blessing of the Kami to strengthen it. Such things are only done if the warrior purchasing the blade intends to fight demons and rarely happens. 

Tomoe thinks for a moment as if trying to remember an old lesson. If I remember my instructors correctly, the old 2nd age swords were called Tachi. Our modern swords are usually refered to as Katana. I beleive that is the style of the swords the brothers used. The ones who were banished from Edo. The sword I brought with me is a Katana. i can show it to you later if you like.

Lucia says, "Sure. Once we're done here, you can show me the sword. Who knows, maybe the Edo Longsword are actually Tachis from that time."

The exhibition continues with sparring with wooden weapons, jousting and other forms of combat. Finally a man named Eremon Crouse is declared the victor. He takes off his red, horned helmet to reveal a man with long golden hair and... cold grey eyes. He had an air of elegance to him, as if he were some charming prince from a fiery tale. A tabaxi approaches him and says with some enchanted curio in hand to make sure both her voice and that of Eremon are amplified so all may hear his response.

"So Mr. Crouse. Now that you've won the monthly House Phoenix Tournament do you have anything to say about your victory?" "No. It is simply something that I see as a test of my skill to make sure my training is going according to plan." "Oh? What do you train so hard for? What is your goal?" "My goal? It is to follow the footsteps of our founding father, Master Connor Leomane, and become the greatest warrior this land has ever seen, a shinning beacon to inspire all other warriors to strive to become stronger and to fight with honor and chivalry against their foes. To defeat said foes in just combat." "I see. Well if you want to become the very best, then I suppose you'll be fighting Ms. Genocide one day?" "That is correct. I see this... Ms. Genocide as a simple brute and murderer. She fights with no honor. The only thing commendable about her is her strength and her drive to kill stronger foes. Yet this is not what a true warrior is. A true warrior should not inspire fear in others. They should inspire hope. The only people that should fear a warrior are those that dare stand in the warrior's way. I shall slay this false champion and show the world what it truly means to be the greatest warrior in the land." "Uh huh. So changing topics a bit, you said you train hard. Care to comment about your training regiment?" "I will not go into specifics. I will say that I strap stone slabs to my armor so that when I may be used to the normal weight of my armor. This way, when I am fighting outside of training, the heavy plates will feel like a second thicker skin rather than extra weights."

Lucia turns to Tomoe and says, "What do you think of this Eremon guy? Think if he trains hard enough he can kill the Champ in a one on one? Who would we even be rooting for? I think I'd actually want this guy to win. I don't know much about him... but he can't be THAT much worse than the Champ right? He's not a blood-thirsty murder machine."

I think he is rather naive. He is strong for sure and his goal is admirable. But I fear he may be too soft to beat the champ. It is why I stay clear of her too.

Reality dictates a warrior is one who goes to war. War is blood and death and murder. She revels in it and he shuns it. How can someone win in that state of mind? If Lucia is perceptive, she may understand that Tomoe fears becoming like Ms. Champ, but doesn't want the conversation to get to heavy.

Anyways, I wpuld like someone with his lofty ideals to be the victor.

Lucia seems to agree with Tomoe's logic. "Yeah you are right. Being a member of House Phoenix, I'm sure the guy's seen a lot of combat already. You can't get this strong without being in combat. Though the Champ does seem to enjoy all things that have to do with pain and suffering. She'd probably have the edge in a battle between the two."

With nothing else more to do in the stage, it was time to leave.

Coming out, Tomoe and Lucia hear what sounds like hooves charging down the street, getting closer by the moment. Then they hear a brutish shout, "OUT OF MY WAY!" A group of 5 riders on horse back ride recklessly down the street. The people quickly scramble to get away lest they be trampled. It is illegal to ride horses through Brass City at full speed like they are doing yet the guards seem to do nothing to stop them. The pack is led by a man in his 50s. He has long white hair and a long mustache. He seems to be of Edo origin. In his left hand, he holds the reins of the horse and in his right a very cruel looking Nodachi. He wears a thick fur jacket that is possibly armored though the front is open completely and the long jacket flows behind him as he rides. The collar is bordered by thick white fur. On his shoulders are small metal shoulder-guards that fan outward ever so slightly. On his bare torso, which Tomoe notices is covered in old scars and is also very muscular, is a large thick metal ring to which leather belts are attached that wrap around his body. Under the full sleeves of his jacket are metal arms... but wait this isn't golem gear. No his arms are covered by metal armor. The man wears thick brown pants. On those pants metal armor pieces protect hist shins and knees. Given the armor's impractical design, it is clear that this man is wearing Enchanted Armor. Perhaps a +1 Half Plate?

While he continues to shout "OUT OF MY WAY! GET OUT OF MY WAY!" a small child who was in the street couldn't move out of the way in time, being surprised by the sudden noise and shouting and scrambling. The mother moves in to try and save the child but it was too late for the both of them. The man decapitates the mother with his nodachi and tramples the child, killing them both. Lucia is absolutely horrified by the man's actions and doesn't notice any of the finer details of the man. Tomoe being from Edo notices two things:

The Nodachi the man uses is a Muramasa Nodachi, one of many cursed and powerful weapons made by the smith Muramasa. The other thing she notices is the design on the back of the man's coat as he rides a way. It contains big lettering in her native language, written in blue. "Blue Demon"... Ao Oni. This man is part of the Ao Oni gang which is a very powerful and dangerous gang. This would explain why the Guards don't seem to want to do anything to stop him.

Lucia grabs Tomoe's arm and gives it a light shake to get her attention. She looks angry at the cruelty that was committed right in front of her. "Chief! We can't let him get away with this can we?"

Would Tomoe recognize the gang after now seeing it written in her native language?