"I don't know, which is the ultimate weapon or weapon combination?" Valeria asked, debating with Hualin was always a favorite past time of hers. "Well, based on what I've seen here, weapon combination doesn't really matter, it usually is about who is welding them." Hualin replied rather thickly compared to her usual "bright" demeanor. "I've watched samurai fight, they have a very vivid understanding of what goes into battle. Their primary weapons are of usual length, light, fast and precise." She pauses to think for a moment, crossing her arms, examining the katana's mounted on the walls above her.
"They know that the sword blade is not the only part of the weapon, their armor works but not against warhammers or maces." Hualin begins ranting, something she did a lot whenever Valeria wanted to discuss weapon usage. "They use grappling quite a bit, especially when the katana is binded up with another one. A skilled samurai can kill very effectively with his bare hands."
Valeria walks to the store front, closing the door and locking it, knowing they are done for the day. Behind her Hualin goes on. "But, here, we have these knights who use plate armor, and usually, the long sword. You would think that a samurai would outclass a european knight quite easily because they are lighter and faster, yet, I've noticed that a full set of plate armor can be quite balanced for combat. Not only is the forty to sixty pounds of armor distributed about the body in such a fine way that a knight can run and even swim in some cases, it can stop a katana dead in its tracks."
"Sure, but what about the enchanted weapons thoughout the world?" Valeria asks, amused at Hualin's stern thinking. "Well, magic usage can make a weapon a lot more deadly, but wouldn't that make it dishonorable? They are now building these new weapons called guns that are proving a major role on the battlefield. Back in my homeland, we've had these weapons for centuries, but now, they are getting smaller and smaller, here, they are calling them guns." She leans on the desk, still thinking deeply.
"Some samurai are trying to perfect a technique of fighting against the gun, they even forged katana's specially designed to combat a gun. They have wider blades and are intended to parry or block a bullet." She shifts, rubbing her chin. "But I believe that the most effective weapon combination, due to its low learning curve and ease of manufacture compared to other weapon types, is the shield and short sword. You can charge an opponent who welds any weapon, even a rifleman, and kill him."
" The short sword, unlike katanas, longswords and polearms, are capable of striking ten times more places than these other weapons can. I remember at the gladiator tournament a large man holding a roman shield and short sword, killing almost every other man who went against him. When another gladiator rushed him with a spear, he blocked the stabs, and easily 'walked' up the spear shaft and killed him. That is why most armies are full of shieldman. From the asian empires to the european ones out here."
Hualin turns and looks up at a rather expensive shield sold to them by some traveler from the east. He told them it was enchanted, and it probably was. But that was not the reason they took it, the reason was because it had a beautiful and ornate design on its face. For its size, it was well balanced, very comfortable and was said to heal who ever was using it in battle.
Then she looked at a large, six foot long bidenhander from the north. It too was quite astounding with its twisting crosshilt and ricasso, it certainly was a weapon to behold. A man, european looking, had come in, wearing an even larger great sword on his back. The one on the wall, he said, belonged to a very dear friend of his and supposedly had been used to kill a dragon.
The sword he had strapped to his back looked unweldy and ridiculous with its one foot wide blade. Such a weapon was meant for a giant or a monster, not a man of normal size. They had eyed him, thinking him a demon, yet they took the bidenhander anyway. He left with the money, they never saw him again.
"Hualin... Hualin!" Valeria shouted the last part. She had her cloak on and was ready to leave. "Quite daydreaming and lets go, Cepheus said that its becoming dangerous on the streets at night, he wants us home before dark." She opened the door and went out, waiting on the front steps. Hualin quickly gathered her things and started for the door.
"Hey Val'!" Valeria winces at the voice coming from the blond girl skipping up the steps toward her. "What do you want?" Valeria says sternly. "I just wanted to let you two know that Cepheus has a surprise for us at home!" Lynette was an annoying coworker, though Haulin had a greater tolerance for her than she did, Valeria still despised her.
"Fine. What's this surprise?" Valeria asks dryly, pulling out a small pipe and tobacco from her purse. "Don't know, but its a surprise isn't it!?" She smiles and leaps up after coming to the top step. "I absolutely love surprises, don't you?" Valeria rolls her eyes. After spending years and years with Lynette, she slowly realized that no matter how bad she treated her, Lynette would never change. That didn't stop her from being rude to Lynette though, she didn't seem to notice either way.
"Hey Lynette, how are you?" Hualin says, relocking the store as she exits it. "So, the old man has something for us?" Lynette turns and says gleefully, "Yes yes! I hope its a good surprise!" She trots down the steps, still skipping. Hualin adjusts her glasses and says "Well, we best get going now then, nights coming." She looks up into the sky, seeing the sun had already disappeared over the horizon. They quickly get walking.