A city built directly into a mountain side. Many smiths live here forging various items. The higher and deeper into the mountain the better the smiths. It is rumored to be the home of the "Wandering Forge".

:Enter Ian Kinzoku:

Ah, finally...

The peaceful blistering heat of the mountain, the beautiful jagged rocks jetting out the mountain, and the lovely smell of ore.

It was homey.

***
At the top of the mountain, Ian stepped into a dark cave entrance. As it went on for what seemed forever, he briefly considered lighting up the path with actual lights... after all, it's not like any one can see the energy trail besides him and his servant.

...Nah, the intruders have to have some excitement before they die right?

***
As Ian finally reached the end of the pathway, he finally started to relax and get comfortable. The huge space inside the mountain was what he called home, and he was quite proud of it.

There were various metal plates scattered around the interior, fortifying the structure. There were also metal bridges in places of importance, like the main forge, the master bedroom, and the training room, to name a few.

But the only one important right now, was the master bedroom. Ian dropped everything he had, including his clothes, and walked nude into his bedroom.

This was his castle, his domain, he was the king here. And he'd be damned twice over if he couldn't be naked when he wished to be.

When he reached the actual bed, he noticed his lovely servant sleeping on her side of the bed, looking to be tired from her duties. She'd have a nice surprise when she woke up...

The Wandering Forge crawled onto the other side of the bed carefully, draped the crimson sheets around him, and fell asleep instantly.

Houzi steps into the large spacious cavern as the smell of alcohol wafts into the forgery.

"Is anyone there? Ian!"

Houzi pauses as he takes one of the 3 gourds from his waist, and takes a rather large swig.

"Cursed youngins takin forever....wouldnt surprise me if he was simply lazing in bed...whatever happened to ambition..."

The covers are thrown off as a young woman stretches herself.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaooooooooouhhhhhhhh." That was a nice nap. But, she need to get back to work, there was still cleaning to do, so-

Grace would've finished her thought, but she was currently staring at her master. Or rather, her master's lack of clothes. Or rather, her master's-

"WAKE UP." A swift punch with her metal gloves got him awake, but it was just a bit too slow for her tastes.

That was a rude awakening...but at least he woke up to a charming face.



"Ah, I think I like your usual face better." Not the smartest thing to say, he knew. But he couldn't help himself from antagonizing her.

***
After the events in the bedroom, Ian walked out in a fresh set of clothes, carefully walking across the metal bridge as to not put too much pressure on his bruised left thigh. He glanced back to the now calm Grace cleaning the room.

Women...

He walked near the entrance to give a late greeting to his customer, recognized the scent of alcohol first, rather than his face.

"Why hello there Houzi. How are you doing this fine day?"

"Hello there, Ian, bout time you got up...got myself a herneated disk waitin for ya..."

He grabs the black gourd on his waist, opening the top he takes a large swig of the liquid. Despite the lack of scent Ian's eyes water like theyve been hit by a mild mustard gas. He closes the gourd and puts it back.

"Ah nothing like good old sake for my old bones... But anywho, I have a favor to ask ya."

"I apologize for the wait." Hey, he needed his nap after a travel. And like he really got injured... old man. Still though, it was one of the funny things about him, so it was all fine.

Something not so funny was that damned alcohol of his... it was mighty strong.

Ian slowly starts pacing around as he asks, "What might that favor be?"

Ian stopped pacing.

Let's see... he didn't need the money... but a strong alcohol would be nice. Even if he didn't drink, it would be a nice thing to present some guests with.

Not that he had many.

But there was just one more thing...

"It's all relative to one thing my friend. Is this weapon you ask of...'special'?"

A "sword" is not something you hand out to any man, even old friends... not that it was hard to make. Rather, it was just his responsibility to make sure they weren't misused or mistreated.

Oh. Well that was a relief in way.

Resistant to high heat...heh-heh. That should be fun to test, maybe a dip in some magma will prove how resistant it is.

"Alright then, you have yourself a deal, in return, I'd like some of your legendary alcohol. Feel free to make yourself comfortable on the couch to your left, this'll take me a few hours. Grace! If you would be so kind."

Said girl arrived into the space expressionless with a plate of bread, meat, and fruit.

"Now what kind of weapon are we talking about here?"

Ian grinned.

"This should be fun. If you need anything else, just ask Grace."

He walked up and gave a gentle stroke to Grace's hair before leaving to his forge.

***
Ah, the forge. So nice and calming...

He whistled for a few seconds. Now that that was done, the next thing he needed was his oldest friend.

He stuck his hand out and called "Kogu." The dark blue sword rushed into it's master's hand from it's shrine on the other end of the room, leaving a dissipating trail of faint blue energy.

Kogu. The first "sword" he created...which also happened to choose him. That was a great day...

Anyways, he put Kogu onto the right part of his hip as he waited for his pet to bring the raw materials for the staff.

Foop. Foop. Foop. Foop.

There he was! His giant pet salamander had retrieved more than enough materials for Houzi's staff.

Let's see, he needed to shape two Bagua blades and refine them. He needed to shape a staff and refine them. He also needed to make the handles and hilt.

And all of those had to be extremely heat resistant. Which means that he need to use Kogu's energy abilities to manipulate the very particles of the staff...fun.

Time to get started.

***
Shaping the curve of the blade and handle...

***
Crafting the staff and hilt...

***
Piecing together the locking mechanisms...

***
Putting it all together...

***
Now for the relatively harder part of this staff. Making it heat resistant.

But first, Ian might as well show Houzi what he's done so far, it has been quite a long wait.

***
He walked out holding Houzi's incomplete staff in both hands, and then set it on a table in front of the couch for Houzi to look at.

It was plain, yet nice looking. Grace always loved her master's creations, and this one was no exception. She couldn't wait to see the colors to be put on...

All of this was thought by her with slightly wider eyes, but the same expressionless face.

A plain grey staff curved at the ends with Bagua silverish sabers on each end. Right where the blade starts on each side is a grey hilt and below that is a mechanism.

"Glad to see it's to your satisfaction. Just wait till my demonstration."

And with that, he was back to the forge.

***
What is energy defined as? That was the first question he had asked Kogu, after discovering it's abilities.

The sword did not speak in an ordinary language, but it did convey to Ian an answer, that it's definition of energy is the force that can change something or cause an action. Kogu was bestowed the ability to manipulate this force, which Ian took great joy in.

Not that it could be used to great combat potential. Rather, because of all the possibilities that Kogu could provide to a swordsmith. Even then, Kogu was not made to attack or start wars like most "swords". It was originally made as the perfect defense weapon for his combat style, but while creating it, he inadvertently discovered how to make "swords".

Ian was already a master swordsmith, but with Kogu, he had been given the ability to create things he had thought inconceivable.

Like his current project.

Something to withstand strong amounts of heat, but Ian wanted to make it good enough to stand even lava. Which he would enjoy showing...

Anyways, the way Kogu's power was used was rather unique in that he did not have to hold it in his hands to use i, though holding it did enhance the effectt. The sword and him had come to an understanding that provided him with a sort of mental access to it.

Ian held the Bagua staff in his arms and concentrated. Concentrated until he could see it's "form", or the energy that it had. It looked just like it did in regular vision, except that it had no details, it was just a mass of energy shaped like it.

With that in mind, he also formed an energy armor around his arms, to protect them as he put the staff and his arms into the lava.

***
The best way to describe what happened, is that it was reborn.

As the staff disintegrated in the lava, Ian drew back the energy into it's old shape. As he did, he changed the energy composing the staff, giving it a new property of sorts. The ability to keep it's shape up to lava's high temperature.

That should be good enough.

He withdrew is hands and the staff from the lava, both undamaged. All that was left was to make some steam.

***
After successfully cooling the staff down in water, all that was left to do was test it out in front of Houzi. Simple enough.

***
"Hey Houzi, stop drinking and look very close."

When he was sure he had the attention of his drunken friend, he dipped one side of the spear into a pit of lava in the side of the room.

"Now as part of this recipe, we make sure to properly stir the pot until a fine mixture is made."

Ian moves the staff around in the lava until satisfied with his point. Then he takes it out and once again drenches it with a water jug, making a nice steam effect.

"Also, I took the liberty of adding another feature I'm sure you'll like, you see the mechanisms on the end of each side? Those are so you can reattach and detach each blade, to have..." With a flourish, he takes off each Bagua saber with the staff dropped onto the ground. "Another two weapons!"

"Now about that alco-"

A bird rushes inside the room, gray with ash from the volcano. In it's claw was a message in red paper.

RED paper. What did that fool need now...

"Ahem, I apologize about leaving you so late, but I have an urgent...event... to get to. You can pay me next time, take your staff. GRACE! You know the drill, red paper!"

Dear god...again? Oh well, she'd have more time to clean in peace now.

"Alright, have fun."

:Exit Steel Mountain: :Enter Brothel Town: