Swordsmithing -- Beta

If there was one thing that Neotama was good at, it was Swordsmithing. Widely considered the best, not just alive, but in all recorded history. Even while others had the same materials, the same tools, using the same techniques, his would almost always come out better. Stronger, lighter, more durable. He just had a knack for it. Not that it was only his natural talent. Neotama had studied Swordsmithing and its techniqes from his earlist days. Since childhood, working with his father at the forge, and later traveling the world to study from masters and to examine legendary blades passed down though the generations. He is known as the best for good reason. Which led to the question that lay in his hands. A blade, naturally, but not one of his. Exceptional quality, like some of the old Swords, and some of his own. But he had never seen it before.
"Well? What can you tell me?" The messenger asked, depseration bleeding though his voice. The Lord who sent him was anxious, apparently.
"It's very high quality, but simple. Little to no decorations indicates mass production, which goes against my feelings. Things like this aren't mass produced, not in the numbers the design and your story indicates." Turning the blade over, Neotama continued, "See here, slight discolorations along the blade edge. This is folded steel, not cast. Each blade has been worked on by a skilled indervigual, and with the numbers we are talking about, would indicate an army of master Swordsmiths just to make the blades."
The messenger's brows bunched together, somewhere between thinking and frowning, "There is no faction with that kind of resources, and to hire out that many Swordsmiths, never mind us hearing about it, it would cost more gold that the army using them."
"You said they were all using blades such as this?"
The messenger grabbed the blanket he walked in with, placing it on the table and unwraping it, revealing 3 more of the blades, "Yes. 200", a hesitation, "men, all with equipment of this level."
Neotama's eyes flicked up away from the blade for the first time since laying eyes on it, "Equipment? Armor of this quality too?"
A nod, and fearful sweat beading at his brow, "Light armor, true, but our Armorsmiths say as much. Another messager is taking samples to Oritaltis."
Oritaltis, the Armorsmith. Neotama's equivilent in a different, yet simalar, art.
"Enchanted?"
The messager shook his head, "No, and nor was the armor. Thank the Lord."
Neotama winced, his mind flickering to the lives it must have cost to get these 4 blades. With equipment this good, the wielder must have had no little skill. Even if it followed the same philosphy as the blades seem to, high quality but mass produced, not much varration, the people wielding these must be exceptionally well trained.
"I will make a full assessment and write up a report for your Lord. Something like this is going to upset the balence."
The messenger sighed, relief evident, "Thank you."
The messenger paused for a moment, as if considering asking a question, "Yes? Go ahead."
Caught and a little embaressed at being read so easily, he stuttered, "Oh, u-um. Off the record, in your personal opinion, what, uhh, what faction do you think did this? Could have made this, I mean?"
The answer came swiftly, "None. No faction would dare risk the Treaty. Not in an attack like this. If anyone had the resources to pull this off, they wouldn't tip thier hand with something as small as this, pardon my bluntness. I understand people died in the attack." He nodded, asking Neotama to continue, "No, I think we are dealing with a Third Party, someone outside who wants to destabilise the balence, and incite war between us."
"But all factions rely on the Treaty. Who could it be?"
"I don't know. But we need to prepare."