Well, this was certainly a change of pace from running Pro-Tour Qualifiers for Magic players, I’ll tell you that much.
for one thing, I got to play. For a second, people were sportsmanlike and friendly. For a third, I won something. ^_^

Anyway, this whole tournament has a story behind it. If you’d rather skip the back-plot, move to the end of the ***
section. Still, you’ll miss some of the irony of all this, I’m warning you.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

I’d just finished a temping term at Boston Financial Data Systems on Friday the 9th and was just hanging out at Your
Move Games in Sommerville Massachusetts, waiting for friends to show up. I to go in and accept a position with
Putnam Investment’s web-design group on Monday, so I figured I’d take a lazy weekend watching anime and just
wasting time.

Then, in walk Peter Bilodeau and Shaun Haskins. After playing a couple of games of L5R, the question arose: "Are you
going to the Kotei?"

Well, I hadn’t planned on it, so I said no. Then came the inevitable follow up, "Why?"

Turns out I didn’t have any decent excuses up my sleeves at the moment. So, the next 15 minutes involve Peter and
Shaun exercising every tactic in the book to get me to accept the idea of spontaneously throwing a weekend in the
air and making a trip to Manhattan.

Finally, the straw that broke the camel’s back:

They called me "Minty."

NO ONE, calls me Minty and gets away with it! Least of all a Crane!!

So, to assert my resolve and individuality, I caved to pear-pressure and went with the group.

I visited Knight’s Quest in Gardner MA for the first time, and played in the Kotei warm-up. I found a great group of
L5R players there and a 17 man tournament. I also found Chris Burns, the original Monkey. My own Monkey antics
amounted to nothing beside the man with "Monkey" embossed on his Imperial Assembly membership. I was
humorously dubbed the "Monkey Clan Fan-boy" but otherwise accepted without question. 

I took second place in the event, my only loss to Vince’s no-personality ninja deck. Vince has been trying to earn his
black pajamas for about a year now, and finally had the chance to win a 16+ tournament with Ninja. Who was I, with
sleep-dep and one loss already on my record to him, to stand in the way of his dreams? I was in no shape to try and
fight Vince for this tooth and nail just for a fleeting hope at first place. And would I feel good if I did win? The DCI
says a player may concede at any time for any reason, and in this case, trying to win wasn’t even worth the sleep it
would cost me. 

I bowed out gracefully, and Vince was completely stunned. He was elated to say the least, and he was a very good
sport. He gave me the Koku for the tournament prize and then I decided to sit down and tune my deck and strategy
to have a chance against this crazy no-ninja-ninja strategy. 

Next morning, around 6AM, 40 brave souls boarded the Ancestral Short-bus of the Hida and took the long ride to
Manhattan from Eastern MA. I thought I’d get some sleep to make up for last night.

In retrospect, that was probably the stupidest assumption I’ve made in my life. -_-``

Anyway, five hours or so later...

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

We arrived at Neutral Ground Manhattan. Our contingent of 40 pushed the tournament up to the 79 person mark and
made it 7 rounds of swiss pairings. Our Ancestral Short-bus of the Hida had carried more than half the players in the
Kotei that day, and Neutral Ground was occupied terrain. All that was left was the fighting. 

Seriously though, everyone at Neutral Ground and Knight’s Quest were fantastic. Great players and sportsmen
everywhere I went. Staffing was great too. Even our bus-driver kicked ass, and I want to thank everyone right now
for making it the best WoTC event experience I’ve ever had in all my years as a player and a judge. Forgive me,
everyone who’s name I misspell or forget. -_-``

First off, the Deck List:

"The Monkey's Fist"

Palaces of Otosan-Uchi

Dynasty:
1x Kolat Duplicate (never EVER to be played in Storyline)
1x Inheritance
1x Imperial Gift
1x Enlistment
2x Farmlands
1x Golden Sun Plains
3x Merchant Caravan
3x Small Farm
3x Large Farm
3x Jade Works
3x Base Camp
3x TOKU!!!!
1x Toku Exp. 2
3x Tohaku
1x Tohaku Exp.
3x Seppun Nakao
2x Seppun Hotaitaka
1x Takuan
1x Takuan Exp.
2x Purusha (Monkey Clan pet Naga Abomination)
1x Shotai (TA Crazy old man with half a sword)
1x Hasame Exp.

Fate Deck:
3x Ashigaru
3x Ashigaru Archers
3x Spearmen
3x Elite Spearmen
3x Imperial Honor Guard
1x The Twelve Ronin 
3x Deadly Ground 
3x Stand Against the Waves
3x Sneak Attack
3x Rallying Cry
3x Superior Tactics
3x Arrows from the Woods
3x The Sun in Shadow
1x Toturi's Battle Standard
1x The Imperial Standard
1x Gohei's Daisho
1x Toturi's Daisho
1x Ring of Void
1x Hantei Sensei

So, we sit down to play our first matches:

Round #1 - Mike Francis

Kyuden Kitsune with Kaede Sensei

"The wind carried her laughter over the river and cliff-side. My lord Toku-sama merely rubbed his eyes once, clearing
them. His face seemed weary, tired of these petty skirmishes. Still, neither charter was clear about this area.
Whether it belonged to Fox or Monkey would be determined not by possession of law, but possession of might.

"Lady Ryosei’s small personal guard had made it across the river first, probably by some sort of magical trickery. They
stood there a few moments, as if to taunt us with their presence and our inability to reach them. Certainly, they
would fortify well before Toku-sama’s Imperial Honor Guard could reach them. Yes, they stood there a few
moments, a few moments too long...

"It was a sudden, quick gesture from his fan. Without a single word, Lord Toku, signaled his troops. With a roar, the
cliffs above us erupted with enough thrown spears to darken the sky. With screams of pain and surprise, the
river-side was covered with enough fox guards to cover the sands."

Mike is a great guy, an all-around good sport and a skilled player. He’d wind up being a semi-finalist in the Kotei. He
was a pleasure to play against and gave me a run for my money. Fox was definitely the deck-to-beat today.

We both opened up very quickly, but I kept Mike stuck on playing personalities instead of gold to try and hold the
favor and parody on the board. Going first, he bought Ryosei exp., a free shugenja at full and a farmlands I believe. 

My opening was pretty impressive though: Merchant Caravan, Base Camp, Toku Exp 2, and Golden Sun Plain. I drew
with the favor cleared my provinces and passed.

Mike’s next turn was still bereft of gold, but he took the favor with his random shugenja and played another Fox.

My next turn, however, was just plain nasty. Toku Exp 2 used the Palaces of Otosan-Uchi to reduce his follower’s
Gold Cost by 1. Then Base Camp combined with Golden Sun Plains to make 6 gold. Imperial Honor guard game down at
9 - 2 for Imperial - 1 for the Reaction = 6 gold! Merchant Caravan produces 3 gold for a Spearmen. 

Let the Toku-beat down commence!

Ryosei valiantly volunteers to chump-block. Flooded pass comes down. Spearmen light Ryosei up. Toku straightens
his Spearmen. Toku pumps up his Honor Guard. Toku eats a province turn 2! Palaces bows for more gold-production.
Toku regular comes out for honor.

Fox were unhappy, but not out. However, Desperate Measures was Not helping the cause much. Mike turns the
measures and busts up my province with a Farmlands. Still, a fox with 2 broken legs is going to have problems. To top
that, Toku’s exhaustion Tokens kept a Iaijutsu Art from targeting him!

Of course, that just made the Evil Portents played by Mike THAT much more painful.

Right after that painful moment, the judge calls out my name and comes over.

"Which clan-sword do you want?"

I just looked at him stupidly. I was too stunned to figure it out. Eventually, he gave me an Ancestral Sword of the
Dragon Clan and told me to go back to my game, time limits in effect after all.

Might as well get the door-prize, huh?

Still, Mike can only now start buying holdings, and I’m one province up on him. Tohakus, Tokus, and Seppun Nakaos
come out very rapidly. They attach followers quickly and our-honor for the favor. The rest is pretty much a tail of
Sneak, Deadly Grounds, Superior Tactics, Ranged Attacks and the like that ends with Mike shaking my hand and
congratulations on a good game.

1-0    and 1 Ancestral Sword of the Dragon Clan

Round #2 - Perry Cerrato

Shadowlands Horde - Kaede Sensei

"I know I shouldn’t need to question Toku-sama’s judgment at this point, his orders were quite clear: Secure the
southern flank of the territory so we can march. Still, it is far too dangerous a route to use under normal
circumstances. Perhaps we both share the same feelings however, for my heart yearns to stomp out the festering
evil encroaching on our lands here. The peasants of the nearest village warned of monsters growing bolder here, ogre
bandits and oni and the like. Still, Being here is enough to make my skin shiver...and that last monster’s head I took,
the men insist on carrying that Oni no Ugula’s head around on a pike...it is starting to smell."

Perry is another pleasant, social fellow. His deck should be interesting with that Kaede sensei. I’m relieved to be going
first this time and not have to fight over the favor.

We both open with some fair speed with gold-production and Toku, Oni no Ugula, and another samurai of mine coming
out. I manage to actually destroy another early province by sneaking an Ashigaru Archers shot at Ugula with an
Arrows from the woods. Still, another Ugala comes down with Hida Amoro experienced and that is very effective at
scaring off attacks. However, two turns later, Kolat Duplicate takes out Amoro and lets me come in for another
provinece. That is just Too Much, for Perry and the overwhelm is inevitable.

2-0

Round #3 - Jeff Kyer

Kyuden Kitsune - Hantei Sensei

"'What do you mean, cease and desist immediately?' I asked, feeling as if my head would explode.

"'I mean exactly what I said Kaioto-san,' the messenger said, 'The Emerald Champion has ordered that this
skirmishing between you and the Fox will stop immediately. You will both withdraw your troops. NOW.'

So close. Only another day and we’d have been permanently fortified, and now THIS!

"'Tell Toshiken that I do not appreciate this interference and that I am sure Lord Toku will speak with the Emperor...
but I will comply.'

"'We do not get to choose our orders, Kaioto-san, not even the Emerald Champion.'"

Another Fox deck. Jeff Kyer and I get along smashingly before the round. I tell him my back-story and we trade
sob-stories about him playing Yoritomo’s Alliance from the beginning and my exploits playing Toturi’s Army from Anvil
of Despair on. We play a very competitive and sporting game.

Hantei Sensei makes Iaijutsu duels and Sneak Attacks useless early on. He gets the Gunzo with Beserkers all over the
place, augmenting his force greatly. He manages to push the honor-run early and hold off with two Sensei’s Shrines.
They slow him down in development, but they put me on a heavy clock. I speed up and start bashing down provinces
thanks to Imperial Honor Guard. I take it on the chin as well.

The deciding moment of the game, however, comes when he is down to one province, locked with Shinsei’s Shrine. I
have two. He’s only at 30 honor, but I’m just paranoid of his fate deck. I’m not familiar enough with the kihos in the
game, and I’m afraid something very bad is going to happen. The truth is that I should’ve waited longer and played
more personalities, as well as waited to draw more followers. My hand was log-jammed with useless sneak attacks, 2
stand against the waves, and one hopeful deadly ground.

The battle gets very strange very quick. I was packing Parusha with Shotai and Toku (normal) with followers. I pick
off a berserker on the Gunzo. Beserkers get pumped up on Ryosei. I use one of Shotai’s Spearmen to pick off His Most
Favored for a 10 pt honor loss. Jeff agonizes for a moment, then tosses the favor to save himself the hit. Ryosei
bows to play Purity of Spirit (I think) at Shotai, bowing him because of her higher chi. I’m about to let that resolve
when he stops himself. Cursing his own error, he asks if he can back up. 

Now, from all rights, I’ve given away important information by now: That I haven’t drawn my Sun in Shadow. This is
exactly why the floor rules in Magic prohibit taking things back. Being a judge, I’ve been rather versed in the
reasoning behind penalties and rules enforcement. 

However, I remind myself something: This is Not a Magic tournament. This is L5R. Second, I don’t need to win every
match to advance. Thirdly, this is a guy who I ~ know ~ isn’t trying to cheat, who is just getting caught under the
pressure and was trying not to waste a bunch of time. No way I’m going to be a jerk about it. 

So he takes it back, taking the honor loss, then plays through. My play after the bowing of Shotai is Deadly Ground.
Superior tactics is used by virtue of Fortress of the Dragonfly with the Gunzo. I pick off the Gunzo with the last of
Shotai’s spearmen. Then comes the kicker. Fred discards the Imperial Favor he recovered from taking the honor loss
and plays Arrival of the Emerald Champion.

Well, with only Toku with Toturi’s Daisho and two Ashigaru archers left unbowed, I’m pretty screwed. If there were
only an Arrows from the Woods, I’d kill the Champion and win the battle. I only I could muster 1 more force, I could
tie. If I could but have had even 1 follower on Parusha, I could play my Stand Against the Waves. I lose all my
troops, leaving him with nothing but Ryosei, the province and 18 honor, putting him at 38, and 40 at the end of his
turn. I can only muster a Toku and a Seppun Nakao. I draw, hoping for a follower, but only find Toturi’s Battle
Standard. Grrrr but if I had just waited a turn. 

Hindsight is so perfect, huh?

2-1

Well, in between rounds. My name gets called again. I’m dragged up to the front. Turns out Jeff Kyer was so
impressed, he related the situation to the TO. The TO decide to give me a Toturi’s Army polo shirt as the
Sportsmanship Award for the tournament.

To Quote Peter and Shaun: "What the hell!? Even when he loses he wins."

The thing that was kind of overwhelming in a strange way was that doing something like what I did at a magic
tournament gets you yelled at and made fun of for being a "scrub." In the L5R tournament, I received a prize and a
round of applause. I think I like this L5R tournament scene far more.

Round #4 - Roberto Velazquez

Halls of the Akodo - Hantei Sensei

"'My orders come from the Captain of the Imperial Guard himself, honorable Matsu,' I replied curtly, 'We must travel
to Otosan-Uchi at once.'

"'And I say to you again that we have had too many ronin and dangerous types passing through our lands,
destroying our homes and spying for our enemies. You shall not pass these lands,' the Matsu replied coldly.

"'We move on behalf of the Emperor!'

"'The Emperor is gone missing once more, descended into madness. You are masterless men with no claims to pass
Lion lands. You will not infect our people with your corruption any further.'

"His words cut my soul deeply, reopening the wounds that had been inflicted upon my heart when Toku-sama's
summons had reached me. Our Emperor, gone once more...My very soul trembled with rage and I drew my
katana. 'Baka yarro!' I spat, 'You speak treason and I shall cut your lying tongue from your mouth!'"

Roberto was another excellent sport. He was running honorable Lion with old-school blitzing techniques. Early I called
off charge to slow down an early Matsu Agetoki. He isn’t able to play his personalities quite as soon as he wishes,
and he gets a little behind. Agetoki gets the lion sword early though, but it slows down his development some more. I
played sometimes a bit more poorly than usual, and elected to conserve a rallying cry early. Bad decision, as I get
counter-attacked. Roberto even offers to let me take it back, but I take the lumps I earned. We build at a good
pace, and my Tohakus start showing up to threaten to become 4/5 lion-tamers. Imperial Honor Guard, however, help
me keep up the province attacks even against the Imperial Favor. 

Roberto’s most costly mistake, however, was in not flushing his Ikoma Lion Champion when she came up too early. He
thought about it, but was too occupied to remember to Do it for 2 turns. The third time this happened, he
remembered during my events phase and was kicking himself. I just told him to go back and flush it then. It wasn’t
really a big issue at that point though. Too few provinces for the last turns, meaning that the damage was already
done. My army was too large and follower-laden, and he didn’t even have enough Lion personalities out to make the
sword an issue. Sheer force coupled with a lack of followers on his side to make it just a matter of Stand Against the
Waves and Rallying Cry in the late game.

3-1 and a TA Polo Shirt

Round #5

Otaku Palaces - Hantei Sensei

"As we neared the city, the marks of struggle and war were more and more apparent. Heimin villages were sacked
or fortified. Many had suffered under the presence of the passing armies and had nothing left for the winter. Our
own provisions from back west were something of over-stocked, so I prayed to the Fortunes that they would smile
upon my mercy, and I opened the stores to the Ashigaru.

"My prayers were answered shortly, when several levies approached me. They were eager to join with our army, for
protection as well as gratitude. 

"This added bulk may very well have been what gave pause to the company of magistrates we encountered further
on. An odd mis-match of Scorpion, Crane, and even a Dragon lead by a retinue of Unicorn. While the more
impetuous of the children of Shinjo spoiled for a fight, their elders and allies held them aside to parley with us. They
spoke of corruption and the coming of the Kami and the Shadow infecting the streets and baracks of Otosan-Uchi.
Once again my heart was made heavy, and I set myself grimly.

"'Leave the traitors to me,' I said coldly, staring each man in the eyes in turn. I remembered the words of
Tohaku-san, whose departure we had been summoned to relieve. I spoke my own vow over his sentiments and
words, 'They who are a stain upon the Empire’s honor shall soon be nothing more than a stain upon my blade.' I
drew my tanto across my palm and swore the vow upon my own blood before the magistrates and the Fortunes...
and the magistrates stepped aside."

This game was rather strange. I think it was defined mostly by carefully contesting losing the Imperial favor early
with Toku. That kept my opponent from negating the honor loss from his Poison Weapons. Two poison weapons
locked him down from being able to play many of his Unicorn magistrates. I simply built a giant army, and then horded
honor. His heavy-hitters just couldn’t make it out in time due to the honor-requirements. I honored out without any
units or being destroyed in a battle. 

4-1

Round #6

Otaku Palaces - Hantei Sensei

"As we pressed further to Otosan Uchi, we finally caught sight of Tohaku’s unit headed for the Shadowlands. They
were only a league out from us and being pursued by a regiment of Unicorn cavalry which was gaining rapidly. This
was Not the battle I had planned upon, but the words in Toku-sama’s bold pen-stroke would not leave me for a
moment. 'Our entire future, perhaps our past as well, rests on their success. They must pass, even if it costs every
one of us our lives.'

"I remember the pride Toku-sama took in learning to write while he traveled with Lord Toturi-sama when they were
both Ronin. Toku-sama treasured his words, and would not waste time or ink on artful decoration. The emphasis
was made for a reason...Lord Toku, my Daimyo, was terribly, terribly afraid of something. That something was far
bigger than himself, for a samurai never feared for his own life. With that in mind, I drew my blade and sounded the
charge to intercept the Unicorn"

Now this deck got a Very good start. Otaku Kamoko first turn was a threat, but I build up relatively fast as well.
What hurt was that Kamoko managed to get herself Shiryo no Shinjo and Today we Die on her second turn. Still, I
could trade provinces pretty well since she didn’t have enough strength to take the provinces right away (not THAT
many Strength of Purity in the deck). Again, I was sorely tempted to be jerk about the sequence of Ancestor/Today
we Die. If I had held him to playing the Ancestor first, Kamoko would’ve been bowed and un-targetable by his Today
we Die. Then on my turn, I could name "Today we Die" with Hantei Sensei and cripple him. Still, I felt I could win in a
fair fight for one thing, and second, I could hardly abuse the compliment given by that Good Sportsmanship Award.
The barrels of Monkeys and some good Kharma carried me on my build and attack strategy and I outran Kamoko by a
turn.

5-1

Round #7 - Paul Damour

Dark Path of the Shadow - Yoritomo Sensei

"Finally, Otosan-Uchi. 

"Somehow, the thought felt very hollow. Looking out on the desolate streets between us and the barracks, my
battered troops couldn’t help but notice the nearly supernatural darkness hanging about it. Everything in this district
seemed either destroyed or deserted. A few laborers toiled at rebuilding the walls that had been destroyed on the
inner city, but here beyond the walls, streets once lively with commerce were now only inhabited by rats feeding off
the fallen of many battles.

"As we pressed on, the very shadows felt like they were sucking away our hope, warmth, and confidence. My men
kept starting at slight noises, swearing they saw something. The words "Gaki" and "Ninja" swept through the ranks
and I felt their nerve slipping even as I ordered them to stay together and partner to watch each other’s backs.
There was no such thing as a ninja, that much everyone knows...but how to fight a shadow in men’s minds?

"The words of the Lion I had slain came back to me, 'Shadow...Shadow...Shadow...'

"I turned to Purusha, the young man-like Naga who’s people had scorned him. Hasame might have scoffed, but I was
unwilling to judge this man by his appearance, his blood was half that of a human, and half of an ancient and wise
race, no matter how we might’ve felt about them on the field. I gave Purusha a questioning look and he whispered
into my ear in snakelike tones.

"I looked out to the river separating this dying area from the rest of the city...then to the western storm clouds.

"I called the column to a halt and addressed my army.

"'Burn it,' I ordered simply, 'Burn it to the ground, so that no Shadow may hide from the fire’s light.'"

A fellow bus rider, and packing Vince’s deck from the other night. No-ninja ninja. All holdings and action cards. Well,
this time I’d learned how to defeat the Shadow. Right off, I named Command of the Kami on my Hantei-sensei. Then I
scam out gold and Tokus as fast as possible. The favor stops honor loss and lets me dig. Then I started busting out
honor-yielding personalities, especially Tuhakus, and Seppun Nakaos. The digging paid off when it let me play the
Imperial Standard and Toturi’s Daisho for even more chi and honor. The key was stopping Plea of the Peasants from
killing me off when I attacked early. I HAD to keep my honor above 0 or all my Nakao’s leave or die and I can’t get
out Anyone but Toku and Parusha. I also need to keep the Chi high and fast in order to avoid the inevitable descent
once multiple Den of Spies hits. Very strategic use of Seppuku was Vital to winning this game. Commiting ritual
suicide from things like Test of Honor and Unrequited Love was all the difference. I good time, provinces fall, then
Takuan comes out to help cement the win. Tight game though, as he was finally ready to run board-control. If
Emperor’s Peace had hit, I might very well have lost. 

6-1

Cut to Top 16 - Seeded 2nd

Sweet 16 -

Palaces of Otosan-Uchi - Hantei Sensei

"...my inquiries to the location of the missing regiments was answered with dark looks and grunts for many days of
marching West, guarding the two-day-old trail of Tohaku’s passing. Then, just North of the Kaiu Wall, I received my
answer.

"They came out of the very first crop of twisted, evil trees that marked the boarder of the Shadowlands, as if
expecting us. They were a gruesome band, the half-living, the mutated, the walking dead, and most loathsome, the
traitors. Those who once walked with us, now marching in the company of the corruption of the land, it was enough
to sicken me. At their lead, a man I recognized...

"'HITO!!!' I shouted, calling him by name. The traitor only sneered...and then the battle was joined. Oni, undead,
and man-things set up us savagely in wave upon wave without end. It was like a nightmarish return to those days
when I was but a foot soldier, all those running battles after Beiden Pass, one’s self and one’s men, awash in a sea
of evil.

"Yet it was not the same. Where was the Master Tactician, our general, our Toturi-sama? Where was the courage
and the brilliance that had confounded Yogo Junzo and every other servant of the Dark One? 

"And then, out of the haze of blood and rotting flesh, the screams of the victorious and the dying, the loyalist and
traitor alike, I saw it...

"Just like the days of Beiden Pass, it flew there in the wind silently amidst chaos; our anchor, our oath, and our honor...

"Lord Toku raised high Toturi’s Battle Standard and let loose a war cry of unquestionable defiance. Then and there I
knew that on this day there could be no failure; only victory, or death to the last man. We would not fail our
Toku-sama, or the honor of Lord Toturi."

At the outset, he offers to agree not to use the Sensei abilities during the game. I go along with it. We cut to see
who goes first. I cut Stand Against the Waves (3). He cuts his Ring of Void (4) like his Only 4 in his whole deck! I’ve
got 12 Ronin, Toturi’s Battle Standard, Imperial Standard, Ring of Void, 3 Sun in Shadows...yeah yeah yeah...piss
and moan, piss and moan. 

He opens up blatantly corrupt with wheeny dash honor requirements, Plague Zombies, Black Markets, Corrupt Iron
Mines. Etc. He gets out some Very fast service and eats two of my provinces quickly, losing one of his too Oni no
Akuma! Jeez. The LAST thing I want to do is miss out on being the TA Kotei Champion to someone running Corrupt.
I’d have to turn in my Monkey tail.

The Imperial Favor helps hold him back. An daring attack helps to snuff out Akuma and a wheeny, but costs me
another province. At this point, my only consolation is that the plague Zombies have killed his personalities twice and
paying for his mercenaries has put him at -16 honor. 

Between Ashigaru Archers, the Imperial Favor, Ring of Void, Enlistment, and Seppun Hotaitaka, I’m achieving insane
card flow, and have 3 Imperial Honor Guard down, defending from Fear. I also have my Parushas out there. Then I
draw the Bomb. Toturi’s Battle Standard. Just for a rainy day like this one, the -1F for each opposing TA personality
becomes key - I also draw into Rallying Cry and Tukuan Exp. I use Rallying Cry twice and bring him down to 1
province. In a climactic battle, the Barrel of Monkeys toppled corrupt TA to be the last Toturi’s Army player in the
Kotei!

It was an amazing game, and my opponent was a great sport. I’m completely ashamed I didn’t get his name written
down. I took down everyone else’s right after our matches, but this one had my opponent waiting for top 8 and we
were already running Over time on the tourney, so I had to run. I have to apologize for forgetting the name of such a
great opponent. Even if he was playing corrupt on my clan, he was an honorable man and a good sport. At any time
he could’ve decided to renege on his agreement and named Rallying Cry and totally screwed me (or at least made my
need to do some Really scary Superior Tactics-ing). He didn’t, just out of respect for the Sportsmanship Award I’d
received and his own honor. For that, I salute and thank him.

7-1

Final 8 - Paul Damour (again)

Dark Path of the Shadow - Yoritomo Sensei

"Lord Toku’s hand fell and my blade followed, severing the traitor-general’s head from his shoulders. As the head of my
enemy rolled into the dust, we beheld a sight we soldiers were not prepared for.

"His face MELTED.

"And in the darkness of the Shadowlands, the Shadow itself seemed to laugh from the rustle of the trees, sending a
chill into the heart of even the most battle-hardened samurai.

"Then I saw something that shocked me even more, Purusha and Toku-sama in deep conversation. It seemed very
strange that even after all his perilous campaigns against the Naga years ago, my lord, the Monkey Clan Champion,
was so ready to look beyond such grudges. Still, he and the abomination conversed quickly and with many gestures.

"Then we were marching, following the Naga-man for two long hours, all the while warily guarding the backs of our
companions. Finally we arrived at lack of pure black. There Toku-sama bade us fill everything we could with the oil,
from our empty provisions barrels to our war helms.

"Three hours later we were marching back Monkey lands, the Shadowlands behind us aflame. Yes, it would hardly
make a dent in that blight on the land, but it would ensure that no one else, not even the Shadow, could follow the
heroes of Rokugan along the way to Volturnum. Now fate is left in the hands of a few great men, and whatever
would challenge them deep in the darkness. It is all we can do to secure their flank with fire, go home, and pray."

Here we are again. It wasn’t going to be so easy this time, though. It was an insane back and forth game over and
over for many turns. Sure, I named Command of the Kami again with Hantei Sensei, and that helped. I also dropped
the Imperial Standard and pushed out a lot of gold and personalities early. However, slowly but surely, things started
stacking up against me. First, Time of the Void, limiting me to not going over 10 honor on personality plays. Then my
personalities started costing 2 more gold. Then the Death of the Ki-rin hit the table, along with Doom of the Dark
Lord. Then 2 Den of Spies. 

I’m barely keeping my honor stable and I start running over his provinces, throwing away random battle actions in the
battles and pitching unplayable cards to Tukuan exp. Tactician. Then comes the last province, protected by the
Death of the Ki-rin with me at 7 honor. I throw down two followers with merchant caravans, and charge into battle
with four cards in my hand. I play Sneak Attack, and tactician away Stand Against the Waves. Paul passes. I then
play Deadly Ground, and drop Ring of Void as a reaction. With an elemental ring in play, I can get passed Death of
the Ki-rin. Paul offers me a hand and the entire store of spectators congratulate us both for an intense game with a
standing-O.

8-1

Semi Finals - Jeff Kyer

Kyuden Kitsune - Hantei Sensei

"There were many wounded in the battle against the traitors, and the foul corruption of the Shadowlands made even
those lightest wounds gravely serious. We needed to get home to our physicians and shugenja, and soon. Toku-sama
would not spare any time and cut a straight line as fast as we could to Monkey lands, right through the boarders of
Fox territory.

"As much as Ryosei had proven an adversary I could respect, I was loath to see her appearance this time. We didn’t
have time for this non-sense and skirmishing. Thankfully, we DID have more than enough men for this sort of thing
with Lord Toku’s troops. Even with our casualties, the Fox skirmishing forces were not prepared for this scale of
battle and we scattered them to the winds quickly.

"There was no time to celebrate; we had the lives and very souls of our comrades hanging in the balance.

"I can only pray that we can arrive in time."

Well, another flash-back to the Swiss rounds. Well this time I’m resolved to play at my best, and win without making
any mistakes, or taking advantage of any. Honestly, the game was a little bit one-sided after a dozen turns or so. I
used my sensei to stop Beserkers this game, and Imperial Honor Guard to evade the Imperial Favor. His Shinsei’s
Shrines are what kill Jeff really. Two of them come up a little too early. While 4 honor a turn is certainly a harsh clock
for me, but with two Imperial Honor Guard on large units it isn’t a difficult task to clear off the two provinces that can
still move Dynasty Cards.

Once Jeff’s resources are crippled, I can build a huge advantage before his honor breaches 30 and crush his last two
provinces without a huge danger to myself. All in all, the Shrines just crippled him. Still, Jeff was a good sport about
it, and was very pleased at the results the Fox Clan was racking up. He’s also made a huge run on the upper ranks of
the Alliance. 

Wow, but 3 Foxes and 1 Monkey in the Semi-Finals. Go Minor Clans!!! 

9-1

Championship Match - Aaron Medwin

Kyuden Kitsune - Hantei Sensei

"Our speed was certainly the salvation of many of our ranks, but it might have also proven to be our undoing. With our
bold charge through Ryosei’s troops had stirred up a terrible hornet’s nest indeed. Her concern at the amount of troop
movement we’ve made through the disputed territory has made her mobilize all the troops and shugenja the Fox have
to offer, and they are marching.

"Even worse, so many casualties, we are hardly at a full strength...and yet we’ve never been allowed to choose the
time and the place of our battles. We will defend what Toku-sama and all of us have worked so hard to build. Myself,
I have chosen a position leading the peasants, the Ashigaru, my people. The days of war that many have seen at
our side, against Shadow, Oni, and even the Otaku Battle Maidens, have strengthened their skills and resolve. They
will hold our lines. Their arrows will fly true. And they shall show history what men of true honor can achieve.

"I look into their eyes and know this one truth:

"We shall never waver in defending our home."

This game was reasonably exchanged in back and forth until Aaron drops a bomb card on me. "Essence of Air" All of
the sudden those free Fox shugenja are spewing forth as he refills provinces face-up. Even with 3 provinces, the Fox
can rush past me with troops. Then, however, Aaron makes his one tactical mistake that costs him the game. He
sends a retinue of 6 shugenja bristling with Kihos against one of my provinces. Shotai, Tohaku, and Seppun Nakao
each have a follower attached and move to intercept. With my first action and only two fate cards in hand, I break
his back with Stand Against the Waves, bowing half of his army. Even purity of spirit can’t help him now, and I win
the battle decisively. A 12 honor swing breaks the camel’s back and lets me take back the Imperial Favor. Then, to
add to the problems, events and regions clog up his Dynasty slots before he can pull Army-in-a-Can again.

With all this to back me up, I begin to finish off his provinces. There just isn’t enough time for him to recover, as his
Essence of Air keeps hanging up on Events, Holdings, and Regions. A few more turns of province-propping and the
title of Kotei Emperor is conferred with a handshake and a cheer from the crowd. 

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

Epilogue:

I would have to say it was the proudest day in my life as a gamer. On top of just winning a major regional tournament
title, I’d also managed to win the sportsmanship award and found a lot of friendships, even with my opponents. I also
won a seat at the second day of the Gates of Oblivion tournament or some such at Gen-Con. A nice chunk of Koku
for the weekend went along with an Imperial Edition Starter of my choice, a set of promo cards, the TA Kotei
Champion shirt, the Kotei Emperor shirt, a TA polo shirt, and a hat too. I left with a lot more than I came in with.
Then, I got a football player’s homecoming welcome on the Ancestral Short-bus of the Hida when it was finally time
to go. 

At this point Peter and Shaun who’d had to brow-beat me into going to the Kotei seriously considered pantsing me
and leaving in the Bronx. ;) The irony was not lost on any of us.

Still, brought a lot of glory back to MA, to the bus from Knight’s Quest, and the players from YMG Sommerville and
Knight’s Quest.

Best of all, I did it in the name of the Monkey Clan!

In honor of the victory, Chris "Rakki Yaro" Burns couldn’t see fit to have me called Monkey Clan fanboy, and so I was
promoted to Monkey Clan Gunso. Works for me! 

Well, that’s about it until Gen-Con, folks. Sorry about the length, I’m just too hyped-up about the whole thing to edit
it well. Thanks for your patience.

Marty "Toku Kaioto" Lund
Kaioto@yahoo.com
Toku Kaioto, Monkey Clan Gunzo * Ashigaru
1 Force, 3 Chi, - Honor Requirement, 6 Gold Cost, 3 Personal Honor
All cards with the Ashigaru trait in this army get +1 Force.
If you control any Ninja or Kolat cards during your Events phase, destroy Toku Kaioto and any one card with the
Ninja or Kolat trait of your opponent’s choice.

"Destiny is the sum of a man’s deeds, not his birthrights." - Toku