Flavor Text: Embers of War

Booster Display Quotes

• In the distant Colonies, once known as the Ivory Kingdoms, the samurai of Rokugan gather the resources the Empire needs to survive. Threatened by unknown enemies and pitted against one another in politics and economics, will their honor and steel prove strong enough for the Second City to survive?

Starter Quotes

• The Ki-Rin’s Path – The overland route that connects the Emerald Empire with its Colonies is long and arduous, but a more direct route to the Second City than the Mantis shipping lanes across the sea. It falls to the Unicorn to ensure the safety and security of all shipments traveling by land, but when the caravans are attacked by an unknown gaijin force en route, the Unicorn must deal with the political and economic ramifications of the unthinkable.
• The Marshalling Fields – In the decades since the Destroyer War, the Lion Clan has struggled to rebuild its once great military might from the devastating losses caused by the conflict and the plague. Racing to recover their position as the world’s greatest military force, the Lion now grow closer to their goal but find themselves without a threat to combat. As tensions mount in the Empire, the Colonies, and in between, the Lion suddenly face a potentially all-too-familiar enemy from days past.
• The Plain of Glass – With the new Imperial Governor opening move of the Colonies to settlement by the Great Clans, the Spider have no choice but to push farther into the unexplored regions in order to maintain their independence and seclusion. In doing so, however, they come to face with the last strongholds of the Cult of Ruhmal, and have no choice but to wage all-out-war with their blasphemous foes in order to survive the day.

Card Flavors

• A Weak Poison – “If I wished him dead, he would be dead. I only wish him to be indisposed.” – Yasuki Makoto
• Akodo Tamisu – “There is no greater virtue than to teach. There is no greater service to the future.”
• Akodo Uehara – He unfurled the scrolls on the table and frowned. The strategies used by the Unicorn’s unknown attackers somehow felt familiar…
• Armor of the Uruwashii – “One of the Tsi’s latest creations, its craft is as legendary as its bearer.” – Kaiu Tojikana
• Asahina Konomi – “The breath of the world is my brush. The smallest hopes can fly when you paint them wings.”
• Asako Kikugoro – “Each step along the Path brings more of the world into view.”
• Asako Megu – “I am not satisfied by your answers, Matsu-san. Let us begin again.”
• Ashigaru Guards – “The attacks make the overland route even more perilous. We have increased the guards at the waystations, but that is a temporary solution. We must find and destroy those responsible for these raids.” – Shinjo Min-Hee
• Assassin – The most perfect implement of vengeance is one that is never suspected.
• Astonishing Accusation – “You are mixed up in something horrible, I know it!”
• Bayushi Kazutoshi – “I honor my sensei in all ways.”
• Bayushi Nomen (Experienced 2) – “It is a proud name, though I cannot exactly claim it is my own. But with it I will defend our clan against all who would harm it.”
• Bayushi Tenzan – “Tasu helped stop Shoju when he rose. His grandson Tenzan hopes to do the same with Paneki.” – Bayushi Keirei
• Broken Cipher – The ciphers used by shugenja families to protect their secrets are closely guarded. Those who betray the secrets are often short-lived.
• Celestial Sword of the Lion (Experienced) – No Flavor Text
• Celestial Sword of the Unicorn (Experienced) – No Flavor Text
• Centering the Soul – “Listen to the candle’s flame as it flickers in the wind.”
• Daidoji Akeha – “Surely Kikaze’s daughter will improve the luck of the Crane.” – Doji Takara
• Daidoji Narizane – “You only get one try, and one is not enough.”
• Daigotsu Kazuko – “The new governor’s orders tie our hands. We are unable to follow the mandate and continue our plans.”
• Daigotsu Susaiken – “The other clans embrace the importance of teaching. What they fail to understand is the content of the lessons that must be learned.”
• Daigotsu Takayasu – He was once a young man, struggling to utilize his inhuman powers. His mastery is now complete, and he leads the Spider into the face of death without hesitation.
• Daigotsu Tenbatsu – “There is no point in holding back our potential. Give us freedom to run rampant upon our enemies!”
• Damning Ceremony – There is never a shortage of men willing to trade their souls for power.
• Dazzling Attire – Some spend their entire lives avoiding the collective eyes of the court. Meanwhile, the bold are forever seeking its attentions.
• Deadly Discipline – “It purifies, it strengthens, it destroys.”
• Deep Snows – “The raiders are not troubled by winter, so we must not be.” – Moto Naleesh
• Delving into History – The Asako and Ikoma know the strength of tradition and written history. All answers lie within their ancestors’ actions.
• Emerald Magistrate – “They travel from city to city, never tiring in their search for justice. They are the purest expression of the Empress’s will in the mortal realm.” – The Journal of Seppun Tashime
• Exploited Advantage – “What is the point of being better if you do not exploit it?” – Daigotsu Gyoken
• Extending Influence – The subtlest effects can have powerful repercussions.
• Field Messenger – “The winter is harsh, but not so much as to stop our messengers. We must speak to the Unicorn about these raids.” – Akodo Dairuko
• Flanking Unit – They can turn a battle’s course.
• Fresh Recruit – Trained over the course of months rather than years, they have value on the battlefield to be sure. Their greatest strength, however, is that they are utterly expendable.
• Gaining Advantage – The Crane sought clear dominance with every small victory.
• Games of Will – Ah, politics.” – Shiba Tsukimi
• Goju Gochiso – He could meld into every shadow with ease, and his powers have only grown stronger of late.
• Gozaru no Oni – “There is no peace in Jigoku. Many powerful demons reject the very concept.” – Isawa Kimi
• Greasing the Wheels – “Everyone has a price. The trouble lies only in finding it.”
• Growing Hostility – The Spider were the victims, but they were not the only ones to suffer.
• Guest – “What better opportunity to teach others to stretch the boundaries of their perceptions than that of a lengthy visit in another’s court. What a wonderful teaching opportunity!”
• Haruki’s Deer – “The spirits of Chikushudo are rarely as innocuous as their mortal counterparts. You see a deer, but I see a deadly warrior.” – Kitsune Haruki
• Help from the Shadows – “There is no such thing as a lone assassin.” – Little Truths
• Hida Bakishi – All berserkers throw themselves off the cliffs of sanity. Some never climb their way back.
• Hida Osote – “Practice the basics.”
• Hiromi’s Vassals – “The seas grow strangely hostile, but the Mantis do not flinch.” – Moshi Tomeno
• Hiruma Moritoki – Observing the enemy is only half the task of a well-trained scout. The other half is knowing him.”
• Home Guard – “Even an indifferent soldier can become fearsome when he stands with is back towards his home. Never forget this, my father told me.” – Kaiu Onizuka
• Honest Assessment – There are moments when honesty is more appreciated than it would be otherwise.
• Hotei’s Contentment – The moments of peace are few, and thus must be savored all the more.
• Ikoma Hakige – “He is gruff and unpleasant, and often mistaken for a Matsu. But his skill and his honor are without reproach, and so we forgive him his eccentricities.” – Akodo Dairuko
• Ikoma Shika – She was the first to uncover the devastated remnants of the Unicorn caravan. Her expert eyes immediately scanned the battlefield for any signs of the departed attackers.
• Ikoma Sido – “Some of my brothers have found it difficult to adapt to life in the Colonies. There are treasures to find in these strange lands if one is brave enough to search for them.”
• Ikoma Yamahatsu – His father had the fortune to marry a Seppun wife. He gratefully accepted every opportunity his heritage opened to him and quickly rose in rank.
• Illusory Defense – He wove his magic and felt the land change around him.
• In Search of Guidance – “When seeking a teacher, first find those who know what you know, then those who know what you do not.” – The Tao of Shinsei
• Incite the Phantoms – He stopped laughing as the twentieth creature appeared.
• Inciting Mistrust – No Flavor Text
• Indecision – “Why do you hesitate? It is a simple matter, boy. Denounce our Yoritomo host for his smuggling ties, and everything will fall into place.”
• Inescapable Snare – “Struggle more, foolish creature. You only ensure your doom.”
• Inexorable – The only thing more terrifying than one thousand horsemen charging is two thousand horsemen charging.
• Isawa Koiso – “Fire speaks to me. What will it say to you?”
• Isawa Mina – “The Second City is the gate to many mysteries. The Lion err in thinking that we should be kept from them. And we do not need them to protect us from any dangers that lurk there.”
• Isawa Sanetomo – “The elements support and nurture us. Why should I worry when they are with me always?”
• Itoku – The legend of the Seven Sohei from the Destroyer War continues to inspire, even decades later.
• Iuchi Yuri – “We control land access to the Colonies. What do the Mantis control? The seas are too vast for any to claim dominion.”
• Kaiu Onizuka – As the Empire continued to rebuild and expand, the value of the Kaiu’s insights increased tenfold. Some became more important than the average.
• Kaiu Tojikana – Thanks to the aid of the Kaiu, the castles of the Scorpion were never more resilient, if a little less menacing.
• Kakita Gonji – “Watch again, and perfect your form.”
• Kakita Kae – Even the Scorpion are wary of her sweet words.
• Kakita Kenta – “His technique is overshadowed by the uses he puts it to.” – Kakita Gonji
• Killing Intent – His enemy’s ferocity froze Hiro in place. The truth dawned upon him as he met the Crab’s gaze. He would die if he made any movement.
• Kitsu Miro – “My brother taught me the ways of warfare, and a thousand ancestors bolster my weaknesses.”
• Kitsuki Daisuke – “I am just as mistaken about the evidence as you are mistaken about fashion trends at Winter Court. Tell me about your meeting with the silk merchant, or name your champion.”
• Kitsuki Jakuei – “Are you certain this is not a counterfeit?”
• Kitsune Haruki – “Let others worry about the Empress and her promises.”
• Lady Matsu’s Rage – Let the Akodo plan. The Matsu will destroy.
• Lion Ancestor – “If you face a single Lion, he is never alone. The strength of ten thousand ancestors fills him from the fields of Yomi. We are, each of us, an army.” – Kitsu Tamasine
• Low Market – Even in the new kingdom, there are places that the samurai choose not to acknowledge.
• Makito – No Flavor Text
• Mara’s Touch – “I know you must still be alive, grandmother.”
• Mirumoto Hikaro – Sun and Moon: two swords, two strikes.
• Mirumoto Kouzei – “No matter how benign the Naga were once, if they are eager to leap onto my swords, I am happy to oblige them.”
• Moshi Tomiko – “These lands belong to the Mantis, and the interlopers sent by Iweko are not needed or wanted.”
• Moto Isul – After the Unicorn caravan from the Colonies was attacked, Naleesh’s distrust cast a wide net.
• Moto Rani – “Life is weak.”
• Moving and Unmoving – “When you have the sword in your heart, all manner of marvels will bloom.” – Mirumoto Reiyu
• Murderous Thieves – “The Second City is safe to all, but the lands around it are dangerous for those who do not understand them. It is foolish of the new governor to permit other clans to intrude in places we have been exploring.” – Yoritomo Emoto
• Ninja Guards – “The Crane are growing bold in their quest for power, but we have resources they cannot dream of.” – Shosuro Hawado
• Ochiai’s Bravery – The Inquisitor temple brought forth a host of Phoenix magical might into the Colonies. The Lion fumed at its presence.
• Perfect Sacrifice – “Katsutoshi-sensei would have known how to deal with these beasts, and so do I!”
• Perplexing Guests – “He has not moved in three days! I hope our northern guests will not make our home familiar grounds.”
• Phantom Visage – Only a select few ever obtain the privilege to glimpse a Goju’s true face.
• Pillar Tattoo – The budoka watched the Dragon monk feel the power of his kami’s blood. “Is he strong?” The poet smiled. “Listen…”
• Pillowbook – “It is impossible to know exactly how popular pillowbooks are throughout the Empire. Most who read them would never confess to it.” – Doji Tatsuki
• Power of Strength – “Strength is not just brute force, but the ability to apply it properly. Never forget this, or your enemies will teach it to you.” – Hida Osote
• Preceding Reputation – “Back! Back! Out of the way! Heimin fools, don’t you know who I am!?”
• Precision – “The dead serve no one. The injured serve their enemy.” – Ikoma Shika
• Preserving Forces – “I will say this for the Scorpion,” Hida Horu said, “they know how to hold on in a fight. Almost like fighting alongside a Crab.”
• Pronouncement of Guilt – “Bring the guilty party. I would have him made an example to all.” – Moto Rani
• Rata – “I know your words of power. Goju, Ninube, Shadow Dragon. They are words, nothing more. I will drink your shadows and spit on your corpses.”
• Reckless Duel – The Dragon would not rest until the Dark Naga revealed their secrets.
• Request Authorization – No Flavor Text.
• Riddle of Rebirth – “Who have I been? Who shall I yet be? The very question thrills the soul!”
• Ride the Breeze – “Surrender yourself to the winds, my friend! I assure you, the experience is highly enlightening!”
• Rokku – First among the Seven Sohei, his path was ever true.
• Sakti – “Do you think you know the darkness within, Spider? You know nothing. I will show you horrors you cannot imagine.”
• Sankaku-Yari – “With this in your hands, even the boldest of their mounted warriors will think twice.” – Daidoji Tametaka
• Scouting the Pass – All clans condone the use of scouts, for the information they gather paves the path to victory.
• Searching for Answers – “Tell me what you know. Now.”
• Secret Reserve – The Yasuki merchants always seem to have the item you need before you realize you need it.
• Seeking the Question – “I can give you the answer, but it will not help.” – Isawa Kimi
• Shadow Dragon (Experienced 2) – No Flavor Text
• Shamsir – As the virtues of gaijin weapons became well known, more were willing to cast aside tradition.
• Sheathing the Sword – One samurai could defeat a hundred ashigaru, but one Imperial decree could silence ten thousand samurai.
• Shiba Toshisugo – “Earth is strong in him and keeps his Fire steady,” Sanetomo said. “He will serve the clan well in our unfortunate disagreements with the Lion Clan.”
• Shinjo Hayan – “First observe, and then act. First move, and then strike.”
• Shinjo Junpei (Experienced) – “Was it the Ruhmal? Bandits? Maybe, but I cannot rule out any save the Spider. We will uncover this treachery together.”
• Shinjo Sarang – Let others distrust the Spider. That will only make their support of the Unicorn all the stronger.”
• Shosuro Ietsuno – “I am always watching.”
• Shosuro Ryoichi – “With the wealth from the Colonies come those who wish to grow rich off of it. Which is fine, until one seeks to do it at the clan’s expense. Then I must intervene and correct the wise or dispose of the foolish. Were you still alive, you could figure out which you were.”
• Shrine to Nimuro – Lion’s roar, Lion’s courage, Lion’s soul.
• Soshi Yoshihara – After the attack on the Second City, Rokugani of all castes wished to aid in the defeat of the enemy.
• Splintered Weapon – Anything one can find can be a weapon…
• Staging Grounds – With the threat of the Taint gone, the Crab began making regular forays into the Shadowlands in hopes of reclaiming land for purification.
• Stand as the Mountain – “These paltry things?” Osote roared with laughter. “These are nothing. A moment’s diversion before the day’s true work begins. Enjoy!”
• Stuck in Rokugan – There are few in the Empire who wish to travel to the Colonies, but during the long winter months, that number can temporarily grow quite high indeed.
• Sudden Guardian – “Borrow my strength, scion. I shall protect you.”
• Sugihara – “There is tranquility in the heart of the battlefield, and true knowledge in the arterial spray of my enemy as it splashes upon my mask.”
• Surrounded! – “End their suffering. They do not deserve this terrible fate.”
• Surveillance Outpost – We saw the glint of steel, like teeth, from a long way off.
• Tactical Trap – Never count on overwhelming odds.
• Tamori Seiken – “Master the earth, and you will have the most faithful of mounts. It does not tire, needs no food or water, and will never flee in fear. What more do I need?”
• Temple Fortress – “I mourn their deaths, for I know their actions are not their own. They are compelled by a force they cannot resist, but we cannot spare their lives despite the fact.” – Yung
• Temple to the Elements – Each time the monk looked at the garden, the pebbles formed a different pattern.
• Terraced Farm – There are many roads to prosperity.
• The Ancestral Sword of Hantei (Experienced) – No Flavor Text
• The Bite of Winter – “Even my sword feels the cold,” she complained.
• The Cycle of Vengeance – “Brother!”
• The Distant Reaches – The light places had fallen to darkness. The dark places had become something much worse.
• The Heir’s Wrath – The condemned man’s protests faded all too quickly.
• The Host’s Advantage – “Unfortunately, my friends, there are liars standing among us.”
• The Ki-Rin’s Path – “The sea routes of the Mantis took less time, but the distance between the Colonies’ ports and the Second City made the overland route more practical. Thus the Unicorn maintained their prestige in the Colonies.” – The Ikoma Records
• The Marshalling Fields – “Here we enact the largest-scale maneuvers learned from the gaijin book. For such to be needed, we would be indeed threatened.” – Ikoma Shika
• The Menacing Sky – The skies opened up with furious vengeance, and the defenders wondered if foul play was at work.
• The Plain of Glass – No Flavor Text
• The Plain of Glass – The Scorpion readily accepted the aid of the Crab – together they held a dark secret.
• The Snow Has Teeth – Winter is a cruel ally.
• The Swell of Strength – “Lend your strength to me, oh water kami.”
• Thick Marsh – The commander’s secret weapon. The commander’s tactical nightmare.
• Togashi Rikyou – “On the contrary,” he called as he made his leap, “this is exactly what rooftops were made for.”
• Tokiko – “She was our conscience, and my salvation.” – Makito
• Too Much for Mortals – For the first time, he saw clearly how little he had lived up to his ancestors’ valor.
• Tsuruchi Shichiro – “He does not rely on just words to inspire.” – Yoritomo Hiromi
• Tsuruchi Shigekazu – “The Spider were not welcomed openly, but at least they had a purpose. The other clans that are arriving, one by one, serve no purpose other than to take what belongs to us.”
• Tsuruchi Tomaru (Experienced) – “With each mile we find wonders unimagined. The other clans sully this land as they scramble to place their claims. This place is to be unfolded, not torn open through petty squabbles.”
• Two Fronts – “There is always a way to surround them,” he said with a ferocious grin.
• Unsafe Passage – “Fall back!” the Moto shouted. “Tell the wagons to travel the secondary route! We will hold these gaijin devils!”
• Unstoppable Strike – He was still expounding on the virtues of different alloys long after the corpse had stopped moving.
• Utaku Lishan (Experienced) – “Rokugan is ignorant of what we have accomplished. They sleep while we serve.”
• Village Raiders – “The Ruhmal erred when they did this. Before, we killed for duty. Now it’s for vengeance.” – Daigotsu Negishi
• Yasuki Makoto – Few know the irony of her name.
• Yojimbo Assemble – Swords are not the only threats.”
• Yoritomo Kanaye – “My loyalty lies with no governor.”
• You Are Unworthy – “Not only does that sword have a better lineage than you do, even the tea we drank this morning has a better lineage than you do. Do not disgrace either again.”