(Message ryand:114)
Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1998 14:30:09 PDT
To: <frpginfo@frpg.com>
From: "Ryan S. Dancey" <RyanD@frpg.com>
Subject: Hidden Emperor Episode 2 On Sale Today!
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Friends,
Friday, July 24h, marks the release date for the second of an ongoing series
of releases for Legend of the Five Rings, Episode Two of the Hidden Emperor.
The next release will be Episode 3 of the Hidden Emperor, which will ship to
retailers on Aubust 24th and will be on sale August 28th.
Our Story So Far:
Emperor Toturi has vanished, and foul deeds are suspected. The Scorpion
Clan has been exiled as a result, and they have left the Empire under guard,
never to return. The Crab Clan have begun their long-dreamed assault on the
Shadowlands - their first objective being the retaking of Hiruma Castle.
The Crab armies had great success in the opening days of the conflict, aided
by legions of Naga determined to end the evil of Fu Leng once and for all.
However, after taking the Castle, the Naga mysteriously withdrew from the
field of battle and headed north at a breakneck pace to attack the
mountainous lands of the Dragon Clan.
In Episode 2, we learn what has been occuring within the lands of the
Dragon. Mirumoto Hitomi (who on the Day of Thunder consumed the essence of
Togashi, one of the Children of Sun and Moon who founded the Empire) has
been reforging the Dragon Clan in her own image. Using her blood, which
carries supernatural powers, she has begun to create a new group of Tattooed
samurai to do her bidding. The attack of the Naga came as a surprise, but
the Dragon are masters at defending themselves.
Now, blood runs in the mountains around Kyuden Hitomi, the castle of the
Dragon Daimyo. Naga bowmen lurk behind every crag, and Dragon bushi strike
without warning. The conflict has become a deadly game of cat and mouse.
------------------------------------------
Hidden Emperor Episode 2 is configured in our Rolling Thunder monthly
release system. There are 51 new cards in Episode 2, 50 appearing in the
booster packs, and 1 found only in Kyuden Hitomi Stronghold Starter Decks.
Due to the way the cards are packed into the boosters, on average, you
should need to buy 16-24 boosters and one Stronghold Starter deck to have at
least one card of all the 50 cards in a given month's release. Of course,
those who want to get 3 of each card will need to buy about three times as
many boosters.
Again: To collect a complete set of one each of every card in a given
month's release, you need to buy approximately >sixteen to twenty-four<
boosters.
Boosters contain 8 randomly sorted cards in three rarities. Booster packs
carry a $1.99 SRP. Decks consist of 60 semi-sorted cards and a rulebook.
Decks carry a $8.99 SRP
------------------------------------------
Elsewhere in the Empire:
o Matsu Hiroru and Ginawa set off on a quest to locate Toturi and find his
kidnappers. These two unlikely companions share little except a thirst for
vengance and a desire to uphold the highest ideal of bushido - Defend the
Empire and Protect the Emperor!
o Hida Kisada, the elder Crab Clan Daimyo has died. The entire Empire
mourns his passing, for while he was one of the instigators of the chaos of
the Clan Wars, he protected the Empire's borders diligently for nearly sixty
years, and stood with the other Clans against the Scorpion during their
attempted coup.
o The Imperial Court is filled with intrigues. The Mantis Clan, and their
minor clan allies in Yoritomo's Alliance are pressing for more control of
the provinces vacated by the Scorpion. In a bold move, the Crane Clan have
moved to occupy those lands, claiming them in the name of their Scorpion
fosterlings.
o The legions of the Crab, trapped in Hiruma Castle, have no way to help
defend the Kaiu Wall. From the north an army of Lion bushi, lead by Ikoma
Tsanuri marches towards the Hida fortification, prepared for war.
o With the Phoenix retreating from their ancient responsibilities to
monitor and police the use of magic in the Empire, the Assembly has called
for some action to be taken to guard against the use of Maho and other dark
magics forbidden by the Emperor's edicts. In response, the Crane Courtiers
who are providing the bulwark of the Imperial agencies have unearthed old
documents indicating that the Empire once empowered an individual to serve
the Emperor in matters magical, as the Emerald Champion serves the Emperor
in
matters of law and justice. To that end, a great Test of the Jade Champion
has been declared, to determine who will be named to fill this new post.
Shugenja from across the Empire, from all the Clans have assembled to
see who among them will claim the coveted title.
--------------------------------------
"The Test of the Jade Champion" will be held in two weeks at GenCon Game
Faire in Milwaukee, WI. The event will be an exciting gathering of L5R
players from across the world, vying to determine who will be named 1998
World Champion! There will be prizes for each faction - the player placing
highest for each faction will receive a special unit of armor representing
their faction, and be named their Clan's Motsuken ("Sword Keeper", the one
who bears honor in battle for the Clan). The winner, in addition to the
acclamaition of the crowd, will see a member of their faction named to be
the Jade Champion, and that player will personally receive Hida Yakamo's
Tetsubo, a powerful nemurani
(magic item) brought to us by secret courier and Phoenix magic from the
bloodied battleground of the Shadowlands, which will be presented by
Yakamo's younger sister, Hida O-Ushi.
--------------------------------------
Until next month, Glory to the Empire!
