Mizuko: Motso's a strategist, Tsanuri's a blood-fisted battle queen.

DojiTochi: Is the Crane Civil War happing because of tournament results?

Mizuko: Toshi: Yes, very much so.

Mizuko: A majority of the sanctioned tournaments last year ended Crane vs Crane - usually one military against an honor. Doji versus Daidoji.

Ingram970: L5R storyline writer/editor, Ree Soesbee is here

ShinjoMoll: Say it ain't so, Ree! Is Shinjo Yokatsu really a Kolat?

Mizuko: Moll: *chuckle* I've gone through 350 decks from Morikage thus far and of the Unicorn decks, over THREE FOURTHS have had Kolat Masters and Kolat Assassins in them. It doesn't look good...

KktaDasuri: Ok, Ree, about the Civil war, between the Doji and the Daidoji, would we be able to change that by settle who wins the tournament without actualy fighting it out?

KktaDasuri: In Crane vs crane, I mean

Mizuko: its also too late - while its very possible that the two families can resolve their differences, the war has already started.

Mizuko: What will need to happen is, either Crane begins working together consistantly and impressively, or one family will have to dominate the othere.

Ingram970: Ree: What is going on with the new Shugenjas in the Crab Clan? I mean one dies or something, and more are released in the next set.

Mizuko: The Crab shugenjas - well, consider this.

Mizuko: The Hida and Hiruma are very much tied up with the battle in Hiruma Castle, and the troubles there, so it falls t the Kaiu and the Kuni to defend and protect Crab land until yakamo and the boys return.

Mizuko: As far as I know, there's been no Crab Shugenja death, though.

Mizuko: Of course, 'cept Kuni Yori, but that's different....

Ingram970: And how are things looking for Yakamo?

Only10Ltrs: Hi, first Ree, great work on the Pheonix book, Second Im wondering, is toturi alive or dead?

Mizuko: Only: Toturi's sitting on the throne. Can't you see him?

Only10Ltrs: he is? Oh there he is!!

Mizuko: Look, right there..that guy. He's Toturi. Sure is. Just ask anyone.

Mizuko: Anyone still alive in the castle, that is.

Mizuko: Nobody's telling Toturi that he's not the right one...

ShinjoMoll: 1. What's the LARP at ORCCon about?

ShinjoMoll: 2. Will the Hitomi Dragon get 1 personality from every clan?

Mizuko: Moll: That, I can't say - the Power Play Productions crew is working this one solo.

Mizuko: Which means, its not story-line sanctioned, though.

Mizuko: oh, wait, the second one.

Mizuko: Moll: I think Hitomi is *almost* finished with her people-grabbing

phase..its time to move to phase two.

Mizuko: (then comes...profit!)

Only10Ltrs: Hitomi, the foul?? What are the naga talking about?

Mizuko: Only: The Naga Akasha is telling them that she's the Foul.

Only10Ltrs: Some other Elder evil?

Mizuko: Hoshi can't make much sense of it, either -

Only10Ltrs: Like fu leng but differant?

Mizuko: She's affecting the Naga subconscious in some way that's freaking them out, and making them want to kill her, and anyone who follows her.

CraneOGrey: So Ree, is Uji attacking the Lion, or is he attacking Okura? Or is he just trying to retake the castle? BTW, you should see the guys on #l5r :-)

Mizuko: Uji is attacking the Lion. He hates Tsanuri, and figures its time to get a little of his own

Mizuko: Although, since Okura lives in the castle Uji's planning to attack, it amounts to the same thing, roughly.

KktaDasuri: Ok, Ree, this isn't about the storyline, but, how much, if any, have you read of people's works and stories about L5R, such as Rokugan 2000?

Mizuko: I've been to the rokugan 2000 page (which is a riot), and I peruse a lot of the other webpages - kenbando, Shinjo Killbeggar, Ikoma Andy's site

Mizuko: Although I get very little time to read a lot of the stories, I do get some time

Mizuko: to read them. *chuckle*

Mizuko: (Oh, BTW, a lot of folks from Morikage sent in stories with their decks, which I've been reading)

ShinjoMoll: When will Sleeping Mountain be released?

Mizuko: Moll: Sleeping mountain left the AEG offices two weeks ago, and there is still some art coming in. After than, about a month production time, so we're roughtly April.

Tex IXl: What are the average start up costs to play L5R?

Mizuko: Tex: One starter, about $8 and two boosters, about $2.50 each, methinks?

Tex IXl: And what are the DCI changes to your tournament structure?

Mizuko: So about, 12 dollars.

P1utoN1UM: er, when will we see some headlines about the Monkey Clan? =P

Mizuko: Tex: Because I don't do the tournament structure, I can't really answer about the DCI.

Mizuko: Monkey Clan!

Mizuko: Best clan in the land

CraneOGrey: Hey?? What about Crane?

Mizuko: Monkey clan has a few new members in Honor Bound, and Toku's going to be making a Serious take in Morikage. Even the Shadowlands deck have Toku in them.

Mizuko: There's toku in the mountains, Toku in the shadowlands, toku in the battle-maidens, Toku running around with the tattooed guys, and even Toku following a giant Lego Naga.

DojiTochi: Was the friction between the Crane families planned in advance?

Mizuko: Tochi: No. While there was definately room for it, it was going to be just friction between Uji and Kuwanan. The players blew it up into a full-scale civil warthtough their deck construction and tournament play.

DojiTochi: so if we had declined to fight each other in tournies we would not have the civil war?

Mizuko: Tochi: If the tournaments had been less clearly Doji versus Daidoji, yes.

DojiTochi: now for my comment...

DojiTochi: I feel that the Crane players did not intend to show the clans fighting against each other and that is just how it appeared with the obvious Honor/Military difference.

Mizuko: Tochi: i'm sure the Phoenix players did not 'intend' to destroy their clan by bringing in Shadowlands Tainted Dragons, too.

Mizuko: Tochi: But that's what great storylines are made of.

CraneOGrey: Dark Dragon Of Fire.. did it to the oracles :-)

KktaDasuri: Ok, Shizue, I'm not sure if you can tell us, but whats seem to be the likelyhood that Toshimoko (yay!) will survive his duel with Kage(Boo!)? Good? Bad? Slim to none?

Mizuko: The chances are good, for both of them to survive. :) There's a young Crane who got.. involved.. Honor Bound will tell more of the story.

ShinjoMoll: How in Jigoku did Sanzo get a Bloodsword?

Mizuko: Moll: I can't tell you that. It will come out on its own, trust me.

Mizuko: And him having it is going to be a very bad thing.....

P1utoN1UM: its about damn time for the cranes to kill each other ;)

Mizuko: Poor Sanzo.

Mizuko: *chuckle* Well, its rough all over in Rokugan these days....

OGF Djinn: 1.) Is the "it" that Norikazu refers to the same "it" that is freaking out the Naga?

Mizuko: Yes.

OGF Djinn: 2.) How many people are involved in storyline developments? Is this ALL yours, or is there a team approach?

Mizuko: Good eye, Djinn

Mizuko: Not yet.

Mizuko: 2 . The storyline developments have about, oh, 20,000 people involved.

Mizuko: Me, you guys, the players, the tournament runners....

Mizuko: SERIOUSLY. All I do is set the stage, and the players make the cool thing happen around me - its amazingly cool. I have the best job in the world, and L5R has the BEST fans.

Only10Ltrs: The naga, still seige the dragon? Or Punished by the clans?

Mizuko: Only: right now, they are marching toward the final province of the Dragon Clan, led by Hoshi and the Qamar.

Mizuko: At Siege of Sleeping Mountain, the battles will be over.

Tex IXl: So, you say the tourneys make the game changes? Like what cards are created?

Tex IXl: Is this a correct assumption?

Mizuko: Well, there's the False Hoturi, the Dragon's Claw Katana (not out yet)

Mizuko: The Shadow Samurai who became hida tsukune...

Mizuko: I can think of several more - including the Monkey clan.

Mizuko: The Entire Monkey Clan. That's all generated by tournament victories.

CraneOGrey: 1. How the *heck* did Kage get into the imperial court (assuming Shizue was in the court during the time 'A Glimpse Of Kage's flavor text came out)

CraneOGrey: and 2. What's up with all these people losing the samurai trait.. i hope that was just an error in proofreading ( rekai, tsuruchi exp. )

Mizuko: Shizue is Kakita Yoshi's assistant, so yes, Kage got into the palace of Otosan Uchi.

Mizuko: And as for how he did it - well, the Emperor's son got out during the scorpion Coup. Kage used the same secrets to get in.

Mizuko: 2) That was an error in proofreading - they should, as far as I know, have the samurai trait

Only10Ltrs: So, whats this monkey clan, is a joke? Also, will Kage be found? Or is he hiding, or binding himself to an oni, or this Foul thingy.

Mizuko: No, the Monkey Clan is toku's clan, given to him for his loyalty and bravery.

Mizuko: and kage has no intentions of binding himself to an Oni, or anyone else.

P1utoN1UM: ok, well, will there be a fine line between TA and the Monkey Clan?

Mizuko: There will be a fine line. For all intents and purposes, the Monkey Clan is to

Mizuko: toturi's Army what the Wasp clan is to Yoritomo's alliance.

ShinjoMoll: You probably can't tell me this either, but who's responsible for the war between the Crab and the Lion -- who's been killing the messengers?

Mizuko: Moll: You ask the hard ones. But, that answer's already out there, hidden in flavor text. So all I can tell you is to read up a bit, and see where your conclusions lead you. :0

FormShaper: Two Q's, please. 1) Can we assume, from your recent 'info post, that you got the 'mums? ... and 2) Can you tell us a bit more about Kokujin and Siege?

Mizuko: Yes! Absolutely! they're so beautiful! Many thanks, to the Mantis Alliance.

Mizuko: (FYI, the Mantis players send me a dozen white crysanthemums. They're so nice!!)

Mizuko: And Kokujin and the Siege - well, there's two flavor texts in the 100 or so card set, that have to do with Kokujin. They're both pretty important storyline wise.

ShinjoMoll: Did you decline it twice before you accepted them, Ree?

Mizuko: Moll: I turned them down twice, but there were twelve of them, so they out-talked me :)

Mizuko: Kokujin is about to seriously change the Dragon player's attitude toward a few things, methinks. its going to be an interesting debate, thereafter...

KktaDasuri: Ok, Shizue, I know it won't be for a while, but about when can we expect Unexpected Allies? Or will we not be able to expect it (Duh...)

Mizuko: Its lying in pieces on my desk. I've cut it from over 300 entries to only 30 and now I've asked Dave Williams to look over them and try to sli? it farther. We only have about 10 spaces for the characters, but these are all so great...

KktaDasuri: Will there be a UA II if this one works out well? And how big will UA be like, page-wise?

Mizuko: So, its currently slotted to leave the office late february, and figure about a 4 to 5 week printer's turnaround. If this one works out well, and everyone likes it, YES, definately.

Mizuko: I'd love to do it again - and this time, to do it *swiftly*.

Allandrel: Two questions. Is the Crab/Lion outcome already decided, or has it been muddled so that we help determine it through tournaments and such,

Mizuko: Its still open to some..changes. Overall, I've been watching how lion and Crab act toward each other in the recent tournaments, and so, a lot of it is already determined. However, there's always room to change.

Allandrel: and 2) some details on the circumstances Agetoki's death, please?

Mizuko: Agetoki. Clarification on his death. Wow. I hope nobody else has questions..this might take a while.

Mizuko: Actually, Agetoki's final days are going to be the topic of the next shortstory I put out, after Morikage. So if you watch the FRPG storyboard, you'll see exactly what happened.

Tex IXl: Where can someone find more information about L5R and its storyline?

Mizuko: Tex: www.frpg.com, or ikoma Andy's site, or Kitsu Sei's site.

Mizuko: i'm not sure of those exact web addresses, though if you search, you'll find them and I'm sure some of these guys can help you, too!

CirclMastr: With Toturi calling upon the Unicorn to destroy the black magic-using Lion shugenja, will we soon see the end of the Lion as a clan, able to seriously...

Mizuko: I seriously doubt that. We've got two Lions in Honor Bound, and I think both of them rock.

Mizuko: One of them, I'm stealing for my Mantis deck, so watch out...

P1utoN1UM: are the art for each l5r card preapproved like the storyline implications, are they like accuate?

Mizuko: Yes and no. I write a complete description of each piece of art, for every card, which is sent out to the art director, and then to the artists.

P1utoN1UM: for example, shosuro is pictured without a face, so its that just the artist or story peeps?

Mizuko: Sometimes, the artists don't do exactly what I ask for, and we refuse the piece. Sometimes, without the time or money to refuse it, a piece that is a little off has to go in anyway, and I have to 'ret-con' the story.

Mizuko: But Shosuro is not supposed ot have a face. i'm EXTREMELY happy with Shosuro's picture. BTW.

DojiTochi: Is there anything the Crane Clan players can do to prevent any further aggresion?

Mizuko: There are at least five major storyline tournaments coming up this summer, all across the country. I look carefully at the results of each one, and at how the players act toward each other, and their decks. There's always room for the Crane to come together once more. if the players truly want that and try to work toward it.

Mizuko: Look at what the Dragon players were able to do!

DojiTochi: any clue why the FRPG page isn't working?

Mizuko: None at all. Unless Puck took it down to add my new story about Aramasu.

Mizuko: Then again, there was this time when someone left FRPG for the weekend and turned off the powerswitch in the room with the serverbox....

OGF Djinn: Ree - Can you give some specifics on what happened to Kamoko's mother?

OGF Djinn: And...

OGF Djinn: What exactly did Agetoki tell Kamoko?

Mizuko: Kamoko's mother was retired, and then she wa asked to perform asimple mission for her daimyo and her clan - carry a message across the border to Lion lands. A group of bandits struck (the Lion and Unicorn hostilities were high, so people aren't certin they were just 'bandits') , and Mother Kamoko was driven off a cliff, with her steed. To her death, far below. When Kamoko was gempukku'ed, she caught Agitoki. He knew her, and said 'I know how your mother *really* died, my dear.. Before she could get his secret, the Lion counterattacked, freed Agitoki, and she has been searching for him, and the answer, ever since. When she found him, he asked her if she was willing to sacrifice everything - everything - for her answer (see the story I wrote, on that one). When she found him for the second time, her answer was 'Yes." So Agitoki told her what he knew. Then, out of shame, and out of the Code of Bushido's tenet to prove the truth with your death, Agitoki comitted seppuku. You'll have to see it in the story to fully understand..coming soon.

Tex IXl: Why do you call yourself a "struggling" writer.... this seems pretty interesting....

Mizuko: *lol* I wrote that two years ago, when I got the account. And, I believe that every author is struggling - to find their muse.

Tex IXl: Do you write novels about this?

Mizuko: We've already written a few proposals for novels, and as soon as Wizards and FRPG approve them, they will be written for the public.

Harubi42: Shizue-sama... are my Akodo ever coming back in any form?

Mizuko: Poor Harubi...

Mizuko: I can say they will be back 'in some form', but don't pin your hopes too high..

Mizuko: the storyline's about to take a very sharp turn to the 'Ugly' side.

Donesh: Just how are the Dragon stoping the Naga?

Donesh: Reasoning->Naga in ccg are the most powerfull when combined..

Donesh: And a whole lot of Naga are attacking the Dragon..

Mizuko: The Dragon aren't stopping the Naga. That's the problem.

Donesh: Ahh..Good..So the Dragon are getting wipped out?

Mizuko: The Dragon territories are almost imossible to cross, that's what's taking so long. And the Brotherhood (hoshi) keeps tryng to talk the Naga into going home. But the Naga aren't listening.

Halberd541: Alright. This is sort of skewed from the current topic, but are there any carachters now or in the futrue that are the incarnation of Miyamoto Musashi?

Mizuko: The entire game is a tribute to Musashi, and his works. It would be trival to dedicate anything less than all of the cards to his mastery.

P1utoN1UM: can you tell us about er, Hitomi's phase #2? or do we commoners haveta wait and see? =P

Mizuko: Phase one: collect underpants.

Mizuko: Phase two.

Mizuko: Phase three: profit.

Mizuko: Actually, Hitomi had a great phase two. But she's going to have to hurry up past her original plan, if she 's going to enact her plan before the Naga overwhelm her. So, phase two is, unhappily: "I hope we're all ready for this, because its now or never.."

Mizuko: And that's in Sleeiping Mountain.

ShinjoMoll: What do you think of the art on the new Doji Shizue card?

Mizuko: I love it!!!!

Mizuko: I'm much happier about the art on Shizue Exp, and the Glimpse of Kage card.

Mizuko: April Lee is one of my three most favorite artists (my bias, why she does a lot of Crane cards...heh)

DojiTochi: Are the people from the Burning Sands going to come for Hitomi? To resurect Lord Moon and all?

Mizuko: There's a few people 'in the Burning Sands' who are coming back to Rokugan, yah.. But remember - the Burning Sands thinks the Sun's the bad one.

Mizuko: They certainly won't like it if hitomi does anything to the moon.

FormShaper: So Yoritomo is trying to marry his Leutenant to Shiba Tsukune?... who IS his Lt.?

Mizuko: His Lieutenant. his right-hand-man.

Mizuko: Tsuruchi.

Mizuko: *ack*

Mizuko: Poor guy. Tsuruchi hasn't been told that that's the plan, though

Mizuko: So, for goodness sake, nobody tell the Wasp clan...

Mizuko: Seriously.

Mizuko: Yoritomo wants that alliance. Bad.

Mizuko: He's willing to marry, command, pay, crush, and beat anyone to it.

Mizuko: Except, Tsukune's not exactly a willing bride..

Mizuko: Well, gang, I think that's the last question of the night.

Mizuko: i had a GREAT time (I always do)

Mizuko: Take care, and i'll see you on L5Rinfo