Storyline Events - GenCon SoCal 2005 Winter Court: The Mask

Art by Matthew Armstrong

The age of the Lotus has begun. It is a time of change for Rokugan, an age of enlightenment – and the Shadowlands are no exception to this rule.
From the depths of Jigoku, the Lost Brother Fu Leng has spoken to his people. Was not the Shadowlands, like Rokugan, founded and ruled by a divine Kami? Is not the Shadowlands, like Rokugan, governed by samurai who hold honor higher than all else?
The Shadowlands now demand recognition as a sovereign nation, equal to Rokugan. They have demanded that the Emperor recognize Fu Leng’s place in the Celestial Order. To this end, Fu Leng has given his people a gift, to be passed on to the people of Rokugan. He has offered his porcelain mask to the first Rokugani samurai who acknowledges the Shadowlands and accepts the Lost’s offer of an ambassador.

Can this gift be trusted? The Dark Kami has sworn by the Celestial Heavens that gave him form that the mask will not corrupt its wearer, but rather will smite down all of enemies, all of those who were too weak and foolish to recognize the potential in recognizing the Shadowlands’ new claims. The promise of a god, even a fallen god, is a powerful thing, but the decision ultimately lies in your hands.

Who will be the first to accept this bizarre promise of peace with the Empire’s most powerful enemy? The highest placing Great Clan will house this year’s Winter Court, and it is here that this event will transpire. The winner of this tournament will be the first to choose whether or not his clan receives accepts a Lost ambassador in their court. If the winner chooses not to accept this offer, it will pass to the next highest ranking Top of Clan player, in order, until one accepts or until the Shadowlands Top of Clan player has the turn to choose. A Shadowlands player given the right to choose may choose any clan to accept the ambassador.

If the winner of this tournament decides not to accept the ambassador, his clan will still receive the Porcelain Mask and be allowed to either retain and use it or destroy it. If the winner destroys the Porcelain Mask of Fu Leng, his clan will be marked forever as an enemy of the Shadowlands and will stand as a defiant opponent of the Dark Kami. If a Shadowlands player wins and chooses this, a renegade Lost samurai will steal the mask and destroy it before it can be given to the Empire.