(set: $air to 1)(set: $earth to 1) (set: $fire to 1)(set: $water to 1)(set: $void to 1)(set: $time to 1)A messenger wakes you and whispers the command in your ear: you are to report to the general’s tent at once. It is not yet dawn, the sky a deep inky blue with glimmers of gold on the horizon. The paths between the tents are quiet, and a token guard stands vigil outside the general’s tent. He does not challenge you, but his eyes are hostile. Some Lion dislike having a rōnin in their midst at this turbulent time, with the Great Clans all jostling for power.
You enter to find General Ikoma Tsanuri’s tent aglow with candles. She is already dressed for battle, poring over a map of the area that lies on the low table beside her. There are no troop markers—she merely studies the terrain around the village. Four Roads Village was large and prosperous under the protection of Commander Akodo Kyōsuke. Now, it is in the hands of the Unicorn.
The general acknowledges you with a nod and invites you to sit on the mat before her. There are no servants present; she wants to speak to you alone.
“Our attack cannot wait,” Tsanuri says. “The Unicorn refuse to treat with me, and I will not allow them to keep Four Roads Village. We came here to support Commander Kyōsuke against the Unicorn, and though the situation is worse than anticipated, my orders stand. We will attack today and take the village back. But you will not be joining us.”
Before you can respond, she holds up a hand.
“I have another task for you. When the Unicorn took the village, they captured the commander. I have spoken to a survivor from the battle, who confirms the Shinjo took him alive. They must hope to gain information, a tactical advantage. I cannot allow that to happen.”
She pauses, glancing to the map beside her. When she speaks again, her voice is hushed, the words for [[your ears alone|Scene One Menu]].
“I think it prudent that your mission remain unknown in this camp as well as that of the enemy,” Tsanuri says. “After all, //Leadership// warns us that where loyalty is assumed, betrayal does the most damage.”(set: $time to $time + 1)
[[Return|Scene One Menu]]
“I chose you for this mission because while you are undertaking your //musha shugyō//, you stand outside of clan politics. If you are caught, I do not wish the Unicorn, or anyone else, to know I sent you.”(set: $time to $time + 1)
[[Return|Scene One Menu]]
“As you would know if you had studied the maps, allowing the Unicorn to keep Four Roads Village leaves the Castle of the Swift Sword vulnerable. They could use the village as a base from which to launch an attack, and we have already lost much land to the south.”(set: $time to $time + 1)
[[Return|Scene One Menu]]
“Any commander is privy to tactical information, and it is our duty to keep it from the hands of our enemies. As the Unicorn has elected to imprison Commander Kyōsuke and keep him alive, we must help him in fulfilling this duty.”(set: $time to $time + 1)
[[Return|Scene One Menu]]
“Although the commander would willingly die for the Lion, his liberation could improve our chances in the coming war. He trained for a time at Shiro Mirumoto. If he asks his Dragon allies for aid, they will come and be a valuable advantage.”(set: $time to $time + 1)
[[Return|Scene One Menu]]
You [[take your leave|Scene Two]] of the general, and she seems pleased that you approach the task at once, as directed.(set: $fire to $fire + 1)
(if: $time > 2)[“Enough questions,” Tsanuri says, holding up her hand again. “As the Kami Akodo said, ‘the swiftest sword strikes the surest,’ and you should be [[on your way|Scene Two]].”(set: $water to $water + 1)](else:)[“[[Tell no one]] of your mission. Leave our camp, conceal [[yourself]] in the copse overlooking [[Four Roads Village]], and wait for the fighting to begin. Then, find the commander and bring him back alive. This may be an impossible task, but it must be attempted. I will not allow the Unicorn to gain [[sensitive information]] that the commander may have been privy to. If he can be rescued, [[Akodo Kyōsuke]] may be able to help us turn the tide of this war. [[Go at once]].”]
(if: $time > 8)[A drumbeat begins. The Lion are marching to battle and your time has run out. You sprint through the camp and [[make for the copse|copse]] to take up your vantage before the army engages the Unicorn.](else:)[When you leave the general’s tent, you find the camp is awake. Soldiers are queuing for their meager morning meal, servants hurry past with freshly laundered clothes and mended armor, and messengers run from tent to tent. Even the wind has awoken since you spoke to the general, and the war curtain around the camp is snapping with great urgency.
Soon the general’s orders will trickle down through the ranks, and every soldier will take their place to march on the Unicorn-held village. However, your path from the general’s tent to the copse is a long one, and takes you past the camp's [[stores]], the [[medical tent]], the [[blacksmith]], the [[stables]], and a small [[shrine to Bishamon]]. There may be time to make some preparations before the battle—and [[your mission|copse]]—begins.]
As you leave the camp, a Lion guard rises from the long grasses and moves to block your path.
“State your business!” he commands, but before you can respond he looks you up and down. “Samurai-san, a thousand apologies. Ikoma-sama did warn me an unmarked samurai might come this sway. Please, pass freely, and may the Fortunes walk with you.”
You thank the guard and walk on, glad the general had such foresight. The guard took you unawares; you will have to be more alert when [[entering the Unicorn camp|Transition to Village]]. (if: $time < 9)[(set: $fire to $fire + 1)]
(set: $earth to $earth + 1)(set: $time to $time + 2)The tent isn’t even under guard as there’s nothing there to take. Only empty sacks with a few grains of millet caught in the seams and some empty rice bales with the lids removed lie in the otherwise empty space. The lids must have been cooked up to make food for the horses. This has happened before, when supplies ran out before the attack on Onon Village. There had been days of strict rationing, then near-starvation, followed by the slaughter of villagers. Hunger tries the honor even of the best soldiers.
[[Return|Scene Two]]
The medical tent feels too large for its sole occupant, but after the battle more wounded will undoubtedly fill the space. The woman lying at the back of the tent is thin and frail, her face strained as she holds back her pain. One arm has been lost in battle, the stump close to her shoulder bloody through the bandages. This may be the witness Tsanuri spoke to.
“Have you come to stare, rōnin?” the woman asks, her voice admirably composed. “I can hear preparations for battle, why is it you are lost in here?”
You cannot reveal your mission, but tell her you’ve heard she was witness to the Unicorn’s attack on the village.
“I failed in my duty to defend (if: $vetvil > 0)[the village,](else:)[the [[village]],] and I failed (if: $vetcom > 0)[my commander,](else:)[my [[commander]],]” she says. “But when I am healed, General Tsanuri has arranged for me to join her troops. I will fight the Unicorn again. Next time, no Shinjo will take a piece of me.”
[[Return|Scene Two]]
(set: $time to $time + 2)The smith is known for her fine swords, but today she has instead turned her hand to vicious arrowheads with split tips meant for tearing flesh. She glances up as you approach and pauses in her work to bow and welcome you. Her fire spits and crackles in the wind.
“The quartermaster bade me work on arrowheads in preparation for the battle,” she says, “but you are not dressed for war. How may I be of service?”
Both swords of your //daishō// are securely nestled in your sash, but arrows might be useful.
“Of course,” the smith says, then moves a cloth from a workbench, revealing some arrows fletched and ready for use. “I have to deliver the flesh-cutters to the quartermaster,” she says, “but please, take some of these. I made plenty, and they are better for piercing armor.”
You accept the armor-piercing arrows and thank her before going on your way. A quick detour to your own tent to fetch your bow, and you are ready to move on.
[[Return|Scene Two]].(set: $arrows to 1)
(set: $air to $air + 1)(set: $time to $time + 2)A stable hand cleans and sharpens his tools to make ready for the return of the samurai horses after the battle, as he may have to stitch wounds. Seeing you approach, he bows low.
“Samurai-san, how can I be of service?”
You will have no use for a horse to infiltrate the village, but the stable hand may be able to provide information. Unable to tell him of your mission, you ask him for anything helpful he might know about Unicorn steeds.
“I know little of use, but what knowledge I have is yours,” he says. “Beautiful creatures, larger than ours, and so well trained some say the Shinjo must use their //meishōdō// magic to do it. Not scared of anything, those steeds, except fire.”
You thank him, but he’s warmed to his subject and carries on.
“The Unicorn army travels with more horses than they can use, so when their mounts grow tired, they let them rest and ride fresh ones. I doubt they exchange horses during a battle, so they must leave many behind in the camp. I expect there’ll be a stable or paddock within the village, somewhere secure. They love their horses, the Unicorn. Can’t fault them for that.”
You thank the stable hand for his help and [[wish him well|Scene Two]].(set: $horses to 1)
(set: $void to $void + 1)(set: $time to $time + 2)There are priests at the shrine praying for victory. You join them, hoping Bishamon will grant you the strength to complete your mission. One of the priests notices you and hands you a stick of incense to light for the Fortune. The smoke catches on the wind, drawing a meandering line toward the mountains on the horizon…and the village that awaits you. As you [[leave the shrine|Scene Two]], the priests smile and bow to you in respect.
(align: "=><==")[#An Impossible Task<h1>
by Lisa Farrell]
//The wise samurai and the foolish one may walk the same path.// – Shinsei
<img src="https://images-cdn.fantasyflightgames.com/filer_public/bf/ee/bfeeb505-83a3-4141-94b1-795126d60ad5/unveileddestiny_leannacrossan.png" alt="Unveiled Destiny">
(align: "=><==")[
[[Tutorial]]
[[Begin|Scene One]]]
(css: "font-size: 70%")[© 2020 Fantasy Flight Games. Legend of the Five Rings and the L5R logo are trademarks of Fantasy Flight Games.]
(set: $air to $air + 1)(set: $vetcom to 1)(set: $time to $time + 2)“Commander Akodo Kyōsuke is a courageous man,” she says. “He has won countless battles during his decades of service without succumbing to the indecency of capture. I would not believe it if I had not seen it with my own eyes. The Shinjo flanked and hobbled him, then bound him in rope. They threw him over a horse like a sack of grain and rode away toward the middle of the village. He would never allow his orders to fall into enemy hands, even if it cost him his life. Perhaps he has already paid that price.”
(if: $vetvil > 0)[The soldier struggles for breath and seems diminished, as though talking to you has been too much for her. You thank her and [[take your leave|Scene Two]].](else:)[[[Return|medical tent]]]
(set: $vetvil to 1)(set: $time to $time + 2)“It’s not a large village, but it was prosperous. They’ve stores there that could feed this whole army. If Commander Kyōsuke still lives, they’ll have him in the largest house, the village leader’s house in the center. It would be the easiest to secure.”
(if: $vetcom > 0)[The soldier struggles for breath and seems diminished, as though talking to you has been too much for her. You thank her and [[take your leave|Scene Two]].](else:)[[[Return|medical tent]]]
From the copse, you see the village below you: a cluster of thatched houses surrounded by fields and paddies. A small river meanders through the paddies and skirts the houses; you won’t have to cross it unless forced to take a long route back to the Lion camp. The Unicorn forces have erected tents in the fields surrounding the village, though their samurai likely sleep within the village itself. A smaller army than the Lion’s, but their famed steeds may make up for that.
(if: $time < 9)[From this vantage, you can see Unicorn archers concealing themselves at the western end of the village, ready to fire on any unsuspecting Lion who break through enemy lines and approach. You thank the Fortunes that you reached the copse in time to see them conceal themselves. If you have the chance to foil the archers once you’re in the village, you may be able to help the Lion cause.(set: $archers to 1)
]Tsanuri was right to send you here; the paddies on the south side of the village prevented the Unicorn forces from erecting tents there. So long as you avoid any guards, you can slip down the slope and enter the village among the houses.
(if: $vetvil > 0)[You spot the largest building in the center of the village. Even from this distance you can see sunlight glinting off the armor or weapons of guards stationed outside. The general is likely to be in there, and you will have to find a way inside.
]Horns sound, and the Unicorn soldiers and samurai mobilize with enviable efficiency to face the coming attack. A swarm of purple and silver moves to meet the oncoming gold. Then, stillness, as one army faces the other. You tense, ready to run, but wait just a little longer. The signal arrow flies whistling above the soldiers, and spear tips flash in the sun; now is the [[time for you to move|Scene Three]].(set: $time to 9)
Without battle armor, you are swift and silent and you keep to the grassy walkways through the paddies, careful not to misstep and splash. Between the Lion camp and the village, the battle is underway. But there may yet be guards in the village, or at the least, servants willing to die rather than let you pass unnoticed.
As you reach the first building, the thunder of hooves sends you diving for the shadows. You crouch with your back against the wall as a [[messenger|Scene Four]] rides north through the village. He does not slow; he must not have noticed you. You take a moment to calm your breath and look around. The camp is quiet but for the music of the river; the villagers have fled or hidden, and the Unicorn appear to travel with fewer servants than the Lion. An unattended fire, left to burn low until needed again, crackles nearby. You wait and listen. [[Chanting|shugenja]] comes from the south-east—a shugenja perhaps, appealing to the kami for aid. From the opposite direction, you hear the snort of a [[horse]], and an answering whicker.(if: $archers > 0)[ The [[archers]] you saw from the copse are undoubtedly still set up along the western edge of the village, ready to ambush the Lion armies should General Tsanuri advance into the village.]
Then, still crouching low, you notice that dried sticks, grasses, and scraps of cloth have been stuffed into the space underneath the building beside you. It seems the Unicorn have prepared this building to burn. It’s a [[storehouse]]; the Unicorn must intend to deny the Lion supplies even if they achieve victory.
Amidst it all, your orders remain clear: (if: $vetvil > 0)[rescue Commander Kyōsuke, who is being held captive in the [[center of the village]].](else:)[you must [[search for Commander Kyōsuke|search for the commander]], who is being held captive somewhere in the village.] If you are not too late, you may be able to save him.
You could go after the [[messenger|Scene Four]] who passed you, follow the sound of [[chanting|shugenja]], investigate the [[horses|horse]], save the [[storehouse]](if: $archers > 0)[, sabotage the hidden [[archers]]](if: $vetvil > 0)[, or go straight to the [[center of the village]].](else:)[, or move further into the village to [[search for the commander]].]
(set: $witness to 1)(if: $choice > 0)[You backtrack through the village and head north to find a horse tied up outside one of the houses, saddled and ready. It could be the horse of the messenger you saw earlier.](else:)[You follow the route of the messenger north. He hasn’t gone far, and his horse waits outside one of the houses, making him easy to find.]
The house is like all those around it, small and thatched. Yet while the doorways of the others are dark, lamplight shines in this one. You don’t have to get very close to see the tableau inside: a robed courtier inscribing a letter by lamplight while the messenger waits beside. As you watch, the courtier finishes her letter and carefully stows it within a wooden scroll case that already contains several scrolls bearing the iconography of the Lion Clan. She hands it, along with a handful of other scroll cases, to the messenger for delivery.
You have seen scrolls with that stationery before, on official Lion clan documents. If these ones contain the commander's orders and logistical notes, then it would be imperative to General Tsanuri that they stay out of Unicorn hands.
The messenger emerges from the house and prepares to ride. If you [[act now]], you may be able to retrieve them. But the messenger is armed, and it might be prudent to [[wait and watch]] for a safer opportunity.
(set: $void to $void + 1)(set: $time to $time + 1)The chanting stops just as you spy the shrine, set back from the riverbank. It’s an ancient stone construction, overgrown with moss. This may be where the villagers once thanked the kami of the land for their prosperity, but there’s no one here now. Whoever was chanting has moved on and left nothing but the faint scent of incense in the air.
As you reach the shrine, you realize there is something else left behind. On the stone that serves as altar, someone has placed a round wooden disc with some indecipherable image scratched into the surface. This is no simple offering for the kami, but a //meishōdō// talisman. The Unicorn may hope to force the kami to aid them, which you cannot allow. You can [[remove the talisman]] and pray to the kami to forgive this desecration, or [[leave the talisman]] alone, since it could be dangerous.
[[Return|Scene Three Menu]]
(set: $time to $time + 1)Following the sound of the horses, you come across a small field where the Unicorn steeds wait, feasting on the abandoned crops. You can see Unicorn tents on the far side of the field. There’s no sign of anyone watching at the moment, but there could be guards on patrol, so you will have to be quick. [[Scattering the horses]] would be a blow for their Unicorn masters, and may cause chaos in the camp as well.
[[Return|Scene Three Menu]]
(set: $time to $time + 2)(set: $sabotage to $sabotage + 1)(set: $water to $water + 1)You hunt for something to prevent the storehouse from burning. Spying peasants’ buckets abandoned near the river, you fetch water and douse the kindling so it won’t catch. Now, if the Lion take the village, the army won’t go hungry.
[[Return|Scene Three Menu]]
(set: $time to $time + 1)You spy the archers’ stash of arrows, each with a bulb attached: smoke arrows. These will confuse the approaching Lion and could turn the tide of the battle. Perhaps you could [[sabotage them]] so that they cannot be used by the hidden Unicorn archers.
[[Return|Scene Three Menu]]
Having seen the location of the largest building from the copse, you are able to go straight to the center of the village. There are two Shinjo //bushi// standing guard outside the entrance, making the [[commander’s presence|Guard Skirmish]] seem likely.
(set: $time to $time + 2)You search carefully through the village, and eventually come across a guarded building, a large house near the center of the village. With two Shinjo //bushi// standing guard outside, it seems likely this is where they are keeping [[Commander Kyōsuke|Guard Skirmish]] prisoner.
You might be able to [[fight|fight guards]] your way past the two //bushi//, attempt to [[distract|distract guards]] them, or [[bluff|bluff guards]] your way past them to sneak inside the building.(if: $smoke > 0)[ Perhaps the [[smoke arrows]] you pilfered from the guards could provide cover while you outmaneuver them as well.]
(if: $fire > 1)[You rush at the guards with a fierce battle cry, catching them by surprise. They attempt to draw their swords, but your shout disoriented one of them, and he is unable to draw fast enough to stop your downward stroke. The other lashes out at you but you twist away, her blow only bruising your shoulder. She descends into a defensive stance as you prepare your next strike, either a [[direct assault]] to overwhelm her or a [[patient reaction]] when she inevitably lowers her guard.(set: $kill to 1)](else:)[You rush at the guards with a fierce battle cry, but they were alert and prepared for trouble. Both draw blades and return the charge, forcing you to abandon your frontal attack and weave out of the way of two razor-sharp katana. While they outnumber you, it will be impossible to get a lethal strike in without exposing yourself to the other’s retaliation. Perhaps if you can [[disable]] one of them to even the odds, or [[wait|patient reaction]] until one inevitably lowers their guard so that you can kill them without putting yourself in danger.]
(if: $air > 1)[You approach the guards with your head held high and demand entry, channeling the memory of a particularly obnoxious superior officer you served a couple years ago. The guards are wary of you, but do not draw their weapons yet.
“We were specifically instructed to not permit anyone except our commanding officer. Until we hear from him directly, you’re going to have to stay here.”
You could continue to [[bluff]] that you represent their commanding officer’s wishes, or you could attempt to [[convince]] them that the ongoing conflict requires they make an exception for you.](else:)[You approach the guards with your head held high and demand entry, filling your voice with a false sense of self-importance. It’s a trait you’ve seen around the Lion camp more than a few times. The guards are wary of you, and you see one lower her hand to her katana’s handle.
“Who are you that you think you can contradict our commanding officer?”
Perhaps pretending to be an attaché of the Unicorn commander was a bit bold of you. You could attempt to [[convince]] them that the ongoing conflict requires they make an exception to their orders and allow you entry, or you could [[appeal]] to their sense of compassion for the sake of their prisoner.]
(if: $water > 1)[You search the nearby houses for a suitable distraction and find exactly what you were looking for: a pair of horses tied up out of sight of the guards. If you could incite the horses into a frenzy and send them trampling toward the Shinjo guards, they would have little choice but to pursue and quell the creatures while you snuck into the building. But before you [[release]] the horses, another idea comes to you: should that distraction be insufficient, you may need a more extreme distraction. Perhaps you could set the house [[aflame]] before releasing the horses, so that the guards are truly overwhelmed?](else:)[You find a hefty stone and position yourself near the guards and the rest of the village. When it clatters off the wooden wall of a nearby building, the guards become alert, but do not move from their post. You try it again, this time targeting a different house. Once again, they do not move. When you make a third clatter, they begin to move to investigate…moving toward where you are hiding. It’s clear that simple sounds won’t get their attention—you could escalate your distraction by setting a nearby house [[aflame]], or you could flee your hiding spot and attempt to draw them out by [[mimicking]] cries for help within the village.]
(if: $time < 15)[You enter the house cautiously, but there are no guards inside. At first, there seems to be no one at all, only a hearth grown cold and a pile of blankets in a corner. Then the blankets move, groaning with the effort, and you realize you have found Akodo Kyōsuke. You explain who sent you and why you’re here.
“It’s not too late,” he says, his voice a half-strangled rasp. “I told them nothing, but they found my documents, my orders, my reports. They have taken them away to examine them, and then they will send them to their Khan…you must find the messenger, retrieve the scrolls, and stop this.”
He struggles to rise but falls back against the wall. His face turns toward you, but his eyes are already half-focused on some other realm.
“Please,” he begs, “my fate is set. Find the messenger and get the scrolls. The Unicorn must not study them…”
It might still be possible to [[save him|save general]] if you get him treatment in time. If you leave him here to [[seek the scrolls|pursue the scroll]], you doubt he would still be alive upon your return.](else:)[You enter the house cautiously, but there are no guards inside. At first, there seems to be no one at all, only a hearth grown cold and a pile of blankets in a corner. Then, with a chill, you realize that what you took to be a bundle of blankets is actually the figure of a man.
You approach cautiously, but the man does not move or make a sound. He lies as though asleep, but his eyes are open. It’s the eternal, unblinking gaze that makes you sure you are too late to save him. One arm lays at an angle, as though reaching for the shuttered window. Though his armor is gone, his clothes are of fine cloth, fringed brown and gold. You have found the commander, but too late.
Instead of returning to the [[Lion camp|Ending A]], you might yet join the Lion on the [[battlefield|Ending C]].]
(set: $victory to 1)<img src="http://images-cdn.fantasyflightgames.com/filer_public/76/d0/76d03ad0-9373-4cc5-8b37-a201ffe4e287/l5lcg-k0587-d6706_22512_ragingbattleground_eliring-masked.png" alt="Raging Battleground">
You make for the sound of fighting and find over a dozen Unicorn warriors facing off against a larger force of Lion //ashigaru// led by General Tsanuri and several samurai.
(if: $arrows > 0)[You withdraw your bow and the arrows that the blacksmith gave you. You only have a limited number of the razor-tipped arrows available, but you were always an excellent shot during your training. Settling into the bluff, you take aim with your first arrow at a Unicorn warrior busy skirmishing with three peasant soldiers. The samurai dies without knowing what killed him. Your second and third arrows fell a Unicorn on horseback who had been pursuing a wounded Lion samurai. Your fourth catches a samurai in the shoulder, throwing off her attack long enough for her Lion opponent to finish her off. You spy the banner of General Tsanuri at the center of the battle and recognize her by her black-and-gold armor.
As the fighting begins to wane, three Unicorn warriors converge upon the general. Despite her fallen bodyguards, Tsanuri shows no fear as the faces her opponents, outnumbered. You discover you have three arrows left, one for each enemy combatant. You fire one, but it misses its mark. The Shinjo samurai hesitate. You fire another. This one strikes true, and a samurai falls. The other two lunge at Tsanuri, attempting to catch her by surprise, but //you// are the one with the element of surprise as your quick reflexes send your final arrow into the shoulder of one of Tsanuri’s attackers. He falters, Tsanuri strikes, and as the dust settles only a single samurai remains to fight against Tsanuri and the remainder of her forces. As the final Unicorn falls, you descend from the bluff and return to the general’s side.](else:)[You wade into battle and find yourself face to face with a Unicorn warrior, sidestepping their blow to inflict your own. The chaos of battle is nothing to the elegant beauty of a duel, but mass fighting has its own rhythm and you quickly find it. Moving from one opponent to the next, you keep your awareness split between the foe before you and the threat behind. You spy the banner of General Tsanuri over the sea of helmets and forge your way through the battle toward her. Upon reaching the general, you find her bodyguards have fallen and she faces multiple opponents. You leap into action and dispatch one at once, aided by the element of surprise. Another of her opponents turns to face you, seeing a new threat, which frees Tsanuri to fight and defeat her keenest opponent.
The Shinjo you face is of a higher rank than you, but he is on foot and clearly used to facing his enemy from horseback. You dance beyond his blade, then leap forward and flick yours over his and through his eye. He falls at once, without crying out, and you ready yourself for the next opponent, but none comes.]
[[The battle is won|Ending C-2]].
(set: $save to 1)Your mission is to save Commander Kyōsuke, so you ignore his protestations.(if: $bluff > 0)[ Your bluff was effective enough to get you into the building, but it would never get you and the commander out alive. So you return to the entrance and, without a word of warning, strike both of the guards dead to facilitate your escape.(set: $kill to 2)] Slipping an arm under his, you help the commander to his feet. He can barely stand and relies on your strength to keep him upright. Hopefully, someone in the Lion camp can help him. You make for the door.
<img src="https://images-cdn.fantasyflightgames.com/filer_public/af/98/af986fda-a430-4af3-ab95-23ac62b55787/b2commanderofthelegions_calvinchua.png" alt="Commander of the Legions">
(if: $kill > 1)[You half-carry [[Kyōsuke|Ending B]] from the village, making your way laboriously toward the Lion camp.](if: $distract > 0)[The guards have not returned to their posts, but you can’t afford to risk encountering them while supporting [[Kyōsuke|Ending B]]. You take a circuitous route back to the Lion camp, crossing the river at a shallow point. The water makes the commander shiver in your arms.]
(set: $choice to 1)General Tsanuri wanted information kept out of Unicorn hands. She did not know you would have to make a choice between saving the commander or preventing the Unicorn from gaining that information. You obey the commander’s wishes and leave him, slipping out of consciousness already, to go to seek the [[messenger|Scene Four]].
Back in the Lion camp, you take the commander directly to the medical tent, where you put him into the care of the medics. They place him on a mat among other wounded brought already from the battlefield(if: $distract > 0)[ and wrap his shaking body in layers of blankets to warm him]. You help them with the easier tasks, binding wounds and fetching water for those that need it. A shugenja arrives to help the commander, but they can’t yet say whether he’ll survive or not.
A summons from the general comes while wounded are still arriving, before you can learn whether the battle was won or lost. You wash the blood from your hands and pause at the shrine on the way to her tent, readying yourself for the meeting.
(if: $sabotage > 1)[(set: $victory to 1)General Tsanuri has swapped her armor for cleaner, simpler garments by the time you reach her. She is at her desk, writing letters, but sets down her brush to speak to you.
“The village is ours,” she says, inviting you to sit with her. “And I am told Commander Kyōsuke lies among our wounded, unconscious but alive. I have made arrangements to have him moved to more comfortable quarters while he recovers, and am confident he will return to health with the help of our shugenja. This has been a good day for the Lion, and you have proved yourself a worthy samurai.”](else:)[General Tsanuri is still in her armor when you reach her, its plates splattered with mud and blood. She has been giving orders to servants and aides, but sends them away as you enter.
“Tell me quickly,” she says, “is it true you returned with the commander alive?”
You update her on his condition, and she nods.
“You have my thanks,” she says, “for this small but important victory. We did not take the village, but the Unicorn have lost their hostage. I am confident our shugenja will restore him to us, and he may yet be able to help us turn the tide of this war. You have done well, rōnin.”]
[[The next steps...]]
Once in the Lion camp, you go straight to the general’s tent. As she has not yet returned from the field, a servant bids you wait outside. Kneeling in the grass, you listen to the sounds of battle on the wind. The fighting must be almost at an end, for while you hear the cries of death and flapping banners, you hear little sound of actual fighting. You have no way of knowing which side has claimed victory, not yet.
(if: $sabotage > 2)[(set: $victory to 1)When the general appears, you see that her armor is splattered with mud and blood, and her face is flushed with exhilaration. The Lion victory is clear in her confident stride and the set of her shoulders, though one arm hangs awkwardly with some injury not yet treated.](else:)[When the general appears, her armor is splattered with mud and blood, and her face flushed with fury. The defeat is apparent in her hurried stride and the stiff set of her shoulders. One of her arms hangs awkwardly with some injury not yet treated.]
“What news?” Tsanuri demands, seeing you. “Where is Commander Kyōsuke?”
(if: $scrolls > 0)[You present the scroll case to her and beg forgiveness for bringing parchment instead of the commander.
“It is unfortunate you could not save Lord Kyōsuke,” she says, unrolling the scrolls and examining them. “However, I am relieved that you retrieved these documents, and your mission was not a complete failure. I had not realized he was privy to such sensitive information.”
(if: $read > 0)[The general does not ask, but the scroll case is not sealed. It is your duty to confess to having read the contents.
“That is regrettable,” she says. “I will have to consult my superiors. In the meantime, you must stay nearby and speak to no one of what you have read.”
You have gone from rōnin to hostage, and now live at the mercy of the Lion.]](if: $scrolls < 1)[You explain how the mission went, and beg forgiveness for failing to bring Kyōsuke to her.
(if: $witness > 0)[“It was an impossible task,” she says. “The commander may be dead, but we have done all we can. You have brought me this news, which counts for something. Let us hope there was nothing too important in those scrolls. I thank you for your service.”](else:)[“It was an impossible task,” she says. “The commander may be dead, but we have done all we can. I thank you for your service.”]]
<img src="https://images-cdn.fantasyflightgames.com/filer_public/9c/06/9c06e362-8e3d-47f6-9dbe-2fd56c383c42/ikomatsanuri_maerelhibadita_polarengine.png" alt="Ikoma Tsanuri">
[[The next steps...]]
(set: $time to $time + 1)(set: $sabotage to $sabotage + 1)You take the talisman a few paces from the shrine before breaking and burying it. Then you return to the shrine to say a quick prayer for forgiveness. You hope the kami, if listening, knows that it was the Unicorn trying to dominate it and not the Lion. As you leave the shrine, the clouds over the village part and let warm sunlight through.
[[Return|Scene Three Menu]]
As you leave the shrine, you notice clouds gathering in the sky, promising rain.
[[Return|Scene Three Menu]]
(set: $time to $time + 1)(set: $sabotage to $sabotage + 1)(if: $arrows > 0)[(set: $smoke to 1)Before sabotaging the arrows, you take a couple for yourself. They might be useful later. ]You struggle to loosen the bulbs, so they will burst when the archers come to use them. The first bulb bursts as you work it lose, a cloud of smoke erupting in your face. Muffling your coughs with your hand, you abandon this strategy and submerge the lot in the nearby wet paddies instead, rendering them useless.
[[Return|Scene Three Menu]]
(set: $earth to $earth + 1)(if: $horses > 0)[You sneak back to the fire and take up a large flaming branch to frighten the horses into bolting. They scatter quickly, and you move on.(set: $time to $time + 1)(set: $sabotage to $sabotage + 1)](if: $horses < 1)[You clap and stomp, trying to alarm the horses, but they are too well trained and don’t move. Someone could appear to check the horses any moment, and you are short on time. You have to move on.(set: $time to $time + 1)]
[[Return|Scene Three Menu]]
(set: $time to $time + 4)(if: $void > 1)[You have only one chance to bring the messenger down. In one swift motion, you draw your katana and leap toward him, catching him unawares as he swings into his saddle. The tip of your blade stops perfectly against the messenger’s neck and his hand stops on the hilt of his undrawn sword. Looking down the length of your blade, he scowls at your demand for the scroll case.
“You are a fool if you think I would relinquish my duty to some common hireling.”
While he would clearly [[die|messenger death]] rather than give up his prize, perhaps he could be [[persuaded|messenger persuade]] that escape is impossible.](if: $void < 2)[In a single swift motion, you draw your katana and strike at the messenger, but he proves to be quicker. Your blow misses as he rears his horse back and draws his scimitar, facing off against you on the village’s packed earth. Without the element of surprise, you fear that it will be impossible to prevent his escape, should he choose to flee. Perhaps you can still [[dislodge|messenger disarm]] the scroll case from within his saddle, but [[persuasion|messenger persuade]] may be your only option left.]
(set: $time to $time + 4)The messenger swings up into the saddle, but before he can ride away the courtier emerges from the house to speak to him. The messenger dismounts and returns into the house, leaving the scroll case tied to the saddle.
(if: $earth > 1)[Staying calm and quiet, you sneak up to the horse and untie the scroll case, taking a moment to ensure it is the one that you saw containing the Lion clan documents. Unfortunately, that moment costs you, as you hear the clatter of the messenger and courtier returning from within the wooden house. Can you [[make it to hiding|messenger hide]] in time, or will you be forced to [[steal the horse]] to escape?](else:)[Seizing your chance, you dart toward the horse, but you act a moment too soon. The messenger sees you as he enters the house, and reemerges with his scimitar drawn. You will have to [[fight him|messenger skirmish]]…unless you can [[steal the horse]] and escape.]
(set: $time to $time + 2)(set: $scrolls to 1)(set: $read to 1)You take out the scrolls and unroll them. There are lists of supplies, maps, correspondence between Akodo Kyōsuke and Ikoma Ujiaki, nothing unexpected. All contain information that may be useful to the enemy, however, in their effort to overwhelm the Lion’s armies. One of the letters from Ujiaki draws your attention, as it mentions General Tsanuri:
//As you are aware, this has been a difficult time for the clan, and the harvests are not all we had hoped. Four Rivers Village is luckier than most, and I rely on you to press upon the villagers the importance of fulfilling their duties to the clan. Would they rather fall under the rule of the sorcerous Unicorn? As promised, I have directed General Tsanuri to aid you in your defense, and she is quite capable of feeding her own soldiers, one way or another. Her arrival is not an excuse for the peasants to withhold the rice tax that is needed to support our champion's seizure of Kyūden Kakita. As a seasoned veteran, you know how difficult and important it is to feed the vast and glorious armies of the Lion, even in peacetime. It is on those armies that our civilization depends. Sometimes it takes a war to remind sentimental individuals—and ignorant peasants—of such fundamental truths.//
As you read, an unnatural chill runs down your back. Ujiaki’s words are too bold. This is dangerous knowledge to own. You replace the scrolls and tie the scroll case securely to your belt, ready to give to General Tsanuri.
(if: $choice > 0)[You [[leave the village|Ending A]] at once and head straight back to the Lion camp to ensure the scroll gets to the general.](else:)[You must keep this information from the Unicorn. Perhaps you should [[return now]], but that would mean giving up the [[search for the commander]].]
(set: $time to $time + 2)(set: $scrolls to 1)You leave the scroll case unopened so that you can give its intact contents to General Tsanuri when you return to the Lion camp. This way, too, the general will know with surety that the Unicorn did not learn its message. You tie the case securely to your belt.
(if: $choice > 0)[You [[leave the village|Ending A]] at once and head straight back to the Lion camp to ensure the scroll gets to the general.](else:)[Perhaps you should [[return now]], but that would mean giving up the [[search for the commander]].]
Hiding behind a nearby building, you take aim and loose a smoke arrow, which lands between the guards. Smoke billows out around them, and while they’re blinded, you take a deep breath and creep forward.
You can tell where the guards are from their coughing, and you know they will not allow you to rescue Commander Kyōsuke when it comes to that. Careful to not inhale the cloud of smoke, you strike left and right in two decisive strikes which end the guards’ lives and allow you to [[enter the building|Scene Five]].(set: $kill to 2)
You leave the village at once and head back toward the Lion camp, but the battle still rages and General Tsanuri remains on the field. You could [[fight your way to her side|Ending C]], lending the strength of your blade to the Lion cause, or go straight [[back to the camp|Ending A]] to ensure the scrolls remain safe.
General Tsanuri has orders to give and reports to take, but she makes a point of finding you after the battle to thank you.
“Your presence on the battlefield was unexpected but welcome,” she says. “Now tell me, did you find any trace of the commander?”
(if: $scrolls > 0)[You tell her about your mission, apologize for your failure, and hand over the scroll case.
“Do not call it a failure,” she says, opening the case to see the Lion documents inside. “At least you have recovered these documents and kept them from our enemy. The loss of the commander is regrettable, but today is a good day for the Lion. We have retaken the village, and this knowledge has been kept from Unicorn hands. You have done well, rōnin.”](else:)[You tell her about your mission and apologize for your failure.
“It was an impossible task,” she says. “The loss of the commander is regrettable, but today is still a good day for the Lion. We have retaken the village, thanks to your help, rōnin. We may have victory yet.”]
[[The next steps...]]
//“An Impossible Task” is an interactive short story in which you play as a rōnin undertaking a warrior’s pilgrimage, or //musha shugyō//, who is serving with Ikoma Tsanuri's army.
Throughout the story, words will appear highlighted in blue: these words can be clicked to advance the plot. Often, multiple words will be highlighted within the same passage, providing a menu of different options to be clicked on. Each time you click on a highlighted word, the protagonist is taking an action in the story. If you click a word and see a blank page, scroll up to find the new passage's text.
Sometimes, these available actions are inquiries, such as asking a character about a topic or investigating a particular location. Each action drives the story forward, even if investigating a subject results in a return to the previous page (and its menu of options). Additionally, each choice advances the timeline of the story, meaning that a player who wishes to investigate multiple subjects will spend valuable time doing so.
Time is not on your side. Make your choices judiciously, lest critical options become unavailable as the story progresses without you. Taking the same action multiple times will not produce a different result.
You may encounter direct obstacles to your progress. Overcoming these obstacles will require choosing a tactic that plays to your character's strengths—strengths which are determined by the choices you have made previously in the story. Each choice builds your character's personality and skills, so consider who you want to be, and how that character would overcome adversity!
Should you reach one of the story's many endings, you can register your outcome to be tabulated by the Legend of the Five Rings Story Team. Based on which outcomes are registered before the end of November 16, 2020, a single result will be integrated into the ongoing L5R LCG storyline.
If your story ends in failure—or you wish to pursue a different outcome—you can restart your progress in “An Impossible Task” by using the link supplied by the ending you have reached. Which of your choices will be different next time?
You are now ready to [[begin|Scene One]].//
You do not hesitate to flick your blade and end the messenger’s life. His body thumps against the packed ground as you withdraw the scroll case from his saddle and retreat before the courtier can find you. What could be in Akodo Kyōsuke’s documents that would draw the attention of both the Unicorn and Lion commanders? You could [[read them|read the scrolls]] or bring them [[directly to General Tsanuri|give the scrolls]].
(if: $air > 1)[You draw his attention to shouts and crashing on the outskirts of the village where General Tsanuri’s army fights to drive out the Unicorn defenders. With convincing certainty, you embellish the strength of the Lion’s armies and divulge that you have only come here to recover the scroll case. If he attempts to flee, he will only doom himself and fail—if he hands over the scroll case, you promise to advocate for him when the Lion Clan ultimately triumphs. His expression is dour, but he stays where he is. After a reminder of General Tsanuri’s recent victories, he finally relinquishes the scroll case to you. In the moment as he rides away, you are grateful that he was ignorant of the specifics of Tsanuri’s recent campaigns…
Now that you have recovered the scrolls, you ponder their importance to both the Unicorn and Lion commanders. Should you [[read them|read the scrolls]], or bring them [[directly to General Tsanuri|give the scrolls]]?](else:)[You draw his attention to shouts and crashing on the outskirts of the village where Ikoma Tsanuri’s army fights to drive out the Unicorn defenders, but he responds with a gruff chortle.
“The peasants who serve the Lion could never hope to best the Children of the Wind! You are a brave samurai, to challenge me alone, but you are a fool. Go tell the rest of your pride that we cannot be tamed, especially not by some upstart fresh from the War College.”
With that, he and his mount push past you and ride beyond your reach. (if: $choice > 0)[Now you must [[return|Ending A]] to General Tsanuri without the commander or the scrolls.](else:)[Perhaps the scrolls were important, but they weren’t part of your mission. You [[move on|Scene Three Menu]] before the courtier can spot you.]]
(if: $water > 1)[You can see the scroll case tied to his saddle and it is not well secured. A single strike will dislodge it, but you will have only a single chance. Meeting his gaze, you descend into a martial stance. With a prideful grin, he accepts the goad, raises his scimitar, and charges. A graceful sidestep moves you out of the horse’s path and a clean strike against the saddle causes his precious cargo to tumble to the ground. Without breaking focus, you catch the scroll case as it falls and bolt for the center of the village. He is so surprised by your sudden evasion that he fails to reorient in time. Thanks to focus, speed, and luck, you have managed to secure Commander Kyōsuke’s documents. Yet acquiring them nearly cost you your life—what could be so important? You could [[read them|read the scrolls]] or bring them [[directly to General Tsanuri|give the scrolls]].](else:)[You can see the scroll case tied to his saddle, and it is not well secured. A single strike will dislodge it, but you will have only a single chance. Meeting his gaze, you descend into a martial stance. With a prideful grin, he accepts the goad, raises his scimitar, and charges. You weave to the side, striking out at the saddle with your katana. But your focus falters, and instead of freeing the scroll case, your katana strikes the samurai’s leg. He lashes out, knocking you to the ground with a kick, and then spins his horse around in anger. His first strike against you missed, but as you scramble your feet in the hopes of salvaging your chances, he does not make the same mistake again. Everything goes dark.
What could be done to (link: "change your fate?")[(reload:)]]
You roll under the horse and slam your back against the side of the wooden building, just in time. Despite the exertion, you force yourself to hold your breath: you can’t give away your presence, although your hasty escape may have done so already. The courtier thanks the messenger for helping finish packing the scroll cases. The messenger mounts his horse and promptly departs. Once you see him ride away from the village, you finally allow yourself a slow exhalation. You have recovered Commander Kyōsuke’s documents without the Unicorn even knowing they are gone. For a moment, you wonder what could be so important that the commanders of both sides would go to great lengths to secure them. You could [[read the scrolls]] or [[return them unread|give the scrolls]] to General Tsanuri.
(if: $water > 1)[There is no time for subtlety. You were never a great rider, but you know your way around a horse and this one is no Utaku steed. Shouts ring out behind you as you leap into the saddle, but by the time the messenger or courtier can mobilize a pursuit, you have left them in the dust. Your heart pounds as you slow the horse to a stop on the outskirts of the village, far away from the fighting and potential pursuit, and look down at the scroll case in your hand. What could be so important that both the Lion and Unicorn commanders went out of their way to secure these documents? You could [[read the scrolls]] or [[return them unread|give the scrolls]] to General Tsanuri.](else:)[There is no time for subtlety. You were never a great rider, but you know your way around a horse and this one is no Utaku steed. Shouts ring out behind you as you leap into the saddle and grab the reins, giving the horse a kick to spur your escape. Unfortunately, Unicorn horses seem to have their own sense of loyalty. Rather than bolt, this one rears back on its hind legs. You scramble to stay on, but instead find yourself landing hard on your back in the dirt. The Unicorn messenger’s scimitar is out as he approaches you, but you are in no position to fight. Rolling to your knees, you leap away and sprint back for the village.
After several moments, you discover that he did not pursue…but you dropped the scroll case in your tumble from horseback. (if: $choice > 0)[Now you must [[return|Ending A]] to General Tsanuri without the commander or the scrolls.](else:)[The alarm has been raised, so you must hurry [[to find the commander|Scene Three Menu]].]]
(if: $fire > 1)[You draw your blade in a flash and slash at your opponent. He deftly darts aside to avoid your attack before launching an attack of his own. You and the messenger trade a couple more blows, but you are unable to strike at such a nimble opponent. Painfully, the reverse is not true: the fourth strike of the Unicorn’s scimitar cuts into your side and it is only thanks to your light armor that you are not cut down in the moment. But you cannot afford to bleed for long, for any hesitation or retreat will certainly spell your doom.
It occurs to you then that your fighting stance is wrong. You have been trying to follow your //kata//, wielding your katana as you always did in training. But with the scroll case in your off hand, throwing off your balance, you have lost a great deal of effectiveness. In a moment of inspiration and courage, you thrust yourself into the messenger’s striking range, drawing out a killing blow. With your entire body committed to the maneuver, you deflect the scimitar off of the scroll case you hold and drive your katana through your foe, dispatching him in a single blow. Breathing heavily, you turn to the courtier, but she has already retreated into the house. She might raise the alarm, but you are no butcher and your goal is already in hand. Limping under the pain, you retreat with the scroll case back to the village. These documents nearly cost you your life, and you don’t even know what they contain. You could [[read the scrolls]] or [[return them unread|give the scrolls]] to General Tsanuri.](else:)[You draw your blade in a flash and slash at your opponent. He deftly darts aside to avoid your attack before launching an attack of his own.. You and the messenger trade a couple more blows, but you are unable to strike at such a nimble opponent. Painfully, the reverse is not true: the fourth strike of the Unicorn’s scimitar cuts into your side, and it is only thanks to your light armor that you are not cut down in the moment. But you were already outmatched. When you attempt a daring overhand strike against the messenger, the wound breaks your concentration and you falter long enough to see the flash of steel as the scimitar finishes what it had begun a moment before. Then everything goes dark.
What could be done to (link: "change your fate?")[(reload:)]]
The guard stands her ground as you charge, swinging in a low arc to cut you down before you can defeat her. But you strike the flat of her blade with your forearm to knock the katana aside, allowing your own blade to dig into her shoulder as you push through her defense. With a decisive kick, you send her to the ground and then finish her off, clearing the way to [[enter the building|Scene Five]].(set: $kill to 2)
(if: $void > 1 and $kill is 1)[You face the guard, each of you holding your sword at the ready and waiting for the other to strike. She shifts her weight into her front foot, and you instinctively descend into a tight crouch. You can sense her intent, looking for a weakness to strike against—but there is a hesitation there. Perhaps she was expecting you to strike again? You relax your shoulders and arms, drawing an attack from her. In a flash of steel, she is dead at your feet, her attack having never landed. You are now free to [[enter the building|Scene Five]].(set: $kill to 2)](if: $void > 1 and $kill < 1)[You weave out of the range of the two guards, placing them in front of you as you survey your options. Calm descends upon the skirmish, and they begin to circle you, using their greater numbers to their advantage. You realize suddenly that you cannot prevent them from flanking you, leaving you vulnerable from one direction or the other. You will have to trust your instincts. Settling into a familiar //kata//, you empty your mind and breathe deeply. Together, they strike. For a split second, you are nothing, nowhere—and then your blade has sunk into the back of one of the guards, sending him to the ground. The other guard looks up in surprise to see you victorious, making a second attack that flies wide. You leave your katana in the dead guard’s back, instead improvising a quick-draw strike with the short //wakizashi// still sheathed at your left hip. In seconds, both guards are dead on the ground, clearing the way for you to [[enter the building.|Scene Five]].(set: $kill to 2)](if: $void < 2 and $kill is 1)[You face the guard, each of you holding your sword ready and waiting for the other to strike. She shifts her weight into her front foot, and you leap on her momentary motion. Your blade flashes forward, but she reacts faster—for a brief second, you see your victory before you. Then everything goes dark.
What could be done to (link: "change your fate?")[(reload:)]](if: $void < 2 and $kill < 1)[You dodge a string of attacks, lashing out wherever you can with your katana to fell your attackers. No hits land, and suddenly you find yourself between the two guards. Flanked, you have only one hope to survive and it is to cut down one of the Shinjo before they can stab you in the back. Shouting a battle cry, you spin and clash swords with the guard who had positioned herself behind you—only to feel an emptiness in your arm as the other guard’s strike lands true. You fall to your knees and the guards swiftly end your pain.
What could be done to (link: "change your fate?")[(reload:)]]
(if: $earth > 1)[You deflect a blow from one guard’s katana as the other sidesteps, trying to get around you. If they can flank you, it will be very difficult to evade both at once without revealing an opening that one or the other could exploit. You have to disable one so you can finish off the other. Throwing your entire body into a sideways lunge, you surprise the other guard with a tackle that sends her sprawling to the ground. The other guard slashes at you, but you knock it aside with your arm, allowing the blade to drive a gouge from your armor and draw blood. It is not enough for your foe, and with a swift lunge you send him to the ground, dead.
You ignore the pain of your arm as you turn back to the guard you tackled. She has regained her footing, but now she fights alone. Your blood pulses in your veins as you wait for her to make the first move. She does, but is too slow to vanquish you. You wipe the blood from your blade as you [[enter the building|Scene Five]].(set: $kill to 2)](else:)[You deflect a blow from one guard’s katana as the other sidesteps to surround you. You realize that defeating them will be very difficult so long as they have you flanked. So you retreat, trying to force them to stay in front of you. But there is nothing to place your back to, and when they strike together you cannot fend them both off. You manage to disarm one before the other strikes you down.
What could be done to (link: "change your fate?")[(reload:)]]
You do not give the guards a second chance to challenge you. You berate them for challenging the wishes of your (shared) commanding officer, making implications that you have a special task that these low-ranking samurai would not be privy to. You draw out the warriors’ names—Kenji and Arban—and inform them that unless they admit you now, your report to the Unicorn general will not go well for them. When they again attempt to assert the legitimacy of their orders, you overreact and invoke the ongoing Lion assault, impressing upon them that the circumstances have changed. Soon they relent, too uncertain of what is expected of them to continue to bar your way. With a nervous waving of his hands, Kenji opens the door to the house and [[admits you into the building|Scene Five]].(set: $bluff to 1)
(if: $earth > 1)[The guards are surprised when you acknowledge that they are correct to not allow you through. With their suspicions lowered, they are more willing to listen to you as you explain how dire the situation has become on the field of battle. You explain that the village will fall unless you can get an important piece of information from the captive general about the enemy force’s deployment, and that sometimes an act of courage is more important than upholding one’s duty. After making your case for several minutes, they hesitantly look to each other and agree to let you in.
“You are certain this will change the tide of battle?” one of them asks.
You do not show any hint of uncertainty. They [[admit you into the building|Scene Five]].(set: $bluff to 1)](else:)[The guards are surprised when you acknowledge that they are correct to not allow you through. But as you begin to explain how dire the situation has become on the field of battle, they grow suspicious of your elaborate tale. Perhaps you have gotten important details wrong, or else they are too set in their duty to allow themselves to be convinced. When you explain the importance of extracting additional information from the captive general to turn the tide of battle, one of the guards draws her sword. It looks like you’ve been found out after all.
Despite the threat, you make one final attempt to convince them that your success could mean the difference between life and death for them. But while you were making your appeals, they were preparing for a skirmish. You attempt to defend yourself, but it is too little too late.
What could be done to (link: "change your fate?")[(reload:)]]
(if: $void > 1)[The guards are surprised when you acknowledge that they are correct to not allow you through. You explain, with unexpected honesty, that you are not here on some secret mission for the Unicorn commander but rather here as a rōnin who knows the painful conditions of imprisonment, who has come to provide minor respite for the captive. They are moved by a story of your own experience as a prisoner of war. When you promise to keep secret their willingness to allow you to administer the captive, they finally agree to [[admit you into the building|Scene Five]].(set: $bluff to 1)](else:)[The guards are surprised when you acknowledge that they are correct to not allow you through. You explain, with unexpected honesty, that you are not here on some secret mission for the Unicorn commander but rather here as a rōnin who knows the painful conditions of imprisonment, who has come to provide minor respite for the captive. However, rather than being moved by your words, they only harden against the obvious intruder. Before you can react, both guards step forward together and grab your arms and shoulders, restraining you against the side of the building while they disarm you. You are unable to fight them off as they march you into the house and shackle you alongside the captive general.
As they return to their posts, your chances of success dwindle with the descent of silence upon you. What could be done to (link: "change your fate?")[(reload:)]]
You free the horses and take their reins, leading them around the house until they (and you) are nearly in sight of the guards. Then, with a loud cry, you strike the horses’ rears and send them charging in the direction of the two Shinjo //bushi// standing guard. Peeking around the side of the building, you watch as the two guards cry out in surprise and alarm and run off in pursuit of what you assume are their own steeds.
In the several moments of chaos while the guards are vacant from their posts, you run to the door and [[enter the building|Scene Five]].(set: $distract to 1)
(if: $fire > 1)[Within moments, the fragile wooden house goes up in flames. You hear the sudden panicked cries of horses and release the two steeds who were tethered up beside the building, adding to the commotion by sending them barreling through the village. Scrambling in sudden panic, the two guards separate as one runs for the burning house and the other for the trampling horses. It is almost trivial to run across to the guarded house and [[slip inside|Scene Five]] before anyone can notice.(set: $distract to 1)](else:)[Within moments, the fragile wooden house goes up in flames. You hear the sudden panicked cries of horses and attempt to release the two steeds who were tethered up beside the building, but your hands fumble as panic begins to set into you as well. You manage to release them before the horses trample you or catch fire, but you are sweating within your light armor and have lost valuable time. You attempt to retreat back into the village only to find that your distraction worked too well: the two guards have already found you beside the burning building and have you cornered. You make an effort to fight back as they surround you, but between the blaze at your back and two trained samurai before you, there is little you can do to save yourself.
What could be done to (link: "change your fate?")[(reload:)]]
(if: $air > 1)[You flee your hiding spot just before the guards catch you. As they hunt for the source of the futile distraction, you slip into an empty home and begin kicking at the wooden walls with your armored sandals, shouting for help all the while. You specifically call for the Shinjo and the Unicorn, just for good measure…but as soon as you hear the pound of running footsteps, you slip out through the damage you have caused and run for the building containing Commander Kyōsuke. You don’t look back—any hesitation might give them time to figure out where you’ve gone and how to catch up with you—and fortune stays with you. There are no shouts or arrows pursuing you as you [[slip inside|Scene Five]].(set: $distract to 1)](else:)[You flee your hiding spot just before the guards catch you. As they hunt for the source of the futile distraction, you slip into an empty home and begin kicking at the wooden walls with your armored sandals, shouting for help all the while. You continue the charade until you are out of breath, but you cannot hear any indication that the guards are approaching. After several silent moments, with only the wind outside to listen to, you move back to the entrance and carefully step outside.
Unfortunately, your attempt to trick the guards has only given your position away. They ambush you at the entrance. Despite your best efforts to fend them off, your life slips away within seconds of their first blows.
What could be done to (link: "change your fate?")[(reload:)]]
The results of your story can be submitted to the //Legend of the Five Rings// Story Group until the end of the day on November 16, 2020. Based on the results submitted, one of many outcomes of this story will be integrated into the ongoing L5R LCG storyline.
<u>Your Results:</u>
(if: $save > 0)[You rescued Commander Kyōsuke.
](if: $save < 1)[You did not rescue Commander Kyōsuke.
(if: $scrolls > 0)[You intercepted the scrolls from the messenger.
](if: $scrolls < 1)[You did not intercept the scrolls from the messenger.
](if: $read > 0)[You read the scroll's contents.
](if: $read < 1)[You did not read the scroll's contents.
]](if: $victory > 0)[The Lion Clan recaptured Four Roads Village.
](if: $victory < 1)[The Lion Clan did not recapture Four Roads Village.]
<a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScqi1T2XJ5ltGHQdOx6QYv63q9QhMy5MojQcuIVUkCo5FRQOA/viewform?usp=sf_link" target="_blank">Click here to fill out your story's results!</a>
For those curious to explore the paths not taken, the story is fully replayable. (link: "Restart your aventure.")[(reload:)]
And if you enjoyed “An Impossible Task,” you can create your own adventures in Rokugan with the <a href="https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/legend-of-the-five-rings-roleplaying-game/products/legend-five-rings-roleplaying-game-core-rulebook/">//Legend of the Five Rings Roleplaying Game//</a>. Alongside your friends, you can shape the fate of the Emerald Empire.
<img src="https://images-cdn.fantasyflightgames.com/filer_public/c5/f3/c5f3b94d-0d89-40f4-99e4-115caf77885a/edge-l5r.jpg" alt="L5RRPG">