What is Anvil of Despair?

ANVIL OF DESPAIR is the third expansion set for Legend of the Five Rings. It is packed into 11 card booster packs with a $1.95 Suggested Retail Price, and 60 card Stronghold Starter Decks with a $7.95 Suggested Retail Price. The new Strongholds are for Toturi's Army and Yogo Junzo's Army, and each includes a new AoD rulebook in addition to the cards!

For months the last Hantei Emperor has lingered at the verge of death, suffering from what appeared to be the plague. In secret, Bayushi Kachiko was slowly poisoning him, keeping him in a delerious state while she slowly tortured him to death.

Across the Empire, shugenja have been slowly learning how to harness the powers revealed in the Black Scrolls recovered from the Shadowlands. As each new scroll was opened, the ancient enchantments which banished the Dark One from the world were weakened. When the eleventh Scroll was read, the enchantment was finally broken and Fu Leng ended his long exile. He has possessed the body of the last Hantei Emperor and now the Emerald Empire is ruled by the most horrible creature in the universe!

Unfortunetly for Fu Leng, the body he so covetously possess is weak and unable to stray far from the Imperial Bedchamber. As long as Kachiko is able to keep the body poisoned, the Dark One cannot actively exert his personal powers to destroy the Clans.

Far from the plains of Otosan Uchi, in the base camps of the ronin, Toturi, a new banner has arisen. Bearing the symbol of the Wolf, Toturi's Army has hardened into an experienced band of excellent warriors. Using the lessons taught to him by the tattooed man, Togashi Mitsu, Toturi has learned how to combine the power of shugenja magic with his own tactical brilliance. Those who wear the emblem of the Wolf have become an awesome force for honor in the struggle for the Emerald Throne, and a man once disgraced before the entire Empire now leads his army in a quest to save it from all the horrors that oppress it.

He is opposed by the undead monstrosity that was once Yogo Junzo - a powerful Scorpion Clan shugenja who now serves none but his dread master, Fu Leng. Yogo Junzo's army is comprised of powerful oni, undead creatures of every type, and all manner of shadowlands monstrosities. Junzo's forces strike fear and terror into the hearts of all who oppose them. The sound of their passage, filled with mumbled chants to Fu Leng is enough to break the morale of the most stalwart of samurai. Junzo's forces have moved the length and breadth of the Empire destroying all who oppose him.

While these new forces have clashed far from the capital, two familiar armies have fought one another at the very gates of the Imperial Palace. Using ships constructed in secret in the offshore archipeligos of the Mantis Clan, the Crab Clan have moved their army up the cost of Rokugan and landed by sea in an invasion of the capital. As the defending Lion Clan forces arrayed themselves for battle, their Champion, Matsu Tsuko recieved word from the Emperor himself that she was to stand aside and not direct her forces in the battle. Without her leadership, the vast horde of the Crab Clan, augmented by their Shadowlands allies easily crushed the Lion forces and breached the walls of the capital. With purposeful strides, Hida Kisada, the Great Bear, Champion of the Crab Clan, strode into the throne room ready to take the reigns of the Empire. To his surprise, he was met by the sickly body of the Emperor, but instead of a wasted, harmless shell, the Emperor's eyes glowed with green fire, and his body was infused by dark elemental powers. The Emperor took up the Ancestral Sword of the Hantei and in one swift move, buried it in Kisada's exposed belly.

Kisada's son Yakamo bore up his father in horror and ran from the throne room, leaving a bloody trail behind him. The remains of the Crab army scattered to the four corners of the Empire, and rumors of the dark force animating the Emperor began to spread. The insane laughter and crazed ramblings echoing within the palace have driven off those who are weak of heart and short of courage. For the Empire, things have taken a turn for the worst.

In the heartland of the Empire the Crane Clan have made their last, desperate stand. The False Hoturi and his army of Shadowlands madmen have pursued the armies of the Crab Clan lead by Daiodji Uji into the valley of the Asahina Temples, the last undespoiled land of the Crane. Uji has fought a brilliant campaign, keeping his forces together and their morale high despite many small defeats. His Clan, filled with diplomats and merchants has finally mobilized to fight the threat, and they have opened the secret coffers of riches hidden for generations. The Mantis Clan have been equipped and recruited by the Crane, and their mercenary legions took the field in defense of the Crane, totally surprising the False Hoturi. He was even more surprised when the real Hoturi, healed of his wounds and restored to his rightful place leading the Crane Clan armies met him in battle, challenged him to the Iaijutsu Duel in plain sight of his troops, then took his head with one swipe of his blade, exacting his long delayed revenge with a terrible battle cry. The Crane have suffered more than any other Clan in this terrible war, and after a thousand years of quiet peace and political solutions, they have been driven to a bloodthristy rage and will suffer no compromise with the Shadowlands forces which ahve invaded their Empire.

The ANVIL OF DESPAIR expansion set to Legend of the Five Rings is the fourth chapter in the Saga of Rokugan. In the Imperial Edition, the story of the fall of the Hantei Dynasty was told. The great war between the Clans began, and the security of the Empire itself was compromised by the actions of the Crab Clan. In SHADOWLANDS, the forces of evil long held in check by the Crab Clan have poured over the Imperial Borders and now threaten the heartland of Rokugan directly. In FORBIDDEN KNOWLEDGE, the Black Scrolls that had been recovered from the Shadowlands were used to unleash powerful new spells, but the fearsome cost for those new powers has been paid by shugenja throughout the Empire.

These events and personalities plus many more surprises are explored in the ANVIL OF DESPAIR Expansion. ANVIL OF DESPAIR features 150 new cards.

Who designed it?

ANVIL OF DESPAIR was designed by the L5R Design Team at AEG and Five Rings Publishing Group.

The Lead Designer is David Williams. The Art Director for the L5R project is Matthew D. Wilson. Editorial assistance was provided by D.J. Trindle. Game mechanics, background materials and storyline development was undertaken by John Wick, Matt Staroscik, John Zinser and Ryan S. Dancey.

Other members of the L5R project include: Dave Seay and Rob Vaux.

Digital Rendering was provided by Ron Franco & Dragonlight Designs.

Card artwork was provided by: Rob Alexander, Eric Anderson, Julie Baroh, Tom Biondolillo, David Bollt, Heather Bruton, Matt Busch, John Cadice, Ernie Chan, Kevin Daily, Stacy Drum, Randy Elliott, Richard Emond, Sandra Everingham, Steve Firchow, Stacy Fitz, Carl Frank, Dan Fraizer, Randy Gallegos, Pete Garcia, Daniel Gelon, Anthony Grabski, Bonnie Hill, Bob Hobbs, Quinton Hoover, Mike Kimble, KC Lancaster, April Lee, Nicola Leonard, Anson Maddocks, Craig Maher, Brad McDevitt, Ken Meyer, Steve Morales, Jesper Myrfors, William O'Connor, Margaret Organ-Keen, Ben Peck, Mark Poole, Mike Raabe, Chris Rush, Pamela Shanteau, Alissa Shipley, Doug Shuler, Cline Siegenthaler, Ellym Sirac, Brian Snoddy, Ron Spencer, Mark Tedin, David Trowbridge, Susan Van Camp, Diana Vick, Bryon Wackwitz, Christina Wald, Kevin Ward, Matthew D. Wilson and Robin Wood.

Who manufactures it?

ANVIL OF DESPAIR is printed under the aegis of Five Rings Publishing Group, Inc.

ANVIL OF DESPAIR, and all L5R Cards are printed, cut, sorted and packed by Yaquinto Printing Co. of Dallas Texas. ANVIL OF DESPAIR and all L5R expansions and basic sets are proudly Made in the USA!

How many displays do I have to buy to get a complete set?

There are 50 rare cards in the ANVIL OF DESPAIR set. A Booster Display has 46 packs, and on average, there is one rare card per booster pack. Thus, you'll have to buy slightly more than one full display of AoD to have a chance to buy all the cards. After two displays you should have all the commons and uncommons.

Where can I get it?

ANVIL OF DESPAIR is being stocked by the majority of hobby game distributors. That means that almost every hobby retailer in North America can easily order it. Many will have preordered, and will be getting their first shipments soon.

If your local store did not preorder - DON'T PANIC!

Unlike many CCGs, L5R is never printed to order. We've been continuously restocking the distributors since the product shipped. Your store can order from their distributor and be nearly assured of being able to get as many cards as they wish.

Outside North America supply will be much more spotty. We have shipped to the major European distributors, but with the exception of Ludis International in France, none ordered large quantities. We do ship to all the overseas distributors to order, so if you are located outside North America, just ask your local store to order some cards, and you should be able to get them without too much difficulty.

Remember, if your local store doesn't carry L5R they never will unless YOU ask them politely to stock it. It usually helps to ask the store owner directly. Most stores will be helpful once they know there is customer interest in a CCG, but it sometimes takes several inquiries to get the first order placed. Please be persistent!

How long will it be on sale?

ANVIL OF DESPAIR will be a limited edition. It will never be reprinted, and no cards with the ANVIL OF DESPAIR border will be reprinted.

These factors have combined to generate intense interest in ANVIL OF DESPAIR. With all the excitement, plus the explosion in L5R sales we're seeing nationally, we expect the expansion to be a brisk seller, and for supplies to be depleted quickly.

If you are told that the product is "sold out" or "printed to order" please ask for the information to be double checked. We will post a message on the Web Site when the expansion is completely sold out, and until you see that announcement, we will be filling restock orders and new orders!

ANVIL OF DESPAIR Erratta?

At this time, there are no Anvil of Despair errata! Keep your fingers crossed!