Welcome to the fourth issue of the Imperial Herald! This is an exciting time for everyone involved in the Legend of the Five Rings world. We've just passed our one-year anniversary, and things have never looked more exciting in the lands of the Emerald Empire!

We're proud to announce that the long-awaited two-player starter set for L5R, The Battle of Beiden Pass is now on sale at retail stores everywhere! This great boxed set contains two decks, one for the Crab Clan and one for the Dragon Clan, that allow the players to refight one of the most important battles of the Clan War. The set includes a "Basic Training" guidebook that teaches new players, step by step, how to play L5R, and explains all the concepts in the game in a simple, easy to understand way. In addition, you'll get a full-sized rule book that contains the entire text of the Basic Set rule book, plus some new fiction from John Wick. It also includes letters from the Clan Champions to the generals of the two armies, explaining the strategies of tbe dech The set is designed to teacb new players how to play LSR, but it's also fun for players who are already familiar with the world of Rokugan. As a special bonus, the set also includes the cards "Dairya the Ronin" and "The Monstrous War Machine of Fu Leng" The set has a $24.95 suggested retail price.

Thanksgiving will see the release of L5R's much-anticipated third expansion, Anvil of Despair. This 15

card set is available in 11-card boosters and 60-card Stronghold decks. Anvil of Despair decks feature two new Strongholds: Toturi's Army and Yogo Junzo's Army. These powerful forces have emerged from the chaos of the Clan War, one fighting for honor and the Empire, one fighting for the darkest power of the Shadowlands. Anvil of Despair also includes a new card type, the Ancestor, which represents guiding spirits from the long-forgotten past who have returned to assist tbeir Clans against the rising evil in the Empire.

In Anvil of Despair, the heroes of the Emerald Empire are stunned to discover that the body of the young Emperor has been possessed by the Dark Lord, Fu Leng. A member of the Lion Clan is unmasked as a Kolat Master. The plans of the Crab Clan are shattered in the throne room of the Imperial Palace, the Crane Clan fight their most desperate battle, the Unicorn strive to restore justice to the countryside, and the Phoenix Clan have entrapped an Oni in order to gain information about the Shadowlands... but at a fearsome price. Anvil of Despair booster packs will carry a $1.95 suggested retail price, and the decks have a $7.95 SRP. The set will hit store shelves in the last week of November, and the Empire will never be the same!

The L5R team wants to thank the distributors, the retailers and the players for a great year, and we look forward to the future!

Special thanks to everyone who voted in the Make a Follower a Personality Card. Unlike our other contests, this one was a real tight race. So tight, in fact, we have two winners: Lady Kitsune (the Foxwife) and a Shadow Samurai named Hida Sukune.

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