September 8, 2002
Shadowlands Win GenCon United Kingdom
Shadowlands won over the Crane in the Finals. Please
see Otaku Rea's report on Deathseeker.
Background colors modified to mark our new alliance
with the Dark Oracle of Fire. Where our
GenCon UK Warlord leads, we follow, though it is within our Dragon
nature to wonder why.
But in Rokugan, it is traditional to follow those of higher rank
even if their decisions appear
.... strange. Of course serious disagreement with your Lord may
be expressed by seppuku but
at this time it would be an over reaction.
GenCon UK Dragon Top Finisher Choses to Side
with Dark Oracle
The GenCon UK Dragon Warlord Jon Palmer chose to
ally with the Dark Oracle of Fire
Agasha Tamori against the Phoenix instead of trying to drive
him from Dragon lands. He
had consulted with the other top Dragon finishers and collectively
they decided that it would
be the lesser of two evils. Sometimes in life you are forced
to choose between bad choices.
Shinsei once said "Choosing between two evils is still choosing
evil." Agreed.
Incidentally, Jon's choice started a mini-flame
war on the Dragon Mailing list with tempers
rising and friendships being strained until people started to
come to their senses. There were
even threats to use the Dragon Clan's most fearsome weapon as
a response to this choice.
What is this über weapon of the Dragon? Tattoos?
The 12 th Black Scroll? Don't be silly!
We're talking about the "Dragon Whine", the response
most feared by the other clans.
The "Dragon Whine" has been known to move Heaven and
Earth when properly directed.
Because of its potency, other clans have been known to attack
any Dragon on sight if the
suspect that the Whine is about to be used.
The "Old Guard" of the Dragon has historically
been Anti-Taint and Anti-Corruption.
Attempts to diverge from this path are generally been met with
harsh criticism and boorish
behavior. The Path of the Dragon is one of individualistic enlightenment,
a fact often
forgotten by the "Old Guard". In the current environment
it is difficult for a Dragon to
obtain victory with dueling honour or with military prowess.
Enlightenment is a tantalizing
prospect but it is achieved by only a select few.
The choice then becomes clearer: continue the old
honourable ways and hope that there will
be a change in the Heavens or risk corruption and the Taint for
greater short term power.
Conservatives will cling to honor because it is
the traditional, safe path. Some of the younger
Dragons, being more progressive and more daring, are edging a
bit closer to the Taint and
corruption in return for power. Among those in the vanguard of
the this new philosophy is
Scott Hadsall. He is a skilled newcomer to the clan and he should
at least be listened to if
not openly respected and admired for his attempts to lift our
clan out of tournament mediocrity.
A current trend among the Dragon strategy web sites
is to have standard or "stock" decks.
Perhaps we should view these as "test decks" such as
in that Other game (M:tG) because
people from the other clans will be watching. Whatever your choices
in deck construction,
please remember to at least attempt civility with each other.
Yes, Dragon and Flames often
go together but you knew that when you joined, n'est pas?
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