The following text is taken from the Kolat Informer (the website itself claimed to have "taken" the report from Dr. Zen Faulkes' Steel and Iron website).
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The War in the Heavens brought forth a handful of clans to its Final 16:
1. Conrad Jackson: Corrupt Toturi
2. Seth Mason: Honorable Toturi
3. Stefan Zarzynski: Enlightenment Water Monk
4. Jimmy Beck: Bloodspeaker Phoenix
5. Bret Swanson: Military Water Monk
6. Paul Higgins: Honorable Phoenix
7. Ian McGuigan: Honorable Toturi
8. Richard Riley: Honorable Unicorn
9. Antoine Blanchard: Honorable (Shrine) Phoenix
10. Michael Jahnke: Partially corrupt Toturi
11. Terry Madden: Dishonor Crane
12. Nathan Roberts: Toturi (honorable?)
13. Karl Prahl: Lion (honorable?)
14. Vaughn Derderian: Ninja (heh)
15. Noel Meyer: Honorable Lion
16. Neil Canvel: Crane (not sure what type)
Five Toturi, three Phoenix, two Monk, two Crane, two Lion, a Unicorn, and a servant of the vile Shadow.
Six clans or factions had failed to confront Onnotangu in order to strike the telling blow.
For the Scorpion, the tricks Bayushi Hisa had stolen from the Shadow failed to win him the day.
For the Dragon, Mirumoto Taki did not reach the final battle with the golden katana given him by the Scorpion.
For the Mantis, Tsuruchi’s arrow did not fly true.
For the Naga, Balash did not attain the side of the two-legs.
For the Crab, Hida Unari succumbed to wounds suffered in the assault on Volturnum. He did not die, but was laid low.
For the Shadowlands, Jama Suru had not corrupted any of the remaining representatives.
As each of these stories was announced, Ree destroyed the representative card and presented it to the high-ranking player for the clan.
The only game I saw any of for Round 1 was the Noel-Seth game. Noel had Matsu Agetoki with the Lion Sword, Lion Armor, and Kitsuki Kaagi’s Journal. Seth prayed hard for his Kolat Duplicate to turn up, but got nothing but Personalities for his troubles. He did manage to duel away one Agetoki with Seppun Nakao.
After Round 1 of the finals, the remaining players were:
Conrad Jackson vs. Antoine Blanchard
Stefan Zarzynski vs. Paul Higgins
Jimmy Beck vs. Bret Swanson
Michael Jahnke vs. Noel Meyer
The Unicorn, Crane and Ninja had been eliminated. Moto Amadare charged Onnotangu, and the force of the Moon flung him away. The Shadow had failed to corrupt any of the remaining players, and thus none was revealed as a Ninja Mimic. And for the Crane, Toshimoko, who had used a secret passage in the Imperial passage shown him years before, did not arrive on time. The top two Crane players announced, as the representatives of the Doji and the Daidoji, that the Crane civil war was not over — but there would be no more Crane blood shed by Crane. Instead, the conflict will be resolved by the courtiers, where the Crane belong.
In his duel vs. the Phoenix, Stefan (the Monk) had played the Ring of Earth early by foiling an assault, and using a Banish All Shadows, dug out a Walking the Way, attaching that and the Gunsen of Water to Asako Hosigeru. Hosigeru challenged Naka Kuro to a test of Iaijutsu Art. Shioda bowed to use Double Chi on Hosigeru, who focused The 12th Black Scroll. Ring of Fire, Ring of Void. Walk for Ring of Air. Enlightenment win in three easy steps.
I saw the end of the Michael-Noel match; it had drawn out, but she was clearly outforced — among other things, Akuma had hit the table.
After Round 2, the following players were left:
Antoine Blanchard vs. Bret Swanson
Stefan Zarzynski vs. Michael Jahnke
Lion had been eliminated, as had the bloodspeaker Phoenix. According to Ree, Jimmy Beck had said, “Sure, the Phoenix have pulled themselves back up again… but can’t I mess with them first?” So Ree had his position covered. Sadly (for Jimmy), Doji Adoka will not be joining the Phoenix, despite his best efforts.
For the Lion, Matsu Turi leapt at Onnotangu with the sword of his father, and was defenestrated for his troubles.
Nearly everyone wanted to watch the enlightenment Monk game — vs. a Corrupt Toturi deck (partially Corrupt; I saw no corrupt gold, but he did use Akuma in several games).
Michael took an early province with Hasame and followers. Stefan put out a complement of Shiodas and a Yoshun, and had a Peasant Revolt hit the turn after Michael paid for two 3F Saigoreis. With only 7 Force usable, Michael attacked (7F can take a Monk province…). Stefan defended with “Speed Bump” Yoshun, and in the play of the game, got the Ring of Earth. On his turn, Stefan played Rise from the Ashes to prevent being steamrolled, then on turn 4, in an uncanny reprise from Round 2, used multiple fate control tricks (Banish, Kaede Sensei, etc.), and set up his fate hand again… he Iaijutsu Arted a Hasame with Yoshun (the only unbowed monk), bowed Yoshun to Double Chi himself, and focused the 12th Black Scroll. Ring of Fire. Ring of Air. Ring of the Void. Fourth turn enlightenment.
Bret defeated Antoine in a prolonged, back-and-forth game which I could not get close to. I hope someone else will report on the games I did not and could not see.
The Phoenix had been eliminated, as had Toturi. Tables were rearranged, and the finals were about to begin. Ree announced the remaining fates: Isawa Hochiu stepped forward with his father’s sword (a common theme) and told Onnotangu that he had learned the lessons of the Dark Isawa, and he would not make his father’s mistakes — the Phoenix would not be corrupted again. Onnotangu laughed: “I am not a thing of the Shadowlands, a creature of the taint that you can wash away. You do not choose whether or not to worship me. I AM A GOD!” And Hochiu was flung away with a gesture of contempt.
Onnotangu rose to claim Toturi, to drive the Shadow into him and claim him forever. But one man stood between his Lord and the Moon, and Hasame took the blow, perishing instantly while saving the Emperor’s soul. Toku carried the body of his comrade away.
And then, a light cleaved the Darkness…
In the final, Bret Swanson (military Monk) faced Stefan Zarzynski (speed enlightenment Monk). Ree told the assembled throng that who would face Onnotangu was no longer in question — this would decide the Tao the monks would follow: the Path of Wisdom, or the Path of Warriors.
Here, I report as much as I saw of the final game…
Bret cut to high focus, and played Merchant Caravan, Kirazo, and Shioda.
Stefan turned over two Shioda and Blessings of Isawa. Bret played Deeds, Not Words, preventing Stefan from playing Shioda without losing honor. Stefan did not clear his provinces, but bowed his Strongold for the Ring of Earth.
Bret played another Merchant Caravan and Hoshi Maseru. Stefan played his two Shioda, plus another monk (Maseru?), still not drawing any gold.
Bret attached followers and attacked. Stefan did not defend, and played a Flooded Pass. Bret used Chasing Osano-Wo, largely to trigger the Blessings of Isawa, but failed to take the province. Out came the Ring of Earth.
Stefan turned up Refuge of the Three Sisters, Yoshun and Maseru. He attached the Gunsen of Water, lobbied for the Favor, and attacked, managing to kill a province. He then brought out Yoshun.
Bret attached more followers, then attacked two provinces (one the Refuge). Stefan attempted to save a province with the Favor, but A Test of Courage stopped that. He was reduced to two provinces.
On Stefan’s turn, he Dharma’d his own Iris Festival and bought Heichi Chokei.
Turn 5: Bret attacks and kills one more province, playing his own Ring of the Void. Stefan plays Rise from the Ashes on Chokei and stalls for a turn. He has not seen a single gold-producing holding all game. An Iaijutsu Art with Double Chi nets him the Rings of Fire and Void, but no Air. He has four rings in play.
Turn 6: Bret builds and seizes the Favor, Stefan fails to see gold.
Turn 7: Bret attacks. Stefan defends with Chokei and Yoshun. He uses Toturi is Drugged to send home one unit. Bret IF’s Chokei away. Stefan uses Refugees to send another attacker home. Bret Refugees Yoshun away. No defenders remain. That’s game.
Takao stepped forward and challenged Onnotangu, who laughed: “You are mortal. What can you do to stop me?” Then, the power of the Moon drove Takao into the back wall. Takao stepped forward again, and laid hands upon Onnotangu’s apparition. “You do not truly understand what it means to be mortal.” With that, Takao flooded Onnotangu with the power of Void. At the battle with the Moon Incarnate, the God arched in pain, as Hitomi raised her sword and cleaved his head from his shoulders.
The Moon shattered, and the Darkness over Otosan Uchi was lifted.