Imperial Quest

Legend of the Five Rings card from Diamond Edition, Imperial Edition, Emerald Edition, Obsidian Edition

Card Type

Event

Keywords

Unique, Imperial

Card Text

After you reveal cards in your Provinces at the start of your turn, if this Event is face-up in one of them, target a Personality with 3 or higher Chi. Bow him. While the Personality remains bowed and in play, his controller may negate his straightening and gains 2 Honor each time he does at the start of his turn. After the target straightens, if he does so before his controller's third turn from now begins, dishonor him.

Legality

Clan Wars (Imperial), Rain of Blood (Diamond)

Deck

Dynasty

Printings

Rulings

• Erratum: Reads, "Imperial Quest Target a Personality with more than 2 Chi. Bow that Personality, who may remain bowed by his controller. Until the Personality straightens or leaves play, the Personality's controller gains 2 Honor each time he chooses not to straighten the Personality during his Straighten Phase. Dishonor the Personality if he straightens before his controller's third Straighten Phase from now." [MRP, Diamond Edition, 27 October 2003] Rules Archive, August 18, 2007, p. 72
• You gain the honor every Straighten Phase where the Personality would normally straighten but you choose not to. [DW, l5rinfo, 12/9/97] Accumulated Rulings, February 8, 2000, p. 33
• The Personality is dishonored if he straightens for any reason before three of your turns go by. [DW, l5rinfo, 12/13/97] Accumulated Rulings, February 8, 2000, p. 33

Rules Q&A

• Q: - participates in an Event effect that gives a Honor as a result (Selection of Chancelor (JE) - controller of selected Personality gains 5 honor; Poetry Contest - participants gain 1 honor, winner gains 3 honor [are both participants and winner involved in honor gains ?]; Imperial Quest)
  A: Yes, yes, yes. Martin Lund, "Rules for 1 February 2005", 5 Feb 2005
• Q: Let's say I use the experienced Ruby of Iuchiban's effect on an a personality that is bowed by Imperial Quest. Imperial Quest reads the Personality's controller gains 2 Honor each time he CHOOSES not to straighten the Personality. Does he continue to gain honor as long as he remains bowed? My belief is no, because the controller no longer has the choice of whether or not to straighten him.
  A: I agree. There is no longer a choice, and Imperial Quest only works when you make that choice. Martin Lund, "Rules for 22-25 August 2004", 30 Aug 2004
• Q: Anyway, if Jeff have ruled in the Ruby vs. Tireless that the Ruby's Personality Player may not straighten the Ruby, then, in the same way, the Questing Personality could remain bowed.
  A: They have the same clause wording, so I think it is safe to assume that they work the same way in that respect. Unless Jeff feels the need for it to work otherwise, yes, the questing Personality may remain bowed. It doesn't specify any special conditions as to what it does, or does not apply to, so it applies to anything that would result in the Personality unbowing. Martin Lund, "Rules for 27 May 2004", 31 May 2004
• Q: A quick question:
  My opponent reveals an Imperial Quest and targets one of his Personalities with over 2 Chi to bow him. In his Action Phase I play a Bonds of Fate targeting the quested Personality. What happens?
  a) The Personality straightens and become dishonored. b) The Personality straightens. c) The Personality continues bowed.
  A: Still being discussed by the Rules Team. Jeff Alexander, "rules for 19 March 2004", 20 Mar 2004
• Q: I have Akodo Tadenori with Chukandomo attached. My opponent reveals Imperial Quest and chooses Tadenori to go on it. On my turn If I choose to straighten Tadenori when does he become dishonored?
  A: After he straightens. Zen Faulkes, "Rules for 29 August 2003", 30 Aug 2003
• Q: I have a question about the event Imperial Quest. When does the 2 honor gain happen... during the end phase?
  A: From the archive:
  ] You gain the honor every Straighten Phase where the Personality ] would normally straighten but you choose not to. [DW, l5rinfo, ] 12/9/97] Jeff Alexander, "Rulings for 15-16 April 2001", 19 Apr 2001
• Q: Can Imperial Quest bow a personality that's already bowed?
  A: Yes. Zen Faulkes, "Imperial Quest", 17 Mar 2005