The Iron Citadel

Legend of the Five Rings card from Forbidden Knowledge

Card Type: Spell
Gold Cost: 0
Keywords: Unique, Black Scroll
Card Text: After this Shugenja straightens, give him a -1C Corruption token.
Repeatable Limited: Bow and destroy this Shugenja and this card to remove your Stronghold from the game. If your Stronghold was removed, create a Stronghold with your previous Stronghold's Clan Alignment, the title "The Iron Citadel of Fu Leng", a Base Province Strength of 15, a Gold Production of 0, and a Starting Family Honor of 0 (your current Family Honor total remains unchanged). You permanently will not win an Honor Victory.
Focus Value: 3
Legality: Clan Wars (Imperial)
Deck: Fate

Printings

Your Stronghold is considered to have a blank text box. [RD, 9/8/96] Rules Archive, August 18, 2007, p. 64
Functions normally on a Scorpion player who temporarily dipped to -20 Honor and had his base Province Strength reduced to 0, but has since brought his honor above -20. [DW, 26 November 1996] Rules Archive, August 18, 2007, p. 64

Q: I'm going to make an intent-based ruling that the caster of the Iron Citadel is considered "normally unable to win an honor victory" and unaffected by the event, despite the fact that the inability to win through honor is actually an effect of the spell and not a trait of your new Stronghold.
But refusing to win an honor victory due to a 'Return of Fu-Leng', will not cause that trait to be on your Stronghold, right? So you will still need 10 Honor or a Ring in play when 'Death of the Ki-Rin' has resolved?
A: Right and right. Jeff Alexander, "post for 12 March 2002", 13 Mar 2002
Q: 4. Will Final Words end the effect of The Iron Citadel?
A: Based on the ruling that Solar Eclipse doesn't, no. Replacing your Stronghold is like destroying a card: it's an instantaneous effect with long-lasting repurcussions rather than an ongoing effect. Jeff Alexander, "Rulings for 19 January 2001", 23 Jan 2001
Q: If I were to use the Ruined Fortress of the Scorpion as my stronghold, and then played The Iron Citadel while I had less than -20 honor, am I right in thinking that I would instantly lose the game?
A: Yes, but see http://www.legendofthefiverings.com/rul ... pell_cards, The Iron Citadel: "Functions normally on a Scorpion player who temporarily dipped to -20 Honor and had his base Province Strength reduced to 0, but has since brought his honor above -20." Zen Faulkes, "Ruined Fortress of the Scorpion", 18 Aug 2008