| Canon Appearances |
Island in the Mist, Part 3 by Rich Wulf
L5R Four Winds Era - A Perfect Cut
comments: Nimuro's first active appearance within the storyline takes place during a combat instruction flashback wherein Ikoma Otemi learns the value of unconventional resourcefulness. Following the training sequence, Nimuro discusses the difficulties facing the Lion Clan with the elderly daimyo Ikoma Sume. It's always interesting to catch glimpses of the burdens of leadership, whenever affiliated power players meet behind the scenes to assess the situation and share mutual concerns.
Complications by Rich Wulf
L5R Four Winds Era - An Oni's Fury
comments: Yet another private meeting establishes Nimuro's capacity for political maneuvering, via cautious interaction with one of the most dangerous courtiers in Rokugan - Bayushi Yojiro, the Honest Scorpion.
Lion Clan Letter #17
L5R Imperial Herald v2 #2
comments: In response to the Tsuno invasion of the Hall of Ancestors and the kidnapping of Nimuro's younger brother Matsu Domotai, the Lion Champion orders a full-scale assault against the Tsuno forces. Kinda cool in the sense that it was written from Nimuro in the first person, but he says nothing unexpected.
Battle for Otosan Uchi, Part 2 by Rich Wulf and Shawn Carman
L5R Four Winds Era - Broken Blades
comments: At the gates of the Forbidden City, Nimuro faces Daigotsu's personal yojimbo Goju Kyoden, Obsidian Champion. The ensuing duel is one of the most exciting one-on-one confrontations in L5R fiction. Despite being Nimuro's very first battle story, it marks him as an absolutely lethal opponent.
Revelation by Rich Wulf and Shawn Carman
L5R Four Winds Era - Broken Blades
comments: The Battle for Otosan Uchi continues. Toturi Tsudao, daughter of Emperor Toturi the First and Commander of the First Imperial Legion, says hi to Nimuro. That Daigotsu fellow sure is evil.
Lion Clan Letter #20
L5R Imperial Herald v2 #5
comments: In the aftermath of the Battle for Otosan Uchi, it becomes apparent that Daigotsu's handiwork is irreversible. Nimuro makes the painful decision of declaring the former Imperial City a lost cause. It really is quite difficult to achieve anything resembling a complete victory in Rokugan. There's always a price.
Immortal Steel by Shawn Carman
L5R Four Winds Era - Fall of Otosan Uchi
comments: Although this one is more of a Crane story, it introduces the important friendship between Nimuro and Doji Kurohito, laying the groundwork for the current alliance between the Lion and the Crane.
A Lion's Honor by Shawn Carman and Rich Wulf
L5R Four Winds Era - Heaven and Earth
comments: Matsu Domotai is Nimuro's younger brother and this is his story - a matter of duty and a family matter. Pure awesome. Ok, no more spoilers. Go read it.
Rebuilding the Empire by Rich Wulf
L5R Four Winds Era - Heaven and Earth
comments: Why is it so entertaining to watch military clan champions bully the Imperial Court without any use of violence? Whenever Nimuro or Hida Kisada or Doji Kuwanan make an entrance, all the politicians in the room simply fall silent. There's something very cool about that moment of silence.
A New Emperor by Rich Wulf
L5R Four Winds Era - Winds of Change
comments: Nimuro makes one minor cameo during the naming of the new Emperor. Akodo Kaneka, illegitimate son of Emperor Toturi the First and Shogun of the Emperor's armies, says bye to Nimuro.
Rebuilding the Court by Shawn Carman
L5R Four Winds Era - Winds of Change
comments: Every Great Clan receives word that the Imperial Court has been reconvened, and reacts accordingly. The Lion segment is brief but eventful. Nimuro makes a good choice, creating an interesting and enduring character in the process. No easy task, when referring to a Lion courtier. Scientists may one day harness the repulsive force between the words "interesting," "Lion," and "courtier" to power entire planets.
Return of the Master by Rich Wulf and Shawn Carman
L5R Bloodspeaker Saga - Diamond Edition - Rulebook Fiction
comments: Diamond Edition starts with a mysterious explosion in the Imperial City of Toshi Ranbo, challenging Nimuro and Kurohito to preserve their alliance despite evidence against the Daidoji.
A Hero Rises by Rich Wulf
L5R Bloodspeaker Saga - Reign of Blood
comments: Amidst the fires of Toshi Ranbo, Akodo Ieshige sets a heroic example worthy of Nimuro's personal recommendation to be appointed district governor by Emperor Naseru.
Blood Dawn, Part V: Bonds of Honor by Rich Wulf
L5R Bloodspeaker Saga - Reign of Blood
comments: Deep within the sacred Kitsu Tombs, the False Nimuro is summoned into existence by the irreflective actions of Kitsu Juri and Matsu Nimuro. In a single instant, the fate of the entire Lion Clan is cast into chaos indefinitely. Too bad Nimuro's sister Matsu Satomi can't count high enough to put two and two together. Matsu Turi is such a jerk. Figures that the Dark Oracle of Water would go around trying to get hot samurai girls to stand in the rain. Did Kage talk him into compiling his own wet T-shirt calendar?
Lion Clan Letter #23
L5R Imperial Herald v2 #12
comments: Since Tamago secretly assumed Nimuro's name and position, several high-ranking Lion officers have begun to notice the Lion Champion acting more and more erratically. Daimyo Akodo Shigetoshi writes to the Shogun about his lord's recent strange behavior, hoping that Nimuro's old friend Kaneka might personally visit the Lion Champion to ensure his health.
Violence Behind Courtliness by Shawn Carman and Rich Wulf
L5R Bloodspeaker Saga - Wrath of the Emperor
comments: Although Tamago himself does not appear in this story, the influence of his unstable psyche permeates his every decision. Reaching all the way back to the Imperial Court, the False Champion's whims doom Akodo Shusaku to a certain death on the battlefield against the Unicorn armies.
The War of the Rich Frog, Part Five by Rich Wulf
L5R Bloodspeaker Saga - Wrath of the Emperor
comments: Where Matsu Nimuro's cunning commanded the respect of a former Scorpion Clan Champion, the dim-witted Tamago is reduced to a puppet on a string by the machinations of Bayushi Kaukatsu, the Imperial Chancellor. Coerced into active participation in the mismanaged war against the Unicorn, the False Nimuro eagerly marches towards an inescapably fatal confrontation with the Unicorn Clan Champion.
The War of the Rich Frog, Part Six by Shawn Carman and Rich Wulf
L5R Bloodspeaker Saga - Web of Lies
comments: Tamago pulls some cool stunts and his reckless aggression takes Moto Chagatai by surprise, but in the end it's not enough. The Khan outsmarts the False Nimuro and slays him in battle, with the combined forces of the Lion and Unicorn Clans looking on. Maybe Tamago should have hatched a better plan than "HULK SMASH!!!" It's good that you're laughing because the whole thing is actually quite depressing.
Champions of Bushido, Part One by Shawn Carman
L5R Bloodspeaker Saga - Enemy of My Enemy
comments: Ikoma Fujimaro and Matsu Masutaro report to Nimuro's private war room, where they are assigned a mission that will identify them as the Champions of Gi (Honesty) and Yu (Courage), respectively. An interesting story, but the Lion Champion plays a relatively minor role, a mere formality.
Forgotten by Shawn Carman
L5R Bloodspeaker Saga - Code of Bushido
comments: After months of captivity, the true Matsu Nimuro ensnares the careless daimyo Kitsu Juri and escapes from the Kitsu Tombs. Coming to terms with the realization that his place among the Lion has been lost, Nimuro sets out to find his destiny as a ronin. Calling himself Tamago, he arrives at a small village in search of the ronin woman Utagawa, who happens to be in quite the confrontational mood.
News of Rokugan, Circa Lotus Edition by Rich Wulf
L5R Imperial Herald v2 #17
comments: In a report to Emperor Naseru, Miya Shoin, the Imperial Herald, recaps the meeting between Nimuro and Utagawa, albeit with far less detail. Of course, it's all based on hearsay so neither party knows the true identity of the ronin called Tamago. Still, at least Nimuro's peacekeeping efforts are being noticed.
A Legion Reborn by Nancy Sauer and Fred Wan
L5R Age of Enlightenment - Rise of the Shogun
comments: Every single time that Nimuro has the opportunity to speak yet chooses to remain silent, it makes me unreasonably happy. First off, he's supposed to be undercover so he really shouldn't be trying to be the life of the party. Second, as long as the others are doing a satisfactory job of constructing battle plans, why should he interfere? He's won so many tactician trophies back in the day, that he should be perfectly content to let the kids figure things out for themselves. A little bit of subtle guidance is all it takes. Great story!
Test of the Emerald Champion, Between-Round Fiction Snippets by the L5R Story Team
L5R Race for the Throne - Samurai Edition - Gen Con Indy 2007 Readings
comments: While this brief interlude reveals Nimuro's disinterest in attaining the title of Emerald Champion, his level of involvement in the contest itself remains ambiguous. The most likely interpretation suggests that Shinjo Shono granted a single invitation to the ronin pair. By insisting that Utagawa use it to enter the tournament, it would seem that Nimuro intends to remain a silent spectator.
Test of the Emerald Champion, Part One by Brian Yoon and Fred Wan
L5R Race for the Throne - Samurai Edition
comments: Nimuro shares an interesting conversation with Shiba Naoya, twin brother of the recently deceased Phoenix Clan Champion Shiba Mirabu. The solemn setting of Shinden Osano-Wo brings out the subtle symmetry between the ties that bind each of them to their respective clan championships. It's deep so it makes up for the total absence of plot progression. Now how does Nimuro manage to raise so many eyebrows without looking goofy? Maxed out Rank 5 samurai drama game face skills, that's how!
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"There is no honor without victory. There is no victory without honor." – Matsu Nimuro
L5R Diamond Edition - Lion Clan Starter Deck
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