| Faith In My Clan |
Why do i have this card listed as a Nimuro reference, when the flavor text clearly cites the confrontation between Matsu Shinya and Shiba Aikune?
The simplest explanation is that the Lion Clan Samurai in the illustration looks exactly like Nimuro and nothing like Shinya. He's got Nimuro's headgear, Nimuro's armor, Nimuro's distinctive arm coverings, and Nimuro's gigantic sword. He certainly doesn't have Shinya's face paint, Shinya's exposed arms, Shinya's wrist bandages, or Shinya's stylin' khaki pants.
Furthermore, the playable Action card text mandates the presence of a Clan Champion. As the sole reigning Lion Clan Champion, Matsu Nimuro evidently possessed the remarkable ability to nullify the chemical and magical effects of fire by yelling at it. Although Shinya was quite gifted at swordlessly cutting down millions of dry grasses per minute, his fire management vocal skills left much to be desired.
It's entirely possible that the Story Team's original intent was to place Nimuro in the midst of the Lion/Phoenix conflict for a brief period of time. Maybe plans changed and they ended up featuring a minor Lion character instead. Judging by the scene depicted on the card, it looks like Aikune would've tried to burninate the Lion army but Nimuro may have ensured the survival of his troops. I mean, i don't think they were ever going to develop a Nimuro vs Aikune rivalry but i imagine those two did see each other briefly during the course of battle.
Anyway, that's enough unsupported speculation. We'll probably never find out what story that painting was really meant to represent.
However, i do have one last bit of evidence to present. I explicitly asked Llyn Hunter, the artist responsible for that card illustration, whether or not the character depicted in her painting was actually Nimuro. Here is her reply, word for word:
"No worries it's Nimuro. I was asked to do it off of Brian Snoddy's art, that's why I suggested you contact him for his piece. Technically, he created the visual for the character. I'm afraid it is the only piece I've been asked to do of him. Most of the male lions are my creations. I wish I had another of Nimuro for you, but that's it." -- Llyn Hunter
As far as i'm concerned, that statement is more than enough reason to include the card on this website. With Nimuro making so few confirmed appearances in L5R CCG illustrations, i simply don't see a reason to leave this one out, even if there is some speculation involved in establishing a link.
Besides, it looks cool! Aren't you curious how your favorite character would handle being set on fire? Of course you are. Everyone is. That's why every video game has a lava stage.
When you're ready to go back to the main page, click here. (Yes i know how ghetto that sentence looks.)
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