Mock Story Team, Kolat Scenario

"The Kolat has infiltrated the Empire for centuries. Loyalists who uncover the Kolat's plots are faced with an uncomfortable dilemma. Do you confront the Kolat publicly, thereby embarrassing the Empire and undermining trust in the Imperial bureaucracy? Or do you fight against the Kolat secretly, thereby tying one hand behind your back?

Both strategies are not ideal, but in Rokugan, saving face is more important than effectiveness. So far, loyalists prefer to fight the Kolat secretly, preferring to stay in the shadows than risk an open confrontation that would ruin both sides.

But now the Empire is falling apart. The two Imperial heirs are missing, the Shadowlands are invading, and Shoju occupies Ostan Uchi. The destruction of the Imperial bureaucracy, and the resulting power vacuum, now gives the Kolat a perfect opportunity to strike.

The Imperial loyalists must revisit the uncomfortable dilemma."

(A) Reveal the Kolat's existence and fight them openly

The Empire’s glorious reputation is already in tatters, and there’s no point defending it any further. What’s more important is preventing the Kolat from seizing control over Rokugan and implementing their tyrannical ideas. We should be prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice if it means weakening the Kolat in the process.

Consequences: The Empire is plunged further into crisis as Kolat's agents are publicly purged by Imperial agents.

(B) Adhere to tradition and keep waging the secret war against the Kolat

The enemy of my enemy is still my enemy, and we cannot let the Kolat expand their influence. Yet, we also cannot expose the Kolat’s infiltration of the Imperial bureaucracy, and thereby let all our enemies triumph. The traditional approach has worked for us so far, and the Empire has faced more challenging circumstances before.

Consequences: Nothing happens, good or bad.

(C) Temporarily ally with the Kolat

We will work with the Kolat and help them restore peace and order in Rokugan. It’s unclear how long our collaboration with them with last, but strange times make for strange bedfellows, and the destruction of Rokugan is nobody's interests.

Consequences: Imperial loyalists and the Kolat uneasily works together, ensuring that Rokugan gains some sort of stability and is better able to fight against other threats. The Kolat uses its resources to hep keep order, while converting some Imperial loyalists to the idea of installing a non-Hantei claimant to the throne.

(D) Ignore the Kolat...for now

Waging a war against the Kolat, covert or overt, is now a waste of time when we are faced with more pressing threats. However, we will never betray our oaths to the Hantei by allying with the Kolat. Let the Kolat expand unchecked for now, and instead use our resources to fight against all the other threats to the Empire. When those threats are destroyed, only then we can turn our might against this menace.

Consequences: Imperial loyalists focuses their efforts on fighting other threats. The Kolat expands unchecked and does not use its resources to keep order in the Empire.