A topic from AEG's L5R CCG Rules forum, copied for Oracle of the Void from a copy of the forum saved in October 2015, so pages it didn't save are missing. Players' names are left out; the rules officials are named. Rulings are as they stood on these dates; later rulings, the rulebooks and the Rules Archive may differ.
A player, 5 April 2011
I'm running out of Embassy of the Crane.
My opponent uses Ambush to attack one of my Personalities.
I declare Steel On Steel in the ensuing battle to duel the ambusher with my ambushed Personality.
Do I gain the Focus Value bonus from Embassy of the Crane, as the Battle phase created by Ambush is technically within the Actions phase, or does the Battle created stop it being the Actions phase for the purposes of the bonus?
Embassy of the Crane Your Fate cards in and out of play have +1 Focus Value during the Action Phase
Ambush Limited: Target your unbowed Personality: Create a battlefield (not at any province). Assign your Personality's unit to attack there. Assign another player’s target unit to defend there, even if its Personality is bowed. Other units will not move there. Fight a battle there (after this action's resolution). After the battle ends, lose 5 Honor.
A player, 5 April 2011
Do I gain the Focus Value bonus from Embassy of the Crane, as the Battle phase created by Ambush is technically within the Actions phase[?]
Yes, for the stated reason.
Zen Faulkes (rules official), 5 April 2011
I'm running out of Embassy of the Crane.
My opponent uses Ambush to attack one of my Personalities.
I declare Steel On Steel in the ensuing battle to duel the ambusher with my ambushed Personality.
Do I gain the Focus Value bonus from Embassy of the Crane, as the Battle phase created by Ambush is technically within the Actions phase, or does the Battle created stop it being the Actions phase for the purposes of the bonus?
Embassy of the Crane Your Fate cards in and out of play have +1 Focus Value during the Action Phase
Ambush Limited: Target your unbowed Personality: Create a battlefield (not at any province). Assign your Personality's unit to attack there. Assign another player’s target unit to defend there, even if its Personality is bowed. Other units will not move there. Fight a battle there (after this action's resolution). After the battle ends, lose 5 Honor.
Before anyone asks, no, this does not mean you can play Limited or Open actions during an Ambush.
http://rules.l5r.com/CE_Battles#Battles: "When a battle is created in a phase other than the Attack Phase, rules for taking actions during Combat Segments override rules for taking actions in that phase, but it is still that phase (see Additional phase or segment).
"Example: During a battle created by a card effect during the Action Phase, you may not take Limited actions, because they may not be played during the Combat Segment. You may, however, take Reactions during this battle that look for triggers 'during the Action Phase.'"