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, 10 February 2012
the situation is:
player A has used a Suitengu's Torch reaction on an thunder action
player B plays The Power of a Word reaction
Can player A choose to negate his action that cannot be negated and make The Power of a Word reaction not working at all?
Suitengu's Torch Thunder Reaction: After you announce a Thunder Battle action: Its effects will n ot be negated or delayed. Battle: Choose your performing unbowed Personality and target an enemy Personality: Move him home.
The Power of a Word Political Reaction: After another player's Battle action targets your Courtier: The player may choose to lose 3 Honor. If he did not choose this, negate the action's effects. Battle: Target one to three enemy dishonorable Personalities: The shadow of their shame shall fall on their shoulders. Move them home.
Jon Palmer (rules official), 11 February 2012
the situation is:
player A has used a Suitengu's Torch reaction on an thunder action
player B plays The Power of a Word reaction
Can player A choose to negate his action that cannot be negated and make The Power of a Word reaction not working at all?
Suitengu's Torch Thunder Reaction: After you announce a Thunder Battle action: Its effects will n ot be negated or delayed. Battle: Choose your performing unbowed Personality and target an enemy Personality: Move him home.
The Power of a Word Political Reaction: After another player's Battle action targets your Courtier: The player may choose to lose 3 Honor. If he did not choose this, negate the action's effects. Battle: Target one to three enemy dishonorable Personalities: The shadow of their shame shall fall on their shoulders. Move them home.
Yes, he can.
The Power of a Word says "if he did not choose this". It doesn't say the negation needed to be successful. As long as the Suitengu's Torch player chooses the negation, even knowing it will fail, he does not lose the 3 honor.