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, 26 February 2012
If a courtier upon whom I have played Shadow Court is destroyed, and the card drawn is Words Have Strength, can I immediately play it as a reaction to the destruction of the courtier?
The Shadow Court:
Battle: Choose your performing defending Courtier and target an enemy Personality: Bow him. After the next time this turn another player's action or a battle resolution destroys your Courtier, draw a card, and choose a player, who gains or loses 2 Honor.
Words Have Strength:
You may only play one copy of Words Have Strength in reaction to any one resolution. Reaction: After a battle's resolution, or the resolution of another player's Battle action, if the resolution or action destroyed any of your Courtiers or Magistrates: Choose a player who loses 3 Honor.
Many thanks in advance.
Ben Higgins (rules official), 2 March 2012
If a courtier upon whom I have played Shadow Court is destroyed, and the card drawn is Words Have Strength, can I immediately play it as a reaction to the destruction of the courtier?
The Shadow Court:
Battle: Choose your performing defending Courtier and target an enemy Personality: Bow him. After the next time this turn another player's action or a battle resolution destroys your Courtier, draw a card, and choose a player, who gains or loses 2 Honor.
Words Have Strength:
You may only play one copy of Words Have Strength in reaction to any one resolution. Reaction: After a battle's resolution, or the resolution of another player's Battle action, if the resolution or action destroyed any of your Courtiers or Magistrates: Choose a player who loses 3 Honor.
Many thanks in advance.
Yes, more than likely.
Most destruction from effects happens while the action or battle is still resolving.
In your broad example, you would draw the Words Have Strength before the action that killed your Personality finished resolving, where at you could then play Words Have Strength, based on it's own trigger (After a battle's resolution, or the resolution of another player's Battle action,...).