Taldryan: Sins of an Empire Prelude Intro Crawl

Narrative Background

In the shadows of a once-thriving society, where the echoes of progress were drowned in the symphony of despair, a new chapter unfolded — one drenched in darkness and fear. A movement known as Denosianism, a clandestine group that emerged from the abyss of discontent under the leadership of Gander Denos, had seized control of the planet's reins from the Dalicron Sector High Advisory Council after being voted into power by those who once thought they would be their saviors. Initially, they had promoted just causes and worked to benefit the sector’s people as a whole regardless of rank, position, job, or even social class.

Once the Denosiasts had been confirmed as the next ruling class of Dalicron, all of that changed. As their ominous banners unfurled across towering buildings, casting an oppressive pallor over the urban landscape, the denizens found themselves ensnared in a dystopian nightmare.

The air, once alive with the hum of everyday life, now whispered with trepidation. The Denosiasts, now openly identifying as the Human League which was fueled by an insatiable hunger for dominance, initiated a relentless crackdown on the civilian populace -- particularly against those who were not human, with public executions in the streets and on holonet channels. The planet's once-vibrant streets became haunting corridors of surveillance and oppression, with every step echoing the weight of impending doom; especially for all non-humanoids that resided there.

The citizens began to grapple with the harsh reality of their newfound existence, with fear gripping their hearts like a vice. The Human League wielded power with ruthless efficiency, much like the Empire had decades earlier. Rumors of dissent were quashed before they could breathe life, dissenters and aliens alike disappearing into the shadows, leaving behind nothing but an eerie silence and murmurs of what could have happened.

As the power that Denosianism held spread throughout system by system, the line between freedom and captivity blurred. Dalicron, once a haven for dreams and aspirations, now stood as a testament to the twisted ambitions of those who reveled in the chaos they wrought. And so, the inhabitants clung to the remnants of hope, their collective heartbeat drumming a desperate rhythm in the face of an impending storm.

The tendrils of their oppressive regime extended into the vast expanse of the Dalicron Sector, a once-flourishing region of interconnected worlds and systems. The shadow of the Human League cast a pall over planets that had known nothing but autonomy and sovereignty under the Council.

Their expansion was swift and methodical, like a relentless storm sweeping across the cosmic tapestry. Subjugating neighboring worlds and systems, little was left in their wake a trail of fear and submission. Planetary leaders, once defiant voices of independence, found themselves either coerced into compliance or swiftly replaced by puppet rulers loyal to the newfound overlords.

The once-diverse cultures that flourished across the Dalicron Sector now faced a uniformity enforced by the League. Striking at the heart of individuality, the group sought to erase the unique tapestry of each and every planet and system, replacing it with a monolithic ideology that brooked no dissent.

Communication channels that once buzzed with interstellar trade and cultural exchange became conduits for propaganda and surveillance. The League orchestrated a symphony of control, with every planet forced to march to the cadence of their authoritative tune.

Resistance movements flickered like distant stars, small and scattered against the overwhelming darkness. These pockets of defiance clung to the hope that unity could stand against tyranny. They quickly became a beacon of collaboration and resistance, to stand in direct defiance of the League. However, as the areas under rebel control continued to fall one by one, its future remained uncertain. Its denizens yearned for the day when the shadows would lift, and autonomy would be reclaimed from the clutches of oppression. To that end, several of the rebel factions reached out to the Taldryan Republic in the neighboring Seitia Sector for assistance. And, the Republic did indeed respond. But not how they had expected.

In a strategic move, the Taldryan Republic Naval Fleet established a formidable blockade along the sector line between the Seitia and Dalicron Sectors. It was a symbolic stance on paper only, a line drawn in the cosmic sand against the relentless march of the Denosiast regime. The blockade became a beacon of defiance, a testament to the resilience of those who cherished the ideals of self-determination.

While the Human league sought to expand their dominion, the Taldryan Republic refrained from direct military intervention in the Dalicron Sector. Instead, they heeded the strict degree of the Senate to remain neutral. Despite the pleas for assistance from the beleaguered planets of Dalicron, the Taldryan Republic maintained a careful balance, holding fast to the principles of non-aggression stipulated by the Senate until a time when the League would breach the sector line.

The blockade, maintained by Taldryan and Seitian forces, became a buffer zone between the oppressive reach of the League and served to weaken the flickering flame of hope kindled by the rebel forces within Dalicron. The decision to refrain from direct involvement left a bitter taste among those who yearned for liberation in Dalicron, especially the Traditionalists and Lady Second Cassandra Tyris. They both argued that a calculated approach was necessary to prevent the conflict from escalating into a galactic conflagration. With those requests falling upon deaf ears, they instead turned to diplomacy, urging the Senate to explore diplomatic channels, seeking support from other sectors and systems sympathetic to the cause of freedom.

After hours of deliberation an effort to attempt and defuse the situation was agreed upon, and a small diplomatic force was created and sent to the Frelos system within the Dalicron Sector to meet with General Kael Durran, Denos’ Second-In-Command, on board the Imperial Star Destroyer “Dominion’s Wrath”. What will come of that meeting, has yet to be seen…

Prelude Competition Details

This one-month event will exist as the prelude to this fall's upcoming Sins of an Empire: Episode 1 - Rebellion's Edge, and will run from June 3rd until July 1st.

Inside this container will be three sub containers:

• Event Long which will run through the entire event
  
• Phase 1 which will run from June 1st until June 17th
• Phase 2 which will run from June 17th until July 1st

In addition to the competitions, there will be a Roleplay event taking place concurrently that will begin on the Dominion's Wrath and proceed through the core prelude story. The objective of the RP will be to conduct diplomatic negotiations and calm the situation within the Frelos system.

Your participation in this event as well as decisions/actions made within the RP itself will affect the conclusion for this event, and specifically determine how Episode 1 begins this fall. Competitions that affect the outcome will have more details within each one with participation thresholds, while what outcome that comes from each will not be announced until post-event.

That said, there is also a overall participation threshold tied to this container; beginning at each of the following:

• 7, 12, 17, 21, and 26 members participating.

Winning entries for each comp will earn 5 points, 2nd will earn 4, and 3rd will earn 3 while everything else will earn one point, which placement in this competition will be based on overall point totals.

In the event of a tie, placements will be broken down by the most 1st place completions, 2nd, then 3rd if needed.

Good luck, and have fun everyone!