In the months since the incident in the Frelos System where diplomatic efforts had deteriorated due to a trap set by the Human League, war has enveloped the Taldryan Republic and the League. Skirmishes have broken out across the Seitia, Saijo, and Dalicron Sectors as the two sides committed to the outcome.

It was the hope of many within Taldryan that this would see the League’s darkness removed from the galaxy, bringing peace once more to the region. In an unexpected move however, the Taldryan Senate secured enough votes due to the efforts of the Republic Loyalists to create what became known as the Neutral Zone and put a request to the Taldryan Republic Administrative Council to use it as a buffer line to protect Republic Sectors.

This Neutral Zone would span the length of the Sector borders of Seitia and Saijo, with its connection to Dalicron. Its reach would span far into Dalicron territory, and the same into Seitia and Saijo. With over three-fourths majority support of the Taldryan Administrative Council, the lone dissent coming from the Lady Second and Supreme Chancellor Cassandra Oriana Taldrya, the resolution was agreed upon and all further incursions beyond its boundaries into the Dalicron Sector were restricted. This decision confused both the Seitia Federation and Kingdom of Saijo, members of the Republic, whom both had fully backed the war effort.

The Taldryan Republic Naval Fleet was pulled back to the Zone’s boundaries and ordered to remain until the construction of outposts to monitor it could be completed. Dissenting efforts were pushed by the Traditionalists as well as the Lady Second after numerous calls for aid were given from worlds just beyond the Neutral Zone on the border of Dalicron, but the Administrative Council refused to dispatch Republic forces beyond the zone’s edge as did the Senate.

The key argument that the worlds and systems within Seitia were seeing the longest times of peace that had ever encountered, and the influx of credits from exports and imports were allowing them to see the strongest golden age they had thus to date. Because of this, an overwhelming majority felt negotiations were the strongest path forward to end the war and not step even further into the mess created by the former Vice-Chancellor. To go to war would see that period end, and do nothing but bring even more conflict which the people did not want.

Relations between the Republic Loyalists and the Traditionalists continued to spiral out of control, with promises that they would dispatch their forces to help those calling for aid within the zone if the Republic would not act, a decision that infuriated the Loyalist hard-liners. Following this decision, conflicts began to arise on various worlds within the Seitia Sector that held allegiances or were a part of the Traditionalists. Shipping delays, reduced supply influxes due to supply chain issues, increased inspection and security check times often for every single vessel, cancelled purchase agreements, factory and workplace accidents and more.

Knowing the dangers of acting against protocol, Lady Second Cassandra Oriana Taldrya continued her efforts to persuade the Administrative Council and the Senate to change its path, back the war effort, and bring an end to the in-fighting. She was convinced that something more was going on as with the full might of the Taldryan Military, it would not be difficult to win the war. Dalicron pursuing this path willingly and openly made no sense unless something else was waiting in the shadows, and the increased stress with the Traditionalists would do nothing but lead to conflict internally that benefitted no one.

Unfortunately as expected, the Council did not heed her warnings or comments with Vice-Chair Frei-Jar all but accusing her of being a Traditionalist herself and a warmonger if she continued this debate. And while some supported her in the Senate, she could not secure enough votes to make anything happen. Her frustrations began to mount, with a very clear understanding that if nothing changed it was a matter of time before a full-on conflict occurred between the Loyalists and the Traditionalists. All while the League became larger and more stronger as more systems within Dalicron would fall to their advancements.

All the while as the Senate, Council, and the Lady Second argue and deliberate; the fallout is already underway for the citizens and Taldryanites of the Republic across all worlds. Ramifications of the decisions are in play, with direct cause-and-effect changes either disrupting, aggravating, benefitting, or even doing nothing allowing the status-quo to continue for everyone.

Some may choose to take sides in the growing conflict and push the split even wider. While what happens on the grand stage of things is set...what will you do on the smaller stage? Who are you, and what is your purpose? Your allegiances? What does the war mean to you, or how is it affecting you? Why?

The stage is yours.

What happens in the next month is entirely up to the individual and your own actions and decisions. Some questions to keep in mind as you progress through this event: "Why am I here?" "What am I doing?" "Who am I doing it for?"

This event will span a duration of Three Weeks and Two Phases.

• The Drums of War will run from October 11th until November 1st.
  
• Phase 1 will be from October 11th until October 21st.
  
• Phase 2 will be from October 22nd until November 1st.
  

Placements in each competition will award the following points, and will be divided as follows:
* Competition points will determine Phase Bin Placement.
* Overall Competition points will determine Parent (this) Competition Placement.

• 1st Place: 5 Points
  
• 2nd Place: 4 Points
  
• 3rd Place: 3 Points
  
• 4th Place: 2 Points
  
• Participation: 1 Point
  

In the event of a tie, placement will be determined by the greater number of 1st place placements, followed by 2nd, then 3rd if needed.