Centuries later
Bodies of horse and men were scattered across the battlefield, flags flying in the winds. The day began with the ferority of thunder and ended in the howl of the winds and the flow of blood. What was once hundred of thousands participants were reduced to mere thousands of survivors.
"So, this is it," Cyncynnatys said, looking at the king that was beheaded by one of his men. He didn't know who did the honor of killing of him, not whether he was a commonborn or of noble birth, dead or alive. With the exception of the person's name, ultimately he cared not. The social status of a person was less important than the deed. He will make sure to commemorate the unknown soldier later.
The Ymaryn came close to annihilation, but the horde was finally stopped.
He turned back to his men. "This isn't over. Rest, because tomorrow we will march. The eastern cities never turned their backs on us, but they paid a heavy price for their loyalty. We will search for survivors."
"Yes sir!" the army shouted as one.
He surveyed the weary urban poor turned levee soldiers and their officers he was forced to promote. So many nobles got killed in the war that he couldn't be picky.
At least the worst of that was over. Maybe Cyncynnatys will be able to retire to his estate after all of this, rest his tired body and soul.
He was certain that he did not want to be King at all.
The Ymaryn came close to annihilation! What value evolved or acquired?
[X][Value] Loyalty - It was the eastern cities' stubborn resistance that allowed the rest of the empire to survive intact.
[X][Value] Humbleness - The People thought themselves the strongest in the world, but there's always someone who's stronger than the People.
[X][Value] Preparation - It was the deep stores and high walls that allowed the People to last as long as they did.
[X][Value] Innovation - The People were brought low by never seen innovations of the Khan.
The court held their breath as the King read the news.
"My men had beheaded their King. The horde is-is-is defeated," the King of the People suttered. What was silence of the court as they held their breath soon broke out into cries and jubilation.
The King himself only felt relief that this crisis was over. He did not feel any emotion of joy.
Now to count the damage...
"What did you say?" the King asked. He caught the clerk's sour expression.
"We projected tax collection to be down by half due to not only destroyed cities but also due to losses that we incurred in the lowlands. We'll have to decide where to cut spending."
"AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!" the King screamed.
Where to cut spending?
[X][Spending] Decrease naval patrol and size. (Piracy will dramatically increase.)
[X][Spending] Decrease pay of standing armies, including the Banner companies. (Armed rebellion more likely, banditry increases)
[X][Spending] Decrease civil service. (Random economic damage)
It was such a small piece of land, not as grand as the estates of the higher nobility, though not too small that he would be rendered a peasant.
The small cadre of men who accompanied him, some of which are higher nobles, did not seem to mind that their general was of such low status.
"Are you really going to hang up your sword?" Quyiotus asked.
"Why not?" the general said. "I didn't come into this war desiring to be a commander. That is not the Gods' will. It just so happened that I need to become one."
"But with your victories, you could become King of the People!"
The general laughed. "King. My grandfather wanted to become King. Look where it got him and his family! I also know the rumored hardships of being King. I would age way before my time as stress takes its toll on me."
Then, as soon as his villa was in sight, he saw his wife out in the field, working along with the farmhands. It was a visibly much smaller force then he remembered, but mot importantly, there was his wife.
"Emmryn," the general muttered. He quickly dismounted. "Emmryn!" He ran toward her. His wife turned her head and stood up, embarcing her husband.
"You're back!" Emmryn said.
"I am back," Cyncynnatys affirmed, as tears flowed down on both of their face. At last, after years of relentless campaigning, he was finally home.
Parliament was somewhat diminished from the war. More than a few senators were much younger, filling in for their deceased fathers who led against the horde. Some of the eastern cities were outright missing due to their destructions. The only group that remained stable were the guilds and priests.
"I called this session to elect a new heir," the King announced. "The heir apparent had died in the campaign against the horde in the west."
Murmurs flowed, although the reaction were more subdued than last time. It was the third time that a heir had died in battle, each time parliament hurrily elected a man. The higher nobility suffered atrocious casualties throughout the war, yet there were a ready a flow of volunteers.
"Cyncynnatys!" one of the younger noble shouted, causing a stir.
"Outrageous!" an older patrician objected. "A yeoman to be King?"
"Why not? What about Phygriff and Uvothyn?"
The older man glared the new upstart for a second. "We are no longer in an emergency, and that man is the grandson of the disgraced general Cysco! He should never be king!"
The parliament soon quickly devolved into shouting.
"Silent!" the king shouted. "There [i]is[/i] a procedure for submitting a candidate for Kingship. General Cyncynnatys did relay to me that he did not want to be king."
"Bullshit!" someone else shouted.
Does Cyncynnatys become King?
[X][King] Yes. Cyncynnatys is displeased. Parliament is happy.
[X][King] No. Cyncynnatys is pleased. Parliament is unhappy.