ID: 251

Outcome: Narrow Victory

Open After Story: Yes

Manual Prompt: Yes

Text:

You became the new Sultan of this land, raised upon the golden throne by countless hands stained with mud and blood. A Sultan from the people, bound to serve the people. You ruled all, yet belonged to all.



After your coronation, your Vizier, [table.宰相.name] and you enacted reforms that shook the empire to its core. The most radical: the total abolition of slavery, and a decree that noble's power would be measured by the number of free subjects in their domains.



These policies were right, striking at tyranny's root where some were stripped of all power while others hoarded too much.



Yet what is right is not always welcome.



Disgruntled officials (of course they were displeased, they gained nothing!) twisted your words. To slaves, they said: "You are free, so take from the freemen! What is freedom otherwise?" To freemen, they whispered: "The Sultan rode to power on slaves' backs, so what sits the throne now but a baseborn usurper?"



Chaos spread. Some slaves didn't know the meaning of freedom and how to survive without their masters, slain by other slaves. Some slaves turned on freemen and nobles, who retaliated with private armies. Cities starved as supply lines frayed. Petty nobles and urban freemen who had never owned slaves found their children crying with hunger. The great nobles, already resentful of your reforms, stood aside. They withheld their soldiers and let slander flourish.



The crisis escalated. You exhausted yourself explaining your true intent...but none listened. The poor cursed you for denying them vengeance, idleness, or the thrill of crushing their betters. The rich said nothing, knowing you meant to take their privileges.



Then the mob came, bearing the last Sultan's banners. They dragged you from your palace, beat you down, and strung you up on a scaffold built just for you.



As death approached, you felt no pain. Only laughter.

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