Iconoclast Revolt

The Iconoclast Revolt (ID 7780)
In ID 7780, Safrax joined the Council of Five. During that year he put forward for consideration the fact that the Sacred Five were being depicted in icon upon their alters as human. Safrax feared that this would anger the gods and estrange them from the Empire. The High Priest of the Five declared that the practice was no great insult, and the Inquisitors of Bahamut confirmed that it was no heresy. Despite this, the council voted 2/2 with one abstention. By custom, the High Priest cast the decisive vote, reaffirming his earlier position.

A few days after the vote Safrax met with the foremost among his followers, and expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome of the vote. Under their own initiative, his followers sent word throughout the Empire. The next few nights saw armed men forcing their way to the offending alters, and the human-form icons of the gods were smashed with hammers.

Over the following weeks, efforts to deescalate the violence failed. Religious fundamentalists rallied around the Iconoclast; cities either declared for the Council of Five or for Safrax. Armies loyal to Safrax took the field and attacked loyalist holdings, while Imperial forces fought to defend against the Iconoclasts.

After several months the Council, with the help of Safrax, managed to end the violence. However, the damage had been done. The Empire was more divided than ever, and thousands had died. Safrax took responsibility for the revolt, even though he had never ordered it, and had actively opposed it the entire time. The Council voted unanimously to exile Safrax and his chief supporters for an indefinite period. Safrax lead them south, and was largely unheard of for many years.