Freedom Heresy

Roots of the Freedom Heresy

In 324AE Crescencia i Marusa i Riqueza a Freeborn priest of the briar lineage began to preach the heresy of freedom. She acquired several followers despite the overt opposition of the Synod. Her particular take on the false virtue of freedom was that individuals should be free to do whatever they wanted without regard to the wishes of others, and that the briar people should live apart from the rest of the Empire in their own state or nation.

The heresy attracted a number of followers, a majority of whom have the briar lineage.

Rebellion

In 325AE, Crescencia and her followers including a Dawnish general named Lord Geoffrey of House Casillon, attempted to sieze control of several castles on either side of the eastern border between Dawn Territories#Semmerholm and the barrens. They intended to use the castles to establish a briar free-state. Their coup was bloody, resulting in the deaths of many soldiers who refused to support the briar cause.

Reprisals were swift and bloody. An Imperial force lead by Lady Marthe de Cervise attacked the briars and drove them out of the castles. They retreated into the barrens, establishing a community there and calling for briars, seccessionists and "lovers of freedom" from across the Empire to join them.

While the Synod and the Dawnish and Highborn senators pushed for a major military campaign against the briars, other voices were less convinced. The Navarr in particular were convinced the problem would "sort itself out, given time."

The End of the REbellion

In Winter 327AE, a massive force of orc barbarians attacked the briar free-state and their heretical supporters. Any humans who were not killed were carried away as slaves.