9.27 Iconoclasm: pious aggression against holy targets.

Iconoclasm is the destruction of divine or holy items - such as statues erected in a god's honour, bearing their likeness, or icons holy to a certain deity. The iconoclast will gain favour for his/her patron, will do some harm to the god whose holy image is attacked, and will deprive the opposing Order and indeed the world at large of any benefit from the iconic holy item. It is a dangerous business, a fine line to tread, being an iconoclast for there is ever the risk of angering a deity if the action is deemed to cross that fatal rubicon of open disrespect; and as all mortals discover - usually young in their Avalon life - incurring the wrath of a god is a deadly serious affair. Iconoclasm cannot be undertaken by pacifists or those with duellist status.

Syntax: SMASH STATUE.
Most likely you will find divine statues dotted around the land, often centered around holy locations of a particular deity. These statues will bear an obvious likeness to a certain divinity and you may wish to turn iconoclast against them. To do so you will need to wield a holy icon (or certain other suitable weapons) and, in the presence of the statue, attempt to SMASH it. It is no easy task - often one better undertaken with companions - for the divine statues have been empowered with festival blessing (see HELP FESTIVALS) and will resist any attempt to destroy them. If, however, you are successful you will ensure glory and danger in equal measure.

It is advisable not to intrude on those locations designated the temples 'proper' of a deity whose Order you consider your enemy, or whose persona you wish to assault. Temples are often sanctuaries and this protection tends to extend to statues erected within them - temple defilement is a dangerous game. Those statues outside of specific holy locations, however, are generally considered fair targets and tend to be defended by mortal steel and flame rather than divine wrath.

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