Cult of the Flame

The Cult of the Flame is the spiritualist belief that the flame, or its energy, is a cyclical energy instead of eternal, and as the flame or energy at some point will end, it is always reborn in another form, just like some fires. Believers view the flame as the main entity of the religion. Devoted members of the cult are called "touched by the flame" and are revered as saints.

Origin
The Cult of the Flame originated in the mountainous region in northern Eldham and the swamps near them. It became a locally popular religion, competing with other more hierarchical religions.

The small Kingdoms in which the Cult was present did not give much importance to the cult since its members primarily lived in rural areas. Due to the economic influence of competing religions, the Kingoms outlawed the Cult of the Flame, inciting a civil conflict in which different faiths fought for the control of villages, plains, holy places, and cities in small-scale skirmishes. Many cult members relocated to avoid the fighting or formed militas. The conflict also saw the rise of a legalist faction seeking to hierarchize the cult. The faction, which was primarily based in urban areas faced wide spread resistance within the cult, many members of which believed a legalist organisational structure to be in conflict with the cult's religious teachings.

While the Cult of the Flame achieved a pyrrhic victory against a coalition of the Church of the Sun and the Church of the Flame and the Sun in the battle of the Nieszczelny Swamp, its forces were later overwhelmed and most of its shelters destroyed. The remaining elders and faithful decided to leave the it homeland and migrate to Eldham.

Beliefs
The doctrines of the flame are broad and depend on the preferences and abilities of the individual member. All faithful are expected to possess basic combat skills and be prepared and willing to contribute to the cult's military defense against hostile groups. Followers of the cult also bear a responsibility to build posts and signaling fires for travelers. This symbolizes the journey like smoke that travels with the wind expanding and reaching every corner and then falling and starting once more. Since bandits may destroy such resting spaces, they are commonly build in a simple but comfortable manner. Cult members usually carry a ligher on them to burn waste and light spontaneous fires, particularly during night time.

Organization
As the blieves of the Cult of the Flame emphasise the community of individual cult members, it is not centrally organized. Members gather in different places to discuss ideas and adress issues in the spirit of the cult's teachings. To facilitate this, they commonly arrange communal bonfires near their houses, allowing local cult chapters to engage in group meetings. While cult elders are revered among the cult, there are no official church positions or hierarchies.

Temples are used as a place of worship and to gather for social events, festivities and communal rituals. The Hariq temple is the oldest temple of the Flame. It was built by Algos Uwu on the border of the Confederation of Anarchist Communes and Yunria.