Flarism

= Flarism = Flarism is a religion based on worshiping the entity, Flare. The Faith believes that Flare created all living things, before isolating himself in an unknown island called the "Absent Island". The current goal of flarists is to search for the absent island, as it is believed that the country that controls the island inherited the power of Flare, and holds the ability to change the world.

The Creation of Flarism
A wandering hermit was riding a boat from the coast of Plagos when they found himself drawn to a small island south of them. Upon landing, they found the island was empty of any civilization, with no trace of any human’s previous dwelling there. What they did find instead was a being, who flarists now call "Flare the All-Present", meditating on the center of the island.

The hermit held only a brief conversation with Flare before the All-Present walked into the sea, never to be seen or heard from again. The only evidence of his existence are the 12 sentences Flare spoke. The hermit briefly left the island in a failed attempt to look for him, but in doing so, lost the exact position of the island, and so now flarists do not know for sure where Flare lived in his isolation.

After looking for Flare for weeks, The hermit decided to give up and study the All-Present's words instead. For more than a year, the hermit isolated themselves studying the 12 sentences Flare spoke, now referred to by flarists as the twelve "Axioms of Flare." Upon returning to civilization, they published the "Theogony and Elegy of Flare," an interpretation of the Axioms of Flare, with the goal of spreading the message of Flarism and finding the Absent Island.

The 12 Axioms of Flare

 * 1) I was Flare, the omnipresent. The earth feared me as the ocean worshiped me.
 * 2) I was the first child of Rathnir but not the last, born deep beneath the sea, yet I existed throughout the plains of this realm
 * 3) I chose this absent island for it is holy, it be where the magical powers of this realm interfere.
 * 4) I arrived to protect the omniscient. For I love them even if they do not.
 * 5) I am the father of the omniscient. I am compassionate yet they are ruthless.
 * 6) I rest in the only peace. My absence is my compassion.
 * 7) I defend myself from the omniscient. Here they see me not.
 * 8) I live here for as long as the island stands, for it supports me.
 * 9) I will be the savior of man. For if he wishes to live and he is pious I will stop him not.
 * 10) I will be present once more, for I cannot hide forever.
 * 11) I will not sustain by absence without the aid of the island.
 * 12) I will leave the island to man.

It is believed that the first four axioms concern the past, from the creation of the world and the birth of Flare. The next four axioms concern the present, especially an event known as the "Omni War," which led to Flare's self imposed banishment. The last four axioms concern the future, such as the coming war and the power now held by man.

Theogony
Rathnir existed throughout all of time, and will continue to forever exist. However, long ago, it was barren, with no living creature on it yet. Time was but a static field, and Rathnir was forever constant. The first change to the perfect static world was the birth of Flare.

Deep under the sea, very long ago. Flare was born. Being the first child of the world, he explored the entire world with no obstacle. This exploration process took millions of years, and by the end, Flare knew about every twig and stone in Rathnir with such precision that he became the “All existing.” He understood Rathnir so well that he became one with Rathnir, and if a boulder fell from a mountain in the north he would know while in the south due to the minuscule disturbances to the world. He became Flare the Omnipresent.

Holding such power, Flare became the strongest being in Rathnir, and therefore the most feared by all of the world. Every drop of water and every grain of sand held so much fear and respect for him, that they would part ways at his every step so as not to dirty his feet. Flare used this power to command the world, and learned to control the earth and the waves through his will.

Using this power, Flare was able to command the elements of the world however he wished, and from this he made life. His first creation were the trees, flowers, and grass, which he imbued with the ability to spread rapidly through the world as he did. He then made the animals, such as the cows and sheep of the earth, as well as the dolphins and fish of the sea. He gave them the ability to travel and explore the world as he did. Finally he made the humans, who he gave the ability to build and construct as he did.

However, Flare’s first creations were imperfect, and did not possess the beauty or charm of his other children, nor any of their abilities. He loved them nonetheless, but they did not reciprocate his love. They felt their existence was an agony, and that their creation was cruel.

They watched for millennia as Flare created other life, and soon they learned about every living thing and their power. They understood all and saw all, using the different forms of life as slaves. Here, they became the “All knowing.” Being omniscient, they made creations to counter those of their father. They made fire, which spreads faster than any plant. They made hunger, which immobilizes any animal, and they made war, which tears down all that humans build.

The omniscient challenged their father, the omnipresent, yet he did not wish to fight them. He loved them even after all they did, and so to protect them from his wrath, he hid himself away in the “Absent Island.” An island where magical powers collide and interfere, and through which his children could not see him.

Isolation went against Flare’s every being as the “All-present.” He could only do it with the aid of island, and it takes every power he has to hide himself. By exploiting his children’s weakness, and not giving sight to the all-knowing, they could not find him, and could not challenge him.

To draw him out, his children continued to use their creations. Fire, Hunger, and War continued to ravage the world, causing great suffering for plants, animals, and humans to this day. But Flare planned to live in the island til the end of time, knowing that his creations are smart, and that they will survive any obstacle the omniscient throw in their way.

Elegy
Upon the arrival of the first human to the absent island, Flare knew it would not be long before his other children find him as well. He escaped the island and returned to the world, back to his original form as the omnipresent. Upon witnessing his return, the omniscient went to fight him, and their battle persists in the skies, causing various meteorological upsets.

Flare is dead, by any human standards. He will never be seen or heard by another man, and his influence on our world is now negligible as he fights the all-knowing. The last thing he did was leave the absent island to man.

The absent island is so powerful it contrasted Flare’s own power, and it even witnessed his birth. It was the only island that was able to contain Flare’s power as the all-present and hide him from his children, and now it is for us.

To have such power in the palm of one country may very well lead to unparalleled destruction across all of Rathnir. If used correctly, the nation that controls the absent island will easily be the strongest country in the world, and its leader the heir to the all-present’s power.

Epilogue
This book is an interpretive work of the twelve axioms of Flare. It is by no means definitive, and I the author welcome any interpretation or discussion any flarist may present. However, I do preside myself as the head priest of flarism for the time being, on the basis that this elegy is currently the only existing work of interpretation for Flare’s axioms.

If a florist wishes to write their own interpretation they may, and we may accept it into canonical Florist theology, or create a new school of thought for those wishing to practice it. In the end, Flarism is a religion for the people, and every florist may interpret Flare’s axioms however they wish.