Little more than five human generations after Mankind's Fall, mankind organizes the ultimate army in order to invade the Garden and drink from the River of Life, guaranteeing them eternal life.

The Ro, the unfallen race, which shared dominion over the world with men, resisted, but overcome by the taint of evil spread by men, their dominion ended and the world was suddenly plunged into full corruption.

The River of Life, however, has dried. In rage the army sets the Garden afire and slay all who still serve the One.

The fire, by decree of the One, spread on, as rainfall is withheld from the world. Fueled by the incredible massive Garden and the rich forests around it, the fire sends up smoke which blocks out the sky, choking all life.

As "the world burns," the One appoints one man, his wife, his seven sons, their families, and a group of people from the four helping races, as the sole survivors.

He guides them across the sea (pursued by the ash cloud) to an large island on which he has set all living kinds of creatures and animals, and places that island and the family under the care of the last living member of the Ro, who's protective influence of Holy Dominion shields all life on the island from evil. Unfortunately, it does not protect their souls...

So, here is my question: my disaster engulfs the entire world, except for one island, shielded from evil. Does this resemble the idea of a localized Flood to much, or does it match with God's decree to punish the entire world?

(BTW, the last of the Ro is secretly murdered after mankind, the helping races, and the animals are freed from the island, removing the last of the Holy Dominion from the world and giving it fully into the power of man's Fallen Dominion.)

I immediately thought of Noah and the flood as I read this. Yes, to your question. I think it matches with God's decree to punish the world.

What you need is something like a rain-bow. How about a fire-bow?

Hm...I hadn't thought about that. I will definitely have to use something like that.

It's such a good way to test creativity. Let me know when you come up with something.

It definitely reads like the flood story, and a very ingenious one at that. I like that the evil men started the fire which eventually became the flood. In the biblical sense, God did all the flooding, but allegorically, it's man's sins that called for it.

The only part that seems odd to me is that a section of earth goes untouched by the fire. In the Bible, the entire surface of the earth was flooded. There was no "clean ground" that was saved. I don't know if that's a problem for your story - just a thought I wanted to mention.

That was my concern. Does it seem unbiblical that one small portion of earth is spared?

It does seem to be allegorically unequal.

I don't think so. Just like the ark remained dry this island remained untouched by the fire. It matches. And you don't have to follow it exactly or there's very little that you have done.

Thanks for the advice, guys and gals.

I think I've decided to keep the Island. Now to come up with a "firebow".

While I would prefer to see an equivalent of an "ark," I don't think there are any excessive theological problems with preserving a sector of land, in terms of a work of fiction.

It would have to have something to do with light...I think it is very significant that a rainbow is caused because of light. Maybe something like a halo of light?

I love your flood story, I don't have any equivalent to a flood. I also think that it is perfectly fine for some of the earth to survive; after all, I don't even have a flood!

A Flood is not necessary. I felt it fit with the flavor and themes of my world, though.

I think it sounds good! The island is good because you can't really build a boat to avoid the flames on the rest of the earth. My only problem is that, if he had time to build a boat and go to this island, why did no one else? And the 'firebow' should be cheery. I don't think it would be very cheering to step onto the mainland again and the clouds above me look like they're on fire right after I've just been through a traumatic, earth-destroying fire.

How about that whenever smoke is produced it combines with the moisture of the air (for whatever reason) and forms a colorful mist because of the water droplets. So, pretty much a modified rainbow.