Dragon Wing Races

Dragon Wing Races

Four levels of dragon races are held each year. Competition is a big part of public dragon life. The four levels are Local, Provincial, Regional, and the Pageant Race.

Championships in speed and acrobatics involving all Members of the Council of the Wing-Ang Ri are held once a year in the main arena. Since an element of involuntary participation is involved in Regional races and the Pageant Race wise dragons train all year.

Exercise and Feeding

Another element of training is that they need exercise and to eat. Most dragons need a sheep a week at least for substenincce. One every third day is better. Most like one a day or more. Most dragons support Shepards and farmers who stake out their meals. Some hire hunters to stalk game then mark them with spells for them to get exercise hunting them.

Many strategies have been used. Hunting free range livestock in the past nearly got them hunted to extinction. So did hunting each other. Demanding virgin girl sacrifices seemed to attract terribly efficient dragonslayers.

So the Dragon Races developed.

Local

Local races are mostly practice flights but many cities vie to sponsor space and prizes even for these practice flights. City and Country faires, anniversaries, weddings are happy for the spectacle of drag flights to be added to their events.

Provincial Races

The Provincial are held, from the Dragon Points of view, in provincial Dragon Capitals or Provincial Dragon Seats.

These are voluntary flights but are still considered training flights. There is considerable rivalry and people of the general public eagerly watch them. Many dragons have huge followings. A fan base often means fans donate sheep or cows to them for snacking on at home.

The rules are similar to Pageant rules except the local areas sponsor dragons for the Provincial and provincial winners fly in the Regional. All flights are voluntary.

Regional Race

Regional flights follow Pendant rules picking 3 involuntary flights. In the regionals a chosen dragon may decline flying but it means for the next year they remove themselves from public life. They can't vote in public dragon matters, they can not hold office, sponsor others for any advancement or Scholarships, officiate at cultural or religious services.

The Pageant Race

The rules are that the race has two parts: Distance & Display.

All 13 regional victors, 4 competitors voted on by the citizenry of Ang Ri, and 3 competitors forced to participate on the day of the race, line up at the red line of the areana. The race to the markers across the continent and back to the areana is the distance portion.

In the arena each loop they have time to do acrobatic display. The cheers of the crowd denote the victor each round. Victory in a round has perks of many types spread out over the years. Food, priority, Mating Rights, Council veto, council votes, and others.

The race continues till each competitor is eliminated. The distance portion may include short wing fights. Wing fights in the arena are allowed when only 8 remain and last only to first blood. Pulling out of the race is considered dishonorable and effects all the dragon's affairs till the next Arena Race.

Consuls

The two finalists are declared Consuls. The Council of the Wing has a great many activities and obligations that need attending to. Many decisions of other groups are conferred on by the Council. In the end the Consuls are the final authority.

The two losers have their tails amputated and ceremonial eaten that evening at the Victory Dinner. They must with draw from public life till their tails grow back. With magic no less the two years. Sometimes as much as twenty. Or up to centuries if someone magically hinders healing.

Also...all those decisions that come to the consuls, each has a few small fees. A silver here, a gold there, maybe only a copper. But it builds up. Dragons like treasure. So.....