The Draco Lusus Equester - Dracomancer Origins

I - A Grand Entrance

The Dragon's Parade, or what people call "Sweet Mother of Christ it's a giant flock of dragons", was the initial entry of the world's dragon population and their Dracomancer disciples into the great Island of Victory, a massive island where the Draco Lusus Equester took place. The Draco Lusus Equester, a.k.a the Dracomancer Tournament, is an event that happens once every twenty-five years. Every dragon in the world brings their Dracomancer disciples to this island where they fight in a systematic tournament to decide which final ten become recognized official Dracomancers, serving as ambassadors between dragonkind and the other races of the world. Underneath the island was a massive congregating hall for dragons to discuss the events of the tournament, and other ordeals encountered by dragons in the world. For them, it was a political summit, but for the Dracomancers this was the biggest event of their lives.

For thousands of years Dracomancers have fought valiantly in this tournament through gritted teeth and war cries of battle. Back then, battles were more bloody, and it was an unwritten rule that the opponent had to fight with the intention to kill, or be killed themselves. At a time the elements of Fire and Wind were considered the most lethal, coming from a time when only Earth, Wind, Fire and Water were considered elements. Then Electricity and Ice were involved, and finally Light and Darkness. Those became the prime eight elements, and thus new Dracomancers entered into the fray, with more costly battles. The dragons used to be fond of such murderous, gladiator-like battles, but it was soon brought to their attention that with the times in-between tournaments the numbers of Dragon Slayers rose while the Dracomancers dwindled. Passing a law in the Year of the Blood Moon (ironically enough), they made it a ruling that Dracomancers shouldn't aim to kill one another but instead ensure a ten second knockout in order to win, or by concussion, submission or by giving up. It didn't mean that sometimes a person might be unfortunate and die, but it prevented the goal of killing, at the least.

Ten thousand Dracomancers of all varying elements, personalities and races lined up inside of a massive hall, with a pink-hued marble floor and walls of a bright topaz. Before them were five colossal dragons sitting upright behind a large slab of emerald mix topaz, watching the small and feeble Dracomancers before them. These dragons were the oldest dragons in existence, the one sitting in the middle specifically. Her name was Gemini, the oldest dragon in existence, and also being a Star Dragon. Her father was the dragon that came together with the idea of the Tournament and founded it, making her the obvious next in line to govern. Gemini stood up, looking down on the Dracomancers with golden eyes and spoke softly and civilly. 

"Ladies, gentlemen, hermaphrodites, and non-gendered beings, I thank you for arriving here on such short notice. I am here to announce the initiation of the ten-thousandth Draco Lusus Equester. A very wonderful occasion, as many of you might have picked up we have ten thousand Dracomancers right here in this room, and this is the ten-thousandth tournament. Now, I know the rumors many have heard in recent times about killing in the tournament, but I am to reassure you this tournament isn't aimed to kill in bloodshed and glory, much like in my younger days." She sighed, taking a seat back down before mustering up the strength to speak again. To the trained eye, it could be seen that the vast spans of time had done its toll to the powerful but rather 'ancient' matriarch. 

"Now, to kick off the tournament we will be hosting a small 'warm-up' session, if anyone would like to volunteer to show their prowess. Be careful, you wouldn't want to show off ALLyour abilities now, would you?" She sat back and simply nodded, gazing down to the crowd. Many shook and tremble, in fear of embarrassing themselves in front of these majestic and quite godly dragons who would judge their actions. It would take the feisty wits of Pela Valesquez to step up to the plate and show the crowd what she had. She stood there, all 5'2" of her rather compact and curvy frame, facing the crowd and expecting a challenger with hands on her hips. She smirked, wafting at the crowd.

"These idiots are too afraid to fight a lil' ol' girl like me. Just give me a medal because these bitches won't lift a finger at me." She grinned, in a serious manner with eyes glued on the crowd, scanning for potential opponents. Her eyes would see weakling after weakling in the massive crowd, the dragons looking down on this girl with very keen and watchful eyes. She seemed to have initiative but her brashness and dismissive attitude wasn't going to get her very far, no doubt. She seemed hardened on the outside, and even Gemini couldn't exactly take a glimpse into the true nature of her soul. As it seemed not a single being would challenge Pela a boy named Bobby stepped forward from the crowd, asking for excuses and pardons to pass through. Six-foot-nine, one hundred-and-eighty six pounds and very hyper, he would give a light clap before stepping outwards. His white hair was very spiky, and much to Pela's chagrin it was electrically charged. The boy snapped his finger, and a spark of lightning raced over to the Tsunami Dracomancer, who could only dodge.

"Funny, because you were smack talking the other 9,999 of us, but now you wanna dodge? Woman please, direct yourself somewhere else. I don't want to take part in a Tournament with piss-asses like yourself." He gathered electricity in his hands and ran for Pela, who was taken back by his speed. Storm Dracomancers were exceptionally fast, only Cyclone Dracomancers rivaling their speed. Pela had her own speed, in part to the nature of water he reflexes were second to none, but it would be difficult with a fight like this. Pela had a better preference for nicer people, because they wouldn't be so willing to attack at full power and harm her critically, but this guy would seem to be an exception, the static energy rippling over his body. 

"Alright shock boy, come get at me," Pela would say as she would straighten her hands, water spinning around them. She placed her left leg back and made an "X" with her arms, looking at Bobby with eyes of seriousness. The Storm Dracomancer shook his head and cracked his knuckles, all before bowing.

"Introductions come first, short stuff. My name is Bobby Vangard, Storm Dracomancer and disciple of Okoven the Storm Dragon." He would stare at Pela as his body began to be enveloped in a coating of lightning, so concentrated and precise it almost appeared like an armor of sorts, but his body clearly visible underneath. As if by teleporting he would dash at Pela, who by instinct let loose her water blades shaped around her hands. They were quick, no doubt, but Bobby wouldn't even flinch as he quite literally ran in-between them and landed a single poke on her forehead. She was taken back and surprised, no doubt, and looked at the finger pressed to her head. Bobby smirked, shaking his head with a fang-showing grin. "See? Cockiness will get you nowhere child." It would seem that he won, until Pela collapsed into a puddle of water. Before he could realize it was simply a clone the real Pela landed a decisive kick into his back, attracting many surprised gasps and ooo's. She grinned herself, looking at Bobby with a giggling face.

"Don't underestimate an opponent Bobby, and don't rush in so hastily towards an opponent, too. You may never know what tricks they may have in store. The name's Pela Valesquez, Tsunami Dracomancer and disciple to Nuvat, Tsunami dragon of Kolkolos." Bobby shrugged, disabling the lightning ability he used and turned to face Pela with all of menacing size and height. He held out a hand to shake hers, but she shook her head. "I'm not shaking the hand of a fool, sorry. Try some other chick for that post-batttle relationship nonsense." Gemini was honestly intrigued with the way Pela acted, and nodded for the two to take their places in the crowd. The Star Dragon rose up from her seat and slowly nodded with eyes closed, taking a scent of the air. 

"Ah, a rather marvelous display of abilities and potential in both of you, I must admit. Pela Valesquez and Bobby Vangard, I hope you two are fine with the abilities you've presented. Now, for everyone else I do hope you show your best talents here, and good luck. You may now file out and explore as you'd like around here. Battles begin in three days." Everyone looked to Gemini and bowed before filing out of the great hall. Once the Dracomancers left Gemini's smile became a soft sigh, getting up and leaving with the other dragons. "This will be a very special year... the stars are telling me." One dragon, cobalt in color and very scaly, spoke up to Gemini before leaving.

"What do we do about the Dracomancers until then, Lady Gemini?" Gemini chuckled, ushering the last dragons out of the way.

"Simple: we let them get acquainted, and the lies and deception will play in later."