Omrikahona: To come of Age in Yenma - By Skarlati

Introduction

In Yenma devotion to dragons has long been a part of our culture. Omrikahona, which translates literally "to be of age" is the traditional coming of age ceremony practiced by most of Yenma. It is performed when a Gaian between 12 to 16 Gaian years old or when a divine, elf or celestial, is between 12 to 16 ages which is 120 to 160 Gaian years.

History

The ritual of testing a youth by sending them to a dragon lair started in the first age of the eternal. The war of the riders had all but eliminated dragons from the land but those of Yenma had not desired their loss. In a bid to show their favor they would send children to the abandoned lairs bearing gifts. These journeys proved the child's bravery and therefore passage into adulthood but also was done with hope the gifts would bring the return of dragons.
When the wyverns returned the coming of age ritual became truly dangerous. Not only did these youth have to often travel days to reach the abandoned lairs, the new inhabitants were distrusting of the youth. This is how the "token of the dragon" part of the ritual was born. All wyverns of Yenma are fire breathing. If a wyverns fire singed your clothes or hair it proved you truly went to the lair and therefore passed the trail.  Overtime the wyverns grew to trust the people of Yenma realising the youth were bringing gifts they would accept these gifts and in return part with something of their own, be it advice, riddle or amulet. When Laventeli and I became of age we were each given a riddle. At the time it was confusing for me as I did not understand why he would tell us such a thing. "What eats, consumes and grows but was never alive, yet despite this is alive inside you now?" I struggled to find the answer but it was fire. 
The ritual may have changed over time but it has enriched both the returning dragon type (wyverns) and the people of Yenma's lives.

Execution

When a child of Yenma reaches the age in which a parent determines they are ready (between the ages mentioned in the introduction) they will instruct the child to make offering of there favorite childhood play thing to the local dragon lair. The child is to do this unsupervised. Returning alive and with a token from the dragon is said to mean they are now "of age."

Components and tools

The items used in this ritual aside from the child, themself, are the child's favored item and what ever token be it physical such as an amulet or a burn or educational such as a message or riddle given by the Wyvern in the lair.