Clean Slate

“Welcome, welcome my esteemed guests! Whether it be your perfect companion, your next superstar or your next meal, you’ll find it all here at Apex Pickings! First up, we have a strong and healthy Terra-minus. Aside from his handsome features and lovable down-to-Earth character, he is capable of mediocre terraforming! Bidding starts at 10,000 pecs!”  Within the auctioneer’s mind the audience merited his pun with a polite “ha ha ha”. Then one after another, dracones from different elements and different sects raised their bids. First, an Aqua draco from the Pax sect, silver scales shimmering beneath her kelp coat. After her, an Aqua draco from the Bellum sect raised his paddle for 20,000 pecs. His pearlescent scales painted marine, as if his body held the ocean. “Do we hear 25,000? Can I hear 25,000 pecs for this impeccable hybrid-minus?” The young auctioneer is a Terra hybrid like the one being sold, but he is a Terra-plus not a minus. Plus indicates that he holds more draco genes than hominum, human, genes. This genetic make-up grants him the overall appeal of a human, but  bits of draco reveal themself around his human structure. For example, the auctioneer’s face is outlined in green scales and brown horn stubs that lead up to one major horn protruding from his forehead. His fingers are tipped in small talons, his smile is sharp and unforgiving, and on his upper back rests two large wings while a long reptilian tail extends from his tailbone. In comparison, the hybrid-minus being sold appears fully human aside from two short horns coming out of his forehead, and his razor sharp canines nearly poking out of his frown. Some minuses will even carry enough draco genes to possess a light talent of their draco parent, such as terraforming. On the other hand, pluses will always possess a light to heavy skill of their draco gene.  “We’ve got 25,000! 25,000 pecs going once, twice! And sold! To the stunning Terra draco Regalis!” Regalis. Their members are few, and the scales on their forehead and neck are shamelessly embroidered with diamond crests. They just have to stand out as much as possible. The Regalis Terra draco nodded at her purchase as the two guards, standing on either side, escorted the merchandise to the back of the stage. No guards are needed to escort the next item, no draco views humans as a threat and they are even considered the most obedient species next to dogs.  “Now we have a very, very special treat. A motivated and helpful little pet with golden skin. A rare delicacy since most of her kind had sadly been eaten by our foredracones, but who can blame them?” The bidders and the auctioneer roared out in laughter, outside of the auctioneer’s mind and into his ear. They said, “rah ha ha” when they laughed outside of their minds, as if they were punched in the stomach mid roar. As if, they could ever be punched in the stomach.  “Yes, this prized dessert can be in your jaws for a mere 50,000 pecs!” “50,000?” The bidders objected, some more vocal than others. “That’s ridiculous, for that thing! Who pays that much for a bony dessert?” One draco bellowed as he drooled. Bellowing really isn’t necessary when communicating telepathically, but short-fused dracones are well known for it.  “Masters, I understand that this price is unusual for simple num num, but when was the last time you have seen or tasted dark meat? Does this dessert not look delectable to you? Aside from her tone, look at her features. Even her eyes are dark and delectable!” Across the room, dracones nodded in consideration and the auctioneer persisted, “once again, do I hear 50,000 pecs?” “But that’s not all my masters! For the low price of 0 pecs, watch me, as I disappear into thin air!” While I had the “shock” factor of my hungry audience, I brazenly grabbed two large handfuls of baking powder hidden between my bosoms and scattered it in front of me. I slipped into the trap door on the stage and fell out of sight. I ran, leaving behind the only gift I had ever been given...                                    Draco Guide for Num Nums- pg 1.                                                     The Pyramid:                                                      Ignis Draco                                             Aqua and Terra Draco                             Hybrid-Plus, more Draco than Num Num                            Hybrid-Minus, more Num Num than Draco                          Hominum, that would be you, aka Num Nums Caeli Draco: Worshipped deities among the draco race. Altars and history books can be found in Latin throughout all draco cultures. One lucky num num will have the honor of becoming the Caeli Hostia, where it will meet our beloved deities at the annual Tabula Rasa festival held at the city of Ignis.  Known Sects: Bellum:  -  war in latin. Very military minded. Soldiers that will fight for any cause and are not exclusive to any race or territory for they believe that adversity equals progress above all else. Their members will at times fight for opposing causes and each other. Passion is honor.  Pax: -  peace in latin. Righteous individuals who police for the Regalis sect. Be thankful, extremist Pax members are the reason hominum are not extinct today. Most Pax members are hybrid-pluses, but their leaders are pure dracones from the Aqua and Terra sect. Regalis: -  royal in latin. Collective sovereigns of every Draco territory, led by the high sovereign of Ignis. Every member has diamond crests fused into their scales on their neck and forehead. The diamond patterns on their forehead reflect the crests in their diamonds and identify which territory they are from. Each diamond on the neck represents the number of pure dracones in their territory.  Opus: -  working in latin. Made-up of hybrid minus and homines. Homines have been bred and raised at the Pax Institute since the original Tabula Rasa centuries ago. Though many homines have multiplied after finding their masters, their population is constantly regulated by the Pax and Bellum sect. Hybrid-minuses are viewed at the same level as homines, only they can not be eaten.  Common Words and Translations: Draco/dracones: dragon/dragons. Hominum/homines: human/humans. Hybrid: dragon and human. Ignis: fire. Aqua: water. Terra: Earth. Caeli: air. Your Role: -  Do not be seen, do not be heard. Be a tool, a means to an end. Be a pet, utterly obedient for your gracious owner. Or, if you happen to harbor a certain talent, be an icon on strings. You are a num num. A crumb of our leftovers.