TERMS
High Mage
This is the current ruler of the DarkWings.
Mage
Only thirteen of these DarkWings may exist at a time. A Mage is a non-royal DarkWing who has the abilities of a royal.
Crescent Mountain
This is the tallest mountain in the kingdom.
Moon Pillar
Located at the summit of Crescent Mountain, this is the holiest site of the DarkWings.

RELIGION
DarkWings worship their ancestors, whom they call either the Ancient Ones or the Ancients.

Rituals
Praying
DarkWings will pray twice a day: once at sunrise, and once at sunset. Each time, they will face the moons. DarkWings can either create their own prayers, read from a prayer book, or follow along at a religious service. Most prayers are silent, as the DarkWings believe that everyone's connection with the Ancients is personal and sacred.

Hatching (Basic)
Upon the hatching of a normal DarkWing, that dragonet is placed in a bed of cave flowers and is blessed by a religious leader. Then, that dragonet is named.
This is also the time where a new Mage is discovered; if the flowers radiate a non-harmful glow and the dragonet is not a royal, then they have been blessed with a Mage's capabilities.
Hatching (Lumo)
Upon the hatching of a Lumo, the High Mage is informed. The Lumo is brought to them, and they first place it in a bed of cave flowers to see if the Lumo is a Mage, sparing them if so. If not, then the High Mage decides if the Lumo lives or dies.
Hatching (Half)
Upon the hatching of a Half, the High Mage is informed and the Half is immediately brought to Moon Pillar. The High Mage observes through the night, waiting for any sign from the Ancients. If none comes, then the Half is killed.

Death
Upon the death of a DarkWing, their body is blessed before being brought to the base of Crescent Mountain and burned in a bed of cave flower petals. The DarkWing's ashes are then brought to Moon Pillar and scattered off the edge of the mountain.

New Moon Ceremony
Once every new moon (with any number of moons being gone from the sky), all DarkWings fast for the day, from dawn to dawn. The mages and the High Mage perform the ceremony itself at midnight. They stand in a circle at Moon Pillar, and each one uses some of their magical abilities so that energy can return to the Ancients.
Failure for all fourteen dragons to do this will result in the absent moons reappearing, and all three moons turning blood red. This marks the anger of the Ancients, cursing the DarkWings with some sort of great tragedy (let it be war, plague, famine, etc.) until the ceremony can be completed. The moons will remain red until then, and the ceremony will be able to be completed regardless of if it should be a new moon or not on the calendar.

Marriage
First, one dragon will ask the other's parents for their blessings. Regardless of if it is given or not, that dragon can propose, and the other is free to either accept or decline. During the ceremony, the two dragons will have their talons tied with a vine, and will be blessed by a religious leader.

Ascension to High Mage
Following the death of a High Mage outside of a Challenge, the eldest child will ascend. However, any of the High Mage's genetic relatives can challenge them, a fight to the death that takes place on Moon Pillar. If, at any moment, the moons turn red, the fight ends immediately, regardless of if either participant has died or not. Otherwise, a curse similar to that from the New Moon Ceremony's failure will occur, one that can only be lifted with the ascension of a High Mage that the Ancients approve of.

Ascension Ceremony
Following the death of one of the fighters, the winner will bring their body to the center of the Moon Pillar, where it will burst into black flame and its ashes will be spread by the wind. If the winner was the Challenger, then they are visited by the spirit of the previous High Mage. This High Mage will grant the ruler with one of the abilities they had when they were alive, along with a new one fitting for the winner's destiny.