Nubvūf Yâdtofdukh

Nubvūf yâdtofdukh or as it translates from Yellow Dragonic tea ceremonies are practiced by the Golden Wing Flight for various reasons and is very important to their culture.

Execution

There are several different types of ceremonies that are slightly different depending on the circumstances.

Âsem Nubvūf Yâd (the Lover's Tea Ceremony)

All dragons perform Dragon Pairing rituals. The Golden dragons perform this ritual with a few added steps to it mainly a tea ceremony. Instead of wine, the dragons drink tea for their pairing rite. One of the dragons pours hot water into the d'uk and the other scoops the tea into the d'uk then whisk the tea and the water. The one who whisks the tea offers the tea to their partner who drinks the tea before offering the tea to the other partner. They alternate the d'uk until the tea is gone.

Zakhākh Nubvūf Yâd (Casual Tea Ceremony)

The easiest one ceremony to do and is done by a host with a group of about five friends. First, after the guests have cleaned themselves they are served a light meal inside the tearoom. Once the meal is eaten the guests are taken to the garden to wait until the tea ceremony is ready. Once it is ready the guests are called back in and the host cleans the utensils in front of the guests before making the tea by pouring hot water into the d'uk and scooping the tea to place in the d'uk. After the tea is the water the host whisks the tea into the water and takes a drink of tea before giving the d'uk to the guest of honor who rotates the bowl and drinks the tea. This is repeated with all of the guests until the tea is gone. Once it is gone the host cleans the utensils and the guest has a chance to look at them.

Yâzyā Nubvūf Yâd (Formal Tea Ceremony)

A complex ceremony that takes several hours to complete. The tea is prepared like the zakhākh nubvūf yâd with a full course meal. In addition to several courses of food, there are at least two different types of tea that are served a thicker one near the beginning and a thinner one here at the end. The guests clean themselves throughout the meal and make formal conversation.

Ibād’aek Nubvūf Yâd (Conqueror's Tea Ceremony)

The golden dragons use to fight among themselves before they were unified. During the Golden Wars, this ceremony has invented as a way to humiliate the conquered ruler and to transfer the rule of the city to the conqueror as a sign that the powers have changed. After the civil war, there is not much need to know this ceremony but its knowledge is still passed on.
Someone in the conquered city's government takes the rule of "host" and will be doing and preparing the ceremony usually the Zâmū or one of his children. The ceremony takes place in the private tea house or tearoom of the ruler who has just been overthrown. The host first will take a cloth from the water basin and clean the conqueror's hands and mouth after offering them water. Once that is done the best utensils are taken out and cleaned before the conqueror. Once that is done the utensils are put in their places on the table. Water from a heated kettle is poured into the d’uk and the tea is taken from the tōd with the vad and placed in the d'uk as well. Once the tea is in the d'uk with the water the b’âmo is used to mix the powder and the water. The tea that is used in this ceremony is Vômdō Nubvūf or sweet tea to symbolize the victory of the conqueror. Once the tea is mixed the d'uk is offered to the conqueror who turns the d'uk so that the front is facing the host. The conqueror then drinks the whole d'uk before returning it to its place upside down. The host then bows to the conqueror before taking the utensils and clean them before the conqueror. Once the utensils are clean and put away the host once again cleans the hands of the conqueror but not the mouth so that the sweet tea's taste stays in their mouth.

Yôj Nubvūf Yâd (Death Tea Ceremony)

Much like ibād’aek nubvūf yâd, this ceremony was created during the Golden Wars as well once word reached most of the country this ceremony was created as a way to avoid having to do ibād’aek nubvūf yâd. This is done by the Zâmū or Lord of a city that is being conquered by another dragon and any of his children. The Zâmū summons the children to the teahouse once they are there they clean their hands and mouths with water from the basin. The Zâmū then gets the utensils for the ceremony and cleans them. He then pours water into the d'uk the water is usually cold because there is no time to heat the water. Once that is in the d'uk the Zâmū then scoops the tea into the d'uk. This tea is made from a strong poison called D’īg Muf that allows dragons to release their souls easier which will allow them to die. The poison affects their bodies and souls. The Zâmū then whisks the tea in the bowl and drinks from it before giving it to his children who rotate the d'uk before drinking themselves. They continue to pass the bowl around between them until all of them are poisoned. Once the d'uk is completely drunk and everyone is poisoned they will die within a couple of minutes just enough time to clean the utensils and lay down to die.

Components and tools

The b’ew is a rectangular cloth used to clean d’uk during the ceremonies.
The nubvūf d’uk comes in various sizes and styles used for different types of teas, ceremonies, and seasons. Shallow is good for summer and deep for winter. Irregularities and imperfections are prized.
The nubvūf tōd is the lidded container where the tea is stored in its powdered form to be used in the ceremony.
The nubvūf vad is a scoop craved from a single stalk of Wūntī. It is used to move the tea from the tōd and placed in the d’uk. A larger vad is used to place the tea in the tōd and guests never see that vad. They can come in different colors are used in different ceremonies.
The nubvūf b’âmo is used to mix the tea in hot water. They are carved from a single wūntī and come in different styles and types. They wear out quickly so it is not uncommon for golden dragons to own several and use newer ones for important ceremonies.

Observance

These are the observances that take place regardless of what ceremony is being done. First guests once they are seated in the house's tearoom or tea house perform a ritual to clean their hands and mouths with water with a cloth and a water basin. Before the ceremony, the host cleans the utensils in front of the guests and places the items in their proper places for the ceremony. Once the ceremony is over the guest of honor will request the host to allow them to take a closer look at the tools which the host will allow. The guest holds each item with a cloth and treats the tools with respect all while looking at the tools they complement the host and express their admiration of the tools. Again this is more or less done for all ceremonies.

Related Ethnicities

• Golden Wing Flight