Iron Vulture Contests

Iron Vulture Contests have long been held among the Omnia, under many names historically. They only became known as Iron Vulture contests much more recently, due to a specific contest held in southern China in 18,954. The name is derived from Henra, God of Vultures, and her association with medical practice as well as vultures in general being known to consume things other animals cannot.   Its believed by many that the contests and tradition may have its roots in the War of Black Ash, due to food shortages. As famines receded from the memory of mortals, many such competitions carried on among the omnia.   In the modern era, these contests are for little more than sport, as a test of will, and for bragging rights among one's peers. They often are not officially sanctioned by regional sects of the Underground, and in some areas, heavily fined against due to waste of resources. Regardless, many who host Iron Vulture contests often give lucrative prizes for both winning and participating, including but not limited to meals at luxurious restaurants, specialty cooking supplies, or valuable ingredients and spices. Sometimes, as a joke, Iron Vultures are held where in the food itself is entirely safe, but laced with incredibly spicy or bitter flavors.

Iron Vulture contests are a test of one's stomach and will held among omnia. Due to their conditional immortality, eating hazardous materials, poisonous plants and animals, or non-food items carries little in way of long term damage; though in the short term, may cause significant harm or even death of the body. Even though omnia can reform after the death of their bodies, the act of dying is highly unpleasant and often excruciatingly painful, and so Iron Vulture competitions are generally only undertaken by those seeking (temporary) death for thrills.   For many omnia, this is entirely the point of such competitions, allowing them chances to reform in a controlled environment while also turning the process into a game of sorts. During such contests, omnia will consume dangerous foods or even non-food items, and try to hold out as long as possible before they or their opponent vomits, becomes ill, or is forced to reform their body. Whomever lasts the longest (or is the last left standing) is declared the winner, and give the opportunity to reform themselves as well.   In many more modern competitions, initial rounds are done with food items that do not pose immediate risk of harm, or the chances of harm is minimal, such as things many omnia find to taste repulsive, carry a high risk of allergic reaction, or are merely unpleasant to eat. As rounds of the contest go on, the risk greatly increases, due to the introduction of outright dangerous foods to be consumed: those known to be toxic such as Dragonsbane Salad, poisonous fish and reptiles, or spoiled food. Higher rounds often deviate to non-food items entirely that are outright hazardous to eat and will cause the death of the body in high volumes and require an omnia to undergo Reformation.   No mortals, for obvious reasons, are allowed to participate in the contests themselves, though those close to omnia are allowed to observe and hedge bets. Some underground sects will use the contests as means of training medical personnel on hand, not allowing them to observe what the participants ate, but must try to diagnose the issue and assist in their reformations that follow.