Flux

This mutation spontaneously emerges in the riardi population and can be inherited across generations. It may remain active or dormant, skip multiple generations, or affect only select relatives within a family tree. Flux is a genetic wildcard, manifesting the riardi’s dream capabilities in a physical form.

  • Metallic Gold Coloration- Flux has a 50% chance of triggering metallic gold fur in non-Ore riardi. However, it does not cause the metallic sheen seen in Ore riardi. Riardi with the vibrant mutation, canary or banana-colored fur, and partial melanism, or alternatively cream-colored fur with full melanism, will develop metallic gold fur regardless of lineage. Any frosted-black effect does not appear on riardi affected this way.

  • Patterning Wild Card- Flux allows affected riardi to inherit any fur pattern and color combination, even those not present in their lineage. For example, an opal riardi may display a laced pattern, or a southern riardi may develop a daama pattern. While all other genetic traits may still pass normally, Flux itself is unpredictable and rarely activates, baffling researchers.

  • Eclipsed Riardi- Flux can mimic the traits of eclipsed riardi, with or without the usual genetic factors required for the condition. Riardi affected in this way are sterile. Flux also disrupts the influence of solar and lunar mutations on fur patterns, potentially allowing inherited or random patterns to appear. However, regardless of pattern inheritance, Flux-affected eclipsed riardi will only display lunar and solar orange colors. Markings may or may not appear on the face, hands, paws, tail, and/or ears.

  • Frost- Flux is responsible for being “inspired” by the frost of illuminated and Dark Side of the Moon riardi.

  • New Markings- Flux can introduce entirely new fur patterns, which may or may not stabilize within the species over time. If stable, these patterns can be passed to offspring.

  • Extra Color- Flux may randomly add an extra fur color. Itw might be obvious, subtly similar to an existing shade, or nearly imperceptible. Sometimes it revives a color seemingly lost in a family line, while other times, it places a redundant shade in an unusual location, leaving riardi puzzled.

  • Curious Color- Flux may introduce a Curious Color at random- or multiple curious colors, without requiring any other genes to support it.

  • Lock- Lock is the order in chaos. Flux embodies unpredictability, while Lock imposes stability. This sub-effect allows players to preserve specific pattern and color traits across generations, enabling the creation of distinct, recognizable family lines without the risk of spontaneous changes. Lock is a powerful tool for players to retain genetic consistency and stability while preserving player choices, making it a key asset when having fun making riardi characters.

    How Lock Behaves is as follows:

  • Pattern & Markings: Locked riardi always pass on their exact fur pattern to offspring who inherit Flux: Lock. It preserves it in full.

  • Color Inheritance: Instead of selecting from a parental color pool, offspring with Lock inherit specific color categories exactly as they appear in the parent. For example, a lace riardi with pink and white fur, where white lace markings appear only on the back, head, hands, and lower legs, will pass down that precise pattern and color placement.

  • Warm, Cool, & Primary Colors: If a parent’s colors are warm or cool, they remain locked and pass unchanged to offspring with Lock. Primary colors also become fixed, unaffected by warm or cool modifiers. Lock overrides all natural color shifts, maintaining strict consistency.

  • Interaction with Curious Colors is as follows:

    Stable Curious Colors: These remain unchanged under Lock. A vibrant green riardi with Lock will retain its exact saturation, unaffected by dilution or intensity mutations. A golden riardi or golden ore riardi will pass down the same gold hue, including any sheen.

    Shifting Curious Colors: Lock forces these into a fixed state. An iridescent riardi will remain “stuck” in one of its shifting hues rather than cycling through colors. A stellar riardi will retain only one of its "starry" phases. Solar and lunar eclipse riardi can be preserved in a specific appearance, reinforcing player control.

  • Lock’s Additional Effects:

    Flux Cancellation: Lock negates Flux’s inversion and mirroring effects.

    Dilution Immunity: Locked colors are unaffected by dilution across generations. Specific tints and shades remain fixed.

    Limitations: Lock does not override melanism or albinism- these traits take precedence if inherited. Bioluminescent brightness is also unaffected.