Riardi Genetic Codex- Flux & Lock Mutations

Mutation: Flux

Flux is an unpredictable mutation. It can skip generations, appear suddenly, or fade out in lineages. Some effects may stabilize over time, while others remain rare and enigmatic.

  • Genetics:
    • FLX/FLX: Fully-activated state. This may include: gold coloration, pattern wild-card, potential eclipsed traits, new markings, or a fourth color.
    • FLX/@: Carrier. Offspring with this code are potential carriers.
    • @/@: Null. There is no Flux mutation.

Functional Manifestations

  • Metallic Gold: 50% chance of triggering in non-Ore riardi. Automatically triggers in specific combinations (Vibrant + Canary/Banana; Cream + Full Melanism). Note: Does not produce true metallic sheen; suppresses frosted-black effects.
  • Pattern Wild-Card: Allows for the inheritance of patterns/colors outside the immediate lineage (e.g., Opal riardi manifesting a Laced pattern).
  • Eclipsed Mimicry: Can mimic eclipsed traits without genetic requirements; affected individuals are sterile. Disrupts Solar/Lunar influence, forcing a specific orange color palette.
  • Frost/Markings/Color: Capable of borrowing "Frost" aesthetics, introducing novel, potentially stable markings, or randomly introducing an extra fur color (new or ancestral).
  • Curious Colors: Can introduce one or more "Curious Colors" spontaneously.

Mutation: Lock

Lock imposes order upon the chaos of Flux, preserving specific phenotypic traits across generations. Lock is a dominant mutation which only requires one inherited allele to take effect.

  • LCK/LCK (Homozygous): Locks all inherited colors and patterns permanently, including minor quirks. Offspring will receive identical markings and color placements.
  • LCK/- (Heterozygous): Locks inherited colors and patterns most of the time, but there is a small chance that offspring may inherit a slight variation in markings or placement.
  • -/- (No LCK): Colors and patterns follow the standard inheritance system, subject to dilution, flux shifts, and any environmental influences.

Known Manifestations of the Lock Mutation

  • Pattern & Markings: Preserves exact patterns and placement in offspring.
  • Color Consistency: Fixes specific color categories and placement; overrides warm/cool/primary modifiers, ensuring strict consistency.
  • Curious Color Interaction:
    • Stable: Retains exact saturation and hue.
    • Shifting: Forces multi-phase traits (Iridescent, Stellar, Eclipse) into a single, fixed state.
  • Additional Effects:
    • Negates Flux-driven inversion/mirroring.
    • Provides total immunity to dilution effects.
    • Limitations: Does not override melanism, albinism, or bioluminescent brightness (these take precedence).