Project Akyo

Project Akyo, sometimes called "Operation Akyo", "Akyos", or "The Pigeons", is an ongoing sub-arc in the Grape Gardens universe. It formally started in March 2020, near the end of VKet 4, when Wheatley1138 discovered a model made by Nooktown and showed it to the group. From there, he and Automatica developed a series of running jokes about the model that eventually evolved into an actual coherent lore.
==Akyos==
The Akyo (Akatapafstidae anakyo) is a species of (usually) armless, smooth creatures that appear primarily in the Orlandosaka area. The akyo is also one of the most diverse non-domesticated species ever recorded, with some 30+ subspecies in that one area alone. Akyos exhibit several unusual behaviors, the two most notable ones being their ability to mimic phrases they hear, and their ability to consume and then regurgitate any object they're left alone with for a period of time.
The average akyo is about the height of a microwave oven stood on one end, and icy blue. They are also usually spackled with darker dots resembling freckles. However, akyos are capable of radical alteration to their shape, and are capable of mimicing superficial traits from other species. Because of this, no definite description will fit all akyos. While most akyos are small, the largest specimen- known as the Titanikyo- is nearly 4m tall.
To date, their level of intelligence is disputed. While many exhibit animalistic behavior on their own, they also exhibit complex cognitive processes such as understanding trade, work, and- in several cases- psionic powers.
Akyos seem to be incapable of being killed, with 'lethal' damage simply catapulting them away at great speed.
==Subspecies/Variants==
Akyos exhibit potentially conscious control over their bodies, a single specimen is capable of adapting to new environments in a matter of hours or days, leading to a myriad of subspecies appearing.
Among them are...
*The Red Akyo, which goes much faster
*The Tall Akyo, about the size of a human
*The Tropical Akyo, which fills itself with coconut milk which it is also allergic to
*The Savannah Akyo, which sports longer, pointier ears
*The Swampy Akyo, which is dark green and echoes back words in a fake accent.
*The Desert Akyo, which is yellow and uniquely 'sandy' in texture
*The Dessert Akyo, which is white with a red 'cherry' on top of their head
The most enigmatic one is the Humanoid Akyo, a provably sentient akyo that has near-completely mimicked a human form. It is the only one of its' kind, and seems capable of coordinating other nearby akyos. Whether this is due to it being in a position of 'leadership' or a trait other akyos exhibit in secret remains to be seen.
==Trivia==
*The binomial name is derived from the Greek words for "Ceaseless" and "Repetition"
*Automatica originally did not like akyos, finding their shape 'frustrating', but grew to like them over the course of VKet 4.
**On the other hand, wheatley1138 instantly fell in love with the Akyo due to thinking it looked like a circus peanut
*Most recorded subspecies are made by Wheatley1138 and Hazim Kibou.
*According to Automatica, akyos were originally intended to be a study of surrealism in VRChat.
*For some reason or another, many akyos specifically target Shock. Automatica neither confirms nor denies this.
*Wheatley1138 has implied that akyos are actually a race of extraterrestrials, and originally intended for them to be introduced surrounding a crashed alien spacecraft.
*Akyos were originally mute, until several began mimicking a train guard saying "If ze trains come through,do you want to get run over?" which Auto found 'hilarious'.
*The largest number of akyos played by separate people in an RP was six, on June 3rd 2020.
== Gallery ==
TBACategory:Species
Category:Grape Gardens Lore