Draco Stryx

Draco Stryx is the name of the art roleplay game for the original species of the same name. As of May 30, 2020, it has 4,032 members.
==History==
Draco Stryx was opened on Apr 13, 2015 by a DeviantART user named AshenAntlers, nicknamed "Mama Birb" in the staff directory. The first journal in the journal logs, posted on Apr 19, 2015, was for the crafting mechanic.Crafting, DeviantART. Apr 19, 2015 (accessed 4/30/2020) However, there are two journals that came before this that have been pinned: the species informationSpecies Information, DeviantART. Apr 14, 2015 (Accessed 4/30/2020) and the lore journalsLore, DeviantART. Apr 14, 2020 (Accessed 4/30/2020) from Apr 14, 2015. Many of the early journals were related to the ARPGs mechanics, such as training, battles, shows, and many more. The in-game shop, called the "Bauble Boutique," was also released during the first year on Sept 22, 2015.The Bauble Boutique, DeviantART. Sept 22, 2015 (Accessed 4/30/2020) Two months later on Nov 20, 2015, an adoption center called the "Lackadaisy Loft" was opened for players who wanted to surrender an unwanted character for others to claim freely.Lackadaisy Loft, DeviantART. Nov 20, 2015 (Accessed 4/30/2020)
AshenAntlers stepped down as an admin on Apr 27, 2020.News and Announcements, DeviantART. Apr 15, 2015 - May 2, 2020 (Accessed 5/2/2020)
Draco Styrx also has a separate website where some information and calculators for the game are stored, which can be located here.
==The Species==
The name of the species means "Silent Predator." The species is animalistic and does not hold its own society. Stryx are either wild or at the mercy of their human handlers, and all Stryx are carnivorous hunters. Each breed have small sharp cone-shaped teeth. 
There are multiple breeds of the Draco Stryx, which gives players several ways to play the game. Those included on the species informational journal are: Avians, Chiros, Runners, Lycan, and Microstryx. Avians are bird-based dragons, Chiros are bat-based dragons, Runners are flightless raptor-based dragons, Lycans are wolf-based dragons, and finally Microstryx are simply smaller versions of various other breeds.Species Information, DeviantART. Apr 14, 2015 (Accessed 4/30/2020) There are also a small number of other breeds seen in the group's gallery: Raptor Stryx, Cara Styrx, and Casua Stryx.Group Owned Imports, DeviantART. (Accessed 4/30/2020)
Only the Avian breed has named sub-breeds. It contains: Hawk Stryx, Tyto Stryx (owl-like), Corva Stryx (crow-like), Harpia Stryx (eagle-like), and Gryph Stryx (vulture-like).Avian Stryx Types, DeviantART. Jan 29, 2017 (Accessed 4/30/2020)
Draco Stryx are a closed species, meaning they are not free to make. However, anybody is allowed to take one free design from the Lackadaisy Loft. Otherwise, designs bought for money can range from $50-$100 without extra add-ons. Extras can tack on more money, such as the "Nox base" adding +$75, the "frilled body" adding +$200, and the "curly tail" adding +$50.Price Guide, Google Docs. (Accessed 5/29/2020)
If a user would like a character that is the child of two Stryx they must buy two slots from the member of each Stryx before they may keep the offspring.Stryx for Beginners Dec 11, 2018 (Accessed 4/30/2020)
==Canon==
The lore of Draco Stryx is based on staff-made mythology. There are no canon locations nor major plot lines.
There are a set number of canon deities: Nokt (moon goddess), Daius (sun god), Galyx (star and universe god). Their followers are thus called Noktus and Daiuses, with non-believers being called Voidrae. Nokt and Daius are wedded and the world is their child, and each creature on it is their grandchild. "Riders," the player characters who ride and care for the Draco Stryx, were said to be created by Nokt and Daius to be guardians of the planet and look after the creatures upon it, including the Stryx. Lore, DeviantART. Apr 14, 2020 (Accessed 4/30/2020)
Players may completely ignore the lore and mythology of the game, as they are allowed to interpret their characters' stories however it pleases them.Comment, DeviantART. Sept 18, 2016 (Accessed 4/30/2020) However, if players want to breed their characters they must have them complete the trials, which are actually directly related to the in-game religion. Even if a character is a non-believer if they wish to breed they must do this.
===Player Lore===
Draco Stryx is not a collaborative world building game and does not seek to have players change the plot or lore of its canon material. Instead, players may play the game however it pleases them. This means there will never be any instances of roleplay affecting the game at large. However, players can still create their own flocks and create canon lore for their own mini groups of Stryx. See Prompts and Benefits or Community for more about flock dynamics.
==Mechanics==
===Breeding and Genetics===
All Draco Stryx are given a genetic code that determines how they look, similar to Fawnlings, though Stryx contains many more fantasy genes. A set of mutations that aren't passable in the genome are also available.Genetics and Mutations, DeviantART. Apr 14, 2015 (Accessed 5/2/2020) Before a Stryx may breed they have to complete their "tributes." 
Incestuous breeding can result in birth defects, such as blindness or brittle bone syndrome. If rolled for brittle bone syndrome the Stryx can never complete their tributes, leading to a character who many never breed.Breeding, DeviantART. Apr 18, 2015 (Accessd 5/2/2020)
===Prompts and Benefits===
Items are achieved by characters through objectives like scavengingScavenging, Apr 22, 2015 (Accessed 5/20/2020) and hunting/fishing.Hunting and Fishing, Apr 19, 2015 (Accessed 5/20/2020) Both scavenging and hunting/fishing are art prompts. There are also a number of useful crafting items which each require their own special ingredients. 
Players may have their Stryx "soul-bond" with another Stryx or rider, or have two Stryx "life-mate bond." Soul bonds are described as "strong friendships."Bonding Rituals, DeviantART. Nov 21, 2017 (Accessed 5/29/2020)
Training prompts must be completed before tribute prompts and arena prompts, and tributes must be completed before a Stryx can breed. Training covers 5 tiers, and there is a special prompt included for training blind Stryx.Training, DeviantART. Apr 19, 2015 (Accessed 5/29/2020) After training a Stryx may complete its three tributes to earn an Eye of Galyx, which allows it to be bred. These prompts correspond to the times of day and the gods in the lore. Tributes, DeviantART. Apr 17, 2015 (Accessed 5/29/2020)
==Community==
Though the ARPG has had its lore changed little by players, it does encourage players to create their own lore, similar to horse art roleplay games such as HorseArt-RPG. Players come together in flocks and create their own sub-groups within the Draco Stryx universe. For example, the flock tracker journal of the flock "Avian Avarice" has its own monthly raffle. Players of this flock may donate items to the raffle and then once a month the raffle is drawn and another player receives the items.Avian Avarice, DeviantART Dec 30, 2018 (Accessed 6/11/2020) Other flocks, such as the Globetrotters, make their own DeviantART groups for their flock where flock art is uploaded and organized.Globestrotter-Flock, DeviantART. Mar 1, 2019 (Accessed 6/11/2020)
===Flocks===
Flocks are recognized groups of Stryx who bind themselves as flock mates. Stryx who are in a flock receive several benefits, particularly when being drawn or written in art together. Flocks are a fun way for players to come together and form their own roleplay groups and lore based on the canon lore. For a flock to be recognized it must have 4 players (to a maximum of 20) and either a DeviantART group or dedicated flock journal. There is no limit to how many characters can be in the flock, and players can have multiple Stryx added.Flocks, Aug 1, 2017 (Accessed 5/20/2020)
===Events===
The staff occasionally host events, such as the FoF: Call to Action event from Mar 2020. This was an event where players responded to a specific themed prompt. Rewards included a winter griff pet, a slot, and a genetic potion. Another event was The Great Harvest from 2019. This was a Halloween prompt in which Stryx had to gather pumpkins in order to get a random roll of pumpkin points. Players could only make two entries per day. They could win prizes from the random rolls as well as win extra prizes for being up to third place on the leader boards. The overall leader board winner was Nataku who won the Diablotin design among other things.
==Artwork==
===Visual===
File:Tyto stryx skeleton by cogaidh.jpg|Skeleton by Cogaidh
File:Confidence by nightwing kain.jpg| by Nightwing-Kain
===Literature===
*One Piece at a Time
*Liftoff. Training Entry #3
*Wisp Hunt (19/11/9)
*Visiting the Tack Maker
==Links==
*Draco Stryx on Apr 14, 2019
*Discord group
*Main gallery
Category:Original Species
==References==
Category:DeviantArt