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Bonding is a deeply revered ritual between Stryx, as well as their Riders, which unlocks certain potentials between the bonded pair. It is not to be taken lightly, as bonds are difficult to break.
Steps
1. Using the form at the bottom of the page, submit each of your training entries for AP counting.
Bonding Explained
There are two types of bonds available to your stryx, a Pair-Bond, which provides an AP boost, and a Life-Mate Bond, which afford breeding benefits. The details for both are laid out in their respective sections.
General Rules
The standard AP quality rules apply to Bonding entries. If an entry is simplified and doesn't count for full points, it won't count for bonding.Collaborations for art/lit entries are allowed. They do not have to be drawn/written by the Stryx owners.
Blind stryx will need to complete Blindness Training before bonding with a Life-Mate, but may complete a Pair-Bond before receiving Blindness Training.
Crippled or Brittle Boned stryx may NOT bond to a Life-Mate, but are permitted to Pair-Bond.
Success rates
Bonding is tricky business and isn't guaranteed on the first attempt. There's a chance of failure for your first three tries, with guaranteed success on the fourth.First Attempt = 25%
Second Attempt = 50%
Third Attempt = 75%
Fourth Attempt = 100%
Bonding entries cannot go into AP sheets anymore.
Flockmates receive a 10% boost to bonding success rates.
Flockmates do NOT need to be owned by different players in order to receive a bonding boost.
Bond-breaking has no chance of failure.
Bonds Between Different Players
Bonding of Stryx owned by different players is allowed, for both Pair-Bonds and Life-Mate Bonds. Both players must agree and provide proof of their agreement to make the bond.In order to break a bond between Stryx/characters owned by different players, both players must agree to breaking the bond. The player who requests the break must ping the other player, and that player will have 30 days to respond and give their consent. If they never respond after 30 days, you must re-apply to break the bond, and link your previous attempt so that admins can approve the break automatically.
Pair-Bond
Pair-Bonds are strong friendships, usually shared between two Stryx, or a stryx and their Rider, which allow them to communicate in far deeper ways than ever before. It can also apply to non-monogamous romantic relationships between Stryx. Some say that it is through this Pair-Bond that a Stryx gains legitimate sentience, and even acquires a kind of telepathy that allows them to share a mind-link with their bond-mate and, sometimes, others outside of the bond. It is believed that this is a gift given by Galyx, the all-knowing entity, blessing the Soul-Bonded with the deepest knowledge of one another.
Rules
Pair-Bonds may be created between a Stryx and the following: another Stryx, a rider (needs a sheet uploaded to your gallery or sta.sh), another ARPG creature, a Microstryx, or to a Custom Companion.
Stryx can only have ONE Pair-Bond. However, a Rider or Other ARPG creature may Soul-Bond with multiple Stryx.
Microstryx & Custom Companions may only be bonded to their assigned Stryx.
Benefits
+2AP to all images and literature depicting the bond-mates together AFTER the bond is formed. AP bonus is not retroactive. This bonus stacks with the Companion/Rider bonus and Flock bonuses.
Bonding entries themselves count for +4AP.
Entry Requirements
Entries must depict both Stryx (or Stryx + other creature) entering the bond
Drawn entries must be full body, colored or shaded, with background
Written entries must be 1000 words
Only one pair may be bonded per bonding entry
Breaking the Pair-Bond
Drawn entries must be full body, colored or shaded, with background
Written entries must be 1000 words
Only one pair may break a bond per entry
Pair-Bonding Prompts
- Your Stryx saves their bond-mate from danger, or vice versa.
- Your Stryx and their bond-mate playing together.
- Your Stryx and their bond-mate hunt prey together.
- Your Stryx and their bond-mate seek Galyx's blessing by standing in the middle of the Sacred Stones during the clearest night of the year, when the shape of Galyx can be seen in the sky, the Stones charged with the deity's power.
Pair-Bond Breaking Prompts
To break a Pair-Bond, you must complete one of these prompts.
- Both Stryx get into a serious fight that ends their bond.
- Both Stryx decide mutually to split, and walk or fly away from each other.
- Your Stryx's bondmate abandons them, leaving them to grieve the lost bond alone.
- Your Stryx decides to leave the bond, leaving their former bond-mate behind.
Life-Mate Bond
These bonds are generally romantic in nature, and usually only occur between two Stryx. Though Stryx don't usually mate for life in the wild, it is not impossible for them to develop strong emotional ties to one another, and to make the decision to be loyal to one another. Life-Mates will only breed with one another, and no other Stryx, unless the bond is dissolved. As the Life-Mates ascend in status, their shared benefits increase!
Rules
Life-Bonds are limited to Stryx/Stryx pairings only.
A Stryx may only have a single Life-Mate at a time.
Benefits
+2AP to all images and literature depicting the bond-mates together AFTER the bond is formed. AP bonus is not retroactive. This bonus stacks with the Companion/Rider bonus and Flock bonuses.
Bonding entries themselves count for +4AP.
The Stryx with the lowest Status will dictate the benefits for both Stryx in the bond. Benefits do stack.
Omega: No empty clutches! (Minor Fertility Potion enabled on every Omega breeding)
Alpha: The chance to unlock hidden mutations with every breeding. (Mutation Potion enabled on every breeding)
Legendary: All breedings will result in a maximum clutch. (Major fertility potion enabled on every breeding)
(Please note that if a Mammalian Stryx and an Avian Stryx are life-bonded, they will still need a genetic alchemy vial to breed)
Entry Requirements
Entries must depict both Stryx entering the bond
Drawn entries must be full body, colored or shaded, with background
Written entries must be 1000 words
Only one pair may be bonded per bonding entry
Breaking the Life-mate Bond
Even Life-Mates are not immune to relationship problems. Sometimes, two Stryx may fall out of love for a number of reasons, and must break apart. When a Life-Mated pair decides to split and go their separate ways, they must break the bond by completing one of the prompts listed below. If the bond-mates are owned by different players, both players must give consent to break the bond.
There is a 3 months cool-down time after breaking a Life-Mate bond. Your Stryx needs time to grieve before they can consider finding another Life-Mate. During the cool-down/grieving period, your Stryx will refuse to breed.
All entries will get +4AP
Entry Requirements
Entries must depict both Stryx breaking the bond
Drawn entries must be full body, colored or shaded, with background
Written entries must be 1000 words
Only one pair may break a bond per entry
Life-Mate Bonding Prompts
- Depict both Stryx building a nest, or actively nesting together with or without eggs.
- Depict both Stryx in a romantic situation, or performing a courting dance.
- Depict one Stryx defending the other from a rival male or female trying to court them.
- Depict both Stryx raising chicks together.
Life Mate Bond-Breaking Prompts
- Depict your Stryx chasing their former life-mate away, or vice versa.
- Depict one Stryx being courted by a non-bonded Stryx, breaking the loyalty of the life-bond.
- Depict both Stryx fighting.
- Depict both Stryx grieving after coming to the mutual decision that they want to dissolve their life-bond.