Pegasus

image credit @ queerly

Pegasi make up for the vast majority of the winged population in Apros, excluding winged kirins. Members of this species can be identified by their wings, whether they're feathered, or draconian in appearance, or by the presence of feathers, or frills across their body. Not all pegasi are born with wings though, rendering some members completely flightless.

These avian-like horses can be found anywhere within the world that Apros exists in. Alongside *Hippocampi*, flight-capable Pegasi are heralded as masters of trade, thanks to their ability to fly. Many families, and individuals have found their niche as merchants, and postal carriers, with some gaining large quantities of wealth with their efforts. Pegasi are also seen as the go-to individuals for speedy, and discreet deliveries, should someone need that type of service.

## Biology

Pegasi can come in a myriad of appearances, and personalities. Nonetheless, the features required for an individual to be considered a Pegasus are the presence of naturally-growing feathers, and/or frills, and/or wings. Wings can appear as a lone limb, or in a pair, and be placed anywhere on the body, though any wings that are not located at the shoulders will be incapable of flight. Feathers, and frills may occur across the whole body with the only limitations being the eyes, mouth, and hooves. Plumage may replace manes, and tails, with serpentine tails carrying the same option for draconian-presenting Pegasi. Like all every resident of Apros, whether they're magically inept, or not, every Pegasi can use telekinesis to interact with their world.

In order to be capable of flying, both of the wings will need to as large as the user's torso, and placed at the shoulder blades. Foals won't have the strength, or wing size needed to fly until they've reached the age of **nine years old**, though Pegasi typically learn to fly during their teens. Once learned, flight is possible throughout the entirety of their lifespans, barring injury, or illness. Flight is not crucial to Pegasi, but it is frowned upon for flight-capable Pegasi to willfully not partake in flying.

Similar to the other species, Pegasi are brought into this world by live birth, following a minimal gestational period of **three Out of Character (OOC) weeks,** with one of the parents having to be a Pegasus themselves to produce another. Pegasi foals are born with soft downy feathers in place of their adult feathers, losing their youth feathering gradually over the first three years of life.

### Breeding Ratios

* **Pegasus x Pegasus:** 100% chance of Pegasus offspring
* **Pegasus x Equine:** 50% chance of Pegasus offspring, 30% chance of Equine offspring, 20% chance of Hybrid offspring
* **Pegasus x Unicorn:** 35% chance of Pegasus offspring, 40% chance of Unicorn offspring, 25% chance of Hybrid offspring
* **Pegasus x Kirin:** 40% chance of Pegasus offspring, 50% chance of Kirin offspring, 10% chance of Hybrid offspring
* **Pegasus x Hippocampus:** 25% chance of Pegasus offspring, 70% chance of Hippocampus offspring, 5% chance of Hybrid offspring
* **Pegasus x Hybrid:** 25% chance for any of the species included in the Hybrid, and doubles the chance if two species are the same. 25% chance of Hybrid offspring

## Guidelines

Pegasus characters can...

* Be any naturally occurring coat colour, including somatic mutations.
* Be modeled after an avian species, or bat species.
* Be of any breed-specific build, or mixed breed build.
* Be capable of flight, given that they have a singular set of wings placed at the shoulder blades. Each wing must at least be the size of the owner's torso in order to support their weight.
* Be unable to fly.
* Begin flying at **nine years old.**
* Have up to two sets of wings that can be placed anywhere on the body.
* Have feathers, and frills occur anywhere across their body, excluding the eyes, mouth, and hooves.
* Have plumage replacing their manes, and tails.
* Have thick reptilian-like tails replacing their tails, if their appearances favors draconian versus avian.
* Have leonine tails, but instead of being naked with a small portion of hair at the end, the hair covers the whole tail. The tail is typically longer than average *Equine* tails, and has more control.

Pegasi characters can't...

* Have unnatural coat colours.
* Have more than two sets of wings.
* Have feathers, or frills replace their eyes, or directly around the eyes, hooves, or mouth.
* Have antlers, horns, scales, or fins.
* Be born with sharp teeth, or fangs, though *body modification* can make this possible later on in life.
* Have cloven hooves.
* Have frills, or feathers covering more than 75% of the body.

## Trivia

* Alongside *Hippocampi*, Pegasi dominate long distance trade, thanks to their ability to fly long distances.