Key (Pye)

The Key (Pye) are a shape-shifting species with two forms, one is an horse/fish like creature and the other is more humanoid and land dwelling. They live on Sotra-bong, a spiky planet with many active volcanos with lava flowing. In the pits created between spikes are ponds. At a certain level the gravity is reduced, and at the top of the spikes are floating spears with glowing minerals. They live on the surface with the Key in water and the Pye on the land.

They live with the Sanguline.

## Anatomy & Physiology

Key

Key are semi-aquatic. They have a fish tail, a horse-esque torso with powerful webbed arms. They have coral growths over their head, backs, and the boundary of their tail. The coral can be any color but they have specks of metal, (any type). Their fish tail is the coral color with dots of scale match the metal color. Their skin is any often a darker/duller brown. They have a main that runs down their back that is any green color, which is often long. Their iris is the metal color. In this form they are massive, about 25 feet long.

Pye

Pye are land-based. They are much more humanoid. Their color scheme turns to more reds. The metal takes over prominence, growing on head, shoulders, arms, legs, and various other places. They have shorter hair on their heads and a smaller button noes. Their fin becomes furred hooves. Their iris is the coral color. In this form they are much smaller at about 6 foot.

They are carnivorous with a preference towards Sanguline, but can eat other things due to hunting sangulines being harder.

## Society & Culture

Keys tend to smaller pods, dwelling in pond but in Pye form they have small 'settlement'. Their government is more focused on the scheme than governing.

Scheme is the tricking of the sanguline into believing their two forms to be different species. The only real law is revealing this punishable by death of you and the sanguline who know, (often the sanguline first so you know you messed up).

Clothing is more common in Pye form but Keys will often wear clothes as well (mostly water safe and jewelry).

Romance/Relationships there are Four classifications with two degrees, Summer, Winter, Spring, and Autumn.

Winter is a deep hatred.

Spring is romantic feelings but very surface level.

Autumn is deep/close friendship and romantic feelings.

Summer is a hunting/partner relationship where one depends on the other.

High Winter is kill one sight, put these together and a fight will break out.

High Summer is pure business/hunting relationship.

Mid Spring is attraction but still young in terms of a relationship AKA crush.

Mid Autumn is pure friendship.

Spring, Autumn, and Summer relationships with sanguline are viewed as abhorrent, disgusting, and wrong.

## History

Discovering the need to work together and 'government' was created.

As Pye, Key have been influencing sangulines.

## Naming Conventions

[WIP] Key have a true name and a Pye name, Pye names often come from friendly Sanguline.

Symbols are usually something natural, examples: coral, shell, rock. Depictions are on Pye while a physical object is more Key.

## Trivia

Needed Horses, man

Sanguline's natural predator that isn't another sanguline.

## Etymology & Inspiration

Key and Pye are bastardizations of Kelpie the creature they are based off of.

Their romance is based on the fact that Kelpie are fae and the courts.