A small bird native to the planet Bacchus; usually standing about a meter and a half tall the pyrokete is a favorite pet of many pirates. The birds are usually mild mannered in the natural environment, but lives spent in the cramped spaces of most ships make them quite ornery and easily agitated. Their most unique characteristic and the very thing that makes the birds a desirable pet is the jorta gland; found between the birds lungs. On Bacchus, the birds eat the grapes that grew wild long before the arrival of the Apsu. During the digestive process, a gas is formed and stored in the jorta gland, and later secreted as exhalation back through the mouth. The gas is highly flammable, and can be triggered with the slightest spark. The birds, being rather smart will over time learn to make use of the gas as a means of self defense. Even without a spark, the gas can burn flesh on contact. Initially gangsters keeping the birds as pets would attach a bit of metal to the tips of the beak to provide a real spark, and create a spray of flame, making the birds actual fire breathers.
Pyroketes are very smart and have long memories; and they can hold a grudge for years. If a bird is aggravated by someone, it can wait months before seeking revenge. But once befriended they are terribly loyal, and protect their masters fiercely. Male pyroketes are more docile than their female counterparts. A female pyrokete can become highly aggressive after laying her eggs, and will defend them with deadly force, keeping a female pyrokete on a spaceship is not advisable.
