diff --git a/README.org b/README.org
index 4057c47..580f224 100644
--- a/README.org
+++ b/README.org
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ let the _others_ fall in so you can pass over their head.
 So now, go out, collect the keys and maintain a healthy diet!
 
 
-* Game Plan [9/16]
+* Game Plan [11/18]
 
  - [X] start project organization
  - [X] select some assets to start with
@@ -51,11 +51,13 @@ So now, go out, collect the keys and maintain a healthy diet!
    - [X] ensure the assets can be found by the render packages
  - [X] upload to itch.io
  - [ ] automate upload to itch.io
- - [ ] create other's AI
- - [ ] add keys and portal
+ - [X] create other's AI
+ - [X] add keys and portal
  - [ ] add foods and bloat indicator
  - [ ] scale hero waist related to bloat level
  - [ ] create more levels
+ - [ ] dig potholes
+ - [ ] make others steal keys
  - [ ] some level celebration/animation
  
 * Installation and Development
diff --git a/assets/levels/level-1.map b/assets/levels/level-1.map
index 40244f8..e0e5dab 100644
--- a/assets/levels/level-1.map
+++ b/assets/levels/level-1.map
@@ -2,10 +2,10 @@
 -- all content after a '-' is ignored
 -- 
 ----|----|----|----|----|----|----|----|
-WWWWGWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
+WWWWWGWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
 W    H                                 W
 W O  H                               O W
-W    H                        H        W
+W    H    K     K     K       H        W
 W O BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBHB     O W -
 W                             H        W 
 W                             H        W
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ W                             H        W
 W                             H        W
 W                             H        W
 W                             H        W 
-W                        H    H        W -
+W                        H K  H        W -
 W                 P     BHBBBBBBB      W
 W                        H             W
 W                        H             W
@@ -29,6 +29,6 @@ W                        H             W
 W                        H             W -
 W                        H             W
 W                        H             W
-W                        H             W
+W                 K      H             W
 WBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBW
 WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW -
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/game/main.scm b/game/main.scm
index 9b692a6..234009d 100644
--- a/game/main.scm
+++ b/game/main.scm
@@ -3,9 +3,12 @@
   #:use-module (game model level)
   #:use-module (game model hero)
   #:use-module (game model other)
+  #:use-module (game model key)
   #:use-module (game render level)
   #:use-module (game render hero)
   #:use-module (game render other)
+  #:use-module (game render key)
+  #:use-module (game util assets)
   #:use-module (chickadee)
   #:use-module (chickadee math rect)
   #:use-module (chickadee math vector)
@@ -22,28 +25,32 @@
 (define repl #f)
 (define hero #f)
 (define others #f)
+(define keys #f)
 (define inputs '())
 
 (define (load)
+  (assets-load)
   (render-level-load)
-  (render-hero-load)
-  (render-other-load)
   (set! level (level-parse-file "assets/levels/level-1.map"))
   (render-level-set! level)
   (set! hero (hero-load level))
   (set! others (other-load-others level))
+  (set! keys (keys-load level))
   (set! repl (spawn-coop-repl-server)))
 
+
 (define (update dt)
   (poll-coop-repl-server repl)
-  (set! hero (hero-update hero level inputs dt))
+  (set! hero (hero-update hero level inputs keys dt))
   (set! others (map (lambda (other) (other-update other level hero others dt)) others))
+  (set! keys (keys-update keys hero))
   )
 
 (define (draw _alpha)
   (render-level-draw level)
-  (render-hero hero)
   (for-each render-other others)
+  (render-keys keys (level-find-goal level))
+  (render-hero hero)
   )
 
 (define (set-add set item)
@@ -51,7 +58,6 @@
       set
       (cons item set)))
 
-
 (define (key-press key _modifiers _repeat?)
   (set! inputs
     (cond ((eq? key 'left) (set-add inputs 'left))
diff --git a/game/model/hero.scm b/game/model/hero.scm
index e68bb14..9f9ec89 100644
--- a/game/model/hero.scm
+++ b/game/model/hero.scm
@@ -51,10 +51,23 @@
   "return the current position of the hero"
   (runner-position (hero-runner hero)))
 
+(define (collides? a b)
+  "return true if the hero collides with the given position"
+  (< (vec2-magnitude (vec2- a b)) level-cell-size))
 
-(define (hero-update hero level inputs dt)
-  (hero-with-runner hero (runner-update (hero-runner hero) level inputs dt)))
+(define (blocked-by-door? level keys position)
+  "return true if the hero is blocked by a door"
+  (let ((door-position (level-find-goal level)))
+    (pk 'blocked-by-door? keys (null? keys) position 
+        (and  (collides? position door-position)
+              (not (null? keys))))))
 
+(define (hero-update hero level inputs keys dt)
+  (let ((new-runner (runner-update (hero-runner hero) level inputs dt)))
+    (if (blocked-by-door? level keys (runner-position new-runner))
+        hero
+        (hero-with-runner hero new-runner)   
+        )))
 
 
 ;; Tests
@@ -69,5 +82,13 @@
   (test-equal 1.5 (hero-bloat (hero-with-bloat hero 1.5)))
   (test-equal default-bloat (hero-bloat hero)))
 
+(let* ((level (level-parse "WWGWW\nW.H.W\nW.P.W\nWWWWW\n"))
+       (hero (hero-load level))
+       (goal-position (level-find-goal level)))
+  (test-assert (blocked-by-door? level '(dummy-key) goal-position))
+  (test-assert (not (blocked-by-door? level '() goal-position)))
+  (test-assert (blocked-by-door? level '(dummy-key) (vec2- goal-position (vec2 0 -15))))
+  (test-assert (not (blocked-by-door? level '(dummy-key) (vec2- goal-position (vec2 0 -16))))))
+
 (test-end "hero-model")
 
diff --git a/game/model/key.scm b/game/model/key.scm
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..03dd285
--- /dev/null
+++ b/game/model/key.scm
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+(define-module (game model key)
+  #:use-module (chickadee math vector)
+  #:use-module (game model level)
+  #:use-module (game model hero)
+  #:use-module (srfi srfi-9)
+  #:use-module (srfi srfi-9 gnu)
+  #:export (key?
+            key-near-position?
+            keys-load
+            key-position
+            make-key
+            keys-update
+            )
+  )
+
+
+(define-immutable-record-type <key>
+  (make-key position)
+  key?
+  (position key-position)
+  )
+
+(define (key-collides? key position)
+  (< (pk "key distance" (vec2-magnitude (vec2- (key-position key) position))) 4))
+
+
+(define (keys-load level)
+  (map make-key (level-find-keys level)))
+
+(define (keys-update keys hero)
+  (filter (lambda (key)
+            (not (key-collides? key (hero-position hero))))
+          keys))
+
+(define (keys-open-door? keys)
+  (null? keys))
diff --git a/game/model/level.scm b/game/model/level.scm
index b38a2dc..fe3261a 100644
--- a/game/model/level.scm
+++ b/game/model/level.scm
@@ -18,12 +18,15 @@
             level-tile-at
             level-cell-size
             level-find-hero
+            level-find-goal
             level-find-others
+            level-find-keys
             level-tile-blocked?
+            level-same-cell?
             ))
 
 (define-record-type <level>
-  (%make-level width height tiles goal hero entities)
+  (%make-level width height tiles)
   level?
   (width level-width)
   (height level-height)
@@ -40,6 +43,7 @@
     ((#\P) 'hero)
     ((#\O) 'other)
     ((#\G) 'goal)
+    ((#\K) 'key)
     (else 'empty)))
 
 (define (content->lines content)
@@ -65,12 +69,11 @@
          (width (string-length (car lines)))
          (height (length lines))
          (tiles (list->vector 
-                 (parse-lines lines)))
-         (entities '()))
-    (%make-level width height tiles #f #f entities)))
+                 (parse-lines lines))))
+    (%make-level width height tiles)))
 
 (define (level-parse-file filename)
-  (level-parse (call-with-input-file (asset-file-name filename) get-string-all)))
+  (level-parse (call-with-input-file (assets-file-name filename) get-string-all)))
 
 
 (define (level-tile-at-row-col level row col )
@@ -119,6 +122,14 @@
 (define (level-find-others level)
   (level-find-tile level 'other))
 
+(define (level-find-keys level)
+  (level-find-tile level 'key))
+
+
+(define (level-same-cell? a b)
+  (and (= (coord->cell (vec2-x a)) (coord->cell (vec2-x b)))
+       (= (coord->cell (vec2-y a)) (coord->cell (vec2-y b)))))
+
 ;; Tests
 (test-begin "level")
 
diff --git a/game/model/other.scm b/game/model/other.scm
index 6279652..bc9ec0b 100644
--- a/game/model/other.scm
+++ b/game/model/other.scm
@@ -24,10 +24,13 @@
 ;; They are represented by a runner and try to reach the player to give
 ;; unwelcome advice unwittingly killing the player with cringe.
 (define-immutable-record-type <other>
-  (%make-other runner)
+  (%make-other runner has-key?)
   other?
   (runner other-runner other-with-runner)
-  )
+  (has-key? other-has-key? other-with-key))
+
+(define (make-other runner)
+  (%make-other runner #f))
 
 (define default-state 'fall)
 (define default-bloat 1.0)
@@ -35,7 +38,7 @@
 (define (other-load-others level)
   "Create a other at the position in the level map"
   (map 
-   (compose %make-other runner-load)
+   (compose make-other runner-load)
    (level-find-others level)))
 
 (define (other-x other)
@@ -44,8 +47,7 @@
 
 (define (other-y other)
   "return the y coordinate as an integer"
-  (runner-y (other-runner other))
-  )
+  (runner-y (other-runner other)))
 
 (define (other-state other)
   "return the current state of the other"
diff --git a/game/model/runner.scm b/game/model/runner.scm
index d59c98d..9d66416 100644
--- a/game/model/runner.scm
+++ b/game/model/runner.scm
@@ -13,9 +13,7 @@
             runner-position runner-with-position
             runner-x runner-with-x
             runner-y runner-with-y
-            runner-update
-            ))
-
+            runner-update))
 
 (define-immutable-record-type <runner>
   (%make-runner position state)
@@ -43,7 +41,6 @@
 (define (runner-with-y runner y)
   (runner-with-position runner (vec2 (runner-x runner) y)))
 
-
 ;; return next state of runner 
 ;; @returns 'go-left 'go-right 'climb 'fall 'stationary
 (define (next-state runner level inputs)
@@ -68,12 +65,10 @@
     ((down) (vec2 0 (- distance)))
     (else (vec2 0 0))))
 
-
 (define (round-position pos)
   (vec2 (inexact->exact (floor (vec2-x pos)))
         (inexact->exact (floor (vec2-y pos)))))
 
-
 (define (safe-move level pos move)
   (let ((new-pos (vec2+ pos move)))
     (if (level-tile-blocked? level new-pos)
@@ -105,8 +100,6 @@
         (runner-with-state state)
         (runner-with-position position))))
 
-
-
 ;; Tests
 (test-begin "runner-model")
 
diff --git a/game/render/hero.scm b/game/render/hero.scm
index 5ae28d4..51589a7 100644
--- a/game/render/hero.scm
+++ b/game/render/hero.scm
@@ -6,16 +6,7 @@
   #:use-module (chickadee graphics sprite)
   #:use-module (chickadee graphics texture)
   #:export (render-hero
-            render-hero-load)
-  )
-
-
-(define hero-texture #f)
-(define hero-atlas #f)
-
-(define (render-hero-load)
-  (set! hero-texture (load-image (asset-file-name "assets/images/lr_penguin2.png")))
-  (set! hero-atlas (split-texture hero-texture 32 32))) 
+            render-hero-load))
 
 ;; start index of the walk animation
 (define hero-walking-offset 56)
diff --git a/game/render/key.scm b/game/render/key.scm
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8b3d345
--- /dev/null
+++ b/game/render/key.scm
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+(define-module (game render key)
+  #:use-module (game util assets)
+  #:use-module (game model key)
+  #:use-module (chickadee math vector)
+  #:use-module (chickadee graphics sprite)
+  #:use-module (chickadee graphics texture)
+  #:export (render-keys))
+
+(define key-index 1726)
+(define closed-goal-index 3404)
+(define open-goal-index 3350)
+
+(define (render-key key)
+  (draw-sprite 
+   (texture-atlas-ref tile-atlas key-index)
+   (vec2+ (key-position key) (vec2 -8 0))))
+
+
+(define (render-goal keys goal-position)
+  (let ((goal-index (if (null? keys) open-goal-index closed-goal-index)))
+    (draw-sprite 
+     (texture-atlas-ref tile-atlas goal-index)
+     goal-position)))
+
+(define (render-keys keys goal-position)
+  (for-each (lambda (key)
+              (render-key key))
+            keys)
+  (render-goal keys goal-position))
+
+
diff --git a/game/render/level.scm b/game/render/level.scm
index 92508bf..185177d 100644
--- a/game/render/level.scm
+++ b/game/render/level.scm
@@ -12,17 +12,10 @@
             ))
 
 
-(define tile-texture #f)
-(define tile-atlas #f)
-(define tile-index 0)
-(define tile-map #f)
 (define sprite-batch #f)
 
 ;; load the tile texture and split it into a tile atlas
 (define (render-level-load)
-  (set! tile-texture (load-image (asset-file-name "assets/images/simples_pimples.png")
-                                 #:transparent-color black))
-  (set! tile-atlas (split-texture tile-texture 16 16))
   (set! sprite-batch (make-sprite-batch tile-texture #:capacity 1200))
   )
 
@@ -35,9 +28,10 @@
     ((brick) 3750)
     ((wall) 3709)
     ((ladder) 3350)
-    ((goal) 3404)
+    ((goal) 3800)           ;; render empty tile for goal location
     ((hero) 3800)          ;; render empty tile for hero start location
     ((other) 3800)           ;; render empty tile for enemy start location
+    ((key) 3800)
     ;; render visual reminder of unknown tile
     (else 3326)))
 
diff --git a/game/render/other.scm b/game/render/other.scm
index 8211fc8..2d30c50 100644
--- a/game/render/other.scm
+++ b/game/render/other.scm
@@ -10,11 +10,6 @@
 
 
 
-(define other-atlas #f)
-
-(define (render-other-load)
-  (set! other-atlas (split-texture (load-image (asset-file-name "assets/images/simples_pimples.png")) 16 16))) 
-
 ;; start index of the walk animation
 (define other-walking-offset 3926)
 (define other-falling-offset 3930)
@@ -24,16 +19,16 @@
   (let* ((x (other-x other))
          (animation-frame (remainder x 3))
          (other-index (+ other-walking-offset animation-frame)))
-    (texture-atlas-ref other-atlas other-index)))
+    (texture-atlas-ref tile-atlas other-index)))
 
 (define (other-sprite-stationary _other)
-  (texture-atlas-ref other-atlas other-walking-offset))
+  (texture-atlas-ref tile-atlas other-walking-offset))
 
 (define (other-sprite-falling other)
-  (texture-atlas-ref other-atlas other-climbing-offset))
+  (texture-atlas-ref tile-atlas other-climbing-offset))
 
 (define (other-sprite-climbing other)
-  (texture-atlas-ref other-atlas other-climbing-offset))
+  (texture-atlas-ref tile-atlas other-climbing-offset))
 
 (define (render-other other)
   (case (other-state other)
diff --git a/game/util/assets.scm b/game/util/assets.scm
index 29a2c4e..9271687 100644
--- a/game/util/assets.scm
+++ b/game/util/assets.scm
@@ -1,11 +1,27 @@
 (define-module (game util assets)
-  #:export (asset-file-name)
+  #:use-module (chickadee graphics texture)
+  #:use-module (chickadee graphics color)
+  #:export (assets-load assets-file-name tile-texture tile-atlas hero-texture hero-atlas)
+  
   )
 
+(define tile-texture #f)
+(define tile-atlas #f)
+
+(define hero-texture #f)
+(define hero-atlas #f)
 
 (define prefix (or (getenv "ASSET_DIR") "." ))
 
 
-(define (asset-file-name name)
+(define (assets-file-name name)
   (string-append prefix "/" name)
   )
+
+(define (assets-load)
+  (set! tile-texture (load-image (assets-file-name "assets/images/simples_pimples.png")
+                                 #:transparent-color black))
+  (set! tile-atlas (split-texture tile-texture 16 16))
+  
+  (set! hero-texture (load-image (assets-file-name "assets/images/lr_penguin2.png")))
+  (set! hero-atlas (split-texture hero-texture 32 32)))