Introduction to Squirrel Variant - The Squirrel Variant is for rogues. Squirrels live in trees, they gather berries and nuts to eat; they enjoy the airy outdoors... They hate demons defiling the ground beneath them and making their forests die! That's why the squirrel has arisen to smite the dark forces which contaminate the land!

The squirrel is small, but that does not mean feeble! One of a squirrel's biggest assets is its tail. It uses its tail to balance, run faster, and for other such things. A squirrel is a very small animal and cannot use things as easily as a humanoid can. A squirrel is just as smart as any humanoid though!

Rules
A squirrel is smaller than a humanoid; larger than a hamster. For a squirrel to use items with strength requirement, its strength must be 1.5x the necessary requirement for a humanoid. Examples: Long Bow has a 25 strength requirement for a humanoid; it has 37.5 for a squirrel. Long War Bow requires 45 strength for a humanoid; 67.5 for a squirrel. What to do about the .5? Round it up. 68 strength for Long War Bow, 38 for Long Bow.

A squirrel generally works with a tail. The rogue character seems to lack one, but not to worry! It's just invisible. *Whew* Still, you find that you are not agile enough to use bows by the humanoid requirements. You must adjust these for dexterity just as you did for strength. Your dexterity must be 1.5x the humanoid requirement. A Long Bow has a 30 dexterity requirement for humanoids; it has 45 for squirrels. A Long War Bow has a 80 dexterity requirement for humanoids; it has 120 for squirrel. When you come up with a #.5 requirement, round it up.

You are just as smart and just a healthy as the average humanoid. You also like elixers, shrines (any you wish, none required to be used), and uniques. As with other rodents, there are similar restrictions on which uniques and enchantments you can use.

People in town like squirrels. They use to leave food out for them until the bad times came. Now they put out scavenger pellets. Damn them! (Look for a Scavenger Quest in the quest section!) You must complete the Scavenger Quest before you may use Griswold. You may use Gillian, Ogden, Adria, and Cain just like any other character. You despise Wirt for his wooden leg. It is twisted and warped. It is a pathetic waste of tree! (Look for a Quest to Avenge the Tree from which Wirt's Leg Came in the quest section!) You may buy things from Pepin normally, but you may not recieve his free healing. He is not a veterinarian. (Look for a Quest to Educate Pepin in the quest section!)

Being a creature of the forest, and a tree dweller, the squirrel has developed adequate vision and does not have to play on zoom mode as the hamster does. The squirrel has also developed the ability to see traps and disarm them- a very useful skill in avoiding hunters' traps.

Starting off
A squirrel needs many level ups before she can use even a Long Bow. Using a short bow until clvl 8 makes one extremely weak, but isn't a big deal.

Enchantment Bans
Predators
Fox, Jaguar, Eagle, Wolf, Tiger, Lion, Mammoth, Whale, Raven's, Snake's, Serpent's, Drake's, Dragon's, Hyena, The Vulture, The Jackal, of the Bear, The Leech

Rodent Haters
Soldier's, Lord's, Knight's, Master's, Champion's, King's (These noble and footsoldier types tend to put out traps for hapless rodents. Warrior's enchantment is fine because... well, warrior's are stupid and will speak to and accept anything: rocks, fish, corpses, etc...)

These would step on you
Giants, Titans

Enchantment Restrictions
Natural Disasters
Thunder, Lightning, Flaming, Burning (See Quest Section for rules on these enchantments.)

Item Ban
No Hunter's Bow. Hunter's Bows kill your forest friends. You must not use their bow because it would insult the memory all of murdered creatures.

Unique Restrictions & Bans

Forces of Nature
Thundercall, Storm Shield, Stormspire, Windforce (These are allowed after the Quest of the Elements.)

Useable Unidentified
Gladiator's Bane, Stormshield

Nobility Title
OverLORD's Helm

Unique Bans
Predators
The GRIZZLY, ShadowHAWK, DRAGON's Breach, The FALCON's Talon, GRYPHON's Claw, EAGLEhorn, Sharp BEAK

Hunter's Bow
Flamedart

Spells
Healing, Resurrect, Heal Other, Trap Skill, Bone Spirit, Blood Star, Fire Wall, Teleport, Phase, Telekinesis, Town Portal, and Golem may be learned and cast. Other spells are to be allowed after completion of the Quest of the Elements.

Quests
Be sure to read this quest section as there are restrictions on things you may or may not do depending on which quest(s) you have completed.

Much of Squirrelism is about questing. A Squirrel should be able to harness the powers of nature and release its WRATH upon the demons that have defiled the land! However, no squirrel is born with such ability and those that wish to be one with nature must undergo trials to obtain and understand such power.

1) Quest of the Elements
This is a very long quest and is to be completed in different parts at different times. They may be completed out of order, and they may all be worked-on at the same time.
You are untrained in the ways of nature. You fear powerful winds, lightning, thunder, and fire. You must learn to not fear them.

Part 1) Lightning and Thunder
You must slay the forces which harness lightning for evil. The Forces of Lightning are...

Brokenstorm (Red Storm, dlvl 9)
Blackstorm (Obsidian Lord, dlvl 10)
The Flayer (Storm Rider, dlvl 10)
Doomcloud (Maelstorm, dlvl 13)
Dreadjudge (Magistrate, dlvl 14)
The Visier (Cabalist, dlvl 15 )

Part 1 Reward
If you have slain all 6 of these fiends, then you have completed Part 1 of this quest. Your reward is the ability to use items with the suffixes "of Lightning" and "of Thunder." You may also use Stormspire, Stormshield, and Thundercall. If you were able to kill all of the Foreces of Lightning while playing solo and without dying to any one of their pack or to the unique creature itself, you may use these items reguardless of strength and dexterity requirement (as long as you have enough for a humanoid).

Part 2) Wind
Slay the wind beast! However, this will be no simple task. Wind is unyielding and powerful. To defeat this enemy, you must defeat him 5 times. Alternatively, he may give up by dropping a Windforce. The wind beast is...

Windspawn (dlvl 12 Vortex Lord. Not the one in Hell, that's Gorefeast.)

Part 2 Reward
If you do this without dying to him or his pack, you may use Windforce even if you have only the humanoid requirements. If you did die, you may use Windforce but you must have the squirrelish requirements.

Part 3) Fire
Destroy these pyromaniacs:
Skullfire (Corspe Bow, dlvl 3)
Blackash the Burning (Burning Dead Archer, dlvl 4)
Blightfire (Fire Clan Archer, dlvl 7)
Firewound the Grim (Magma Demon, dlvl 8)
Goldblight of the Flame (Blood Claw, dlvl 10)
Viperflame (Fire Drake, dlvl 12)
Witchfire the Unholy (Succubus, dlvl 12)
Blackskull (Balrog, dlvl 13)
Gorefeast (Vortex Lord, dlvl 13)
Arch-Bishop Lazarus (Advocate, dlvl 15)

Part 3 Reward
You may use suffixes "of Fire" and "of Burning."

Grand Reward for All 3 Parts
You may use any Fire spell (except for Guardian) and any Lightning spell!

2) Scavenger Pellet Quest
Vileness! Scavenger animals have taken over the spot in townspeoples' hearts previously held by squirrels!! You must slay all unique scavengers to create panic in the scavengers' lives. They'll forget to visit town for food and the townspeople will remember the squirrels again! The scavenger bosses are...

Shadowbite (dlvl 2 Scavenger)
El Chupacabras (dlvl 3 Plague Eater)
Pulsecrawler (dlvl 4 Shadow Beast)
Spineeater (dlvl 4 Bone Gnasher)

Reward
Griswold may be used for repairs and purchasing items.

3) The Quest to Avenge the Tree from which Wirt's Leg Came
A wasted tree if there ever was one! A tree so old that it saw the beginning of the Sin War was slain for the sole purpose of giving Wirt a good wooden leg. What happened no one could have predicted. Every single peg that was carved for the fiend became warped and twisted within an hour of being affixed to his stump. The whole tree was used up in that fashion. However, when they got to the end of the tree, there was enough to make 3 pegs. When the 3 were finished, a power was released that was so strong it created a burst of energy and 2 of the 3 pegs were flung into the labryinth. The third is affixed to Wirt's leg.
As soon as the peg which is currently affixed to Wirt was strapped on, the other 2 pegs warped and changed into powerful items- and both priced cheaply, too. All 3 pegs were named the same, "Gnarled Root." Your quest is to find the other 2 Gnarled Roots and avenge the Tree. One of the Roots is a Club and the other is a Spiked Club.

Find Gnarled Roots version Club and Spiked Club then avenge the tree.
To avenge the Tree, break both clubs. By doing this Wirt's peg will snap in two! Bwhaha! Both must be broken from full durability and both must be broken within the same game in order to create a power strong enough to snap Wirt's Gnarled Stump of the Ages. (You may not use Hidden Shrines on the Roots to make them break faster.)

When this quest is completed, if you find another Gnarled Root, please bury it in the field amongst some trees in rememberance of the mighty Tree.

Reward
What? Breaking Wirt's peg isn't good enough?! Well, I suppose you can get something out of it other than that. You may use Wirt as long as you find him a replacement peg. (This can be any blunt weapon except for Gnarled Root. Finding him a cursed club can add some fun to it, that way you can brag that you're making him wear a Clumsy Stump of Fragility.)

4)The Quest to Educate Pepin
Pepin is undereducated! He's only a human healer, not a veterinarian! You shall help educate him! To do this you must find him a few things. (Side note: This quest is easier than the lemming's Pepin quest because a squirrel has a less complicated aura of magic- and no insanity- to work around in order to heal without psychological side effects.)

Find a Book of Heal Animal (Other) and one of the following cutting instruments: Bonesaw (good on those tough cuts), The Grandfather (home remedies), Black Razor (cuts seamlessly). When you find these 2 items for Pepin, leave them at his doorstep so that the game closes with them. Naturally, Pepin will assume they are his and be able to use them the next time you visit.

Reward
You may use Pepin's Free Healing!

5) The Quest of Bovinity
(This quest is initiated only if you gain 150 base hps.)

ACK! Gillian has accused you of being a fat cow!! You must disprove this falsity!... but how... Simple! Prove Gillian to be the 4th long lost cow sister, Sagginazz! A difficult task if there ever was one, but it shall be worth the effort!

Part 1) The Accusation
(This occurs when you first achieve 150+ base life.) You attempt to use Pepin yet he refuses your business! He pompously says that he cannot be associated with such tubby customers! (During this quest you will not be able to buy anything from PEPIN. His free healing is also banned during this quest, but that only applies if you've completed the Quest to Educate Pepin.) You walk away dumbfoundedly and then speak to Ogden, he says "Wellgirlfriend!Yougottahearwhatsbeengoinaroundthetownlately! GilliantoldPepinwhotoldWirtwhotoldFarnham
thatyouwereafattubbycow!!!CanyoubelieveIT?!YeahIcouldnteither!Speakingofsuchthingsyouneed
atrimcomebymytavernsometime!!Iamalsoastylist!!"
If you made any sense of that, continue. If not, that's ok. Utterly confused by Ogden's ramblings, you speak to Wirt. He tells you that since you're his ONLY customer, he will allow a cow such as you to use his services. You tell him that you are not a bovine, yet he can only respond with "I know you don't grow on a vine!" Ok... Time to find a way to disprove Gillian. You must find a unique ring, keep it unidentified and tell people that it is the "Ring of Truth." They will believe you if you tell them that YOU are not a cow, but not if you say Gillian IS a cow. Well, time for revenge.

Part 2) Revenge
Find the Fool's Crest and place it near Gillian (identified). Call much attention to it and label her a fool! (Note: You may not keep Fool's Crest after outing Gillian's foolishness. If you do, you will have to find another one and you will be labled the Fool of Tristram. Someone else may take it though.) Now no one will believe her! Haha! But that still doesn't prove her dark secret...

Part 3) Telling of the Dark Secret
You suspect Adria of being a cow... her hair has a spot on it, her skin is bright white and she wears a black dress. Very much like bovine she is. Confront her! Gasp! Your assumptions are true! She IS a bovine! Belle, Bessie, S***-Spot, and Sagginazz are her children. They were all born looking like typical cows, yet Sagginazz was cursed by Arch-Bishop Lazarus. Her form was changed into that of a human! The only relic that can prove her bovinity is one of corruption.

Find an item of corruption as it is the only thing that will disrupt Sagginazz's aura of magic which keeps her in human form. Use (equip) the corrupt item while near her and it will distort the aura causing all the townspeople to see her true form of Sagginazz, fattest of the 4 Tristramian Cow Sisters. But hat's not all you must do: Adria and Sagginazz demand revenge for the transmutation!

Now you must kill Arch-Bishop Lazarus while using the corruption item (This must be done AFTER finding the item of corruption. It must also be done on the same difficulty on which you found the corruption item.) and make sure he will never commit such vile acts again!

Reward
You are no longer labled as the fat cow of Tristram! ...What?! You people always want more... Well guess what! There isn't any more to thi... oh wait, nevermind. You may now use the spell of Guardian. You may also use Eaglehorn and items "of the Eagle" and "Raven's." Adria's cow-children will, by emitting flatulence laced with teflon fumes, prevent all Eagles and Ravens from coming to Tristram. (Teflon fumes can kill some birds, or so I've read. I am NOT, however, suggesting that you try killing a bird!)

6) "Cinder"ella, The Quest of Speed
(This quest must be done on each difficulty before you may slay Diablo.)
Your agility and speed must be at their best if you're to slay Diablo. The labyrinth knows what you plan to do to its master. That is why it makes one final attempt to kill you...

When you decide to slay Diablo, you are stopped by a mysterious voice. It sounds like a child... it is calling you, it needs you, it is lost. Go to the Catacombs and find the steps to level 4. When you find them, the Cathedral starts on fire and your exit is blocked. There is too much smoke to cast town portal safely as it could land in a fire. Your only option is to run up the stairs through levels 4-1 and then to town as swiftly as possible. The Cathedral will be in cinders in 5 minutes. In nightmare mode, 6 minutes. In hell mode, 8 minutes. (Get a timer ready. Pause it during load times.) You may only use armor without strength reqirement during this race because mail and plate will bog you down. There is too much smoke to even cast teleport, you may use spells, but no town portal or teleport. You may be accompanied by other squirrels while you do this, but only if they've never done it on that difficulty before. No other characters may accompany you during this time, only squirrels may help each other in this quest. A final thing, this must be done in a game where dlvls 1-4 have not been entered yet.

If you do not make it out in time... you die. (Cast firewall and roast yourself. You are allowed to cast fire wall to roast yourself in this situation even if you haven't completed the Quest of Elements yet.. This is because it is actually the Cathedral that is burning, so it's not as if you are actually casting it, the fire just caught up with you.)

After having completed the Hell Diff Cindy quest with Floaty(SQL), I found that this quest could be made harder. This part is PURELY OPTIONAL. Please take note that this is still a difficult task, even without these enhancements.
Optional Difficulty Enhancements for the Cinderella Quest
-Play with full gamma. (Full gamma = smoke)
and/or
-Play the quest entirely on zoom mode. (Zoom = crawling under the smoke)

Reward
You may slay Diablo in whichever difficulty you completed this quest.

Summary of Quest Restrictions
-No Teleport, No Town Portal
-Armors w/o str req. Helms with str req are OK.
-Normal Difficulty: Run from dlvl 4 to town within 5 minutes.
-Nightmare Difficulty: 6 minutes.
-Hell Difficulty: 8 minutes.
-Full Gamma (optional)
-Zoom Mode(optional)

Even More Quest Information
During a cooperative Cindy run, if a Squirrel dies the other may rescue it. Here are some possible situations and solutions for rescue...
1) Death with partner nearby
-Resurrect your partner.
2) Death while seperated from partner
-Find and Res your partner.

or

-Escape the cathedral and GO BACK for her.
If you escape and then return, you may use Teleport, Town Portal, heavy armors. By escaping, you have cleared the smoke from your head and opened the front door so that the smoke will escape from the building.
If you do not think you can make it back to your partner before the cathedral burns down, wait for the time to be up and THEN go back for her and get the title of Rescue Squirrel. However, this way only you get credit for the Cindy run. Please note that you may still help your friend get credit. The only restriction on the Cindy quest is that a Squirrel who has killed D on that difficlty may not help a Squirrel get Cindy credit on that difficulty.
If both of you make it up the Town Portal before the cathedral burns, both of you get credit for the Cindy. The rescurer becomes an Esteemed Rescue Squirrel.
--Example: Squirrel A has completed Cindy on NM diff but has not killed Diablo yet. Squirrel B needs Cindy credit on NM diff. A and B may do the NM Cindy quest together. SQL A may not use Teleport/TP/Str Req Armor during a second Cindy run. Teleport/TP/STR.REQ.AR is only allowed for a SQL that has escaped THAT PARTICULAR RUN and thus has had the smoke cleared from her body. --Example 2: SQL A has NM diff Diablo kill but SQL B doesn't even have NM diff Cindy credit. SQL A may not help SQL B get Cindy credit on NM diff.

7) The Quest of the Forest
Since you're fighting on behalf of the Forest it is appropiate that you have a quest pertaining to it! Upon reaching your 20th level you are told a legend about the Emerald of the Forest. This Emerald powered the forest and kept winter at bay. Sadly, this mighty Emerald was stolen from the Forest by an evil fiend named Bartuc. Better known as The Warlord of Blood, Bartuc commanded his army to destroy half of the forest. Since that time, Bartuc has been slain but the Emerald remains missing. His second-in-command Sir Gorash is said to know where the Emerald is located. If Wirt has an Emerald item during the time it takes you to complete this quest, go to step 4.

Part 1) The Interrogation of Sir Gorash
Seek out Sir Gorash! (Not rushed, just be sure to run into him when you eventually do dlvl 16.) You must make sure he is alone so you can have a nice... talk with him. Perhaps curse him into stone and then fire an arrow or 2 into his hide, or maybe just shoot him once or twice. He will still refuse to speak so slay him. In his dieing breath he is freed from the command of his long dead master, Bartuc. He tries to tell you where to find the Emerald. It was difficult to hear him so you take his offering and identify it. If it is an Emerald item, go to Part 2. If it is not an Emerald item, go to Part 3.

Part 2) The Emerald
You have found the Emerald! Take it to the Forest (any group of trees) and lay it there. In time, the Forest shall be lush again! Now go to reward section.

Part 3) Not the Emerald
Sir Gorash dropped something utterly not the Emerald. That bastard. He must still be under his master's control. Find an Emerald item (FIND, not buy from Wirt/Adria.) and slay Gorash while using it. Afterwards, return the Emerald to the Forest. Go to reward section once you've done this.

Part 4) Wirt Smiting!
Wirt has been vile and anti-forest for the last time! He taunts you with a misshapen form of an emerald, but not THE Emerald. Drop a staff next to him and fire an arrow and firebolt at it! Bwhaha! Wirt shall be smote for his vile doings! May his leg burn to cinders and he never get another. Go to reward #2:

Reward
For your mighty actions you are bestowed with the Might of the Forest. You may use Gemstone (Diamond, Ruby, Emerald, Sapphire) if you have only the humanoid requirement. (Note: You may choose to keep the Emerald item, just be sure to give it back to the Forest when you're done with it.)

Reward 2
Title: Smiter of Wirt!

Other rodent variants: Lemming (mage), Hamster (warrior)

Thank Yous:
Thanks to all the people who gave my Hamster Variant a good review! That really helped get me started on this one. Special thanks to Moriah for coming up with a good rodent type for the rogue! A squirrel is much better than a mouse, don't you think?