Ink, then digital.

Work for an upcoming Ironclaw project.

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The cliche is that "dragons and squirrels are next of kin", which is meant to be commentary on the equalizing nature of greed. Squirrels are peerless hoarders, literally and metaphorically; this refers to the gathering of material but also information, knowledge and power. It is not the same as kleptomania, because squirrels are more than willing to work for their possessions legitimately, but they then take great stock in ownership. This can lead to a miserly, hermitage existence of accumulation without purpose nor joy.

"You never know when it might come in handy," is a typical squirrel mantra. Other rationalizations include scrounging against some hypothetical future scarcity. At root is a fear of the future and the unknown. A squirrel's worst fear is to be without options, unprepared. They are consummate control freaks, highly superstitious and particular about their possessions.

Those that can make use of this compulsion tend to succeed spectacularly as merchants, financiers, pawnbrokers, curators, and other forms of trade. They aren't much for travelling abroad, unless their "hoard" is small enough to be portable, and even the most healthy-minded squirrels tend to be collectors of something. It is not unusual for a squirrel to keep on-hand a pouch of bent coins, or chipped marbles, or found keys, those with piratical leanings usually sport an elaborate variety of piercings or tattoos, etc.

Less literally, though perhaps more surprisingly, squirrels can be just as ruthlessly eager to acquire intangibles like information, influence, power and prestige - and just as selfish once achieved. If there are deals to be made with devils for arcane truths, then squirrels are usually the ones to make them. This can mean dabbling in the occult, necromancy, alchemy, but also the more rigorous sciences. However squirrels aren't usually willing to share any advances they make in these fields. Due to this isolation and a tendency to jealously guard their secrets, learned squirrels can veer off into fringe areas of study and weird science.

In the historical record, it is almost routine for some isolated squirrel, after a lifetime of gathering resources and knowledge to then emerge with a warped notion of reshaping the world for the better. However hubris is usually the downfall of such careers - that and a blind spot for dealing with the chaos of the real world. Squirrels can be blinded by their knowledge; unable to see an object without viewing it through a lens or to know the world beyond atlases and encyclopedias. A squirrel will sell her soul for the power of far-seeing, or seek the secondhand visions of a crystal ball, when the door is open, the sun is shining and all there is can be known by simply going outside.

Squirrels are the kind of people to plan their meals months in advance, on a calendar, in ink.

[NOTE: Kandor, Sephiroth, Necronomicon, Presto, Deez Nutz]
[FURTHER NOTE: Revised]