Nesteropetes

Upon the emerald bracken, leaf littered forest floor treads the Adventurer now with care, a cascading shimmer of dawn's chorus echoing back and forth in anxious waves across these ancient woodland ways.

Wild tulip sprigs and viper's-grass lean to the trail ahead which, little by little, descends to a deepening hollow of gloomy moss draped o'er immense fell trees.

Here and there the rusted shard of a long abandoned shield may be spied ... a shattered helmet flung ... the hilt of a sword bent and broken struck by dew-dropped light in this sunken idyll.

The insects chorus, as though of one mind, falls a-quiet as a strange new sound begins to skitter and dance upon the ear; a chittering at first, returned with sharp and purposeful squeaks; back and forth, ahead, behind, above, below; their echoes proud and in full flight.

The Adventurer's eye adjusts to the gloom light of this verdurous mossy hollow, stunned to find it folding into gargantuan shadow with the arrival of a sight so enormous, and piloted by a Crew the likes of which shall ne'er have been seen before ...

Fully furred, bushy-tailed, and clothed in scraps of leather and repurposed plate ... a hundred or more Squirrels appear, clutching tiny cutlasses, reams of rope, and balls of fire, slingshots, cannon and ballistas ready to loose.

But stranger, still, is that of their “Ship” - behold, this moss and vine enraptured hollow log of incredible proportions, equipped with sail-like apparitions stitched of leaf and old fur, all strung from stiffly-jutting branches!

The Adventurer stands quite astounded, rooted to the mossy spot as the Callosciurus Captain, resplendent in crush-velvet and gold trim, a tiny brass hook for a paw, clambers now to the prow of this Grand Timber Vessel - Nesteropetes - clears their bewhiskered throat and begins at once to speak!

Sights, Sounds & Smells
Sights Sounds Smells
 * Dense forest on all sides
 * Nut stashes
 * Variously sized maps stuffed into the Log’s recesses and knots
 * Hoards of tiny trinkets
 * Chirruping and squeaking of the Squirrels as they go about their tasks
 * Cracking of twigs & branches
 * Burst of wings and hoof as Nest disturbs the foraging of all manner of creature in the forests
 * Distant whooping, yawns, howls and cries
 * Rich must of old soil and bark
 * Unwashed fur
 * Droppings and urine
 * Over-ripe berries
 * Nuts; boiled, fried, or roasted

Local Economy
The Squirrels of Nest practice vigorous trading with all and sundry; macadamia from the Muntjac tribes, hazelnuts from the Hedge-Pigs, pine-nuts from the Pine-Martins, walnuts with the Weasels, and so on.

Having obtained their stores from the various Tribes of the forest, the Squirrels then undertake the practice of converting each store variously for creams, poultices, preparations, alcohols, insulators, extracts, and much more besides, with no part of the nut put to waste.

The creatures are alert and suspicious of any they do not expect to encounter in their vast forest home, but are quick to bargain and barter should trade be forthcoming.

Imports
The Squirrel Crew busily seek all manner of artefacts, commodities and wonders rare to their forest habitat.

Metals, particularly those from weapons and armour, are a favoured.

The Squirrels, having long ago mastered the brewing of various liqueurs, often prefer spirits - particularly grape-wine and grain alcohols - of a more distant origin, consuming it in vast quantities, and becoming rather rowdy, rambunctious and violent.

Having partaken in such liquid refreshments, and exhausting their quarrels, the Traveller will find them enraptured by stories, tales and legends, thereafter embellishing, adapting and re-enacting the adventures for many days.

Exports
Wild nuts, and the many and various preparations obtained from them (as mentioned in the "Local Economy" section above).

Nest's Crew of Squirrels have been known to take on various contracts; particularly when times are hard or the nut-harvest fails, as they are extraordinarily adept at locating that which is lost or cannot be found; including people.

One additional source of income is the sale of variously strange and interesting trinkets found lost in the forests; dropped by some hapless Merchant or clumsy Traveller, or lifted from the long dead corpse of a bested Adventurer; they do not linger long enough to define nor discern.

Lodgings & Shelter
Nesteropetes, or "Nest", acts as both home and transportation for the Squirrel Clan.

Just as the vast forests through which the enormous hollow log traverses provide near endless material for renovation and repair, so too does Nesteropetes provide protection and entertainments for its furry inhabitants.

The Squirrels may, or may not, be aware that their evergreen home is consuming them ... one by one ... little by little ... day after day ...

Hierarchy & Political Structure
At first glance, it would appear that the Squirrels of Nest are led by a Captain; resplendent in velveteen breeches, waistcoat and feathered-hat, with a sharp brass hook for a paw.

On closer inspection, however, it appears that the Squirrel beneath the Captain's garb changes from day to day.

The station of Captain is granted each dawn, upon the settling of a contest known as "Palé" that - in equal parts - combines wrestling, acrobatics and vicious verbal castigations.

The victor - having outwitted their opposite number in vaulting, violence and vitriol, thus becomes Captain ... for a day, at least.

The loser, dishonoured and disappearing into the excitable throng of its kin, is then quickly consumed by the enormous Tree, Nesteropetes, at a moment when none are there to see.

There is no hierarchy, it should be noted, between the various groups and genera of creatures of Nest - whether squirrel, prairie dog, marmot, or chipmunk.