Black squirrels

Black-furred, timid and quick, the Black Squirrels live in the forest of Mirkwood. This variety of squirrel is inedible, as they are horrible to taste.

GM NOTE: Wether the Black Squirrels are neutral, evil, or good, is a complex subject, and different conceptions appear in Middle-earth RPG material. I provide two conflicting views below, one "evil" and one "good"; use whichever you find most fitted or just treat black squirrels as normal animals.

==Allies of the Wood-elves and Beijabar=

A friend and ally of the Wood-elves and Beijabar, the black squirrel is often a source of uneasiness for visitors. New-comers assume that the squirrels are evil on account of their color, an assumption which is patently false. Centuries ago the squirrels were like any other; however, as the forest darkened, their coats gradually grew darker. Mirkwood squirrels often acts as eyes and ears for the Wood-elves.

Allies of the Necromancer
With smooth black fur and dark, watchful eyes, the Black Squirrels serve as Sauron's small and secretive eyes and ears. Whenever they spy something of interest, they will quickly return to their master, whether it is the Necromancer himself, or an Overlord of Dol Guldur. Oftentimes, they are routinely summoned every few nights to report. Doing their master's bidding, the squirrels travail the whole length of the forest, observing what travelers do and where they are going. The squirrels in particular are charged with spying on the movement of the Mirkwood Elves. History

"There were black squirrels in the wood. As Bilbo's sharp inquisitive eyes got used to seeing things he could catch glimpses of them whisking off the path and scuttling behind tree-trunks." (The Hobbit)

When Sauron first made Mirkwood his home he recruited many creatures as his servants. Few are as sly and stealthy as the black squirrels. With dark magics such as Enslave Beast, he twisted regular squirrels to do his bidding and act as his spies. Giving them the power to understand the speech of those on two-legs, he ensured that his spies would be able to gain valuable information about the Free Peoples. When the White Council drove Sauron, disguised as The Necromancer, from Dol Guldur in 2941 T.A. he lost his direct contact with the black squirrels. Years later, in his stead, his Nazgûl lieutenants took up command of the squirrels, using their dark speech alone to communicate with the squirrels and have them do the Ringwraiths' bidding.

Habitat
Black squirrels are a product of dark magics from long ago. These same magics helped darken the forest of Greenwood the Great, turning it into the shadowy haunt, which is now called Mirkwood. The squirrels that were created long ago have since bred and multiplied, populating the forest with spies that serve Sauron and his minions. Not all black squirrels directly serve Sauron, though it is known by the Wise that many black squirrels are indeed the eyes and ears of the enemy. Their normal habits include all those of a normal squirrel, but in addition they regularly scout the forest for anything worth reporting to their masters. When not spying, they can be found eating roots and nuts, and dwelling in the trees performing natural functions.

Society
The black squirrels mentioned here whom directly serve the Enemy do so not out of their own free will, but out of years of domination. Because of this, they are loyal servants who would do anything for their masters. They will communicate with one another in order to work in teams to spy upon travelers, or will act in solitude, keeping to the shadows to gather information. Whatever the case, their goal is only to spy, and report. They will avoid danger at all costs, and will not attack or harass adventurers unless cornered. An adventurer who would try to communicate with one through Beast Speech or normal coaxing will find them devious and secretive, and they will try to avoid such situations. If an enterprising group forces the creature to speak through magic or some other trick, the squirrel might reveal small information such as that he serves a "greater master," and that his master's lair is in Dol Guldur, but beyond that the squirrel has little capacity for answering questions. It simply takes in information, and passes it along to his masters, not aware of much more than this.