The Squirrel Who Carries Fire

May 18

A Pathfinder 2e player character who is small, clever, flammable, and deeply untrustworthy around open flames

What This Character Is

This is a small, fast, twitchy alchemist who treats fire the way other people treat tools. Casually. Frequently. With enthusiasm.

He is not evil.
He is not malicious.
He is just… very excited about combustion.

Mechanically, this character:

Uses bombs as primary weapons
Leans into fire damage and splash effects
Relies on speed, positioning, and chaos
Feels cute right up until the third explosion

Narratively, he’s the kind of character who says things like:

“I was testing it.”

If you’re unfamiliar with how Mike’s Tavern frames builds as playable personalities instead of spreadsheets, start here:
About Mike’s Tavern

And if your table ever argues about what’s “reasonable” for a small creature to carry, the
FAQ
will save you a rules digression.

Ancestry: Awakened Animal (Squirrel)

This is the key that makes the whole thing sing.

Awakened Animal lets you play a fully sapient animal with hands, speech, and class levels. Your squirrel:

Is Small
Has a climb speed (perfect)
Gets Dexterity boosts
Can absolutely wear tiny goggles

Flavor-wise, squirrels are:

Excellent hoarders
Natural climbers
Already one bad day away from arson

Nothing about this is a stretch.

If your GM prefers plant-folk, Squirrel Leshy also works, but Awakened Animal gives you more “feral intelligence” energy, which fits the chaos better.

Background: Tinker, Hermit, or Field Researcher

Pick a background that explains why the squirrel learned chemistry.

Strong fits:

Tinker – obsessed with mechanisms, reactions, and accidents
Hermit – learned alone, unsupervised, and incorrectly
Field Researcher – treats explosions as “data collection”

Mechanically, you want:

Intelligence boost
Crafting training
Something that doesn’t imply adult supervision

Class: Alchemist (Bomber)

This is where the arson happens.

Bomber Alchemist is the correct choice. No workaround needed.

Why Bomber works perfectly:

Bombs scale
Splash damage rewards reckless positioning
Fire bombs are abundant and excellent
You get lots of daily toys, which suits a hyperactive brain

Your squirrel is not throwing bombs because he’s angry.
He’s throwing bombs because they’re right there.

If your table struggles with characters who rely on consumables, this mindset piece pairs well:
When you’re afraid you’re draggin the party down

Ability Scores (Level 1 Priorities)

You want:

Intelligence – highest, always
Dexterity – second, for AC and throwing
Constitution – third, because sometimes things explode near you
Strength, Wisdom, Charisma are secondary and mostly narrative

This squirrel survives by being hard to catch, not hard to hit.

Research Field: Bomber (Fire-Focused)

Lean into fire unapologetically.

Core bomb choices:

Alchemist’s Fire
Sticky Bomb upgrades
Later: anything that burns, spreads, or panics enemies

Your squirrel does not diversify early.
He commits.

This teaches good PF2e habits: specialization first, flexibility later.

Skills: What the Squirrel Is Good At

Core skills:

Crafting (non-negotiable)
Acrobatics (small body, fast reflexes)
Stealth (squirrels vanish when they want to)
Nature or Arcana (depends on flavor)

Optional chaos picks:

Thievery (he will take things)
Survival (he knows trees better than roads)

Equipment: Tiny Gear, Big Consequences

Your squirrel’s equipment tells the story.

Must-haves:

Bandolier or bomb harness
Goggles (non-optional, emotionally)
Light armor tailored for movement
Backup dagger (mostly ceremonial)

Flavor items that sell the character:

Scorched notebooks
Half-melted containers
Burn marks he insists were “on purpose”

Looting this character’s pack should make NPCs nervous.

How This Character Fights

This squirrel does not stand still.

Combat rhythm:

Move constantly
Throw bombs from awkward angles
Abuse splash damage
Retreat vertically if possible
Laugh when enemies panic

He is not durable.
He is disruptive.

If your party tends to play very straight-line combat, this kind of character shakes things loose in a good way. This article explains why disruption matters:
Why your party keeps falling apart and how to stop being the reason

Level Guidance (1–5, Light Touch)

Level 1

Bomber online
Alchemist’s Fire is your identity
Learn spacing and splash discipline

Level 2

Mobility and bomb feats
Start feeling like a real menace

Level 3

More resources, better bombs
Enemies start recognizing you as a problem

Level 4

Enhance splash or sticky effects
This is where the arsonist reputation begins

Level 5

The build stabilizes
You are now a known quantity: small, fast, explosive

After this point, let personality guide feat choices.

Personality: Cute, Curious, Dangerous

Play him as:

Genuinely friendly
Easily distracted
Proud of “successful tests”
Slightly confused why everyone is yelling

He doesn’t understand why fire scares people.
It’s useful.

If your table likes emotionally memorable characters, this explains why small chaos goblins work so well:
Every party has that one player who brings snacks and trauma

Mike Weighs In

I once banned a squirrel from my tavern. Not ‘cause he was loud. Not ‘cause he stole. But because he asked what happens when oil meets flame indoors. Yer party keeps him alive, they’ll have stories. Yer party lets him experiment unsupervised, they’ll have ashes.