[Birdland]

This is the background history for Birdie's race; the Skin-Changers. It is in no way based on anything Tolkien wrote, except for a brief mention in his writings that there were other skinchangers in Middle-earth besides The Beorn.

The Beorning are a most ancient, noble race. Their people have dwelled in the Northern Vales of Middle Earth for countless centuries, where they have built their fantastic lodges of wood and stone, and farmed the fertile river valley of the Anduin. The center of their territory is The Carrock, a massive rock island that splits the Anduin in twain, north of the Old Ford. The Carrock is both Marker and Meeting place. It is said that the first Beorning to come to Middle Earth stood on the peak of Carrock, surveying the land, and first assuming the aspect of The Bear.

For the Beorn are Skin-Changers. The only form they will take on, besides that of large, doughty Men, is that of The Bear, whom they regard as the greatest and wisest of all the creatures of Eru. Through the years, the Beorning have achieved a perfect balance of the two forms, blending their Human and Animal aspects in such a way that a Beorn in Man-Shape still retains all the nobler, (and dangerous) traits of Ursa, and when a Bear?…well…vice-versa.

They are a very successful, prosperous race. They have never been routed from their ancient kingdom, never been defeated in battle, and their trade with Men, Elves and Dwarves have enriched their coffers, to the benefit of all Beorn-Kind.

Of course, most Skin-Changers bear no resemblance whatsoever to the Beorning.

Skin-Changers are thought to have originally come from the Southern lands, perhaps Near Harad or Khand, or maybe even farther into the Hither Lands. They are a small race of men, never achieving the lofty heights of the Numenorean races. Though never as small as Hobbits, they seldom, if ever, grow taller than 2 meters. They are generally light boned and nimble, (some might describe them as “scrawny”), though a male skin-changer may possess surprising strength and can defeat a larger opponent, particularly in wrestling. Their skin is olive, their hair mostly black and thick. The eyes are generally brown, though blue or green eyed Skin-Changers are not that uncommon.

But that, is of course, is when they are in Human form. For Skin-Changers can assume almost any shape, whether animal, vegetable, or mineral, that they like. They cannot, however, assume the form of another Man, Halfling, Dwarf, or Elf. But they can, for some reason, turn into Ents. (It is thought that the “woody“ nature of these Free People somehow allows for this type of metamorphosis.)

Now most people would think it a wonderful thing, to be able to take on any aspect that you like. To escape your troubles by flying away as a bird, or taking to sea as a fish. But this very talent can lead to an inability to face responsibility. If you can escape from your life by adopting another, you may never learn to face your troubles and overcome them. The Beorning, for this very reason, regard their smaller cousins as a flighty, irresponsible, sometimes silly people, who cannot take life seriously.

The majority of Skin-Changers regard Beornings as fanatics.

Men of Power covet Skin-Changers; for they are, of course, the perfect spies and thieves. For this reason the race has been plagued through the ages by Forces of Evil who sought to control Skin-Changers and use them to further their aims. There are even horrific stories of necromancers who would “study” captive Skin-Changers, in order that they might absorb the talent to change form, and use it themselves. Though not a particularly political race, never taking sides in the ongoing conflicts between Men, Elves, and Dwarves, Skin-Changers have always turned from the Dark Side. They have fled in terror from those who sought to control them. And since they are Skin-Changers, fleeing is usually quite easy.

The one way Men of Evil have found to gain sway over the race is through their children. If the youngest child of a Skin-Changer can be captured, before its talent has been manifested, (generally around the age of 12-13), then the cooperation of the parents can be ensured. Sadly, this has lead to the practice of infanticide / suicide among the Skin-Changers, if they find that themselves in a situation where escape without the young children is impossible.
When Sauron’s hand stretched into the Southern Lands for the first time, the Skin-Changers that could fled North.

Now most people of Middle-Earth hate Skin-Changers, for they are of course, the perfect spies and thieves. It did not take long for the race to hide their abilities from “others“, and whatever stable culture Skin-Changers may have had in the Southern Lands was abandoned as they took to the lives of wanderers in Middle Earth.

Skin-Changers became tinkers, peddlers, entertainers, fortune-tellers, and mountebanks. In the early Third Age you might have seen them in their colorful wagon caravans, (which may or may not be drawn by “real” horses), or you may have delighted in the tricks of their clever animals, entertaining the locals at some fair or market day (that may, or may not have, been performed by “real” dogs and birds). It wasn’t long before the only Skin-Changers known to exist in Middle Earth were the mighty Beorning. And this was exactly how the Skin-Changers liked it.

But by the time Birdie had grown and had set out on her adventures, there were no Skin-changers to be found in all her wanderings. She was alone.

Birdie is a skinchanger who was fostered by the Beorn. Her own history, including her first meeting with Piosenniel, will be explained in a future tale. Her friendship with Cami can be read about in the voyages of "The Lonely Star".