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[[File:Bran stark dreams by teiiku.jpg|thumb|300px|[[Bran Stark]] is a skinchanger. Art by TeiIku ©]]
 
[[File:Bran stark dreams by teiiku.jpg|thumb|300px|[[Bran Stark]] is a skinchanger. Art by TeiIku ©]]
A '''skinchanger''' is a person with the ability to enter the mind of an animal and control its actions. It is much easier for a skinchanger to do so if a bond exists between the two parties. A skinchanger able to enter the mind of a wolf or dog is known as a '''warg'''.<ref>World Fantasy Con (Saratoga, NY; November 1-4, 2007) [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/World_Fantasy_Con_Saratoga_NY_November_1_4_2007 So Spake Martin]</ref> The interaction between the skinchanger's and animal's mind will influence both personalities, with detrimental effects to the human if the animal’s influence is not fought. As yet, there has only been one known incidence of a skinchanger entering another human's mind, and only a simple-minded one at that. This incidence was particularly traumatic to the person involved, and difficult for the skinchanger. Such an event proves to be a moral and ethical dilemma.
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A '''skinchanger''' or '''beastling'''{{ref|ASOS|79}}{{ref|TWOIAF| Ancient History: The Dawn Age}} is a person with the ability to enter the mind of an animal and control its actions. A skinchanger able to enter the mind of a wolf or dog is known as a '''warg'''.<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/World_Fantasy_Con_Saratoga_NY_November_1_4_2007 World Fantasy Con (Saratoga, NY; November 1-4 2007)], November 2, 2007</ref> It is unknown if skinchangers are synonymous with or different from [[shapechanger]]s.
  
An untrained skinchanger may unconsciously enter the mind of an animal, especially while sleeping, particularly if a bond exists. It is extremely traumatic if an animal is killed while its mind is inhabited by a skinchanger. If a skinchanger is killed while inhabiting a creature, a part of his consciousness will remain in the creature. Much fear and superstition exists around skinchangers, with many mistakenly believing them to be shape shifters. It is said the greatest of the skinchangers were the [[greenseer|greenseers]], who amongst many other things were also wargs. The greatest amongst them could wear the skin of any beast. One man in a thousand is born a skinchanger, and one skinchanger in a thousand could be a greenseer.
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==Characteristics==
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The interaction between the skinchanger's and animal's minds influence both personalities, with detrimental effects to the human if the animal's influence is not fought. It is much easier for a skinchanger to do so if a bond exists between the two parties.{{ref|ADWD|Prologue}} An untrained skinchanger may unconsciously enter the mind of an animal, especially while sleeping, particularly if a bond exists.{{ref|ACOK|4}} It is traumatic if an animal is killed while its mind is inhabited by a skinchanger.{{ref|ASOS|73}} If a skinchanger is killed while inhabiting a creature, a part of his consciousness will remain in the creature.{{ref|ASOS|15}}{{ref|ADWD|Prologue}} The greatest skinchangers were [[greenseer]]s, who among many other things were also wargs. The greatest greenseers could wear the skin of any beast.{{ref|ASOS|9}}
  
==Notes about Skinchanging==
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According to [[Haggon]], dogs are easy to bond with, because they live in close proximity to humans and are trusting; it becomes easier with time to enter a dog. Wolves are harder, as one has to forge a lasting bond, much like a marriage. Birds are tempting, but a skinchanger may soon lose contact to the mundane things of earth and want only to fly. Cats are cruel and vain beasts and cannot be easily controlled, only forced. Elk and deer are prey whose skins can cause a man to become cowardly.{{ref|ADWD|Prologue}}
Nature of the beasts, according to [[Haggon]]:
 
* Dogs are easy to bond with, because they are so much like humans and trusting; it becomes easier with time to enter one.
 
* Wolves are harder; one has to forge a lasting bond, much like a marriage. A man might befriend a wolf, even break a wolf, but no man could truly tame a wolf.
 
* Birds are very tempting, but a warg may soon lose contact to the mundane things of earth, and want only to fly.
 
* Cats are cruel and vain beasts and can’t be easily controlled, only forced.
 
* Elk and deer are prey; wear their skins too long, and even the bravest man becomes a coward.
 
  
An unwritten code of ethics for [[wildling]] skinchangers, as told by [[Haggon]], forbids them:
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An unwritten code for [[free folk]] skinchangers, as told by [[Haggon]], forbids them to eat of human meat and to mate as wolf with wolf. Seizing the body of another man is considered the worst abomination.{{ref|ADWD|Prologue}}
* To eat of human meat.
+
 
* To mate as wolf with wolf.
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A skinchanger can experience many deaths while in another body. It is only when the person's human body dies that the "true death" occurs.{{Ref|aDwD|Prologue}} It is possible for the warg to live a type of second life, a much simpler life inside the mind of an animal he controls. In the second life, the skinchanger's memory slowly fades until nothing of the man is left and only the beast remains.{{Ref|aDwD|Prologue}}
* To seize the body of another man (this is the worst abomination).
+
 
 +
Skinchangers and wargs are feared and honored by free folk, while people of the [[Seven Kingdoms]] hunt them.{{ref|ACOK|43}}{{ref|ACOK|68}}
 +
 
 +
==History==
 +
[[File:Woodrow Hinton SkinchangerII.png|thumb|350px|Wildling skinchanger with his owl. Art by Woodrow Hinton © Fantasy Flight Games]]
 +
The [[greenseers]] of the [[children of the forest]] inspired the first legends about skinchangers.{{ref|TWOIAF| Ancient History: The Dawn Age}} [[Septon]]s and [[maesters]] serving with the [[Night's Watch]] with the [[Wall]] recorded stories of skinchangers among the [[free folk]] found [[beyond the Wall]].{{ref|TWOIAF| Ancient History: The Dawn Age}}
 +
 
 +
According to ancient ballads, [[Gaven Greywolf]] was a skinchanger defeated by the [[Kings of Winter]] in the [[War of the Wolves]]. [[House Stark]] also defeated the [[Warg King]] in a war for [[Sea Dragon Point]].{{ref|TWOIAF| The North: The Kings of Winter}} [[Rose of Red Lake]], one of the legendary children of [[Garth Greenhand]], supposedly could turn into a crane.{{ref|TWOIAF| The Reach: Garth Greenhand}}
 +
 
 +
[[Varamyr]] slew and devoured his mentor, [[Haggon]], and came to rule a dozen free folk villages as a lord of sorts.{{ref|ADWD|Prologue}}
 +
 
 +
==Recent Events==
 +
===''A Clash of Kings''===
 +
[[Bran Stark]] has wolf dreams of his [[direwolf]], [[Summer]].{{ref|ACOK|4}} While Maester [[Luwin]] is skeptical, [[Jojen Reed]] encourages Bran.{{ref|ACOK|28}}
 +
 
 +
[[Robb Stark]], the [[King in the North]], avoids the [[Golden Tooth]] by following a goat track found by his direwolf, [[Grey Wind]].{{ref|ACOK|39}} Robb is said to have led an army of wargs in the [[Battle of Oxcross]].{{ref|ACOK|32}}
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 +
During the [[great ranging]], [[Jon Snow]] slays the wildling skinchanger [[Orell]]{{ref|ACOK|51}} and has dreams of his direwolf, [[Ghost]].{{ref|ACOK|53}}
 +
 
 +
===''A Storm of Swords''===
 +
Bran briefly slips into the mind of [[Hodor]] when his simple-minded friend is scared by thunder.{{ref|ASOS|40}}
 +
 
 +
Part of Orell lives on in his [[eagle]], which attacks Jon.{{ref|ASOS|15}} [[Varamyr]] claims the eagle, and when the bird is later burned by [[Melisandre]] during the [[Battle of Castle Black]]{{ref|ASOS|73}} Varamyr is traumatized.{{ref|ASOS|76}}
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Although [[Arya Stark]] had chased away her direwolf, [[Nymeria (direwolf)|Nymeria]], the girl dreams of the death of [[Iggo]].{{ref|ASOS|3}} Arya later dreams of a wolf recovering [[Catelyn Stark|a body]] from the [[Green Fork]].{{ref|ASOS|65}}
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===''A Dance with Dragons''===
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When they are surrounded by [[wights]], Varamyr attempts to take control of [[Thistle]] but the spearwife resists. The humans are killed by wights, but Varamyr begins his second life by entering one of his wolves, [[One Eye]].{{ref|ADWD|Prologue}} Bran's direwolf, Summer, later forces One-Eye to submit.{{ref|ADWD|4}}
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In order to save his own life and the lives of his companions, Bran enters Hodor so that he can fight wights more effectively.{{ref|ADWD|13}} Bran furthers enters Hodor in the [[cave of the three-eyed crow]], using him to explore the cavern. Meera and Jojen are unaware of Bran's actions, and Hodor hides deep within himself.{{ref|ADWD|34}} Under the tutelage of the [[three-eyed crow]], [[Brynden Rivers]], Bran learns to enter a [[raven]] and later the great [[weirwood]] at [[Winterfell]].{{ref|ADWD|34}}
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Jon's wolf dreams intensify,{{ref|ADWD|3}} but he declines [[Melisandre]]'s offer of guidance at [[Castle Black]].{{ref|ADWD|28}} Jon is wary of the wildling skinchanger [[Borroq]].{{ref|ADWD|58}}{{ref|ADWD|69}}
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Ser [[Jared Frey]] claims that Robb and his northmen were wargs who turned into wolves during the [[Red Wedding]].{{ref|ADWD|19}}
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[[Alysane Mormont]] tells [[Asha Greyjoy]], perhaps jokingly, that [[House Mormont]] women are skinchangers who turn into bears and find mates in the woods.{{ref|ADWD|42}}
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Having been blinded at the [[House of Black and White]], Arya dreams of being the night wolf and sees through the eyes of a cat.{{ref|ADWD|45}}
  
==Second Life==
 
A skinchanger can experience many deaths while in another body. It is only when the person's human body dies that the "true death" occurs. It is possible for the warg to live a type of second life, a much simpler life inside the mind of an animal he controls. In the second life, the skinchanger's memory slowly fades until nothing of the man is left and only the beast remains.{{Ref|aDwD|Prologue}}
 
 
 
 
==Known skinchangers==
 
==Known skinchangers==
There have been few known skinchangers in modern times, with most people associating them with the legends of the [[children of the forest]], particularly the greenseers.  
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===Stark Children===
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According to semi-canon sources, the current generation of [[House Stark|Stark]] children are all skinchangers to greater or lesser degrees, but only [[Bran Stark]] has been actively training his ability.<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/Quite_a_Few_Questions Quite a Few Questions], February 01, 2001</ref><ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/2460/ Trinoc*Con 8 (Durham, NC; August 3-5, 2007)], August 05, 2007</ref>
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*[[Jon Snow]], who can enter his [[direwolf]], [[Ghost]].{{ref|ACOK|53}}{{ref|ADWD|3}}
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*[[Arya Stark]], who has wolf dreams{{ref|ASOS|3}} with [[Nymeria (direwolf)|Nymeria]] and can see through the eyes of a cat.{{ref|ADWD|45}}
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*[[Bran Stark]], who can enter his direwolf, [[Summer]];{{ref|ACOK|4}} a human, [[Hodor]];{{ref|ADWD|13}} a [[raven]];{{ref|ADWD|34}} and the [[weirwood]] at [[godswood of Winterfell|Winterfell]].{{ref|ADWD|34}}
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*[[Rickon Stark]], whose direwolf is [[Shaggydog]].{{ref|AGOT|66}}
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*[[Robb Stark]], whose direwolf is [[Grey Wind]].{{ref|ASOS|20}}
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*[[Sansa Stark]], whose direwolf is [[Lady]].{{ref|AGOT|15}}
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===Wildlings===
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*[[Borroq]], who can inhabit the body of a boar.{{Ref|aDwD|Prologue}}
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*[[Briar]], who could inhabit the body of a [[shadowcat]].{{Ref|aDwD|Prologue}}
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*[[Grisella]], who could inhabit the body of a goat.{{Ref|aDwD|Prologue}}
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*[[Haggon]], the mentor of Varamyr.{{Ref|aDwD|Prologue}}
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*[[Orell]], who can inhabit an [[eagle]].
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*[[Varamyr|Varamyr Sixskins]], who inhabits three wolves, a [[snow bear]], and a [[shadowcat]].{{ref|ASOS|15}}
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===Other Skinchangers===
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*[[Brynden Rivers]], the [[three-eyed crow]] and last [[greenseer]].{{ref|ADWD|13}}
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*[[House Farwynd of the Lonely Light]], alleged to take the forms of sea lions, walruses, and spotted whales.{{ref|AFFC|19}}
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*[[House Mormont]], alleged to turn into bears.{{ref|ADWD|42}}
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 +
==Legendary skinchangers==
 +
* [[Rose of Red Lake]], alleged to turn into a crane.{{ref|TWOIAF| The Reach: Garth Greenhand}}
 +
* [[Gaven Greywolf]], killed by a [[King of Winter]].{{ref|TWOIAF| The North: The Kings of Winter}}
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* The [[Warg King]], killed by a King of Winter.{{ref|TWOIAF| The North: The Kings of Winter}}
 +
 
 +
==Quotes==
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{{Quote|'''Bran''': You're a [[greenseer]].<br>
 +
'''Jojen''': No, only a boy who dreams. The greenseers were more than that. They were wargs as well, as you are, and the greatest of them could wear the skins of any beast that flies or swims or crawls, and could look through the eyes of the [[weirwood]]s as well, and see the truth that lies beneath the world.{{ref|asos|9}}}} - [[Bran Stark]] and [[Jojen Reed]]
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{{quote|Can a bird hate? Jon had slain the wilding [[Orell]], but some part of the man remained within the [[eagle]]. The golden eyes looked out on him with cold malevolence.{{ref|ASOS|15}}}} - thoughts of [[Jon Snow]]
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 +
 
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{{quote|[[Orell]] was withering inside his feathers, so I took the [[eagle]] for my own. But the joining works both ways, [[warg]]. Orell lives inside me now, whispering how much he hates you. And I can soar above the [[Wall]], and see with eagle eyes.{{ref|ASOS|73}}}} - [[Varamyr]] to [[Jon Snow]]
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{{quote|Look! [[Ghost|The beast]] that tore the life from [[Qhorin|Halfhand]]. A warg walks among us, brothers. A WARG! This ... [[Jon Snow|this creature]] is not fit to lead us! This beastling is not fit to live!{{ref|ASOS|79}}}} - [[Janos Slynt]] to the [[Night's Watch]]
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 +
 
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{{quote|They say you forget. When the man's flesh dies, his spirit lives on inside the beast, but every day his memory fades, and the beast becomes a little less a [[warg]], a little more a wolf, until nothing of the man is left and only the beast remains.{{ref|ADWD|Prologue}}}} - [[Haggon]] to [[Varamyr]]
  
===Stark Children===
 
The skinchanging ability is primarily seen amongst the current generation of [[House Stark|Stark]] children. All of the children and their [[direwolf|direwolves]] are said to exhibit common personalities, although in most instances this is entirely unconscious and is not likely to involve entering the animal's mind. The children are full wargs and can slip into just about anything, but Bran is the only one working on it.<ref> Trinoc*Con 8 (Durham, NC; August 3-5, 2007) [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/2460/ So Spake Martin]</ref>
 
  
* '''[[Bran Stark]]''': Despite his young age, Bran is a more experienced skinchanger than any of his siblings. This is possibly due to his enhanced state of consciousness experienced when he was comatose after his fall. Initially he just enters the mind of his direwolf, [[Summer]], during sleep and believes he is having vivid dreams. Once [[Jojen Reed]] arrives at [[Winterfell]] and recognises what is occurring, he began to instruct Bran on how to control his abilities. Since this time, Bran has been able to slip into his wolf during waking hours and control the body, instead of simply experiencing everything the direwolf does. On his journey to find the [[children of the forest]], Bran and his companions are attacked by a number of [[wights]]. In order to save his own life and the lives of his companions, Bran enters the mind of his guide, [[Hodor]], so that he can fight the wights more effectively. Bran, under the tutelage of the [[three-eyed crow]], learns to enter a raven and later the great [[weirwood]] at [[Winterfell]].
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{{quote|Slipping into a dog's skin was like putting on an old boot, its leather softened by wear. As a boot was shaped to accept a foot, a dog was shaped to accept a collar, even a collar no human eye could see. Wolves were harder. A man might befriend a wolf, even break a wolf, but no man could truly tame a wolf.{{ref|ADWD|Prologue}}}} - thoughts of [[Varamyr]]
  
* '''[[Arya Stark]]''': Whilst traveling, Arya experiences dreams of her direwolf, [[Nymeria (direwolf)|Nymeria]], leading a wolfpack and attacking some humans. This corresponds to events in the area where Nymeria is believed to be, with the wolves becoming larger and more bold. She also enters the minds of cats when she is in [[Braavos]].
 
 
*<p> '''[[Jon Snow]]''': [[Varamyr Sixskins]] notes that Jon Snow is a strong skinchanger, but untrained in and unaware of his true abilities; he had known what Jon was the moment he saw the great white direwolf [[Ghost]] stalking silent at his side. Jon's ability has manifested few times, as he slipped into Ghost while scouting for [[wildlings]] with [[Qhorin Halfhand]]. Through Ghost's eyes, he spies on the wildling horde. When an eagle attacks [[Ghost]], Jon wakes screaming. By ''[[A Dance with Dragons]]'', Jon often has wolf dreams. [[Melisandre]] offers to help him with his abilities, but so far Jon has turned her down.
 
  
===Wildlings===
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{{Quote|The [[free folk]] fear skinchangers, but they honor us as well. [[South of the Wall]], the [[kneelers]] hunt us down and butcher us like pigs.{{Ref|aDwD|Prologue}}}} - [[Haggon]]
  
* '''[[Orell]]''' is a wildling raider and skinchanger who can inhabit the body of an eagle. This eagle is frequently seen before the main body of the wildling exodus, providing valuable scouting information. While inhabiting the eagle, Orell is killed by [[Jon Snow]], causing the eagle, or the remains of Orell's consciousness, to despise him.
 
* '''[[Varamyr|Varamyr Sixskins]]''' is a wildling accompanied by three wolves, a [[snow bear]] and a [[shadowcat]]. Consequently, he is almost certainly the greatest skinchanger seen by anyone south of the [[Wall]] in living memory. After Orell's death, Varamyr takes control of his eagle, using it to scout during the [[battle of Castle Black]]. This eagle is killed by [[Melisandre]] while he is inhabiting it, causing him to go mad.
 
* '''[[Haggon]]''' was the mentor of Varamyr Sixskins.{{Ref|aDwD|Prologue}}
 
* '''[[Borroq]]''' is a skinchanger who can inhabit the body of a boar.{{Ref|aDwD|Prologue}}
 
* '''[[Briar]]''' was a skinchanger who could inhabit the body of a shadowcat.{{Ref|aDwD|Prologue}}
 
*''' [[Grisella]]''' was a female wildling skinchanger who could inhabit the body of a goat.{{Ref|aDwD|Prologue}}
 
  
===Other Skinchangers===
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{{quote|Only one man in a thousand is born a skinchanger, and only one skinchanger in a thousand can be a [[greenseer]].{{ref|ADWD|34}}}} - [[three-eyed crow]] to [[Bran Stark]]
  
* '''[[Brynden Rivers]]''': Former [[Hand of the King]] and [[Lord Commander of the Night's Watch]], now [[three-eyed crow]] and part of the roots of a [[weirwood]]. He mainly enters crows and [[raven]]s but can also see through weirwood trees.
 
  
* '''[[House Farwynd of the Lonely Light]]''': The Farwynds are alleged to be skinchangers able to take the form of sea lions, walruses, and spotted whales.{{ref|AFFC|19}}
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{{quote|The big stableboy no longer fought him as he had the first time, back in the [[Queenscrown|lake tower]] during the storm. Like a dog who has had all the fight whipped out of him, [[Hodor]] would curl up and hide whenever Bran reached out for him. His hiding place was somewhere deep within him, a pit where not even Bran could touch him.{{ref|ADWD|34}}}} - thoughts of [[Bran Stark]]
  
==References and Notes==
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==References==
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{{references}}
 
{{EnWP|Organizations in A Song of Ice and Fire|small=yes}}
 
{{EnWP|Organizations in A Song of Ice and Fire|small=yes}}
{{references|2}}
 
  
[[Category:Skinchangers| ]]
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[[Category:Skinchangers]]
[[Category:Abilities]]
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[[Category:Magic]]
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[[es:Cambiapieles]]
 
[[fa:اسکین چنجر]]
 
[[fa:اسکین چنجر]]
[[fr:Zoman]][[ru:Варг]][[zh:&#26131;&#24418;&#32773;]]
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[[fr:Zoman]]
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[[ru:Варг]]
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[[zh:&#26131;&#24418;&#32773;]]

Revision as of 20:37, 17 February 2018

Bran Stark is a skinchanger. Art by TeiIku ©

A skinchanger or beastling[1][2] is a person with the ability to enter the mind of an animal and control its actions. A skinchanger able to enter the mind of a wolf or dog is known as a warg.[3] It is unknown if skinchangers are synonymous with or different from shapechangers.

Characteristics

The interaction between the skinchanger's and animal's minds influence both personalities, with detrimental effects to the human if the animal's influence is not fought. It is much easier for a skinchanger to do so if a bond exists between the two parties.[4] An untrained skinchanger may unconsciously enter the mind of an animal, especially while sleeping, particularly if a bond exists.[5] It is traumatic if an animal is killed while its mind is inhabited by a skinchanger.[6] If a skinchanger is killed while inhabiting a creature, a part of his consciousness will remain in the creature.[7][4] The greatest skinchangers were greenseers, who among many other things were also wargs. The greatest greenseers could wear the skin of any beast.[8]

According to Haggon, dogs are easy to bond with, because they live in close proximity to humans and are trusting; it becomes easier with time to enter a dog. Wolves are harder, as one has to forge a lasting bond, much like a marriage. Birds are tempting, but a skinchanger may soon lose contact to the mundane things of earth and want only to fly. Cats are cruel and vain beasts and cannot be easily controlled, only forced. Elk and deer are prey whose skins can cause a man to become cowardly.[4]

An unwritten code for free folk skinchangers, as told by Haggon, forbids them to eat of human meat and to mate as wolf with wolf. Seizing the body of another man is considered the worst abomination.[4]

A skinchanger can experience many deaths while in another body. It is only when the person's human body dies that the "true death" occurs.[4] It is possible for the warg to live a type of second life, a much simpler life inside the mind of an animal he controls. In the second life, the skinchanger's memory slowly fades until nothing of the man is left and only the beast remains.[4]

Skinchangers and wargs are feared and honored by free folk, while people of the Seven Kingdoms hunt them.[9][10]

History

Wildling skinchanger with his owl. Art by Woodrow Hinton © Fantasy Flight Games

The greenseers of the children of the forest inspired the first legends about skinchangers.[2] Septons and maesters serving with the Night's Watch with the Wall recorded stories of skinchangers among the free folk found beyond the Wall.[2]

According to ancient ballads, Gaven Greywolf was a skinchanger defeated by the Kings of Winter in the War of the Wolves. House Stark also defeated the Warg King in a war for Sea Dragon Point.[11] Rose of Red Lake, one of the legendary children of Garth Greenhand, supposedly could turn into a crane.[12]

Varamyr slew and devoured his mentor, Haggon, and came to rule a dozen free folk villages as a lord of sorts.[4]

Recent Events

A Clash of Kings

Bran Stark has wolf dreams of his direwolf, Summer.[5] While Maester Luwin is skeptical, Jojen Reed encourages Bran.[13]

Robb Stark, the King in the North, avoids the Golden Tooth by following a goat track found by his direwolf, Grey Wind.[14] Robb is said to have led an army of wargs in the Battle of Oxcross.[15]

During the great ranging, Jon Snow slays the wildling skinchanger Orell[16] and has dreams of his direwolf, Ghost.[17]

A Storm of Swords

Bran briefly slips into the mind of Hodor when his simple-minded friend is scared by thunder.[18]

Part of Orell lives on in his eagle, which attacks Jon.[7] Varamyr claims the eagle, and when the bird is later burned by Melisandre during the Battle of Castle Black[6] Varamyr is traumatized.[19]

Although Arya Stark had chased away her direwolf, Nymeria, the girl dreams of the death of Iggo.[20] Arya later dreams of a wolf recovering a body from the Green Fork.[21]

A Dance with Dragons

When they are surrounded by wights, Varamyr attempts to take control of Thistle but the spearwife resists. The humans are killed by wights, but Varamyr begins his second life by entering one of his wolves, One Eye.[4] Bran's direwolf, Summer, later forces One-Eye to submit.[22]

In order to save his own life and the lives of his companions, Bran enters Hodor so that he can fight wights more effectively.[23] Bran furthers enters Hodor in the cave of the three-eyed crow, using him to explore the cavern. Meera and Jojen are unaware of Bran's actions, and Hodor hides deep within himself.[24] Under the tutelage of the three-eyed crow, Brynden Rivers, Bran learns to enter a raven and later the great weirwood at Winterfell.[24]

Jon's wolf dreams intensify,[25] but he declines Melisandre's offer of guidance at Castle Black.[26] Jon is wary of the wildling skinchanger Borroq.[27][28]

Ser Jared Frey claims that Robb and his northmen were wargs who turned into wolves during the Red Wedding.[29]

Alysane Mormont tells Asha Greyjoy, perhaps jokingly, that House Mormont women are skinchangers who turn into bears and find mates in the woods.[30]

Having been blinded at the House of Black and White, Arya dreams of being the night wolf and sees through the eyes of a cat.[31]

Known skinchangers

Stark Children

According to semi-canon sources, the current generation of Stark children are all skinchangers to greater or lesser degrees, but only Bran Stark has been actively training his ability.[32][33]

Wildlings

Other Skinchangers

Legendary skinchangers

Quotes

Bran: You're a greenseer.
Jojen: No, only a boy who dreams. The greenseers were more than that. They were wargs as well, as you are, and the greatest of them could wear the skins of any beast that flies or swims or crawls, and could look through the eyes of the weirwoods as well, and see the truth that lies beneath the world.[8]

- Bran Stark and Jojen Reed


Can a bird hate? Jon had slain the wilding Orell, but some part of the man remained within the eagle. The golden eyes looked out on him with cold malevolence.[7]

- thoughts of Jon Snow


Orell was withering inside his feathers, so I took the eagle for my own. But the joining works both ways, warg. Orell lives inside me now, whispering how much he hates you. And I can soar above the Wall, and see with eagle eyes.[6]

- Varamyr to Jon Snow


Look! The beast that tore the life from Halfhand. A warg walks among us, brothers. A WARG! This ... this creature is not fit to lead us! This beastling is not fit to live![1]

- Janos Slynt to the Night's Watch


They say you forget. When the man's flesh dies, his spirit lives on inside the beast, but every day his memory fades, and the beast becomes a little less a warg, a little more a wolf, until nothing of the man is left and only the beast remains.[4]

- Haggon to Varamyr


Slipping into a dog's skin was like putting on an old boot, its leather softened by wear. As a boot was shaped to accept a foot, a dog was shaped to accept a collar, even a collar no human eye could see. Wolves were harder. A man might befriend a wolf, even break a wolf, but no man could truly tame a wolf.[4]

- thoughts of Varamyr


The free folk fear skinchangers, but they honor us as well. South of the Wall, the kneelers hunt us down and butcher us like pigs.[4]

- Haggon


Only one man in a thousand is born a skinchanger, and only one skinchanger in a thousand can be a greenseer.[24]

- three-eyed crow to Bran Stark


The big stableboy no longer fought him as he had the first time, back in the lake tower during the storm. Like a dog who has had all the fight whipped out of him, Hodor would curl up and hide whenever Bran reached out for him. His hiding place was somewhere deep within him, a pit where not even Bran could touch him.[24]

- thoughts of Bran Stark

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 79, Jon XII.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 The World of Ice & Fire, Ancient History: The Dawn Age.
  3. So Spake Martin: World Fantasy Con (Saratoga, NY; November 1-4 2007), November 2, 2007
  4. 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 A Dance with Dragons, Prologue.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 4, Bran I.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 73, Jon X.
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 15, Jon II.
  8. 8.0 8.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 9, Bran I.
  9. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 43, Jon V.
  10. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 68, Jon VIII.
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 The World of Ice & Fire, The North: The Kings of Winter.
  12. 12.0 12.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Reach: Garth Greenhand.
  13. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 28, Bran IV.
  14. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 39, Catelyn V.
  15. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 32, Sansa III.
  16. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 51, Jon VI.
  17. 17.0 17.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 53, Jon VII.
  18. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 40, Bran III.
  19. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 76, Jon XI.
  20. 20.0 20.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 3, Arya I.
  21. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 65, Arya XII.
  22. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 4, Bran I.
  23. 23.0 23.1 23.2 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 13, Bran II.
  24. 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 24.4 24.5 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 34, Bran III.
  25. 25.0 25.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 3, Jon I.
  26. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 28, Jon VI.
  27. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 58, Jon XII.
  28. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 69, Jon XIII.
  29. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 19, Davos III.
  30. 30.0 30.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 42, The King's Prize.
  31. 31.0 31.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 45, The Blind Girl.
  32. So Spake Martin: Quite a Few Questions, February 01, 2001
  33. So Spake Martin: Trinoc*Con 8 (Durham, NC; August 3-5, 2007), August 05, 2007
  34. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 66, Bran VII.
  35. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 20, Catelyn III.
  36. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 15, Sansa I.
  37. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 19, The Drowned Man.

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