Skinchanger

A ‘’’skinchanger’’’ or warg is a person with the ability to enter the minds of an animal and control their actions. It is much easier for a skinchanger to do so if a bond exists between the two parties. 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.

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 greenseers, who amongst many other things could warg. The greatest amongst them could wear the skin of any beast.

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.

Stark Children

The skinchanging ability is primarily seen amongst the current generation of Stark children. All of the children and their Direwolves are said to exibit common personalities, although in most instances this is entirely unconscious and is not likely to involve entering the animal's mind.

Brandon

Despite his young age, Brandon 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 was just entering Summer's, his direwolf, mind during sleep and just believed he was having vivid dreams. Once Jojen Reed arrived at Winterfell and recognised what was occuring, he begun to instruct Bran on how to control his abilities. Since this time, he has been able to warg into his wolf during waking hours and control the body, instead of simply experiencing everything the direwolf does. He briefly managed to enter the mind of his guide Hodor, which deeply traumatised him.

Arya

Arya is the only other Stark child known to have warged into her direwolf, Nymeria. Whilst travelling, she experienced dreams of Nymeria leading a wolfpack and attaking some humans. This corresponds to events in the area where Nymeria is believed to be, with the wolves becoming larger and more bold.

Orell

Orell was a wildling raider and skinchanger who could inhabit the body of an eagle. This eagle was frequently seen before the main body of the Wildling exodus, providing valuable scouting information. While inhabiting the eagle, Orell was killed by Jon Snow, causing the eagle, or the remains of Orell's consciousness, to despise him.

Varamyr Sixskins

Varamyr "Sixskins" is a wildling accompanied by three wolves, a snowbear 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 took control of his eagle, using it to scout during the battle at Castle Black. This eagle was killed by Melisandre while he was inhabiting it, causing him to go mad.

References and Sources

This page uses content from the English Wikipedia. The original content was at Organizations in A Song of Ice and Fire. The list of authors can be seen in the page history of Organizations in A Song of Ice and Fire. As with A Wiki of Ice and Fire, the content of Wikipedia is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.