On the western eaves of Mirkwood, along the banks of Anduin to the north of the Old Forest Road reside the Beornings, a rustic tribe of Woodmen.

The Beornings have a famous affinity with animals, which they foster and keep in their homes more as friends than as pets or livestock. Beorn, the former chief of the Beornings, was known to speak with animals and understand their own speech - many of his descendants have fostered this talent.

This uncommon ability is supplanted by a greater gift; Beorn could change into the shape of a bear. This skill has been passed down through the generations, such that most if not all of the Beornings can muster the change. Most do so only in great need or at festivals that come with the changing of the seasons and phases of the moon. No stranger has ever witnessed the transformation. It is uncertain whether the Beorning women have this ability, but they share the robust physicality of the Beornings.

The Beornings do not eat animals, but live in the main on cream, honey from their Bee pastures and crops that they cultivate themselves in their rich gardens.

The Heir of Beorn, Dorbeorn

The Heir of Beorn is, as his forefather, a great tall man with thick black hair. He is a giant, even amongst the Beornings, at over seven feet in height and with legs akin to the limbs of a full-grown tree.

Dorbeorn is a gentle and retiring fellow, terrible when roused. When raiding Goblins slew and stole a flock of his sheep he chased them into the mountains, taking the form of a great black bear. The exhausted Goblins were overtaken in the pass of the mountains - too late did they think to turn and fight before their rear-guard was slain and then Dorbeorn was amongst them. Though he was grievously wounded, he slew every last one of the hundred raiders save one, whom he sent back to warn others of his wrath. No raiders have dared to trouble his sheep since.

Sarbor, The Shaman of the Beornings

The Beornings are not a religious people, preferring the nature worship that is inherent in their naturalist ways, but the Shaman performs the important function of healer and counsellor to young Beornings in coming to terms with their bestial nature.

Sarbor is a smiling, happy fellow, always glad to welcome strangers to his modest household. He wears the traditional Beorning wool shirts, decorated richly in colourful dyes. Sarbor has little time for the dour ways of Dorbeorn and his ilk, preferring the playful company of young Beornings.

Such is the skill of Sarbor that it is said he can take the form of other beasts, like the wolf and Elk.

The Men of the Beornings

Most of the Beornings live apart, in separate houses of extended family, each with their own stables and pastures. Most of the Beorning men have the ability to shape change, though it is rarely used. There are a few bad apples in the barrel - they live away from the others on the west shore of the Anduin, in the lower hills of the mountains. Some are more bear than man, and have forgotten the art of speech or other human graces.

… it is said that for many generations the men of his line had the power of taking bear's shape, and some were grim men and bad, but most were in heart like Beorn, if less in size and strength.

- The Hobbit

Daughters of the Bear

Beorning women are tall and strong-bodied like their fathers and husbands. It is unknown whether they, too have the power to change their shape. The Woodmen insist that were her children to be threatened a Beorning woman would transform into a great Sow.

Beorning Cubs

The children of the Beornings are tall and strong beyond their years. They often have thick golden hair that gradually turns towards dark brown and black as they mature.

He is a skin-changer. He changes his skin; sometimes he is a huge black bear, sometimes he is a great strong black-haired man with huge arms and a great beard. I cannot tell you much more, though that ought to be enough. Some say that he is a bear descended from the great and ancient bears of the mountains that lived there before the giants came. Others say that he is a man descended from the first men who lived before Smaug or the other dragons came into this part of the world, and before the goblins came into the hills out of the North. I cannot say, though I fancy the last is the true tale.

- The Hobbit