| People | |
| Berninga | |
|---|---|
| General Information | |
| Rivalries | Angmar |
| Members | Bernabalth, Raudabern, Sprautabern, Isarnabloma |
| Physical Description | |
| Average Height | Only surpassed by the Númenóreans |
In Middle-earth Role Playing, the Berninga (singular Berning, For. “Bear-descendants”) were a tribe of Northmen who originated from the Misty Mountains, but had been driven towards Talath Uichel in Forodwaith by Orcs and Evil Men. Their ancestors had had formed a covenant with the bear-clans who taught them skinchanging.
Normally a rather solitary people living in isolated manors, the harsh conditions of the Northern Waste had brought the Berninga closer together: out of necessity they lived in lodges near each-other and elected chieftains.
Despite being separated from the bear-clans of the Misty Mountains, they maintained their covenant by not eating meat, avoiding fur and hide, and caring for all animals. In that way, they too ultimately contributed to the healing of the Waste from Morgoth's taint.[1]
History
After the Berninga had been driven away from the Vales of Anduin by the troubles that preceded the rise of the Witch-king, their chieftain Benabalth built a towered fortress, Bernastath, on the banks of the river Everhir between Talath Uichel and the Herd Tundra. Its lords maintained good relationships with the Lumimiehet, often fighting Orcs together.
As the Witch-king sought to consolidate the northern frontier of Angmar, the Lumimiehet treated his emissaries as indifferently as they had Arthedain's in the past, while the Berninga refused to treat at all. In response, Orcs and sled-warriors besieged Bernastath. Despite many calls for aid, the Lumimiehet were persuaded by a shaman who had been enthralled by the Witch-king to stay away. Bernastath was burned to the ground, and Bernabalth's descendants grew estranged from the Lumimiehet. Those Lumimiehet and their shaman were slaughtered by the same horde soon after.[2][3][4]
The Berninga survivors wandered until T.A. 1310, when they founded Ligr Wodaize Berne (For. “Den of Wrathful Bears”) near Bear Lake.[3]
By T.A. 1640, Raudabern was the chieftain of the Berninga in Forodwaith. His family still carried a grudge against the Lossoth, and preferred to deal with Umli and Dwarves. The red-haired giant of a man had an affinity with animals, but neither he nor his daughter Isarnabloma had the ability to skinchange. His son Sprautabern did, however.[5]
After the Fall of Angmar, the Berninga were finally able to depart the Northern Waste.[3] They eventually become the Beornings.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Randy Maxwell (1997), The Northern Waste (#2025), pp. 37-38
- ↑ Randy Maxwell (1997), The Northern Waste (#2025), p. 10416
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Randy Maxwell (1997), The Northern Waste (#2025), p. 22
- ↑ Randy Maxwell (1997), The Northern Waste (#2025), p. 104
- ↑ Randy Maxwell (1997), The Northern Waste (#2025), p. 71