Provided by Dalekcheese@lemmy.world

A shapeshifter would be a horror in Middle Earth. Tolkien's really big on essence being form.

Beorn would like a word.

Good point! But maybe not? Beorn does shape shift, but only into a bear, right? If so, then he might still be expressing an essence or aspect of his essence. The ability to arbitrarily shape-shift into anything, including a trash can, is an another level of disconnect.

The lore masters will be by soon to fill us in on shapeshifting in Middle Earth I am certain.

Edit: Did some research and shapeshifting is common among the Ainur, in Silmarillion-times. The Beornings had skinchangers, and Radagast was also able to take mulitiple forms... but I couldn't find any reference to non-god-like creatures who could arbitrarily shift into inaminate objects, though I imagine god-like creatures, being primarily spirit, could manipulate reality however they wish.

I might be projecting my own wigguns with the whole shapeshifting thing onto Tolkien. Though the idea of a god transmogrifying is much less disturbing than a flesh-and-blood being doing so.

"Welcome to the Fellowship, Mr. Odo!"

flesh-and-blood

Surely it's more of a goo

I need some more Fro with my odo.

You want him to put on blackface?

HARRUMPH!