Spooktober 2025: Barrow

Welcome to a Spooktober 2025 article that also celebrates the 70th Anniversary of the publishing of The Return of the King.

I'll be exploring the point of view of the Aleph Zero Syndicate, an adversarial organization in my world devoted to "demi-human" supremacy. They seek to return elves, dwarves, and men back to a place of dominance over the so-called rightful place o fdominance over the "lesser races."

For each prompt, I'm writing a bit of verse from the Aleph Zero point of view. I'm particularly focusing on the "Dark Fellowship", a dark reflection of Tolkien's heroes. I'm pairing them with a bit of pre-existing art, touching it up as little as possible.

You can find them all on my Spooktober 2025 Hub. I'd love to hear what you think!

The Vampire King, by elves besought,

On Barrow Shard, their foes he fought.

Valentine performed mighty deeds,

The Elf-King saw and he envied.

Far War was won, Blood King mislaid,

Mithril and silver, his visage displayed.

Valentine's Statue by Chris L

Entry for Spooktober 2025

Answering: "Barrow"

Visit kitoypoy's Competition Page Check all other answers to this prompt Competition Homepage

Explore the Zone and Beyond

The Mighty & The Magical

Sovranty of Lozar

Organization | Nov 3, 2023

The ancient land of Lozar is a patchwork of different smaller nations and the home of the Kirinal Pit. Now that the time of gods and kings is done, it has become the Sovranty of Lozar.

Silver Slice

Geographic Location | Aug 25, 2025

The Northern Canton of the Zone is more commonly known as the Silver Slice. It's governed by followers of Chagroth Durinhelm and/or organizations founded by him.

Order of Tridensers

Organization | Nov 20, 2023

The foremost order of holy warriors in the world. Serving the god Anam, they have defined the tenets of law and the virtues of good for 1,700 years.

Life in the Sunlight

Legions of Light

Military Formation | Aug 30, 2025

The coffers of House Molndal employ an army of professional soldiers. This mostly human army displays their tiefling members to promote their diversity.

Lola's Comfy Kitchen

Building / Landmark | Sep 10, 2024

Lola's Comfy Kitchen serves home cooked meals and tropical drinks on the bank of the river. It's a thatched roof hut and sometimes Lola's friend, a giant gator, swims the tavern on it's back to a new location.

Rampol

Character | Oct 31, 2023

God of the Sun, Light, and Healing, his aspects include the Flame, the Source, and the Lover.

Life, Death, and In Between

Red Feather Regalia

Item | Sep 5, 2023

The garb of the Red Feather Battlemaster, the mightiest war mage in the world.

Alera, the Blood Siren

Character | Dec 14, 2025

The mysterious Blood Siren leads a clan of vampires and aswang secretly embedded in the world's most powerful organizations. She hides behind the guise of the famous performer Aleonera Molndal.

Ghost Boy of Kirinal

Character | Dec 14, 2025

The Ghost Boy of Kirinal seeks out interesting people and joins them on their adventures, whether they want him to or not! His adventures are documented in a popular series of books.

Crossroads & Cloisters

Primer: Kirinal Concordance Zone

Generic article | Dec 6, 2025

The Instructor of Recruits and Sgt. Kill Flayer teach you the basics of the Kirinal Concordance Zone.

Primer: Dragon Empire Revelations

Generic article | Nov 23, 2025

The dragons and dragonborn live in seclusion from the rest of the world. The Dragon Empire hides its secrets behind floating monoliths that blast elemental destruction on invaders.

Shards of Thaya

Geographic Location | Feb 10, 2025

Floating islands on the Shattered Moon harbor the only life on that broken sphere.

Customized figures and portraits made with HeroForge.

This site is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.

Background image: Chagroth's Tower by Gillian Galang

Cover image: Spooktober 2025 by Chris L

Metadata

Article template

Generic article

World

World of Wizard's Peak

Author

kitoypoy

Publication Date

26 Oct, 2025

Creation Date

26 Oct, 2025

Last Update Date

16 Nov, 2025

Visibility

Public

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Comments

Work In Progress

Comments

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Sage eccbooks

Oct 27, 2025 15:56 by E. Christopher Clark

Bad-ass!

Eternal Sage kitoypoy

Oct 27, 2025 16:38 by Chris L

Thank you! I'm trying to stay as Tolkien-adjacent as possible while sticking with my Aleph Zero supremacist group. I don't think JRR had vampires, but this guy did get screwed over by the elves and AZ pretty badly.

Learn about the World of Wizard's Peak. Visit my Worldember 2025 Hub as I work on 50,000 words in December!