The Northern Barrow-downs is a prominent, ominous upland region located immediately east of the Chetwood and the village of Bree, separated from the latter by the ancient, overgrown North-South Road. This northern stretch of the Downs is a vast, undulating expanse defined by rolling hills, shallow valleys, and numerous large, grassy mounds that dot the landscape. These mounds are ancient burial sites, barrows left by the Men of the First Age and the Númenóreans of the North Kingdom of Arnor . The entire region is covered in a lush, green sward, giving it an outwardly peaceful, if solemn, appearance .
Despite its seemingly innocuous appearance, the North Barrow-downs is steeped in malice and peril. It is a place shunned by the locals of Bree and the Shire due to its notorious reputation. The barrows are haunted by malevolent spirits, known as Barrow-wights, ethereal servants of the Witch-king of Angmar that were sent to the area centuries ago to prevent the re-establishment of the Dúnedain kingdom . These wights guard vast amounts of ancient treasure but also cast a shadow of fear over the land, often trapping unsuspecting travelers in fog and leading them to their doom within the tombs, as nearly happened to Frodo Baggins and his companions .
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