Barrow and Zeph
| Barrow and Zeph | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Information | |
| Species | Human Cat |
| Job | Bonder |
| Birth, Life & Death | |
| Birthplace | Ikoria |
Barrow and Zeph are a bonded human-monster pair native to the plane of Ikoria. Barrow is a young man who appears to be a skilled bonder, capable of communicating with and understanding the intentions of his companion, Zeph. Zeph is a massive cat-clade monster, distinguished by his large size, striped appearance, and control over electricity. Together, Barrow and Zeph were part of a coalition attempting to investigate and potentially stop the corruption surrounding the Ozolith, a powerful crystalline structure influencing monster behavior. The pair is known for their composed demeanor and willingness to cooperate with other bonders, hunters, and outsiders when necessary.[1]
Description
Barrow is a young human male who wears layered white furs over gray armor. His most distinctive feature is his long white hair, which is swept back from his face and secured with a metal circlet. Two upswept steel horns sprout from this circlet, and arcs of electricity visibly play between them. This headgear mirrors the natural horns of his bonded monster, Zeph, symbolic of the connection between them. Barrow presents himself with solemnity and formality, often bowing when he speaks and choosing his words with care. He tends to be cautious and deliberate in his decisions, weighing risks carefully before acting.
Zeph is a massive, cat-clade monster notable for his striking appearance and considerable size. He is roughly twice the size of Leori, the winged cat bonded to Lukka, and is easily large enough to devour a human whole. Zeph's body is covered in white fur marked by prominent black tiger-like stripes. His head is crowned by two large, whorled horns — resembling those on Barrow's circlet — from which residual lightning sometimes arcs. Zeph's eyes glow yellow, and electricity is frequently seen crawling across his horns and body, indicating an innate electrical affinity. Despite his intimidating appearance, Zeph appears capable of subtle emotional communication and has expressed a desire to avoid harming humans, especially under the influence of external magical compulsion.
Barrow and Zeph share a strong empathic bond, typical of bonded pairs on Ikoria. Barrow can understand Zeph’s instincts and emotional signals, and he often speaks on Zeph's behalf during conversations. Zeph, in turn, appears to have a strong sense of judgment and concern about the broader implications of changes to the natural order, particularly in regard to the Ozolith. Together, they act with mutual respect and restraint, operating as a thoughtful and powerful unit.
History
Gathering of bonders
Barrow and Zeph joined a meeting with other bonders and allies in the wilds of Ikoria, arriving at the request of Brin and greeted by Abda, Vivien Reid, and Lukka. Zeph was immediately recognized as a formidable monster, and his presence drew attention for both his size and power.
The two were drawn into a discussion about the changing nature of the Ozolith, a crystalline structure of great importance that had begun exerting a dangerous compulsion on monsters across Ikoria. Barrow confirmed that Zeph had sensed a similar wrongness emanating from the crystal and expressed reluctance to approach it due to the extreme danger involved. However, after hearing the testimony of Lukka and Vivien, Barrow became convinced that action was necessary.
Barrow and Zeph agreed to assist in the effort to reach the Ozolith and determine the source of its corruption. Despite their caution, both were willing to risk themselves if doing so would restore balance to the bond between humans and monsters.
Battle at the Ozolith
When the bonded pairs approached the Ozolith, Barrow and Zeph took flight with the others aboard the winged cat, soaring ahead of the land-bound monsters. Barrow rode beside Vivien and Abda, composed and calm despite the strangeness of the monster's mental voice stirring in the background. As they approached the twisted spires of the Ozolith, it was Barrow who first spotted the serpentine nightmares coiled among the crystals and asked for the group to be set down.
Once grounded, Barrow coordinated seamlessly with Zeph as the Battle at the Ozolith erupted. The hulking white cat lunged at the largest nightmare — a serpent-like monstrosity with a spiked body and venomous tail. While Zeph drew its attention, Barrow positioned himself behind the tiger, channeling magical energy through their bond. At the right moment, he bridged their connection with a gesture, unleashing a surge of arcing lightning that tore into the nightmare's head. He then followed up with focused blasts, driving the creature back and giving Zeph the opening to close his jaws around its throat.
Zeph was still locked in a deadly struggle with the great black snake when reinforcements from a skyship joined the fray. The vessel, Vermilion, hovered above the battlefield, firing its ballistae while its crew, including Jirina Kudro, watched the chaos unfold. On the ground, Barrow unleashed electrical blasts at a spell-deflecting hunter, contributing to the wild chaos. Zeph, already injured, fought on despite overwhelming odds. When the Ozolith pulsed with unnatural power, it sent a surge of command through the monsters on the field, including Roland and Zeph, who managed to shake the effects off. The nightmares suddenly turned on the monster hunters with lethal precision. One by one, the hunters fell, and even the skyship came under assault. The great snake coiled around Vermilion, dragging it down despite the crew's frantic attempts to flee. Barrow and Zeph stood among the survivors as the tide of battle turned.
Barrow and Zeph were among the bonders who witnessed Lukka's transformation after his interaction with the Ozolith. Barrow stood near Vivien and Abda's fallen bodies when Lukka returned, radiating energy and surrounded by the carnage of the battlefield. Lukka announced that he had gained control over the monsters and intended to use this power to support Drannith. Barrow immediately opposed the idea, clarifying that Zeph was his partner, not a subordinate, and rejecting the notion of using monsters as instruments of domination.
When Lukka attempted to impose control over Zeph through the Ozolith, both she and Roland resisted the influence, visibly straining against the magical compulsion. Barrow showed signs of physical pain during the attempt, and he and Zeph withdrew when Vivien ordered the bonders to escape. Zeph remained with Barrow as they fled the scene, refusing to submit to Lukka's will and marking a definitive break with his objectives.
Siege of Drannith
Barrow and Zeph accompanied Jirina Kudro and Vivien Reid on the return journey to Drannith after the collapse of the Coppercoat position at the Ozolith. They kept to indirect routes to avoid Lukka's monsters and the city's civilian population, hiding in wooded areas and bypassing early warning systems compromised by the ongoing conflict.
At Jirina's direction, Zeph remained out of sight while she negotiated passage through the city's outer defenses. After securing access, Barrow and Zeph entered Drannith peacefully, despite initial panic among the soldiers. Once inside, they kept to less populated areas to avoid causing further unrest. At the inner gate, Zeph remained positioned outside the walls while Jirina confronted Colonel Bryd. After Jirina assumed command, the gates were opened, and Zeph entered the city without incident, accompanied by Barrow and the other bonders.
After Barrow and Zeph entered Drannith with Jirina and the others, they accompanied her to the Citadel, where she assumed a de facto leadership role due to the crisis. Although she lacked formal authority, Jirina's recent actions and her association with powerful bonded monsters—including Zeph—gave her significant influence over the remaining command structure. In the Citadel's war room, Barrow, Vivien, Brin, and Major Humron joined her around a map of Drannith to prepare for Lukka's imminent attack.
Barrow participated in the strategy discussions, agreeing with Jirina's assessment that the secondary wall could not be held and that a full evacuation of the First Ring was necessary. He confirmed that he had reached out to other bonders using a magical crystal that extended his voice, and he promised to continue contacting others as they approached the city. Zeph and other monsters waited under guard in the courtyard while the evacuation proceeded overnight. By dawn, Barrow's call had been answered: several bonders and monsters arrived in the city, swelling the defenders' numbers slightly. Despite their presence, Barrow estimated that they would still be vastly outnumbered.
On the morning of the Siege of Drannith, Barrow and Zeph were stationed near the north bastion alongside other bonded monsters. They waited in the city's market square, just inside the northern gate, as civilians streamed in and the secondary wall was abandoned. As the sun rose, Lukka's massive army came into view—an organized line of monsters of all clades. Barrow remained in communication with Jirina and the other bonders, coordinating their efforts to respond to any breach in the wall. He and Zeph were held in reserve for use against monsters that made it past the outer defenses.
During Lukka's assault on Drannith, Barrow and Zeph played a decisive role in the city's defense. As flying monsters attacked, the defenders manned the ballistae and arcane towers, bringing down several threats from the sky. Despite this, some monsters slipped past the outer defenses and reached the inner city, prompting Barrow and Zeph to respond. The pair intercepted and defeated several intruders but were soon overwhelmed by the scale of the incursion. Barrow relayed the situation to Jirina through Brin, warning that monsters were infiltrating the city and attacking civilians. When asked for advice, he suggested deploying the bonders to contain the breakout, though Jirina initially refused to preserve their strength for a coordinated counterattack.
When Jirina confronted Lukka directly atop the great siege turtle, she was eventually forced to leap from the creature's back to avoid capture. After narrowly surviving the fall, she and Rol were surrounded by monsters. Barrow and Zeph were the first to break through the main gate, leading the charge of bonded fighters to rescue her. With electricity crackling from their twin sets of horns, Zeph tore through the enemy ranks, killing a nightmare beast and scattering others. The bonded cohort rallied behind them, turning the tide of the battle. Even Lukka's mighty siege turtle was driven back when Vivien Reid summoned an enormous feathered monstrosaur to battle it. Barrow and Zeph remained at the forefront until the enemy was routed and Lukka was finally surrounded.
After the siege
In the week following the siege, Barrow and Zeph remained in Drannith as the city began its swift recovery. Though the citizens were wary, Jirina authorized bonders and their monsters to reside in the First Ring, just outside the city proper. This compromise ensured both public safety and acknowledgment of the bonders' heroism. Barrow and Zeph often visited the bustling markets, where their presence drew a mix of curiosity and apprehension from the locals. Zeph remained calm and steady amid the crowds, while Barrow kept a dignified presence alongside the younger bonders. Their continued visibility helped normalize the idea of monsters coexisting with people, at least for now. Though acceptance was still tentative, their actions during the siege left a lasting impression on Drannith's citizens.
Gender
In the Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths — Sundered Bond, Zeph is first referred to as male, then as female during the Ozolith battle, and then male again afterwards. It appears his gender changed from female to male during the novel's writing, but not all references were corrected appropriately.
Gallery
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Barrow and Zeph
Story appearances
| Title | Author | Publishing date | Set | Setting (plane) | Featuring |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths — Sundered Bond | Django Wexler | April 2020 | Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths | Ikoria | Lukka, Epha, Gox, Gedra, Nik, Jirina Kudro, Seycho, Leori, Bryd, Kudro, Brez, Vivien Reid, Dogsbreath, Mzed, Toothcracker, Sedra, Nightshade, Tef, Narset, Falk, Brin and Roland, Abda and Rigi, Barrow and Zeph, Vheen, Johannes, Humron, Yidaro |
In-game references
- Represented in:
References
- ↑ Django Wexler (April 7, 2020). Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths — Sundered Bond. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast. ISBN-13 978-0786967162.
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