Beyond the middle kingdom in Near Harad does Zairaphel usually reside, but she has lately taken up residence in a bleak house in a vile wasteland in central Angmar, surrounded by mountains on all but one side, where a pestilent river courses. A dense fog weighs heavily over the tombs and ruins.

Her family fled Umbar after Earnil I’s attack but returned eventually. 'There they made a refuge for all the enemies of the king, and a lordship independent of his crown. Umbar remained at war with Gondor for many lives of men...' ('Appendix A' ~ The Lord of the Rings)

She nursed Azrazôr, alias Greenfield, when he was a baby after his mother was killed by an assassin, later acting as his tutor. She has the gift of foresight and knows the virtues of a great variety of plants, and how to distinguish between the harmful and beneficial ones, and how and when best to collect them to brew potent tinctures and potions. Her knowledge of poisons is extensive. She is also adept at leechcraft and midwifery, and is a zealous practitioner of certain illicit and profane rituals taught to her people by Zîgur the Wizard. Zairaphel heads the evil Abysmal Order, a group of women dedicated to dark arts and serving the Shadow.