The ancient stones of the linteled circle began to hum and seemed to shudder, the area within becoming dim and indistinguishable. Then suddenly it snapped back into focus, fully illuminated again, but within it stood a petite figure that hadn’t been there before. He’d seen the menhir portal open and bring her there, but she was decidedly out of place; dressed in a fine light gown... not expected attire for the woodlands. He watched in mild amusement while she danced and frolicked about in the circle without a care in the world, seeming to delight in the sunlight, and obviously ignorant to his presence as he lurked in the shadows of the tree-line. It had been a very, very long time… over twenty centuries… since he’d felt moved by a sight of such otherworldly beauty. So long that he’d all but forgotten those who left him there when they sought sanctuary in the other realm. But now the memories came flooding back… and with them the knowledge that he’d been abandoned! They’d foreseen that their kingdom, Yuireshanyaar, would be overrun by the humans settling around the forest… pushing it back to claim more land. So their greatest arch-mages had united to raise the network of menhir circles across the woodlands and through them cast a powerful high-magic spell which created their sanctuary; Sildeyuir, a demi-plane paradise of perpetual twilight, deep green dells, and silver forest, illuminated by a host of stars. However, there were things that they left behind… dark things that they wanted to forget but couldn’t leave unguarded. So they left guardians to watch over them… and gave them no further thought. Eventually they became nothing but myths; rarely spoken of except as ghost-stories to frighten children. But some such tales should be heeded! He watched her dance and frolic in the sunlight. Finding so much joy in something so simple. He knew she was young, little more than eleven decades, barely beyond adolescents by star elven standards. But that only meant he could keep her all the longer… and he intended to do so! Saevel motioned for them to hold their position in the shadow of the tree-line. His order had a standing directive to keep their distance and do nothing to draw his attention. Considered a myth by most of those who dwelled in the Yuirwood, those few who’d encountered him, and survived, claimed that he’d ignore anyone who didn’t try to approach him or interfere with his purpose… whatever that was! “Elf girl worth much,” one of the orcs grunted and started to move forward until he shoved it back, warning; “Not enough to try and take her from him. Even the Masters won’t challenge him! Besides, we have enough to satisfy her for now.” He gazed past the orc to survey the line of bond half-elves; simply villages, the people he’d once sworn to protect… then turned his eyes away with a disgusted scowl. Smirking, he taunted the decidedly dim-witted beast; “Go ahead and try to take her from a wizard who’s stalked these woods for over two thousand years. I’ll sit right here and watch you get blasted back to Thay.” The orcs knew the might that a mage could wield and understood that it’d take powerful magic for even an elf to survive so long. So they just grumbled amongst themselves until the dark cloaked figure and his young charge were well out of sight and Saevel commanded; “Come on…we have to deliver these wretches, and you don’t want to keep her waiting. Do you?”