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Ireina's personal experience with the settlement started when an elven man got himself lost in her woods. She decided to stay behind her tree and merely watch from the shadows. Unfortunately, he was a bit tired and chose her tree as the perfect rest spot. It didn't take him too long before he fell asleep. Ireina wasn't all that happy to have this unwanted guest but she didn't have the heart nor the courage to turn him away. On some level, she found him fairly attractive. After his rest, he stood up and wandered off.

Ireina thought she saw the last of him but he came back the next day...and the one after that. He carried parchment with him and wrote things down by her tree. The curiosity of it all was starting to get to Ireina as part of her mind begged to see what he was doing. The mystery was solved on the fifth day when he pulled out a lyre and began to play a melody. Apparently, he was inspired to compose a song by this glade. It took all of Ireina's willpower not to lose herself in the song and start dancing. She was still distracted enough that she leaned too far in and stepped on a fallen branch. When the elven bard turned towards her, she immediately fled into a bush several feet away. He blinked at bit but smiled and called out to her. When she didn't respond back, he merely bowed towards the bush and walked off.

A new dance between them started, the bard would wander to her glade and play his song. She wouldn't come out until the music reached its zenith. He would spot her once more and try to talk with her. She would scamper away as fast as her legs could carry her. This continued for a solid week until finally he called out that he wouldn't be coming back anymore since it seemed obvious that she didn't want him around. He apologized for intruding and turned to walk away. Despite her fear, the thought of never hearing him sing again was gave her the courage she needed to confront him. She ran out of the bush and latched onto the back of his leather coat. Ireina asked him to keep coming and playing.

The bard introduced himself as Varien Li'shar and he was more than happy to play for Ireina. Although there were days when he couldn't come, he tried his best to at least perform for her once a week. He told Ireina that he had only recently moved to the settlement. Furthermore, he was a devout worshiper of Corellon and it was through Varien that Ireina learned of the tenants. He even brought her a wooden flute so that she could join in with his songs. Nayre was usually jealous of the attention Ireina showed Varien. The bard often made jokes at her expense in return. Being stuck in the middle, Ireina played the peacekeeper since she liked both of them. Despite the arguments, Nayre reluctantly admired the elf's skill with music. Although she would never say it to his face, Nayre felt that Varien was better than most mortals she met.

Ireina would have been content for those peaceful days to last for eternity. The day it all came crashing down started no different than any other. Ireina only realized something was wrong because of several panicked animals fleeing from the direction of Nayre's tree and the elven settlement. When she investigated, the glade had become a blazing inferno. She barely managed to find Nayre whom was dying from a jagged axe wound in her side. With her last breath, Nayre told Ireina that a bunch of bugbears were heading to the elven settlement to take slaves. She urged her friend to run before they double back and attack her too. As Nayre perished, Ireina heard the sounds of battle towards the settlement. Against all her instincts, Ireina ran ahead. She saw several elves fighting a fierce battle against the bugbear marauders. Among the defenders was Varien singing to bolster the elves. Ireina arrived just in time to see a large javalin pierce his body and send him to the ground. He was pinned and bleeding badly. Ireina ran through the battle to his side barely avoiding a stray axe swing or javelin throw. She touched the symbol of Corellon that Varien wore as chain necklace and begged the elf to stay with her. Ireina wasn't a religious person but in this moment her heart called out to the god of feykind to save one of their own. Her call was answered.

Ireina's hands glowed with holy light as the blood flow slowed down. Varien was still pinned but in no danger of dying from his wounds anytime soon. She wanted to pull out the javelin and help him up but he told her to help the other elves. He ripped the holy symbol off his neck and handed it to her telling her that Corellon would watch over them but she needed to be brave and not waste his gifts. Ireina nodded and began running between the defenders mending their wounds as best she could. Unable to keep up the pace, the remaining bugbears were forced to retreat. The other elves helped free Varien and Ireina finally closed the wound.

The experience had changed the hamadyrad. She remembered the pain she felt when she thought she was going to lose both of her friends and never wished that feeling on anyone. She spent more and more time with Varien inside the elven settlement. The journeys were a drain on her stamina since she had never traveled this far from her tree before but she wanted to do this. She wanted to learn more of Corellon and become strong enough to protect others. The other elves were surprisingly welcoming to her. As time passed, she started to see the settlement as a second home. She helped them defend themselves against further bugbear incursions and she tended to any sick or wounded within the settlement, usually without charging anything for her services.

As she grew in strength, she heard the rumors about the cursed plants that were choking life from the land. Ireina was concerned about this problem but didn't think she could do anything to solve it. However, Varien thought he could. He informed her that he was going to answer the call of heroes for Bryghindalyse. Once more, the nightmares of watching Nayre die swelled within her head as she begged Varien not to go. Despite her pleading he stated that he made up his mind. If someone doesn't do something, everyone will suffer. Seeing that there was no convincing him, she offered to make him a farewell dinner. Varien wasn't stubborn enough to turn down that offer. She cooked the best meal he ever ate...and laced it with a powerful sleeping solution. He would be unconscious for several days and she would have a solid headstart on him. To protect Varien, she willingly volunteered for the taskforce with the understanding that if the bard ever showed up to help, he'd be politely turned away.