Menhir

Menhirs were a type of stone formation typically used for portals or outdoor religious shrines.

History
In ancient times, the Yuir folk of Aglarond used menhir stones that were infused with crystals to create monumental circles that they performed mystical ceremonies in and used as portals. These menhirs all bore inscriptions that were carved in their ancient Elven dialect. Over time the power of these menhirs faded and they became buried within the undergrowth of Yuirwood, overgrown with grass or moss. Those that retained their old magic glowed unearthly colors under the light of the full moon. Some became used as meeting places by fey creatures, such as pixies and sprites.

The menhir circles that remained known of within the Yuirwood formed a portal network that the Masters of the Yuirwood, an elite group of half-elven druids and rangers, used to rapidly move across the woods to respond to any growing threats. Beyond the forest, they could even travel to the realm of Sildëyuir.

In 1359 DR, Zembrath Klun discovered a menhir on Mezeketh Isle that was inscribed in an ancient Jhaamdathan script.

During the Spellplague, many of the menhir circles of Yuirwood seemed to attract active pockets of the eponymous plague.

In 1479 DR, the Festering Wound tribe conducted a mining operation within the Tannath Mountains on behalf of a mage known as the Saffron Devil, harvesting within its depths the same menhir stones that were once used by the Yuir folk. They attached the mined stones to sledges, which they then had pulled by giant ants.

Notable Menhirs

 * A menhir stood just outside the city of Relkath's Foot.
 * Temples of Callarduran Smoothhands customarily had a solitary menhir as their central altar. These were fashioned from stalagmites and inlaid with hundreds of tiny rubies.
 * Calimban Knoll was a circle in the Calim Desert consisting of twenty-one menhirs.
 * Circle of Thunder, a circular arrangement of menhirs atop a hill in Neverwinter Wood.
 * Fang of Skulls
 * Flint Rock had four menhirs encircling its altar, each of which pointed in one of the cardinal directions.
 * The Phylund Hunting Lodge's northern section had a large menhir, haphazardly carved with symbols and oaths to Tempus and Malar, forming much of its southwest corner.
 * The six ancient menhirs found in the forest near the Coast Way crossing that posed riddles to passersby.
 * In the Ice Spires, the kingdom of Hartsvale had the boundaries of it and the neighboring giant lands marked by titanic menhirs, which some speculated were placed there by stone giants.
 * Illith'arear, an ancient druidic circle of redwood trees with rune-engraved menhirs embedded within them.
 * Ironmaster Vale's borders were marked by menhirs, each inscribed with the coat-of-arms of Ironmaster.
 * The plains of Jotunheim was dotted with many ancient menhirs.
 * The plateaus of Raven Rock were dotted with a number of menhirs.
 * The Speaking Stones was a menhir circle in Blingdenstone around which the original city was built.
 * Stone Stand's two cairn rings were each surmounted by a ring of menhirs.
 * The Twenty Stones of Thruun comprised a score of vertical granite menhirs.
 * Within Undermountain, the Caverns of Ooze had a pair of menhirs that acted as a portal to the Terminus Level.
 * The Wyvernstones of Hullack, a group of menhirs at a site sacred to Eldath in the Hullack Forest.
 * Spear Rock, a shrine to Tempus in the western foothills of the Storm Horns.

Rumor & Legends
Some claimed that the menhir circles of Yuirwood could transport one to Evermeet.

Appearances

 * Adventures
 * The Twilight Tomb
 * Organized Play & Licensed Adventures
 * Silver Lining
 * Video Games
 * Baldur's Gate: Siege of Dragonspear