Act I * The play opens on a remote world in a kingdom built in the middle of a dark forest. In this kingdom, the good, wise king has just died. The king's son, the Edjian Prince, assumes the throne and immediately begins to implement his new plan for the kingdom, expansion. He sends several servants into the forest to mark trees for felling. The servants do not return. The mysterious disappearances causes a commotion among the aged people of the kingdom: the elderly believe that the servants have been spirited away by Uhl Eharl Khoehng, an ancient spirit that rules the dark forest. Believing the stories, the Edjian Prince sends several messengers into the forest to invite Uhl Eharl Khoehng to his palace.