A Found Past

[Archivist~Alabaster]

A Found Past
~written by Zaroth~

Zaroth sits at a well-lit table at the inn in Menethil. He takes a sip of his tea and runs his hand across and around the tattered, ancient bindings of the book that lies before him on the table. It was one that he discovered while searching for other books that he was requested to recover.
This one he kept. He had seen the crest that was emblazoned on the front cover somewhere before and the title page peaked his interest even more.

“ The Collected Texts of House Tillerson”

That was why he kept it…and why he hesitates in opening it.

“Could it be my past in here ? Could I actually be nobility ? And what happens if I am ? “, Zaroth ponders.

Another sip of tea passes his lips.

“Better to find out than never know at all. Time to do some reading. Light help me.”

Zaroth opens the cover, gently turns the title page and starts reading.

[Archivist~Alabaster]

Zaroth starts to read the fragile, yellowed pages, wondering what mysteries they hold and what tales they tell........


Great things are happening now and I, Jasphus Tillerson, age 30, feel the need to record them and those of my family as well. My wife, Sola, and I have a nice farm and hope to have a family soon. The forest trolls, I think they are called Zul’Aman, continue to raid our village as well as the villages of the other human tribes.

Over the past six years, the Arathi tribe has been conquering the other human tribes and then offering them peace and equality.


At last ! A single nation. It shall be called Arathor. The capital, the city Strom. And our king is Thoradin. Long may it stand!

And they have also declared that this shall be known as year 1. So it is.


Bliss and joy!!!!! Sola has blessed this house with a son. He shall be named Farthos.


Our leaders have met with the High Elves at their request. It seems that they too, have problems with the forest trolls and want our help. In return they will teach one from each of the original one hundred tribes their magics. It looks to be a good plan since neither of us seem to be able to quell the trolls alone.





Light help me! A great honor and even greater responsibility has been placed in my hands. I am to be the one from my tribe to learn the elven magics. It was quite a ceremony. The high elves chose 15 from each tribe that they deemed had the needed abilities to learn their magics quickly. Then each tribe voted as a whole for the one that they wanted to represent them.

I take this as a mixed blessing. It is a great honor, but it can also mean a quick death.





At last! The trolls have been defeated. Alas, there are many fewer of us that returned than left. Light bless and keep those that fell in order to secure Arathor. And it is up to what remains of the one hundred magic users to use the magics wisely. I dread what may happen if they are used poorly.





Year 3

Light be praised ! Sola has again blessed us with yet another son. Three year old Farthos now has a brother, Salor.
And harvests continue to be good. Enough for us to start to save for the future.



Year 9

The Light has again blessed this house. Sola gave us a daughter, Llana.
Farthos has been a big help the past 3 years in the fields. I shall miss him when he goes off to Northshire Abbey for his 4 years there and then he’s off to Scholomance for 4 more years. I may not even know him when he returns. Salor has just started helping in the fields. Harvests continue to be good, praise the Light.



Year 10
Farthos has left for the Abbey. I miss him already. Light keep him well.


Zaroth looks up and places the book down to take a sip of tea.
“Hmmmm….this is more than just my possible past. It reads like the history of humans here. Interesting.”


Zaroth takes another sip of tea, picks up the book and continues…………

[Archivist~Alabaster]

Returning to the book that holds his interest, Zaroth presses on……….





Year 13

My, the past three years have flown by and now its Salor that is off to the Abbey. Back to tending the fields alone. I miss both of my sons deeply. Light keep them safe and may they both return soon.



Year 15

My, my.. Llana is as good a field worker as her brothers were…and she also helps her mom around the house.
She will be quite a catch for some lucky man when she grows up. Saying that, I start to feel a bit old. Ouch.


Year 18

Praise the Light! Farthos has returned from Scholomance. And he has become quite a man as well. He’s back to helping in the fields along with Llana. He has asked if he could learn the elven magics. I agreed, but slowly so I can judge how he handles them. He agreed. He has seen, as I have, the results of the reckless, wanton use of the magics . There is evil coming from that, Light help us.



Year 19

With the return of one, too quickly followed by the leaving of another. Sweet Llana has left for the Abbey. Light look over her.



Year 21

The Light has blessed us again. Salor has returned from Scholomance and he, too, has become quite a fine young man. Now both sons are home and the work grows easier. Farthos is learning the magics well and has shown that he can use them with wisdom. Salor has asked to learn them and I have agreed under the same terms as his brother.
Farthos has also become enamored of a nearby maiden and may be off to start his own family soon.


Our king has decreed that the original chiefs shall become Lords and shall advise the king. Fine move.



Year 25

It seems that love has taken a liking to this house. Farthos has taken a wife and has set up his house down the road. Salor has gained the interests of several comely young maidens himself. Both have learned the elven magics wll and use them as wisely as I could hope. May the Light continue to bless this house.


Year 26

Honor abounds throughout Arathor ! The king has decreed that the original one hundred magic users and the direct male heirs of those that fell in battle shall be made Lords and sit with the other Lords to advise the king. May we all prove worthy of this honor.


Year 27

The Light has see fit to honor my prayers. Llana has returned from Scholomance and is quite a lovely young maiden.
All of my children have made me proud to be their father. Farthos has a new son, Alanic, and Salor seems ready to choose his bride to be. Harvests continue to be good and my savings grow. I may be able to rest in my old age.


Year 29

Salor has finally married!!!!! Llana has several handsome suitors. Farthos has a new baby girl, Thana, and Alanic is growing with each passing day.


Year 30

Salor has just had a beautiful baby girl, Yvonne. Llana has chosen a fine young warrior and will marry soon. Farthors' family prospers.. I don’t feel too bad for being 60.

[Archivist~Alabaster]

Year 31

Llana has married her fine young warrior. Both Salor’s and Farthos’ families prosper and are well. Dear Sola seems to be growing frail nowadays. I fear that we will be parted soon.



Year 32

Llana has a fine male child, Handor. Salor as been blessed by a male child himself, named Darton. Farthos’ family has remained the same with the children getting ready to go off to the Abbey far too soon. Sola, my dear love, still hangs on to life, but grows weaker each day. Far too soon, I may be alone.


Year 33

My dear, lovely Sola has finally passed on. I miss her deeply and cherish all the memories of our life together. The children visit more often now, checking up on the old man. Still, it is much too quiet and still here. Time draws near to pass on the title of keystone and rest.


Year 35

A fine ceremony was held at the keep to honor the passing of the title of keystone of House Tillerson from me to my eldest son, Farthos. All of the Houses were there and made merry long into the night, The king saw fit to knight Llana’s warrior husband, Brinthor, which made possible my final act as keystone of welcoming Brinthor into House Tillerson as a peer. It was a fine time….now I can rest.




Year 37

This entry made by Lord Farthos Tillerson


Jasphus Tillerson, husband of Sola, father to Farthos, Salor, and Llana; one of the original one hundred magic users, founder of House Tillerson, has passed on and has been laid to rest next to his dear love Sola. May the Light keep them well.



Zaroth sets down the book and softly closes the cover.

“This seems like a fine place to take a break. “

He sips his tea and leans back in his chair.


“ I wonder what comes next.”

[Archivist~Alabaster]

Finishing the fine meal of crocolisk gumbo, bread, a mug of ale, followed by a sweet roll and milk, Zaroth waits for the table to be cleared and wiped before drawing the book from his pack.

“Let’s see who’s writing are next. No matter who it is, it should be informative. Dad died before I could find out about our family past. Hopefully, this may be a good substitute. “

And so, he begins the next collected journal………………

[Archivist~Alabaster]

Falor Tillerson’s Journal


Year 6

I have been watching Dad for a while. He’s been writing important things down in a book for himself. Since Dad thinks it’s good to do this, I’m going to do the same.

I’ve been helping Dad in the field this year. Its hard work, but fun.
Salor, my brother, is getting bigger and keeps Mom busy. Ha.


Year 9

Salor has started helping with the fieldwork. Bet Mom’s glad of that. Ha. Next year I’m off to Northshire Abbey.
Why the good brothers decided to build the Abbey so far away, and in such a nowhere place is beyond me. Guess I’ll find out once I get there.

Dad’s really happy with the harvests and what he’s been able to get for them. The harvests have been really, really good. I hope they stay that way. I like Dad when he’s happy/



Year 10

Planting is done. My bag is packed and loaded with all the rest on the cart. There is quite a large group going to the Abbey. Lots of other kids, hunters, herbalists, workmen, and plenty of soldiers. This looks like it’s going to be quite an adventure. King Thoradin, himself, bid the group well and personally charged the soldiers with our safety. Wow!


We passed through the great wall and then went left to the sea. There were several large boats that took 6 men each to row there to take us away. Once loaded, we were off. Hope the weather stays good.


Finally, we get onshore for good. We followed the shore and camped each night. I only took three days, but boy, were they boring. Stuck on a boat all day. Once we got everything off the boats and onto the carts the brothers sent for us, we started up the beach. This land would make good farmland. Few trees, good soil.

We cross a small river on a good wood bridge and notice that there is a building going up. Found out that it’s going to be for soldiers. We walked through a cool dark forest, passed a small pond on the left, then a nice sized lake on the right. We followed a small stream for a bit. Then we saw the Abbey. Standing all alone in a clearing. Woodsmen hard at work, stonemasons still building wings of the Abbey. And it looks as though there will be a great wall closing the gap between the hills on each side.

The brothers greet us, help unload our bags, and show us to our rooms. After a good, hot bath, followed by a hot meal, the Abbot welcomed us and told us what was expected of us while we were there. Now for bed.