Custos Family History

The Custos line has been one of the Leading Houses of the Human race throughout history. Leading as in lending a hand where needed, rather than leading as in political leaders or rulers. So you won't see mention of my Household in the history books, but be assured that we were there.

Not much is known of my family's adventurers during the Human/Elven war. That was a very horrible part of our history and much knowledge from there was lost. Even my family's personal histories tell nothing from that time. Tis my hope that we learn from such times and remember what racial prejudice can lead to.

Nigel Custos is the first of my Household to be remembered in our personal histories. Nigel was the Clanchief of a small clan near what is now the El Bain's area of present day Therengaria. Through most of his followers were rangers and barbarians, even in those early days the Paladin calling was strong in my family.

Akroeg the Ram came to my forefather's clan in about -923 (Negative to show before the Victory of Lanival the Redeemer). Nigel saw the way things were turning and swore allegiance to Akroeg and became one of his advisors, rather than risk the lives of his clansmen against Akroeg's unbeatable army.

When Verek, son of Akroeg, established the Seven-Star Empire and became the first Human councilor in -908, Nigel's son Vertag Custos was one of his councilors. During this time the Custos line continued to serve the Empire for many years.

The Empire was good for my family. Was during this time that we established our lands in the Leth Deriel area. The lands near El Bain's area were claimed by the Baron of Therengaria when House Theren was sent north by the Empire in -790.

The Empire flourished for the next 500 years or so. Peace reigned over the Realm, until the Empire rotted from within, and was attacked from without by the Elven Warlord Teiro in -252.

Lanival returned to Imperial lands around -248, after his wanderings and time spent with the Guardian Glacis. Having had a vision of the Empire falling, Lanival was determined to stand against Teiro. So along with his sister, Lanival rallied the clans as Akroeg had done long ago.

Among many others that answered Lanival's call was Stephen Custos. Stephen was Captain of the troop that rescued Uthmor from slavery. Seeing the potential in the young tog even then, he turned him over to the Lorthew Benjor and Uthmor's education began.

Stephen served Lanival during the Resistance wars, then became Uthmor's second-in-command, when The Giant came into his own and became Lanival's general.

The brutal slaying of Nissa by Teiro was a terrible blow to morale. Somehow through it, and even Lanival's capture, Uthmor was able to hold the army together, until Lanival escaped and returned. Then came the final battle with Teiro's forces.

The battle was going against Teiro until he unleashed the forbidden magics. Uthmor ordered the retreat and a council of war was held to decide what to do. And Lanival returning with the dragons was the only reason Teiro did not concur that day.

Everyone was tired of battle by now. Lanival most of all. It took nobody by surprise when he left to continue his wanderings. Stephen saw him as a tired and broken man due to the loss of his beloved Nissa.

Stephen also was tired of the fighting. Nearly 12 years of it without pause. He left Uthmor's service and settled in the family lands near Leth Deriel, where my family has lived until present time. By then the next Custos heir was full grown and established in the family business of paladinhood. His name was Roland.

Roland was very interested in the security of the newly founded City of The River Crossings. Or The Crossing as it has come to be known in present time. To pursue this he became a member of the Hounds of Rutilor in -233, shortly after they were founded.

All went well at the Custos homestead in Leth and in the new city of Crossing for many years. Until the year -205 and Dzree took over the then small religion of the Dragon Priests.

The Dragon Priests under Dzree's leadership soon became a dominant military force. Raiding small mountain villages at first, then attacking Shard itself and burning it to the ground in -197.

Roland was ordered to Qi'Reshalia in -196 to attempt to gain support for the mainland from the Dragon Priest scourge. He took his family with him. It turned out to be a good thing, as the Dragon Priest army advanced with brutal swiftness and by -193 Crossing had fallen, and the Hounds of Rutilor had all been killed.

By -187 Riverhaven and Theren keep have fallen to the Dragon Priest hordes. Roland and his family fled to Aesry Surlaenis'a about this time and established a cottage there to live in. And by -172 the Dragon Priests had taken control of most of Qi'Reshalia, with Aesry being the one remaining safe area from their ravages.

The next 170 years were spent on Aesry Surlaenis'a defending that one last remaining place from the Dragon Priests. Due in part to the presence of the Ru'atin Peri'el on the island, Aesry never fell to the Dragon Priest armies. So my family lived in relative safety there during this time, and the mantle of paladinhood was passed on from Father to Son, without benefit of an official guild. And the family still to this day owns a cottage there on that pleasant island.

With Dzree's death chaos came to the Dragon Priests. On the mainland the remaining DP armies were firmly crushed. But in Qi'Reshalia there was open warfare among DP factions.

By the year 22 the Last DP faction was conquered, and merchant families formed the new ruling council of Qi'Reshalia. The Custos heir at the time was Michael (my great grandfather), and it was his decision to return to Zoluren province and help rebuild.

The next 330 years were relatively peaceful for Elanthia. The death of Morganae's daughter in 250, and Shard closing relations with Zoluren was a blow to the economy at the time. But Zoluren continued to grow and prosper despite this and other obstacles.

I was born on the 11th day of the 6th month of Arhat the Fire Lion in the year of the Amber Phoenix, 332. My family had established our lands in the Leth Deriel area by then to quite an extent. We employed many rangers and elves from the local populace to manage and farm the timber on our lands for trade.

I became a paladin in 348 and have been one ever since. I try to hold up the family tradition by involving myself with events that can have an impact on Elanthia. One person can not solve all of the world's problems, but I can at least make an attempt. Joining the Mentor Society was a part of that, and I'm most honored to be counted amongst its ranks.

I married my beautiful wife Ailyssa Golden-Hair in the 1st month of Akroeg the Ram in the year of the Golden Panther, 359. Between mentoring, traveling to our cottage on Aesry, and vacationing in Theren, we try to keep abreast of the events that are effecting Elanthia, and have a small hand in them as well.