Prelude
In accordance with the traditions of our Family, I write this journal, that
my Journey will be remembered, and that it will be of use to you in your
own Journey, if you choose to follow your ancestors.
Let me state that which I assume you know. I do this because we know that
such assumptions change, and that the obvious becomes the ridiculous.
I am a Goodwell of Morpeth. For many generations, we have recorded our
history as few families (excepting some nobles, I believe) have done.
This has given us an identity and a feeling of continuity beyond the norm.
It has allowed the development of traditions, which might fade too quickly to
become established, in other families. I have already followed one of our
traditions, the Goodwell fighting style. We have an unusual rate of
ambidexterity in our family, such that it is more common than not. The
fighting style reflects this. My uncle Jonathan has trained me in our
style: two long-knives, one in each hand, one pointed up, the other down.
(Of course, it is not as simple as this. Each knife's positioning changes
as circumstances require.)
Now I am about to embark upon another of our traditions: the Journey. This
is my twentieth year. It is a suitable age for the Journey. This Journal
exists to record my Journey, both to help me remember and reflect, and
to help you should you make the Journey. I have read many of the old
Journals, and I know the dangers. Some of our records indicate that the
Journeysman died or went missing. In such cases, we can rarely retrieve
the lost Journal. If I am lost, and you have found this journal, I ask you to return it to the Goodwells of Morpeth. You will be fairly rewarded.
I cannot know if this is the original edition that you read. Some Journals
are rewritten and edited on the Journeysman's return, for clarity and to
add commentry such as was unavailable or not for the writing during the
Journey. Please consider this.
The purpose of the Journey is to see the world, to visit our contacts,
to learn of news and new opportunities, to make new contacts, to see
possible future trading possibilities, and to add to our overall well-being.
I have said goodbye to my father Mathias, my brothers Peter and Jon, and my
sister Melena. I will be accompanied on the Journey by a friend of mine,
who I met through (our part of) the Goodwell business, Goodfield and Goodwell.
His name is officially Jack Goodfield, though he prefers to be called
"Quick Jack". We will go north, to the fortress of Woodwall, on the western
edge of the Wall, as part of Master Thomas's caravan of supplies for the
garrison. I have heard it is a lawless area, so we will be hiring additional scouts to help Graham and the others. I am not sure where we shall go from
there. I hope to see more of the cities of the Free States, and visit Andou
and maybe the islands of the Archipelego. This is incidental. Fortune is
the only guide of a Journeysman. May Turius bless my Journey.
Joseph Goodwell, August 953 P.D.