The Journal of St. Bernard

“I’m not positive yet, but… There’s too many coincidences. The marks of the early church, for one. There’s a lot-and I mean a lot- of references to men named ‘Ishmael’ and ‘Jordan’, two of the original twelve Shadowed Apostles. And another thing...The first Mission journey to Linder had three of the Twelve; Ishmael, Jordan, and Bernard. And I found the journal in an old well. Even back then, it would not have been far from Linder."
"I-i think this journal originally belonged to Bernard."

— ~Reginald Goodvich

Books, letters, and other written materials from the Jade era are quite rare; It was the time of Wizards, who did not tolerate general education in the masses lest they become collectively powerful eough to oppose them. Which makes the recovery of an old journal from a Jade-era well, intact and well-preserved, interesting if not outright contreversal. Unfortunately the Journal was stolen soon after it was recovered from its old hiding place, leaving more questions than answers, and no shortage of skeptical looks.

The Journal

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The Journal of Saint Bernard was first uncovered from an old Well on the Goodvich family estate north of Poartlind. It was found by one of the younger members of the family, Reginald Goodvich, son of Richard and Sarah Goodvich, and a budding historian. The journal had been placed in a plain wooden box, likely used to hold tea or other dry goods. While the box itself was in poor condition and disintegrated shorty after being found, the Journal was clean, dry, and remarkably free of rot or decay. The text within was neat, legible, but written in a Jade-era script that is not often studied. Goodvich's personal notes on the subject concluded that it had once been the property of Saint Bernard, one of the Shadowed Apostles who began the ministry of the Savior almost 1900 years before.

The Contreversy

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While the discovery of the Journal hasn't been publicly announced, there is no small amount of skepticism regarding the find and its origins amoungst scholars of the Church. Namely, the sheer amount of coincidences regarding the Journal's state, origin, and relation who who found it. One who had not had the chance to translate the Journal for themselves would likely conclude that the Journal was a hoax prepetuated by Goodvich for the sake of furthering his own reputation. While Reginald himself would not have anything to say to these accusations, his cousin Elijah would be far more...vocal. And incindiary.
At this time, however, the Journal is presumed lost or destroyed-it was stolen from St. Bartholomew's Cathedral in Poartlind by Dr. Archibald Wolfe, who had a bitter rivalry with Goodvich when it came to several matters of the Church. While Goodvich reported that the former Dean of history had set the book on fire, no ashes or residue were found at the scene that could have been the journal.

Read the Document

The Journal of St. Bernard

To my unknown friend;
It is a strange marvel that the Creator would use broken, stubborn men like us to fulfill his will. To use those who had outwardly decried his teachings even stranger. And yet here we are; knelt before the cross in awe and wonder.
I do not know the path you have taken to come here, only the impression that is has been similar to my own; animosity birthed by spite, ground down by patient love. I bid you, here at the foot of the cross; let that spite wither and fade. We learned men are wont to think that we do not need help in knowing, or speaking of what we know. But where is that pride when we have been humbled? It has fled for greener pastures.
When we were but the youngest of Acolytes, learning from our masters, our ears were open to all their teachings. I beg you, old and wise as you are, to open your ears once more. There is much that HE is willing to teach us, if only we are willing to listen.
With most sincerity, love, and perseverance in prayer,
A future brother in the Savior.

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Type

Journal, Personal

Medium

Paper

Location

Poartlind

Authors

• Saint Bernard