The Long Journey South

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Foreword

The Long Journey South is a series of letters, diary entries, notes and et cetera detailing the journey of four fellow travellers across the continent of Cymlun during the early 1960s:

• Joseph Harrison - former Atraelish Officer with a PHD in Anthropology. Highly wealthy family. Signs off duty in Justavka in Pasturehallow 1961 and heads off for his tour across Cymlun with J̌osif in Second Yule 1962.
• Robert "Bobby" Mackenje - Good friend of Joseph and amateur historian, joins the crew in Kiros. Mostly there for the holiday but enjoys being lectured at by the other three members of the posse.
• Aline Normanie - Xhequan linguist, polyglot and historian, joins the crew in Kiros. From an upper middle class family. She has an advanced fluency in Atraelish, Xhequan, and Seonmi, a medium fluency in Wunal, and has a beginner level of knowledge in several dozen others, including Yashurhieli, Etruarac, Amulni and Virassian.
• J̌osif Bojožada - Justavkaun doctor (general practitioner) who was put through university by the Harrison family. Close friend of Joseph. Hobbyist historian and author with an impressive knowledge in world history. Fluent in Wunal and Atraelish.

Joseph Harrison - 7 January 1962

A foreword: It’s been long since I have had to write in Upper Atraelish. In this age it is only those of old who hold steadfast to the old tongue; I know it too well, with even my own children being unkenny of many of my own words each time I see them, let alone those of their elders. I have done my bit, and I hope this errandwrit reaches you well

Dearest Mother.

Forgive the holdup, but it has been for me a great strain to both be freed from my fyrdcraft of the Caserlic Wi (even a learned Stand-Ambighter like myself - whose owed time was done to a high craft - has to grapple with the leafwork) and to trume a trowing band of roadfolk for our coming path throughout the great Cymlun. You'd without a doubt be saying it's wrong for me to leave straight away on a holiday after all the years I gave in the Wi, but you shan’t worry at all about me oathbreaking to both you and father, as well as to my Marianne and our sons Clay and Amaud, for I will be sending many errandwrits, gifts, and photographs (I believe the Caserlic Atraelish wordmake is “lightstain” - my mind, as always, lets me down - but I do trust you are well heed and know what the former is). Keep an eye on the mail!

Now, for your knowledge, I must tell you of my roadfolk. My good yfere and friend of our family J̌osif Bojožada has joined me for this undertaking. His knowledge of the past of every place of the world is always stirring. Down the line in Xhequa we will be knit with friends Aline Normanie, a speaker of many tongues, and my old friend Bobby Mackenje.

There is little more I feel is worth sharing today. We depart across the Omere Channel tomorrow, and I must say, I am well thrilled for what will come. Again, I will keep you well in the know about the road ahead.

Yours truly,

Joseph Harrison, Second Yule 7 1962.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Translation notes:

• Unkenny (adj.) - Unknowing, ignorant.
• Errandwrit (n.) - Upper Atraelish equivalent of "letter".
• Fyrdcraft (n.) - An expedition by an army.
• Caserlic (n.) - Imperial; in the Atraelish context it refers to the term coined by Edgar Atherforth, the 7th Laird of Whitecliff (1788 - 1796), to refer to new Republic of Atraeth formed after the extinction of the Atraelish royal family during the Lensua Tragedy.
• Wi (n.) - A battle, conflict, a military force or troop.
• Stand-Ambighter (n.) - An Atraelish Army officer rank equivalent to a Second Lieutenant.
• Leafwork (n.) - lit. Paperwork.
• Trume (vb.) - To assemble a troop, a crowd, a company.
• Trow (vb.) - To trust, have confidence in; believe.
• Roadfolk (n.) - Upper Atraelish equivalent of "travellers"
• Wordmake (n.) - Upper Atraelish equivalent of "coinage", as in a coined word
• Heed (n.) - Pay attention to; take notice of.
• Yfere (n.) - Companion, fellow, associate.
• Knit (vb.) - Identical to other forms of knit, used here in the context of "to unite".