Overview
The Traveler's Journal Collection is a seven-note collectible chain tied to Alexandre Exquemelin. Each note is found inside a chest at a Traveler's Camp and points to a buried chest marked by a whitish tree with a red rag tied around the trunk. Finding all seven notes unlocks the full buried-chest circuit across the starting-island group.
How the Chain Works
Loot the visible chest outside the tent at a Traveler's Camp to obtain the note.
The note hints at a nearby buried chest near a marked tree.
Dig on the correct side of the tree (sparkles appear in the ground) with a Shovel to surface the chest.
The chest contains randomized loot plus, for the first chest, the next note in the chain.
Sail to the next island that hosts a Traveler's Camp and repeat.
First Note: Twist of Fancy
The first note, titled "Twist of Fancy", is found in the surface chest at the starting-island Traveler's Camp. It points the player west of the camp to a tree stump with a red cloth. See the dedicated Twist of Fancy article for the exact dig location.
Chest Loot
Chest contents are randomized per playthrough. The chest locations are fixed; what you pull out varies. Documented loot examples across the chain include up to 10x Homemade Gunpowder, Healing Potions, Great Healing Potions, Elixir of Cruelty, and occasional rare-tier loot like a Gold Temple Jug. Do not expect any specific drop.
Documented Drop | Notes |
|---|---|
Up to 10x Homemade Gunpowder | A common bulk drop. Useful for crafting ammunition and explosives. |
Standard recovery consumable. | |
Higher-tier recovery. | |
A combat buff elixir. | |
Occasional rare-tier find. Not guaranteed. |
Because the contents are rolled per playthrough, treat this list as what the circuit can produce rather than a fixed payout. Opening a buried chest can also draw Drowned at some dig sites, so keep a weapon ready before you dig.
Total Note Count
Stage | Notes | Progression Requirement |
|---|---|---|
Early | Notes 1-3 | Reachable from the starting island group |
Later | Notes 4-7 | Tied to later islands unlocked through main-story progression |
Tools and Tips
Craft a Shovel before visiting any Traveler's Camp. There is no interactable at the dig site without one.
Drop a Fast Travel Bell near each camp so returning for follow-up notes is one jump.
Do not mix up this chain with Fifteen Men on a Dead Man's Chest. That quest triggers from a shipwreck curio (Blurry Sketch of the Island) and has its own dig site with a similar-looking tree.
Connection to Alexandre Exquemelin
Alexandre Exquemelin is a historical buccaneer referenced in the game's lore. The seven journal notes serve as the in-game voice of his travels, tying together the buried-chest circuit as a single narrative thread. See the Alexandre Exquemelin article for his role in Windrose's lore.