I
began writing this book nearly two years ago, in the beginning of 97BW. I was attending the Renewal Party at der Vergoldeter Palast of His Eminence
Heinrich Braun , one of the few locations of prominence which I, to that point, had yet to personally visit. A cultured reader will of course be familiar with the exclusivity of Regenschloss, which sees but very few citizens come and go, save the Commonwealth's finest minds, wealthiest barons, greatest innovators, and most articulate purveyors and consumers of fine culture.
It should, therefore, seem as much a shock to the loyal reader of my work as it was to me at the time, that the Renewal Party of '97 was my first invitation to the settlement. Coming off the heels of my then-newest work, Zeppelins Over Zamarkand: the World's First Airborne Conflict, the invitation came as a suitable conclusion to an otherwise harrowing writing process.
When I arrived at the palace, I quickly found myself to be the object of some fascination among the other party guests. The great minds of the Commonwealth, it seemed, were as starved for a good story as the whole rest of the country. I was set upon almost immediately following my arrival; so much so that I’d hardly had time to give my thanks to His Eminence and his wife for having me. Indeed, no sooner had I helped myself to the vinecountry’s finest vintage than I was surrounded by inquiring minds and dour cynics alike.
Here a question about the Pillars of Qomm. Here a question about the dunewalkers of the South. Now a question about the veracity of my accounts, and now an accusation of outright fraud. Regardless of the flavor of these conversations, the core motivation behind it all was the same: they wanted to hear these histories straight from the horse's mouth, and all at once. No publisher’s filter, no notions of what will and won’t sell, just the candid truth over drinks, music, and dance.
Thus, this history was born. The people asked, and J.G. Wickemeyer is here to provide Bold People and Bright Places of the Commonwealth — a collection of every place of note, every person of prestige, their histories, and my personal impressions. I am, of course, an aging man, a lifetime of adventure weighs heavy on my shoulders; and so in the spirit of humility and generosity, I thought it only prudent to invite several younger historians to join me on this project. So you may notice some new voices, new perspectives. Where possible, these stories overlap with my own from previously published work, in order to fortify and diversify the reader’s understanding of a subject.
It is my hope, as ever, that this volume shall slake your thirst for adventure, and fill your heart with bold ambition. Remember always: this frontier was ours to conquer, our lives our own to forge, and in this great Commonwealth there is always a seat for every man and woman at the table of fraternity and equality.