Is the journal in a separate file? The game references journal entries but I have no way of knowing what is being said.

Journal entries are found in the Journal pdf that comes with the game.

A late-ish chime in -- there's a utility program out there, "Gold Box Companion", that works with all three of the Krynn games (as well as the other gold box games, like Pool of Radiance, or Curse of the Azure Bonds), that lets you do things like easily pull up the journal files, and even map for you as you go (no need to make your own unless you want to).