Eschalon: Book 1 - Interview @ GameBanshee

Basilisk's Thomas Riegsecker has been interviewed at GameBanshee in a general article that provides an overview of their indie project, Eschalon: Book 1 -

GB: What can we expect from the game's quest system? Will there be multiple ways to complete each quest (such as combat and non-combat approaches) and is there some type of journal that keeps track of what steps we've completed for each quest?

Thomas: Each quest has a specific goal, but it is often up to you how to best achieve that goal. If you are told that you need to enter a specific location but there is a locked door in your way, it is up to you to determine the best method for your character to open that door. Bash it down? Pick the lock? Cast a spell to melt the lock? Search for the key? That part of the quest is up to you.
 

There is a quest journal that tracks what quests you have been given. In the journal contains a brief description of what you need to do to complete the quest, but that is all you are given. There is no arrow pointing you to your destination. We don’t hold the player’s hand and direct them to their goal; we want players to explore and discover on their own.

There is also one new screen included that shows the spell journal open over a dungeon of some sort.