Tales from Meonicia I

About This Collection

The three stories in this collection feature the world of Meonicia, a small world of islands, archipelagos, and small continents. Each tale is a different take on the many cultures, backgrounds, and events of this "test-driven" planet. Much like the world's concept, each of these stories is written specifically for the piece. If you're more interested in just reading them, I suggest you skip this preface. But if, even for a moment, you are curious about the author and his thought processes, please read on.

Looking behind the veil, the world of Meonicia and its solar system originated during replays of some of my favorite Japanese Role-playing Games, the Phantasy Star series. Combining elements of those games with anime, like IRIA: Zieram the Animation and Green Legend Ran, I ended up developing a world that felt very artificial. Yet playing out scenarios in this world during tabletop with my brother Todd and his friends, I realized that something about the venue hooked them. The fast-paced mishmash of different ideas, the jutting up of these different perspectives and worlds, created a tension unique to the worlds I had previously made. It also allowed for endless experimentation.

This "experimental fakeness," despite how cumbersome it became, eventually lead me to delve into how I could exploit the concept. Ultimately, it met up with the joint efforts of two of the more sophisticated factions of the Remi's Cross Saga, the Ientec Foundation and the Meztoi Collective. These two powerhouses of space exploration and vastly different technological paradigms sowed the seeds for Meonicia's development. This world would serve as a neutral ground between the two factions and various others, acting as a place for technological, biological, and societal experimentation. The foundations of Meonicia were laid.

With that bit of self-indulgence out of the way, let's talk about the stories.

The first story, Fall of House Meavac, is a glimpse of the Remi's Cross Saga universe's more extraordinary beings. Told as a Lovecraftian delve into madness for its titular character, the celebrated Heronius Meavac must deal with the forces that threaten to lead him down a dark and inescapable destiny. Forces from beyond orchestrate events to indulge in their own selfish desires.

The second story, The Great Hunt of Camdouin, explores the artificiality of the world of Meonicia. The backdrop is the small island nation of Camdouin, a place ruled by three overseers. We are drawn to a world where locals instructed in Renaissance-era thinking, juxtaposed against visitors from beyond their nation and the world. This story, told through two dueling perspectives, provides us more significant insights into how the planet is viewed by offworlders. It also gives us hints about one of the most powerful factions in the universe, the Order of Guardians.

The last story, The Hunter's Guild Archives: Hunters for Hire, is a love letter to the aforementioned IRIA: Zeiram the Animation. The story takes us through an adventure from three prominent members of the Meonician Hunter's Guild: Ian, Tyria, and Cowen. They race to complete a dangerous bounty, each seeking the rewards for themselves. Yet any good race has obstacles. And the foe they dare to engage is more menacing than any of them have prepared for.

I've held back as many spoilers as I can. As a writer and world-builder, I would love to tell you everything about these characters, their world, and the organizations that run the cosmos. Alas, I would be a terrible author if I stole the experience from you. Thank you for reading this preface. I know it's not the most exciting bit of media, nor the most original in detailing story construction, but nevertheless, I am proud to explore so many of my ideas and those that inspired me and ink them

So once more, thank you, and enjoy the stories!

- Bradley R. Blankenship, Creator of the Remi's Cross Saga