Introduction
A work of fan fiction by Kobus Myburgh, based on the characters and world of A Plague Tale.
(c) 2024, Kobus Myburgh
Dedication and Thanks
To Tanya, Brandon and Harrison, my wife and sons. Without you in my life, there would be no meaning to anything I do.
To Salomé, my departed mom, with whom I could always share my thoughts, vent to, and make the silliest jokes that nobody else would find funny.
Special thanks to Richard, Warren, and various other new friends I made on the Tenebris server on Discord. Without you, I would’ve never started. You cheered me on when I celebrated my progress. You offered help when I felt stuck. When the idea started in my head, it was only going to be a short story. It was just going to be something to do, so to speak, but as I started writing, the book and the characters within took on lives of their own. I was immersed into a journey that I never knew could be so satisfying.
Finally, I would like to thank a few people who have been involved with reading and commenting this, my first ever novel: Anrie, Gideon and Mandla.
Chapter 8, titled Aveline, is dedicated to my good friend Cyndi, for reasons she will know, reasons that are not mine to share.
I further dedicate this book to all fans of A Plague Tale and the creative geniuses at Asobo Studio. Without you, a game series such as this would not exist.
NOTE:
For those eager to jump straight into Mélie’s story, feel free to start with Chapter One. This introduction (and the epilogue at the end) are here to share my journey and the background of this novel for those interested, and in particular for those who are not familiar with the game series. The Story Lore and Background section below is here to help orient you to the world of the games.
Also note that the rest of this introduction, as well as the book itself, contains spoilers to the two instalments of the game A Plague Tale. If you want to play them without learning the spoilers, I recommend you play them first before reading my novel.
Why this book?
I started playing A Plague Tale: Innocence in 2022, three years after its release. I remember sitting in front of my computer, with the Steam client open on my 27" computer screen, and an advert for this game came on the screen. The first image of Amicia and Hugo gripped me. Then a short trailer piqued my interest further. The next visual, an image, showing the ratings from reputable gaming reviewers convinced me: I simply must have this game. I whipped out my credit card and filled out the numbers without thinking. In my mind, I was already playing the game.
From the moment I saw the introductory screen, as creepy and gruesome as it was, I was hooked. From the moment I started to play the first chapter, familiarising myself with the controls and game mechanics, I was in love with the story, even though I have only had a couple of minutes’ exposure to it.
I got so engrossed in the lives of Amicia and Hugo, the beauty—and absolute gore—of their world, and the wonderful characters they met along the way: Arthur, Mélie and Rodric in particular. As you can surmise, one of these characters, Mélie, is the reason for this book.
Near the time I completed the first game, Innocence, I heard that the next instalment was to be released later in the same year. I was over the moon! I scoured the internet for information about a release date and consistently found conflicting dates. Until Focus Entertainment, the publishers, together with Asobo Studio, made an announcement that the game would be released on 18 October 2022. It was several more months before the release, and I was going crazy in anticipation.
I had planned some leave days around that time, so that I could spend some quality time with the game when it is released, When A Plague Tale: Requiem was released, I bought it immediately, and my wife and children did not see me very often for several days. An old joke comes to mind: ”Last night, the internet went down for about 15 minutes, and I was forced to talk to my family for a bit. It turns out they are quite nice people!"
I loved the game from start to finish, but I could not help noticing that there was no mention of Rodric, Arthur or Mélie in Requiem.
SPOILER ALERT:
We know that Arthur and Rodric both died gruesome deaths, and that leaves Mélie. I felt that her story needed to be told. Where did she go after the events at the cathedral?
Story Lore and Background
The world of A Plague Tale is one steeped in shadows—both literal and emotional—where light and hope struggle to survive amidst devastation and despair. This is a story of human resilience, fierce love, and the indomitable will to endure.
The tale begins with A Plague Tale: Innocence, set in 14th-century France during the Hundred Years’ War and during the spread of the Black Death. Amicia de Rune, a noble teenage girl, and her younger brother, Hugo, are thrust into a world that rapidly unravels. Hugo suffers from a mysterious bloodborne curse called the macula, which ties him to supernatural forces capable of unleashing devastating plagues. Their lives are torn apart when the ruthless Lord Nicholas, Captain of the Inquisition and enforcer of Vitalis Bénévent, attacks their family estate to seize Hugo for the Inquisition’s sinister purposes.
Amicia, tasked with protecting her brother despite barely knowing him due to their estranged upbringing, must navigate this treacherous new world. As they flee from soldiers, disease, and swarms of rats controlled by the macula, the siblings forge unlikely alliances. As Amicia and Hugo flee their once-protected lives, they encounter a cast of unforgettable characters, each leaving a profound mark on their journey.
The first to join their struggle is Lucas, a young apprentice to the alchemist Laurentius, who quickly becomes an integral part of their story. His quiet determination and deep knowledge of alchemy provide Amicia and Hugo with invaluable tools to combat not only the swarms of plague-ridden rats but also the sinister forces of the Inquisition. Despite his youth, Lucas’s wisdom and loyalty form the backbone of many of their successes.
Next is Mélie, a resourceful thief whose sharp wit and unmatched survival instincts make her both a valuable ally and a reflection of Amicia’s growing resilience. With her twin brother, Arthur, Mélie aids the siblings in navigating the harsh realities of life outside the walls of nobility, teaching them the art of survival in a brutal and unforgiving world.
The group is further bolstered by Rodric, a blacksmith with a formidable presence and an unwavering sense of loyalty. Rodric’s physical strength and courageous spirit often shield the siblings from danger, but it’s his emotional depth and willingness to sacrifice for others that truly endear him to Amicia and Hugo. His journey with them is as much about rediscovering his own humanity as it is about fighting for their survival.
Their encounters with allies are tempered by the relentless pursuit of adversaries, chief among them Lord Nicholas, the Captain of the Inquisition. Ruthless and unyielding, Nicholas acts as the enforcer of Vitalis Bénévent’s dark ambitions. His towering presence and brutal methods make him a constant threat, embodying the cold, calculated terror of the Inquisition.
Behind it all stands Vitalis Bénévent, the enigmatic and malevolent leader of the Inquisition. Driven by an insatiable lust for power, Vitalis seeks to harness the devastating potential of the macula—a mysterious, hereditary blood curse that plagues Hugo. His manipulations and experiments serve as the catalyst for much of the suffering endured by the de Rune siblings.
Requiem picks up six months later, as Amicia and Hugo search for a cure to the macula, while longing for a life free of fear. Their quest takes them south to the Red City, where they are drawn into a devastating conflict with Count Victor and his fanatical wife, Emilie, whose obsession with Hugo’s powers leads to catastrophe. Along the way, they encounter Sophia, a smuggler with her own sense of justice, and Arnaud, a former knight with a personal vendetta. The siblings’ journey to La Cuna, a fictional Mediterranean island, unveils painful truths about the macula, its link to ancient rites, and the devastating toll it demands.
This novel begins at the end of Innocence and parallels the events of Requiem, delving into the story of Mélie—a survivor with her own burdens and unanswered questions. Mélie’s journey intertwines with the de Runes’ world, reflecting themes of survival, loss, and the search for purpose. Her tale is one of echoes, where the bonds of the past shape the struggles of the present.
For readers unfamiliar with the games, Mélie’s story stands on its own, but for those who wish to explore the world further, I recommend beginning with A Plague Tale: Innocence and then A Plague Tale: Requiem. The stories’ narratives offer a rich backdrop to the events in these pages, weaving together the threads of love, loyalty, and the lengths we go to, to protect those we hold dear. While a knowledge and understanding of the game lore is highly beneficial, it is not a requirement to read the novel, even though some ideas may not make sense. This is why I wrote this passage to guide you into my story.
As you journey with Mélie, may you feel the weight of her losses, the strength in her resilience, and the hope that flickers even in the darkest times. This is her tale—but it is also yours to discover.
Final Thoughts
Thank you so much for reading this novel. I appreciate you exploring my newly discovered creative outlet with me. It has been a wonderful journey of imagination, late nights of writing and editing. Hopefully this resulted in a book that you will enjoy reading to the end.
And, without further ado, here is my interpretation of a possible way that Mélie’s story could’ve unfolded.
