menions

Menions are a term used in speculative fiction and role-playing game lore to describe a culturally distinct group that appears across several fictional settings. They are typically depicted as semi-nomadic and long-lived, with a tradition of memory-keeping, archive work, and interpretive storytelling. While details vary by author, common elements include a reverence for ruins, a network of small autonomous communities, and an emphasis on guardianship of knowledge rather than conquest. In some depictions, menions function as mediators between different societies, translating traces of the past into present decisions.

The etymology of the word is not standardized across works. Menions is generally treated as a neologism invented by authors rather than a term borrowed from real languages. Because the concept spans multiple fictional universes, there is no single canonical origin story or definition. This openness allows writers to adapt the term to different world-building goals while preserving a core sense of custodianship and historical awareness.

Social structure and culture within these portrayals often feature councils or elder circles that arbitrate disputes and decide long-term projects. Attire, when shown, tends to emphasize layering, cloaks or robes, and symbolic embroidery. Language is frequently a hybrid, drawing on elements from several fictional tongues, underscoring the idea of memory as a bridge between diverse communities. Values center on knowledge, interpretation, and ethical stewardship of the past.

In fiction and games, menions are used to explore themes of memory, cultural preservation, and the tension between preservation and change. Critics note that portrayals vary widely and can reflect author bias or genre conventions, while supporters regard them as versatile tools for world-building and narrative depth. See also fictional peoples, world-building, speculative anthropology.