Butlerian Jihad|House Atreides | House Corrino | House Harkonnen |Terms of the Imperium | Planetary Systems | Weapons of the Imperium | Suk School | Tleilaxu | The Guild | Bene Gesserit | The Spice! | The Sardaukar
The Butlerian Jihad: Cause, Effects and Conculsions
Beginnings (711BG-200BG)
The Butlerian Jihad had its beginnings long before the coming of the
leadership of Jehanne Butler was to lead the last revolt against the
machines in 200B.G. (Before Guild) It began in 711 B.G. with the
formation of the “Humanity First” group. During this time machines
ruled the then known universe, with humans enslaved. The machines
controlled space travel, hospitals and university. Humanity First
sought to end this by encouraging people to think for themselves and to
fight back against the machines. Humanity First followers were hunted
down and destroyed by the machines in the year 700 B.G., with the
exception of a few who managed to escape the group Humanity First was
dead and the universe fell back into relaxation and what is today known
as apathy.
The Butlerian Jihad (200 B.G.-0B.G.)
In the year 200 B.G. a young woman named Jehanne Butler a high
priestess of the planet Komos began speaking out against the machines
and encouraged people to join her in revolt against the machines, their
first attack began on the planet Richese, destroying the machines and
freeing the humans that were left, Jehanne did this by the spreading of
religion and turning the Butlerian Jihad into a religious crusade
against the machine to save humanity. Although Jehanne died in 182 B.G.
the fight against the machines continued for almost another 200 years,
in the Jihad that bears her name.
Results of the Butlerian Jihad
With the destruction of the machines, humanity was once again forced to
think for itself and to always remember the words ”Never
Again!!!, all known religions were combined into one faith
incorporating the ancient religions of Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism
and Islamic faiths. A new bible was written known today as our O.C.B.
or Orange Catholic Bible. Unlike the mysterious Book of Secerts(Azhar Book)
this book focused first and foremost about machines with
human minds.
The Orange Catholic Bible First Commandment being ”Thou Shall not
make a machine in the likeness of a human mind" Humanity became
something to be cherished. New Schools were developed the remaining
ones today: The Spacing Guild and The School of Mentats. Artificial
means of conception were outlawed as well as means of contraception for
a long period. Great Houses were allowed to keep House Atomic strictly
for the purpose of use against "any non-human intelligent life that
may yet be found in the universe."
The constricts against machines devolving from the Butlerian Jihad
still exist to this day with the people always aware but not always
practicing the Second Commandment "Thou Shall not disfigure Thy
soul!!!!"
Back to Top
House Atreides
House History
House Atreides has a long and noble lineage and can be traced back a
thousand generations; legend suggests that it goes all the way back to
Terra. The Atreides’ illustrious history is the guide that they have
used to find out way through the darkness of Time. Demetrios Atreides
was granted the Barony of Tantalos because of his victory in the Battle
of Corrin and founded the base for what has today become known as House
Atreides. It was during these years that the implication of the
advances that the Spacing Guild had passed on to the Known Universe,
and the three cornerstones of our society, Guild, Imperium and
Landsraad were truly formed. Other important historical facts of this
time period is that Demetrios Atreides had charged Abulurd Harkonnen
with cowardice during the Battle of Corrin, which saw House Corrino
ascend the Lion Throne. Abulurd was banished and only Ivan Harkonnen
was able to petition the new Emperor for leniency. This is the source
of the 10,000-year grudge that has ever affected both Houses. The
Empire once again honored the Atreides’ ancestors in 207 when Thomas
Atreides was made Duke of Jaddua for helping to restore Elrood II to
the Lion Throne, thus achieving the House’s honored state of House
Major. Atreides emblems and heraldry.
The symbol of House Atreides is a stylized hawk in silver, profiled
against a field of pine green. The hawk emblem has its wings
outstretched, the head turned and beak slightly opened.
The colors of the Atreides heraldry are, in this order: green, silver,
black; these colors are used in standards, flags, wearable insignia,
seals and official stationary. Only the ducal family may wear the
green-and black sash.
The Common Atreides Traits
The members of our House tend to be honest, courteous to all regardless
of station, fair, honorable, prudent, loyal, courageous, strong-willed
and ruthless in careful measure. Negative traits most often exhibited
by members of House Atreides are soft-heartedness, naiveté,
irritability, pride and self-righteousness. The rulers of this House
have a talent for attracting trustworthy people of similar values, and
winning their loyalty. Thus, there is little or no political
in-fighting within House Atreides.
The Atreides View of Religion
The Atreides tend to have a humanistic view of religion: if it does not
benefit man, it is useless. They are not one of the most religious
Houses. The House in general, like most of the Imperium, respects the
principles of the Butlerian Jihad and is knowledgeable about the Orange
Catholic Bible and the teachings of the Zensunni.
The Atreides opinion of non-Landsraad factions
The Atreides tend to treat the non-Landsraad organizations with
fairness, respect, and caution. Relations are never strained, though
often not cordial, particularly with the Guild, who are distrusted for
being so ascetic and secretive.
The Bene Gesserit- are respected as an organization for their spirit of
service, but not much confidence is ever placed on them individually.
“When they share with us, we will share in return.” “When they shield
their motives we will do the same.” This is the Atreides’ motto in
regarding the Sisterhood.
The Atreides have had infrequent contact with the Ixians although their
ingenuity and the usefulness of their products is respected. Still they
remain wary of this ingenuity for it might lead mankind back to the
machineminds if mankind does not stay vigilant.
Bene Tleilax- they are quiet reviled; the Atreides tend to consider
Tlielaxu products filthy and distasteful. Their intentions are an
affront to life and decency and remind of the things the machineminds
did to bring the human race to the brink of extinction. Atreides will
whenever possible avoid contact with these fanatics.
Smugglers- are a duality of society. The Atreides feel they must judge
every smuggler on his own merits or flaws, not encourage nor discourage
and, if possible provide means to leave this existence if it is proven
the man in this profession did not break any law beyond the law of
smuggling. No formal denouncement or pogrom is ever taken against them.
Atreides Government
Like all Landsraad Great Houses, they rule as lords over the populace.
They will ask for the aid and council of other nobility of a lesser
station but will not rely on them to govern our people. What Atreides
do, Atreides will take responsibility of. The Minor Houses that have
bounded themselves to them they treat as allies, never as vassals. They
are represented in the Landsraad, but if a Minor House feels their path
does no longer coincide with that of Atreides, they will allow them to
dissolve the political bond between both houses.
In the Atreides’ view, good governance and social justice are paramount
values; nothing is more despised than a tyrannical and exploitative
ruler. They treat those of lesser station with respect, cherish their
servants and treat them well; because of this they almost always have a
loyal and dedicated staff.
This relationship with others has cultivated and brought about talents
within the House staff that might have otherwise been wasted. Atreides
justice towards the people is exemplary, renowned over the entire Known
Universe: it is scrupulously fair, swift and impartial, with the
sternest punishments reserved for corrupt bureaucrats and piratical
industrialists.
Back to Top
House Corrino
House History House Corrino was
formed at the Battle of Corrino in 88 BG, when Count Sheuset Ecevit
(who was to become Emperor Sheuset Corrino I) and his Sardaukar
defeated the Landsraad army in a space battle near the Corrin
Quasi-Nebula. This victory secured House Corrino's position on the
Imperial Throne. A few decades after the battle, the Guild announced
its space travel capabilities, and with the creation of CHOAM a few
years later, the form of the Empire for the next ten millennia was
decided. Since then, the Imperial House has carefully balanced its own
power against that of the Landsraad and the Guild, until it was
defeated by Paul Muad’Dib, who became the first Atreides Emperor. House
Corrino had enjoyed the enormous wealth brought by its holdings in
CHOAM and Imperial levies against the Houses of the Landsraad. No
expense was spared in making the Emperor and members of his Imperial
Court as pampered as possible. No single Great House could withstand a
military confrontation with the Imperial Sardaukar because of both
their renowned fighting competence and the vast depth of their monetary
reserve.
Many members of the Court were pure hedonists, taking advantage of
every pleasure available to them. The Emperor and his Royal Family,
however, were usually austere in private, preferring to leave the pomp
of the Court behind. The Emperor himself commonly wore his Sardaukar
Commander's uniform, leaving the official Imperial glitter behind
except during official Court functions. By wearing the Sardaukar
uniform, the Emperor sent a continual message: "The Sardaukar are mine,
my power wielded." But this was to change…
Intrigue in the Court was common. Every member of the Royal Family was
constantly aware of the possibility of assassination attempts, be it
chaumas (poison in the drink), chaumurky (poison in the food), or an
assassin's knife in the back. Desire to assassinate members of the
Royal Family could have come from both without and within. It was not
unheard of for a son to desire the Lion Throne before his time or for
an Emperor to (paranoically or not) suspect others of wishing his
Throne.
View on Religion
The Emperor used to employ scholars with whom he sometimes consulted on
how best to communicate with the more religiously devoted heads of
Houses Major. On occasion, members of the Royal Family have taken an
interest in the teachings of the Orange Catholic Bible, some to the
point of having a faith in the God of these teachings.
View on Non-Landsraad Factions
Bene Tleilax- Although House Corrino and the Bene Tleilax have had few
connections, in politics or economy, it has permitted and at times even
protected the activities of this outcast culture. Some BT products were
even being patronized, such as the Face Dancer Troupe which often
played at the Theatre Imperiale.
The Guild- The relationship the Imperial House maintained with the
Guild was the same relationship any other Landsraad House had: while
the Guild does not meddle in Landsraad political affairs, House Corrino
will do absolutely nothing to endanger its transportation privileges,
without which it would be unable to wield its taxing and military
powers. The Guild's banking and communication services were highly
valued as trusted third-party operations.
Ix - The Emperors of House Corrino believed in the Butlerian conviction
that no machine should replace the human mind. While certain devices
were permitted, nothing which suggested something similar to the human
was allowed. During the Corrino’s reign, the Ixians have enjoyed the
privilege of being the sole providers of technology to the Imperium,
and no unauthorized transportation into the system was allowed.
Transportation of unacceptable devices out of the system was heavily
controlled.
View on Citizenry
The Emperor's citizenry was essentially comprised of the Landsraad
nobles, through whom he used to deal with the general populace of the
Universe. Outside of the Imperial Palace, he only interacted with the
top two ranks of the Faufreluches. With those he was disdainful,
manipulative and overbearing. The same holds true for most the Corrino
Imperial Family.
Faction Protocols
During the Corrino’s reign, the Faufreluches were strictly respected to
within the Royal Court. The Emperor would not have tolerated anything
less. The Emperor was always addressed as “Your Majesty” within the
Court. Also, he always employed the Royal Plural (ie, "We" instead of
"I")
Back to Top
House Harkonnen
House History
Harkonnen Obeshev, the first Harkonnen listed in historical records, is
considered by House Harkonnen as their ancestor. Harkonnen historians
claim Obeshev was an adventurer and heroic mercenary, descended from
Byzantine rulers on ancient Terra, who distinguished himself in the
service of the Landsraad. However, those who resent the Harkonnens
claim he was the son of a trashman who seduced court ladies to advance
his own fortunes. Obeshev's son, Abulurd, a Colonel-Bashar in the
Sardaukar, was given command over one of the five fleets supporting
Sheuset at the Battle of Corrin. When a solar flare disrupted
communications between the fleets, Abulurd withdrew his own fleet
around the limb of the star to regroup. The fleet under Demitrios
Atreides was better situated to intervene against the Landsraad attack;
and when it came, Abulurd's own fleet was in a deep rearguard orbit
behind the star. It has remained in the minds of most that it was the
Atreides intervention that won the Battle of Corrin for Sheuset's
forces, and the Harkonnen cowardice almost lost the day.
Because of the closeness of the Harkonnens to Sheuset, they were not
executed for cowardice; they were, however, banished from the Imperium
indefinitely. Abulurd blamed Demetrios Atreides for their disgrace and
vowed revenge for himself and his house.
The history of House Harkonnen stretches back over 10 millennia to the
very beginnings of the Imperium. Since their ancestors fought in the
Battle of Corrin that created the Imperium, the Harkonnens are proud of
their ancient heritage. House Character
The members of House Harkonnen have been described as venal, decadent,
cruel, repressive, vicious, perverse, fearsome, bloodthirsty, ruthless,
bloated, and even evil. All of these have been true of the House in its
lengthy history. The Harkonnens themselves do not deny it; they simply
consider that they have a different view and are not, in fact,
different from the other Houses Major, for all have their hands stained
by blood: “If we tend toward excess, that is our right.” “If we tend
toward cruelty, that too is our right.”
“Our rights are our absolute justification. We are what we are, our own
morality, and if others are too weak, too foolish to embrace such
mores, then history will treat them as it has all weaklings and fools.
“
These are their most common remarks on this matter. Views on
Religion
The Harkonnens consider religion as a useful tool of rulership and
nothing more. They answer to no higher power than themselves. Where
religion can be applied as to keep a subject populace under control,
they will apply it. Where it becomes a fire to kindle oppressed masses
to action in the name of a higher power, there they would stamp it out
as ruthlessly as is required. Views on Non-Landsraad Factions
The Bene Tleilax- House Harkonnen approves of the Tleilaxu and
maintains a mutually profitable relationship with them. They make full
use of their modified biological artefacts. In the past days of the
Imperium they were one of their best customers. They have purchased
custom Mentats, pleasure toys, and engineered animals for use in the
gladiatorial games. The Bene Gesserit- The Sisterhood has always been a
source of concern for the Harkonnens. They haven’t understood their
interested in the Baronial family. Their skills and talents could have
made them useful allies, but they seemed too committed to their own
agenda for House Harkonnen to actually consider the possibility. “Leave
it for the Emperor to fall under their sway. We shall not.” was their
decision. The Spacing Guild – The Harkonnens get along with the Guild as well as
one must, showing the proper amount of prudent respect, and caution
above all. Still, they feel that a house's reach must exceed its grasp.
The Smugglers-The Smugglers are viewed as a legitimate source of
business and are patronized covertly as much as House Harkonnen dares
to. They are considered a useful ally to help subvert the Guild as well
as turn a profit.
House Harkonnen’s Views on Citizenry
The Harkonnen society is rigidly stratified, forming a steep pyramid
with the nobles at the top and the vast mass of pawns and slaves below.
It’s extremely difficult for commoners to rise in the pyramid.
House Harkonnen can be viewed as a vast nest of competing power bases.
Nobles and leaders cultivate the personal loyalty of those under them,
and seek advantage of their possible rivals. The civilian ministries
seek power over one another, and military ones over civilians. The
whole system is ruthlessly Darwinian, with the most competitive and
ruthless rising to the top. House Heraldry
House Harkonnen’s colors are midnight blue and silver. Harkonnen
uniforms and markings almost always follow these colors with slight
variations.
The house heraldic insignia is the ram’s head, usually depicted in blue
and silver. The Harkonnen armed forces, known as the Feldwehr, also use
a griffin as their own insignia.
Faction Protocols
The Harkonnens are strict believers in the Faufreluches. Lower classes
are expected to show absolute obedience to the noble classes, and
particularly towards the House leadership. Hundreds of generations of
Harkonnen rule have conditioned lower classes towards this arrangement.
House leadership includes members of the Baronial Family, minor house
nobility, the House Mentat, and staff leaders like the House Warmaster
and his underlings. It's assumed that one not of noble birth will ever
address the Baron or the house leaders without being addressed first.
The punishments for not doing so are frightening. Harkonnen View on
Politics
Their political expedience knows no bounds, save those that are defined
by the House leaders. House Harkonnen would not think twice before
employing traditional masters in the ancient arts of assassination and
chaumurky. They are officially pro-Imperium and support any houses that
feel the same way. During the days of the reign of House Corrino, they
have felt strongly about keeping the Emperor powerful, desire much
diminished when Paul Muad’Dib became the ruler of the Known Universe.
Back to Top
Terminology of the Imperium
Aba: hooded cloak once only worn by the Fremen Reverend
Mothers, now also worn by the Bene Gesserit as a sign that they have
transformed the Water of Life.
Abomination : a) a person who is exposed to the Water of
Life while in utero. b) child conceived after one of their parents has
changed the Water of Life. c) a person who allows their self to become
possessed by other memories.
Arrakis: third planet of the Canopus B planetary system,
planet of the spice mélange and the Imperial Seat of Government.
Axolotl Tank: Tleilaxu device used for the development of
Gholas (see Ghola for additional information.)
Azhar Book: Book of Secrets created by the Bene Gesserit.
This book is a collection of various ancient religions, customs and
rituals in which they can manipulate a populace of people.
Baliset: nine string musical instrument similar to the
ancient guitar of Old Terra. It has a long neck, tuning knobs and is
played by hand of with a pick.
Battle Languages: Galach based language with spellings of
meanings of words changed along with pronoucian and sound. Used by Houses Majors to have clear communications during times of war.
Bled: open desert flat without dunes.
Bourka: mantle worn over a Stillsuit by the Fremen when
in the open desert.
Butlerian Jihad: the battle started by Jehanne Butler in
200 B.G. (Before Guild) against the thinking machines.
Caladan: third planet of the Delta Pavonis planetary system,
birth planet of Muad’Dib.
Carryall: flying wing used in the spice deserts of Arrakis it is
used to store and transport the spice melange.
Catchpocket: pockets located within a Stillsuit,
containing filtered water from the wearers’ own body. The largest
pockets are located in the thigh pads.
Cheops: similar to the ancient game of chess once played
on Old Terra with the following exceptions: this game contains 9 levels
of play and having your Queen reach the top and at the same time
checking your opponent’s King.
Chakobsa: battle language of the Fremen; later to become
the battle language of House Atreides.
C.H.O.A.M.: acronym of the Combine Honnete Ober Advancer
Mercatiles; it is the controller of trade production and system of
intergalactic banking of the Known Universe.
Doorseal:
plastic hermetic seals that go over windows and doors to seal in
moisture in above ground Fremen shelters.
Erg: large expansion of desert sand
Flimbook: a shigwire imprint of a training manual.
Flitplug: a nose filter worn in the open desert; it is
used to recapture a body’s moisture.
Fremkit: a knapsack containing all the necessary tools
for desert survival. A typical Fremkit contains the following items:
Literjons
Recaths
Repkit
Filtplugs
Thumper
Stilltent
Sandsnork
Sinkchart
Paracompass
Fire Pillar
Energy Caps
Binoculars
Baradye Pistol
Maker Hooks
Fremkits can be found at any sietch exit in the desert.
Galach: official language of the Known Universe.
Glowglove: circular illuminating device it floats in the
air with the help of suspensors and is self powered by the spice
melange.
Guild: the Spacing Guild the second meta-physical
training school, the Guild is responsible for all space travel in the
Known Universe and for the development of the Guild Navigators.
Guild Navigator: pilot of the Guild Heighliner,
Navigators live in a tank of spice gas, Navigators with the help of the
spice can see clear paths through space and guide ships by “folding
space” that is to move through time and space without moving.
Harvester: machine used to harvest the spice from the
desert sands.
Ibad, Eyes of: first sign of spice addiction, eyes become
a deep blue within blue without any white.
Jubba Cloak: worn over a Fremen Stillsuit can convert to
a hammock for sleeping.
Krimskell Fiber: discovered on the plant planet of Ecaz.
Krimskell is a vine that can be pulled apart and woven into a fabric.
This fiber has the uniqueness in that when used to tie a person up it
will bind the person tighter if they try to break free.
Literjon: one-liter container used to store water.
Maker Hooks: one meter long and made from plasteel they
have hinged like top and are used to mount, capture and steer the
sandworms of Arrakis.
Nezhoni Scarf: blue gauze scarf worn beneath a Stillsuit
Hood, it is worn only by a bonded Fremen woman who has given birth to a
son.
Pan: a depression in the sand when exposed it appears
white like and is salty to the taste. It is said that a pan is an area
where once a large body of water once stood.
Paracompass: instrument that determines direction by
local magnetic anomaly.
Quizara Tafwid: Fremen priests.
Sandcrawler: machinery used to hunt and collect the spice
melange.
Sandmaster: superintendent of spice operations.
Sandsnork: breathing apparatus used to pump air into a
stilltent buried in the sand.
Sinkchart: map of the surface of Arrakis.
Solari: official monetary unit of the Known Universe.
Stillsuit: body enclosing garment, skintight and made of
micro fiber material. The Stillsuit encompasses all of the wearers’
moisture, filters it and returns it to the Stillsuits catchpockets for
drinking.
Stilltent: small sealable enclosure of the same fabric
used in Stillsuits. It reclaims a body’s moisture while at rest.
Thumper: short rod made of plasteel with a timer and
spring, once planted in the sand, the timer is set, when the timer goes
off the spring is released setting a thumping motion that calls a worm.
Watertube: any tube that carries reclaimed water back
into the body.
Windtrap: devices used to catch moisture from the air and
into a basin below.
Ya Hya Chouhada: Long Live the Fighters!!!!
Yali: personal quarters of a Fremen.
Back to Top
Planetary Systems of the Known Universe
Arrakis:
Star System: Third Planet of the Canopus System.
Capital: Arrakeen
Population: 2 Billion
Export Prouduct(s): The Spice Melange
Ruling Government: Imperial Seat of the Universe. Current Ruler Regent
Alia Atreides.
Atmosphere: The planet’s composition is the following: Nitrogen
(74.32%), Oxygen (23.58%), and Agron (1.01%), with trance gasses of the
following Water less than (o.5%), carbon dioxide (0.035%) and ozone
(0.52%).
Climate: Hot dry planet with an absolute mean temperature of 344 to 350
degrees farenheight. Fierce dust storms called Coriolis Storms occur
usually in the deep desert and have winds up to 800 kilometers per
hour. No rain had ever fallen on Arrakis during House Harkonnen Fiefdom of Arrakis.
History: Arrakis is the only known source of the Spice Mélange, the spice that expands being, life and makes space travel possible. It is rumored that within the Dune Sands live nomadic tribes of people known as Fremen, this rumored has yet to be proven as no accurate account of the Fremen has even been a part of the Imperial Census.
Caladan
Star System: Third Planet of Delta Pavonis Star System.
Capital: Cala City
Population: 5 Million
Climate: Moderate comfortable temperature with many rain storms.
Atmosphere: Rich in Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide.
Description: Caladan is a water rich planet with 3/4ths of the planet
covered by Oceans and Seas. There are there continents on Caladan: The
Western Continent – location of Castle Caladan, Eastern Continent, and
the Southern Continent. Caladan also has several small islands.
History: Caladan has been home to House Atreides for 24 Generations, Caladan is a chief exporter of Pundi Rice and fine Wines.
Ecaz
Star System: Fourth Planet of the Alpha Centauri B Star System.
Capital: Unknown
Planetary Ruler: House Mortani.
Description: Ecaz known, as the “Forest Planet” is the manufacturer of
“fogwood” the plant that may be shaped into an image simply by the a
persons thought, it is also the place of the Elacca Wood where the
narcotics, the Elacca Drug used to prepare slave gladiators for combat
and Semuta originate from as well. It has been said of Semuta you only
need to sample this drug once to become addicted for life.
Giedi Prime: Star System: Ophiuchi B (36) Planetary Star System.
Population: 10 Million
Capital: Harko City
Climate: Hot, Humid Dank Weather.
Description: Industrial Planet appearing to be black in color due to
its oil soaked soil. One-Half of the planet is water with one large
continent and several islands.
History: Ancestral home to House Harkonnen for centuries, it is home to Baroness Rose Harkonnen. Once a lovely planet Giedi Prime today is one of industrial waste land in the cities. Most of its residents live in squalor, however high in the mountains is lush foliage and a giant fortress carved out of stone, where House Harkonnen resides.
Hagal
Star System: II Theta Shaowei
Population: 15 Million
Capital: Unknown
Planetary Ruler: House Hagal.
Description: Mild Planet full of mines, it is the place were most of
the precious jewels of the known universe originate from, Hagal is
famous for Soostones and Fire Opals (jewels that come alive with light
by touch.
Kaitain
Star System: Unknown
Capital: None. Former Seat of the Lion Thorne.
Population: 8 Million.
Atmosphere: Mild, pleasant climate.
Description: Kaitain is a beautiful ringed planet with Auroras in the
night sky do that you are never in complete darkness on Kaitain. The
planet is covered in forests, vegetable and fruit groves and is the
home of many different flowers and different types of insects.
History: Is has been home to House Corrino for over 80 Generations. Kaitain
is a beautiful planet with beautiful things. Things that don’t change
there is never any storms or bad weather on Kaitian everything is
peaceful and tranquil with four moons and Auroas Kaitain is never really dark.
Ix
Star System: Ninth Planet of the Eridani A System.
Population: Unknown
Capital: Vernii
Description: Covered by 50% of water, it is mostly ice and glacial
mountains. Ix is chiefly known as a technology planet, making most of
the clocks, fighting meks, doors, etc for the universe. The residents
of the planet live underground hiding their secrets of technology with
them.
History: Very little is known of the Ixian society, known chiefly for
being the planet of technology they have many secrets which are kept to
themselves. They push to the line the code of the Orange Catholic Bible
Commandment of “Thou shall not make a machine in the likeness of a
human mind.” For this reason the Ixians are mainly mistrusted on one
hand while on the other the universe has their hand out for their new
technological inventions.
Salusa Secundas
Star System: Unknown
Population: 20 Million
Capital: Corrinth
Description: Salusa once the training plant of the feared Sardukar is
slowing transforming into a lush green world once again.
History: Salusa once the seat of the Imperial Throne was destroyed by
an unknown house by atomic weapons. What survived of the family moved
the Imperial Seat to Kaitain and Salusa was allowed to turn into a
wasteland and then a prison planet. It is rumored that this is where the Emperor gets his Imperial Sardukar. Trained in a barbaric land they themselves became barbarians.
.
Tleilax
Star System: Only planet in the Thalim Star System.
Population: Unknown
Capital: Unknown.
Description: There is very little known in ways of description of this
planet as “foreigners” are not welcomed nor encouraged to visit there.
They are Chiefly known for their biological technologies (Axtol Tank,
Gholas, etc.)
Wallach IX
Star System: Ninth Planet of the Laoujin Star System.
Population: 10 Million
Capital: Chapterhouse – Home of the Bene Gesseirt.
Description: Damp Wet Planet with chilly air due to the small, blue
white dwarf star that is its sun. It is the chief planet of the Bene
Gesserit. It has many lakes, forests and mountain ranges for its
training purposes of the sisterhood.
History: This planet has been a Bene Gesserit Keep since the Bulerian
Jihad. This is the where all the archival records of the Sisterhood are
kept.
Tuipe
Star System: Classified. But probably a star system consisting of
several planets.
Population: Unknown
Description: Unknown. This is the sanctuary planet of the Known
Universe it is where defeated house may go without fear of punishment
from the planetary rulers including the Emperor himself. The location
of Tuilpe is known only to the Guild.
Back to Top
Weapons of the Imperium
Artillery:
-Archaic weapon that fires explosive shells over large distances, currently not used due to several factors. Pieces of Artillery are large and hard to transport over surfaces, also the Guild demands high payments for transporting them through space. More importantly, shields prevent damage to targets and/or personnel.
Atomics (Family):
-During the great convention, rules were made about atomics. Atomics are not to be used against human targets except if a house violates the Great Convention by using atomics, this house will suffer the combined wrath of all houses and its planet will be destroyed. Also they will not be used by the Emperor or against the Emperor for a coup. The amount of atomics owned by the Imperial Family is equal to all the family atomics of the Great Houses and so creating a certain balance between Emperor and Great Houses.
The only true reason why there are still atomics is in the case of humanity coming into contact with intelligent alien life.
e.g. Stoneburner
-A form of precision atomics that burns a hole into a planet. Used for precision attacks but can also be used to destroy a planet, if the Stone burner is powerful enough and will blast through the surface of a planet reaching its core the planet will blow up.
Attack Thopter:
-An armed version of a normal thopter, usually next to the shielding, it is heavier armoured and carries rocket launchers.
Blade or sword:
-Common weapon in the Imperium, lengths of the weapon can vary. The effectiveness of the weapon also varies with the skill of its user. Persons trained on Ginaz as swordmasters are the most deadly wielders of this weapon.
Blowpipe:
-A hollow pipe in which a single dart can be put and fired using the mouth. The dart can poisoned with a variety of poisons to the need of the user of the weapon.
Crysknife:
-The tooth of a sandworm used as by the Fremen as a sacred knife, its length is about 20 centimetres and the tip of the knife is hollow and poison can be put in the small hole, though the hole is very small and the poisons will only be effective once. The knife exists in 2 forms, “fixed” and “unfixed”. In its “unfixed” form the knife needs to be in close proximity of a bio-electrical field of a body or else it will disintegrate. The “fixed” knife does not have this problem and is usually kept in storage for time of needs.
Dart thrower:
-A weapon concealed in the sleeves of a garment. It uses a simple mechanism that throws a dart when the hands are flexed upwards. The darts are poisoned, usually with an acid that kills instantaneously.
Inkvine Whip:
-A whip made from a creeping plant that grows on Giedi Prime. The plant contains a light poison that leaves red to even purple scars on the person it’s used on, the scars remain there for life. This weapon is often used in the slave pits on Giedi Prime.
Gom Jabbar:
-A small poison tipped needle on usually a sort of thimble. The poison is a meta-cyanide that causes death instantaneously. This weapon is used by the Bene Gesserit for the death-alternative test of human awareness.
Hunter Seeker:
-A small ravening sliver of suspensor-buoyed metal used as a weapon of assassination. It is guided by a person with a control console nearby. The Hunter Seeker is effective in stealthy assassination attempts but has drawbacks, it penetrates shields slowly giving the victim time to grab and neutralise the Hunter Seeker by crushing it or putting it into water also the controller of the Hunter Seeker can only see movement, if the target is standing still, the Hunter Seeker is unable to see him/her.
Kindjal:
-A 20 centimetre long, slightly curved, double-bladed knife or short sword.
Lasgun:
-A continuous-wave laser projector. Powerful weapons able to cut through nearly anything give it time. Though it is not widely used due to the use of shields. A lasgun fired on a shield will trigger a subatomic fusion and creating a nuclear explosion destroying the shield with the bearer and the person who fired the lasgun. This could also make it ideal as a suicide weapon, though not practiced because the difference between atomics and the lasgun/shield effect is not clear thus making retaliation by the combined atomics of all the Great Houses a possibility.
Maula pistol:
-A spring-loaded gun for firing darts which can be poisoned to the user’s needs. Its range is about forty metres.
Poisons:
-Countless varieties of poisons are used in the Imperium, poisons range from slow working and painful ones, to ones that cause death within seconds.
Aumas:
-Popular word for poison in food, food in the meaning of solid food.
Chaumurky
-Popular word for poison in a drink or liquid.
Residual Poison
-Invented by mentat Piter de Vries, this poison is administered to a victim and as long as the victim is administered an antidote the poison will not be activated. If the administration stops the victim will die within a few days.
Rocket Launcher:
-A tube that launches a rocket-propelled explosive projectile. Effective on unshielded targets.
Shigawire:
-A thin metallic extrusion of a plant grown on Salusa Secundus and III Delta Kaising. It is noted for its extreme tensile strength. The wire is also razor sharp and will cut the throat of a victim rather than that it would choke him.
Slip Tip:
-Any thin and short bladed knife used in the left hand in shield fighting. Usually the tip is poisoned.
Stunner:
-A slow pellet projectile firing gun that is used to fire a poisoned dart. Its effectiveness is limited to the intensity of the shield and the relative motion between target and projectile.
Back to Top
Suk School of Medecine
The Suk School of Medicine was founded over 2400 years after the
Butlerian Jihad. The school was founded on Kaitain. It was started to
train a person to care for members of the Imperial Family and Major
Houses of the Imperium. These doctors were entrusted with not only
caring for its patients but with their patient’s lives. Before the
development of the Suk School, assassination was simple enough for a
“doctor” to mistreat a patient that resulted in their death.
The founding members of the Suk School were practitioners of Tsai
medicine whose method of treatment consisted of herbal medicine, in
addition to this the concept of Imperial conditioning was developed.
Imperial Conditioning:
A Physician who underwent Imperial Conditioning was to have passed the
highest of test, which rendered him incapable of taking a human life.
This conditioning began before a person was of two years of age. The
training itself was of intensive mental and physical conditioning, many
failed these tests thus becoming second-level conditioning which meant
that they were incapable of taking the lives of those who employed
them. Those who passed Imperial Conditioning were fit to care for the
Royal Family. Upon graduation received a diamond shaped tattoo in the
middle of their forehead.
Conclusions:
For hundreds of years Suk doctors of Imperial Conditioning have been in high
demand and quite expensive. House Majors were able to afford there own,
while allied Minor Houses frequently would pool their resources
together and share the services of one Suk doctor amongst them. Despite
the expense the need for Suk doctors continued to thrive throughout the
Imperium.
Back to Top The Tleilaxu
History:
Tleilax is the biological center of the Imperium. The Tleilaxu are
responsible for the replication of body organs and the fabrication of
medicines, gholas and face dancers.
Although the Tleilaxu are looked at with repulsion, however their
biological contributions to the Imperium supercede this repulsion
though they are however still viewed with a large amount of distrust.
When dealing with the Tleilaxu the old Terran quote comes to mind…
“Keep your friends close, but your enemies even closer.”
Face Dancers:
Sexless human creatures that have the ability to take on the shape,
form and persona of another human being. After a few hours of
observation of their chosen subject; a face dancer can fool even the
closes friends. Their distinct pheromones can be detected by those
trained in the Bene Gesserit Way.
Gholas:
Different from a face dancer as it is a exact copy of human by using
cells of a deceased person. The cells from this individual are grown
back into a body in an Axolotl Tank. They are then “reborn” in that
person once again. Duncan Idaho, the most famous of the gholas, was the
first ghola to regain its “original memories”, before Duncan the
Tleilaxu had only been able to recreate the body but not the mind of
the former self.
Back to Top
The Guild
Beginnings:
The Spacing Guild has its beginnings in the days of the Butlerian Jihad on the planet Tupile. Led by Ixian refuges ( the planet was then known as Komos, Aurelious Vernport and Norma Cevna, who founded The Society of Mystic Mariners that later became known as The Spacing Guild. The Spacing Guild following the mysterious disappearance of Aurelius Verport after the death of Norma Cevena was headed by Tupilian Frelo Mason (105 B.G. – 29 B.G.), beginning in the year 79 B.G. Mason then turned it into a predominately Tuilpian organization with the exile Ixains serving in the technical aspects of ship building. Mason also is responsible for the development of The Guild’s primary goal: To first develop a way to move safely and swiftly through space without the use of Artificial Intelligence and to then create a controlling monopoly on interstellar space travel once the first part of their goal was accomplished. The organization even then was secretive and selective in whom they accepted into their ranks. Cloaked in the secrecy that was held within their use of spice. One of the few things that could be taught to children within the Known Universe about The Spacing Guild was the following Kaitainan Proverb:
Gwipoot gwinau, Gwinau gwispiitim; Gwipoot gwigilitim, gwinau gwispiizim.
(without Guild No spice; without spice No Guild
Discovery of the Spice Melange: Space Travel.
How The Spacing Guild first discovered the use of melange in conjunction with space travel still remains a mystery on one of The Spacing Guild’s most closely guarded secrets to this day. Some rumors claim that melange was the gift of aliens desiring the reunion of humanity. There is some validity in this statement for the simple fact of two things we today know:
1. Arrakis, forever known as Dune was once a planet of great amounts of water and other plant life.
2. The worm was introduced from off planet by whom or who is still not yet known as this time.
However, the reasons that refute this theory outnumber it enormously the primary reason being would be that once again accepted help from an intelligent form of life that has been proved to be non-human . Which goes against the very strictures set up by The Great Convention.
The other two theories cannot be totally discarded but cannot be entirely accepted either as they too deal with the acceptance of issues that makes no sense for the period of the Bulterian Jihad to have validity.
The first theory is that the discovery of the uses of the spice melange was an independent discovery of The Spacing Guild. When the first Ixians arrived on Tupile in 110 B.G. they knew nothing of the navigational benefits of the spice melange; yet by 84 B.G. they understood its navigational benefits with Norma Cevna making her first spice-trance guided journey through space. By the year 10 B.G. it had be tested extensively and its use in hyperspace travel was routine.
Now to believe this the find had to of come between the years 110 B.G. and 84 B.G. during the years when Venport and Cevna were being pursued and seeking sanctuary from members of the Butlerian Jihad; and that Venport and his crew touched down at sometime during their flight on Arrakis. Today it is known that Arrakis is the sole source of the spice; however, in Venport’s time it was not known the benefits of the spice melange. If Venport and his crew did indeed land on Arrakis and found it to be uninhabitable, why would then take some of the spice along with them?
The other theory is that use of the spice melange was discovered after Venport and his crew arrived on Tupile, this however, begs the question of “Where did the spice come from?” It seems beyond reason that in their quest to conquer space travel they would send out scouts on what would of then been a years long mission into space to find perhaps a natural source of the spice somewhere in the Known Universe.
The second theory lies with the Bene Gesserit and their discovery of the uses of the spice. To accept this we would then have to accept that the Bene Gesserit knew the secret of the spice a century before the rest of the Known Universe!
Hierarchy with in the Guild
The members of The Spacing Guild are know as the ”Corpus Luminis Praennintianis” which translates into ’The Foreseeing Eye” it is a name that suits them well for they can see paths through space. Their motto is “Quilbet, Qulibet, Quandolibet” which means “Anything, Anytime, Anyplace”.
The Guild produces Navigators and Steersmen whose prescience enables them to guide ships through space without the aid of computers. Under this hierarchy were the members of an ancillary personnel that included the following departments and sub-departments:
Security: Covert Ops, Police, Psych and Purchasing.
Operations: Travel and Tourism, Shipping, Exploration and Research.
and smaller separate departments in Payroll and Legal.
Conclusions:
Although Muad’Dib did weaken the hold The Spacing Guild holds over the Known Universe by showing that “He who can destroy a thing truly owns that thing”. He did not annihilate The Spacing Guild all together. The Spacing Guild still is the only source of space travel in the Known Universe and the Atreides control the spice the reason that space travel can exist. So the question lies in where does the monopoly truly lie… the spice or the Guild? History has already answered this question…
Back to Top
The Bene Gesserit: A Short History
History:
The history of the Bene Gesserit spans millennia, beginning on ancient
Terra as a training school in mind and body for females. They are
projected as a religious order, however this is only a front for their
true purposes of politics.
Training:
The Bene Gesserit training program is one of intense control over one’s
mind and body. Their idiom of “My mind controls my reality” is taught
from infancy. The initial training program is one of progression over a
10 year period usually beginning in, if possible, the first year of a
female child’s life. During this ten-year period they are also observed
for what their future duties may be, to procede on the path of a
Reverend Mother or to be a Lay Sister of the Bene Gesserit. Their
training consists of Mental, Physical, and Psychological control, with
an intensive education in the arts as well.
Muscle Control:
One of the first things that a Bene Gesserit Acolyte learns is the
pranda-bindu technique of muscle control. A Bene Gesserit Acolyte will
stand/sit rock-still for hours, while only moving one muscle at a time
she does this until she is capable of controlling any muscle in her
entire body at will. This muscle control is later used when learning of
“The Weirding Way” and defensive fighting.
Physical:
At the same time of learning the prand-bindu muscle control, an acolyte
is also trained in control of one’s physical body: she learns to
control her metabolism, her heartbeat (lowering and raising it), her
body temperature (lowering and raising it), relaxation breathing
exercises to expand the mind and the most famous, the slowing of your
physical age.
Voice: using vocal sounds, tones and volume to control others at their
will, the practice of the Bene Gesserit minute of observation, the
practice of the Litany against Fear – the true practice of the litany
can take up to ten years to develop… once fully learned the practice of
it allows a Bene Gesserit to see a matter clearly without the cloud of
fear to distort their judgment in times of peril.
Education:
An extensive education encompassing the histories, religions,
languages, politics, economics, agriculture, espionage, etc.
Bene Gesserit Titles/Rank:
Faecatrix: in charge of the Breeding Index.
Mater Cojia Vega: in charge of the Truthsayers.
Mater Ambakhtar: in charge of the Ambassadorial Services and the
embassies.
Mater Pecuniam Collocare: in charge of Bene Gesserit investments
and chief negotiator with C.H.O.A.M.
Mater Praefacta Aerariae: in charge of Finances.
Procuratrix: in charge of concubineage and arranged marriages.
Specilatrix: in charge of espionage.
Ranks:
Acolyte: Bene Gesserit Sister not yet undergone the test of
humanity.
Lay Sister: A sister who has undergone the test of humanity but
is not chosen to be trained as a Reverend Mother but to serve the Bene
Gesserit in other functions.
Reverend Mother: A Bene Gesserit Sister who has altered the
poison of the water of life.
Truthsayer: A Reverend Mother who also has the gift of being
able to tell if a person is telling the truth, usually through the
assistance of the Truthsayer Drug.
Proctor: Reverend Mother and teacher at one of the Bene Gesserit
Schools.
Proctor General: Reverend Mother and headmistress of the Bene
Gesserit Schools.
Proctor Superior: Also known as Mother Superior, in charge of
all the Bene Gesserit Sisters and Reverend Mothers.
Hidden Rank: Reverend Mother whose status is secret, used for a
highly sensitive position within Houses Major or Minor.
Back to Top
A Secret Report on the Spice Melange
The Spice, simply explained, is the biological waste product of the sandworms of Arrakis. Although partial coding of the chemical composition of the spice melange has been completed, much of the composition of the spice remains unknown and spice remains unduplicatable. The spice as we all know can only be found on one place...the planet known as Arrakis also known as Dune. When taken in small quantities, the spice extends life and protects against various diseases. When taken in large quantities it causes addiction, mutation and death if withdrawn.
Use of the Spice among the Imperium:
Royal Houses: The Royal Families of the Imperium use the spice on a daily basis. Either ingested in food or drink. The royal retainers, household staff also have access to regular usage of the spice as well.
Bene Gesserit: The spice is used in abundance among the Bene Gesserit Sisterhood. The sister's use the spice to expand their thinking abilities and also use it for their ceremonies for their Reverend Mothers (note: see Water of Life).
The Guild: The Guild uses the large quantities of the spice for space travel, so they can find safe paths through space and time, without the spice The Guild would be blind.
The Fremen: The Fremen use the spice in everything, it is in the air they breathe, the food they cook and the coffee they brew. Also the spice has made the Fremen immune to most poisons. The Fremen are known for their blue-in-blue eyes, the sign of total saturation of the organs by the spice melange.
Other Uses of the Spice:
Food:The spice can be used in any type of food for seasoning and flavoring.
Drink: The spice can be used in Coffee , Tea and is also used to make Spice Beers and Wine.
Explosives: Used by the Fremen.
Water of Life:The death bile of a stunted sandworm. The Water of Life is dark blue in colour and poisonous to all except a Reverend Mother. Only once a Reverend Mother changes the Water of Life may it be used in Fremen ceremonies.
Back to Top
The Sardaukar-A History
Salusa as the Imperial Seat of Government:
After the Battle of Corrin in 88 B.G. the Sardaukar leader founded
House Corrino in the battle's honor, settling the ascendancy of the
ruling house for 10,000 years. Salusa was a planet of beauty for over
300 years until House Corrino was attacked by another Houses Major with
atomics, this House was subquently hunted down and destroyed, all
traces of this house were wiped from the Imperial Records and until
this day the name of the house remains unnamed. After
this the climate of Salusa changed becoming harsh and
unhabitable for the Royal Family to live there, and House Corrino moved
the Imperial Seat to Kaitain leaving behind most of Salusa’s citizens
behind.
Enviorment: After Attack
The planet’s climate was one of extremes, often having severe drought
and then torrential rains over a short period. Likewise, the intense
heat and intense cold would change rapidly. It became necessary for the
surviors to breed rapidly as the mortality rate on Salusa was 60%, to
overcome the environment, and so over the generations the people of the
planet began to found their own form of clan organization, as was the
model of government at that time throughout the universe, and
mysterious warrior religion producing a rugged and fearless population
who knew how to survive in the most extreme conditions, and eventually
they became powerful enough to have their own army of these soldiers,
calling themselves Sardaukar. It also became the Imperial Prison Planet
as well the Imperial House sending to Salusa the most hardened of
criminals.
Salusa: as a Prison Planet
The Imperial Prison Planet of the Corrino’s was shrouded in mystery for
many years; inquiries into the Emperor’s forms of oppression on this
planet were greatly “discouraged”. The Sardaukar, in a sense, became
the ultimate enforcer of the Padishah Emperor’s will across the
universe, whipping the unruly leaders of a Great House into line. The
work of the Imperial Legions grew drastically over the years, and it
soon became apparent to the Corrinos they would have to recruit larger
numbers of these warriors in order to maintain stability within the
Imperium. To accomplish this, the Corrinos required levies of all the
Great Houses of the Landsraad, a levy of convicts.
These convicts were sent to Salusa Secundus to be hardened by the
ferocious conditions of the planet, and so the Corrino's instituted
their training program to create the dreaded Sardaukar legions that
would strike fear into the hearts of any opposition. Small forces of
the convicts turned Sardaukar would then be taken out of their harsh
environment and given all of the benefits and freedom of a ruler of a
Great House, so long as they maintained their fighting prowess.
Downfall
During the reign of Shaddam Corrino IV the power of these legions had
been sapped greatly through overconfidence and cynicism about their
warrior religion. The Great Revolt on Arrakis lead by Paul Muad’Dib
(10,191-10,193) in which 5 legions of Sardaukar (150,000 men)
participated against the Fremen overturned the Corrino Dynasty which
had ruled the known universe for 10,000 years. The former Imperial
House became embittered over the failure of their legions and vowed
revenge on the Atreides who toppled them. The Sardaukar forces of
Wensicia, daughter of Shaddam IV, and Prince Farad’n Corrino, grandson
of Shaddam IV, were retrained to within a hair as good as their former
glory in the days of the Old Empire, a near equal to the forces of the
Fremen on Arrakis. After the failure of a desperate gambit to seize the
throne from the Atreides the Sardaukar legions were disbanded and
merged with the Fremen forces of the God Emperor Leto II. House Corrino
continued to exist well into the God Emperor’s reign although never
achieving the power and prestige it once had.
Armament:
The weapons of the Sardaukar terror troops were as deadly as their
martial abilities. Often, these soldiers would conceal threads of
shigawire in their hair to strangle an unsuspecting enemy. Lasguns were
employed greatly during the time of the Arrakis Revolt as well as
suspensor borne infantry, but it was their mastery of the art of single
hand to hand combat that the Sardaukar were feared. The Sardaukar were
said to match the martial abilites of a 10th level Ginaz warrior, a
match for any ten ordinary Landsraad combatants. Their abilities at
in-fighting matched those of a Bene Gesserit adept. In the day of
shielded combat the Sardaukar often employed longswords and kindjal
blades for person to person fighting. The combination of all their
abilities struck the deepest fear into the heart of opposition. It was
not until the Great Revolt on Arrakis that a superior fighting force of
Fremen were able to overcome the Emperor’s legions.
Ranking: Burseg
Caid
Bashar
Colonel
Bator
Levenbrech
Captain
Private
After the destruction of the Imperial Corrino Dynasty the old ranking
system was replaced with this:
Bashar
Colonel
Bator
Levenbrech
Captain
Private
The rank of Burseg was that of a commanding general, oftentimes
involving the governorship of a whole planetary force. A Caid would be
in charge of a planetary district of this force, above the rank of
Bashar but not equal to a Burseg. After the defeat of the Corrino
Dynasty these two ranks became useless and were abolished. During and
after the reign of God Emperor Leto II the rank of Bashar was in
frequent use, although not among Sardaukar. The rigid chain of command
of the Sardaukar ensured only the most expert of these soldiers could
achieve high rank, although this principal became lax during the reign
of Shaddam IV.
Uniforms:
The uniforms of the Sardaukar vary from the ornate Imperial garb to the
rather simplistic combat uniform of a private. The Emperor Shaddam IV
often wore his gray Sardaukar uniform adorned with gold epaulets with
an ebon helmet, a symbol of the rank of Burseg. A Bashar’s aide
(levenbrech) wore the traditional bronze and gold, while a Captain or
private would wear the plain field gray and black. For formal
occasions, under the command of Farad’n Corrino, a Sardaukar Bashar
would often wear a tan uniform with an ornate lasgun and holster on the
front belt. With the invention of the defensive shield, body armor
became useless and so most soldiers preferred the freedom of mobility
to protection from slow moving blade attacks.
Conclusion
The Sardaukar soldier-fanatics of the Corrino emperors commanded the
respect of the Universe with their fighting prowess, and with good
reason. These soldiers with a near suicidal disregard for their own
personal safety forged an empire that lasted 10,000 years. Their rise
to power was parallel that of their successors, the Fremen. Both of
these superb fighting men were forged from revolution with a religious
zeal unequaled at that time. It is this warrior religion that has been
apparent in many civilizations, but only a few have risen to command
such a sway over the affairs of the Universe.
Back to Top
|