”It is true, yes, that the Harkonnen ruled Arrakis with the worst kind of dictatorial cruelty, but I will say this for them: while they were in charge, the spice shipments arrived on time.” – Judge of the Change Letmus Brunus, Imperial Change Report
Welcome to DUNE: CHRONICLES OF THE IMPERIUM
House Wallach Siridar Baron Jonas Wallach VII House Major Coat of arms: A serpent coiled about a closed book, on an indigo field Flag: Blue with a green ring at center. Controls: Wallach VII, Wallach IX, Buzzel, Rossak House Wallach is known for its close relationship to the Bene Gesserit; the women of the House have swollen the Sisters’ ranks for millennia, ever since the latter were known as the Sorceresses of Rossak. The Sisterhood had long vied for the opportunity to use Wallach IX, House Wallach’s throne world, as a training center for its initiates and a Chapterhouse of its knowledge – it is perhaps not insignificant that, not long before they established their first library on the planet, the Bene Gesserit punishment world of Buzzel fell under the control of House Wallach, which was then able to gain immense wealth from the soostone trade. Another strong link to the Sisterhood is less well known. While many scholars have pointed out the influence of Judaism on Bene Gesserit philosophy, few know that the name of the Sisterhood is not only a phrase the ancient Latin of Old Earth meaning “that it may be accomplished well,” but also draws inspiration from the ancient Hebrew b’nai gesher, meaning “people of the bridge,” an allusion to the Orange Catholic Bible’s description of human existence as a journey across a narrow bridge. House Wallach’s religion is something of an open secret among the largely Zensunni and Zenchristian Landsraad. The Wallach coat of arms not only illustrates the jealously guarded knowledge that the Bene Gesserit so prize, but is also an allusion to the Towrah’s story of Creation. House Wallach has been left reeling since the destruction of their greatest ally, House Atreides, and has been working clandestinely to undermine Harkonnen authority on Arrakis. House Harkonnen Siridar Baron Vladimir Harkonnen House Major Coat of arms: Flag: Blue with black diagonal striping Controls: Giedi Prime, Arrakis House Harkonnen is a rising, but watched power amongst the Great Houses of the Landsraad, having been the first House in long decades to secure the utter destruction of another Great House -- Atreides -- under the strict, unyielding requirements of kanly in a War of Assassins. However, most scrutiny is given to the House because it holds control, in the Padishah Emperor's name, over one of the most important planets in the universe -- Arrakis, commonly known as Dune, and the source of the spice melange. Giedi Prime, the principal seat of the House, is an industrial wasteland with a low photosynthetic potential, its once-rich natural resources exhausted and the environment fouled with industrial pollution. From here the Baron Vladimir Harkonnen rules his world with an iron but cunning grip, seeking to advance House Harkonnen's fortunes as both a significant help to the Emperor and as perhaps one of his greatest threats. His nephew Rabban has been in place as the Governor of Arrakis for the past twelve months, and the Baron has demanded Arrakis squeezed of every ounce of spice which may be recovered from its vast deserts. This, too, is part of the Baron's byzantine plans -- for he intends his younger nephew, Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen, to be installed as the Governor of Arrakis when the populace is finally unable to further withstand Rabban's depradations. Vladimir Harkonnen is a direct-line descendant of Abulurd Harkonnen, perhaps the most well-known Harkonnen in Imperial history, though the family is said to trace its roots back to House Germanus on Old Terra. The Atreides-Harkonnen feud -- which the Baron appears now to have conclusively ended in favour of House Harkonnen -- is quite literally a feud that spans the length of the Imperium, for it was an Atreides who banished Abulurd Harkonnen for cowardice after the Battle of Corrin, which established House Corrino as the heart of the empire and the source of the 4,000-year old Padishah dynasty.
The Bene Gesserit Sisterhood - A secretive and powerful millennia old matriarchal order whose members possess extraordinary physical and mental powers. They see themselves as the teachers of humanity, and have come close to finally achieving the aim of their ancient breeding program. It is not uncommon to see Bene Gesserit sisters in the service of Houses, even as wives and concubines. The rumors flooding from the deepest desert of Arrakis have given them reason to believe the Lady Jessica and her extraordinary son did, in fact, survive the Harkonnen assault. The Bene Tleilaxu - A secretive, all male organization of genetic and medical wizards. They hold to no moral code but their own, offering their services to anyone willing and able to pay. CHOAM – Combined Honette Ober Advancement Mercantiles, the supreme commercial interest of the Imperium. Profit driven, above all else. CHOAM agents often made extended visits when its interests were in jeopardy. Fremen - The hardy desert people of Arrakis. Offworlders are their enemies, but it is possible that the time of their deliverance has come in the form of a sixteen year old boy. The Golden Lion Throne – House Corrino has ruled the Imperium since its creation through wise leadership and the unparalleled might of its Sardaukar warrior fanatics. Recently, they have betrayed the articles of the Great Convention by clandestinely participating in the destruction of House Atreides. Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV hopes to keep this a secret, or it will be the undoing of the Imperium as he knows it. The Emperor often dispatched agents to serve as his representatives among the Houses. Smugglers – Spice and other goods are in such high demand that many do not care where they get it from. The Spacing Guild – Runs a monopoly on space travel. It is well known that the Guild depends on the spice, but beyond that, its operations are shrouded in mystery. Occasionally, Guild agents were sent to preserve the Guild’s interests in dire circumstances. Suk Inner School - Suk doctors serve Houses as physicians. They are without peer in their medical skill, and their Imperial Conditioning renders them loyal and safe enough to administer to the Emperor himself.
We need proper spelling and grammar. We do not want posts written like this: "the man waked towrad the door" We want: "Carefully, the man edged towards the locked door."
R_Zion posted:I have decided to post the thread early in order that the public could begin submitting Character Sheets early and I could begin sorting through them. In this way, once I'm ready, the game can begin in short order. Thus, please be patient with us and the first person to say that the game has to start soon will be shot out of the airlock. Thank you.