Library Reference Dune: The Between Years Resource Thread

The following, while it seems long, is the 'basics' for those who wish to know more about the world of Dune. What is here, at least to begin, relates to either places, organizations, or people, that will be relevant at the beginning of the game.

To begin, the link to the game: https://boards.theforce.net/threads/dune-the-between-years.50056666/

Although it is already in the game thread itself, I am including the short synopsis, CS information, and Rules here.

About the game:

The game is set in the second and third year between when the story in the first of the Dune books by Frank Herbert is set. It begins one year after the Harkonnen had retaken Arrakis and will lead up to and possibly beyond the events where Paul Muad’dib and the Fremen begin their crusade to retake the planet. It will take place in two ways, one on Arrrakis itself and another amongst the noble Houses. If you have read the books then you know this period, but for those that need a refresher, it is a period of chaos, the Harkonnen are beginning to squeeze Arrakis for the spice, Melange, while smugglers and other Houses are attempting their own operations out of the sight of the Harkonnen or in conjunction with them. Involved in that is the off world intrigue of the Houses as they clash, intrigue and espionage abounds.

Available character types:
House Moritani - Lord/Lady/Mentat of the House/Bene Gesserit of house, etc
House Ginaz - Lord/Lady/Mentat of the House/Bene Gesserit of house, etc
Other Houses will be available if there is enough interest
Spacing Guild agent
Bene Gesserit
Mentat
Fremen
Smugglers
Some Canon characters (If there is one you’d like to play, ask, and I’ll tell you if they’re available)

Rules:
1. Please PM me your Character Sheets first for approval
2. No God-modding
3. Obey the Boards’ rules
4. The GM’s word is law
5. If you have to pause your participation or would like to withdraw please notify beforehand so that I can accommodate This rule is a very important one to me, both for you and for me
6. Have fun

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Character Sheet:

Name:
Character Type: (i.e. House, Bene Gesserit, Mentat, etc)
Gender:
Age:
Physical description (picture if applicable):
Personality:
Quirks:
Likes/dislikes:
Strengths/weaknesses:
Weapons (if applicable):
Short Bio:

As he requested, Tagging @Sinrebirth

 

Houses and Organizations of Interest, Dune​

House Moritani (Harkonnen ally)

Status: House Major
Army: Regular Great House
Uniform: unknown
Colors: Azure, Silver, Red
Homeworld: Grumman
Ruling Title: Viscount



House Moritani has existed since the first Corrino Emperor took the throne. They were staunch allies of the Corrinos and later the Harkonnen. Their feud with House Ginaz began at the formation of the second house to the point the formative leader of House Ginaz swore a blood oath against House Moritani. Their feud continued well into the time of Duke Leto I and his son Paul Atreides.

https://dune.fandom.com/wiki/House_Moritani/DE

House Ginaz (Atreides ally)

Status: House Major
Army: Swordmasters
Uniform: White
Colors: Unknown
Homeworld: Ginaz
Ruling Title: Duke



House Ginaz began as a House Minor, in entertainment, as their founder was an entertainer, elevated by the Emperor. However, over the millennia they grew in power and prestige until House Atreides nominated them to become a House Major. As they operated as a House Major, their warriors began to gain renown until they had many of the houses, including their mortal enemies sending their best to their academy to attempt to earn the title of Swordmaster.

https://dune.fandom.com/wiki/House_Ginaz/DE

The Spacing Guild

The Guild formed early in human spacefaring and grew over the centuries, hiding the fact that they had discovered that the spice, Melange, was what gave them the ability to fold space and travel swiftly across the galaxy, from world to world. Even after they created a deal with the Corrino emperors they kept hidden their world and the secrets of the Guild for fear that the Sardaukar would be sent in to cleanse them and take their secrets. They are, as described, a secretive organization, and with the exception of CHOAM, one of the most powerful in the galaxy and least known, at least in how they operate.


(Image from the Dune Wiki, showing the various stages of a navigator)

https://dune.fandom.com/wiki/Spacing_Guild

Bene Gesserit

The Bene Gesserit can trace their roots back to pre-diaspora Terran history. The sisterhood's records were some of those used to determine the colony ship's makeup. Even at that time they were beginning the roots of the breeding program that they felt would evolve the human race. Over time they developed themselves as well as those that were in their breeding programs until many considered them witches as they did not understand how the sisterhood operated or other abilities that they, on occasion, allowed to be seen being used.


(Image from the Dune Wiki, may appear differently)

https://dune.fandom.com/wiki/Bene_Gesserit

Mentat

Mentats are considered human computers, usually male, that have developed their thinking processes to be of a higher level than even the thinking machines that almost overthrew humanity prior to the Butlerian Jihad. To a Mentat emotion is a fault that does not work within the order of logic that directs their mind. Most Houses, Major or Minor either hope to have a cadet of the House be considered worthy to be trained as a Mentat or to have garnered the funds to acquire the services of a Mentat. Those that do have one at their disposal tend to find their Houses prospering more than their foes.


(Image from Dune Wiki, may appear differently)

https://dune.fandom.com/wiki/Mentat

Fremen

During the diaspora, the Zensunni people were dispersed to various worlds in the Empire. However, over time they garnered enough funds to contract, in secret, with the Spacing Guild to have them, just as secretly, transported to Arrakis. Once there, they secured themselves away from the prying eyes of others, in the deep desert and morphed from a collection of people following a religious creed into a people as one, becoming the Fremen in the process. As is learned by the Atreides, the Fremen exist in far greater numbers than even the Harkonnen, who ruled the planet before the Atreides, ever knew. And that the conditions of the planet had shaped the people into a hard, tough, faithful to one being people who would or could lead them to end the reign of those they believed soft or had wronged them in the past.


(Image from the upcoming film, may appear differently)

https://dune.fandom.com/wiki/Fremen

CHOAM, Combine Honnete Ober Advanced Mercantiles (Unplayable)

The CHOAM company came about as an amalgam of political and military forces, as a response to the Spacing Guild. They are, and have been, tied into every aspect of human life across the galaxy and were one of the primary driving forces that brought about the Imperium. There would be no, not possible to be, Imperium without CHOAM and without the Imperium CHOAM would wither and die. Their fortunes are so tied together, especially with the needed Spice, that they will work with their rivals, the Spacing Guild, to ensure the spice flows. Even if that means manipulating the Landsraad to make it so, often under the direction of the Padishah Emperor.



https://dune.fandom.com/wiki/CHOAM

 

People of Interest, Dune​

Emperor Shaddam Corrino IV (NPC)

Shaddam IV was the 81st Padishah Emperor. The last Corrino Emperor as well. He reigned over the Imperium in the waning years of a feud that went back to the very beginning of the diaspora, between the Harkonnen and Atreides. His allies were the Harkonnen, as they had been allies of the Corrinos for many millennia, the Atreides often standing in opposition to their plans. Hence it was a plan between the Emperor and the Baron that allowed the Atreides to believe they had outdone their hated rivals and taken command of the most important planet in the galaxy, Arrakis. Unfortunately for him, factors beyond his ability to compute were at play in this action and it ultimately led to his downfall.



https://dune.fandom.com/wiki/Shaddam_IV

Baron Vladimir Harkonnen (NPC)

Vladimir Harkonnen was the last in a long line of Harkonnen that carried the feud against the Atreides. He planned and prepared and managed to eliminate the Red Duke, although he was not as thorough as he’d planned. To the point that the support he’d received from the Padishah Emperor became more of a noose around his neck rather than an aid to his efforts. In the end, it cost him his life.


(Image from the upcoming film)

https://dune.fandom.com/wiki/Vladimir_Harkonnen

Paul Atreides (NPC)

Paul was born, the son of Duke Leto I and Lady Jessica. He was trained, from a very early age, in all manner of crafts. His mother trained him in many of the ways and skills of a Bene Gesserit, at the same time he was receiving Mentat training and the weapons training of Gurney Halleck, a Swordmaster. These skills allowed him to foil an attempt that had a minimal chance to succeed, of killing him, at the Governor’s mansion on Arrakis. Very shortly after, he and his mother managed to escape when the Harkonnen troops taking them into the desert to die fell under the sway of his mother.


(Image from the upcoming film)

https://dune.fandom.com/wiki/Paul_Atreides

Stilgar Ben Fifrawi (NPC)

Stilgar is the Naib of Sietch Tabr. He was first introduced to Duke Leto and Paul Atreides when Duncan Idaho brought him to the mansion. It was there that Duncan formed the bond with the Fremen people and began to bring about less strife between the two as the Fremen realized that the Atreides were not as the Harkonnen. And was the one who began the process of accepting Paul and Jessica into the Sietch when they escaped the Harkonnen


(Image from the upcoming film)

https://dune.fandom.com/wiki/Stilgar

Gurney Halleck (Possible PC)

Gurney was the Warmaster of House Atreides and a Swordmaster of the Ginaz School. He was one of Paul’s teachers in the boy’s youth. He survived the destruction of the Atreides when they were betrayed, believing that Jessica was the author of their destruction. He was a skilled fighter, skilled with the baliset, and a deep romantic.


(Image from the upcoming film)

https://dune.fandom.com/wiki/Gurney_Halleck

Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen (NPC)

Feyd-Rautha was the younger nephew of Vladimir Harkonnen. He was a talented fighter, smart, and thought himself as wily and smart as the Baron. He was favored over his older brother, by the Baron, and named the ‘na-Baron’ or heir to the Harkonnen throne. The Baron used his brother to attempt to get him favored by the Fremen and accepted as their savior.


(Fan art)

https://dune.fandom.com/wiki/Feyd-Rautha_Harkonnen

Glossu Rabban Harkonnen (NPC)

Known as the Beast Rabban, Glossu was the older brother of Feyd-Rautha. He was strong, a true beast of a man and he used that image in how he ruled. He was known to kill people who crossed him and was used by the Baron to squeeze Arrakis after the Harkonnen took command once more, squeezing the planet for every cred of spice that he could have mined.


(Image from the upcoming film)

https://dune.fandom.com/wiki/Glossu_Rabban_Harkonnen

Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam (NPC)

Mohiam was a Reverend Mother of the Bene Gesserit. She was the teacher of Paul’s mother, Jessica, when she was in training. And, before the Atreides left Caladan, she came there to test Paul’s humanity. A test he did pass but made her believe he would have been a problem for the Bene Gesserit breeding program. She was the Reverend Mother to the Emperor and intimately involved in his schemes.


(Image from the upcoming film)

https://dune.fandom.com/wiki/Gaius_Helen_Mohiam

 

Planets of Interest, Dune​

Kaitain

Kaitain is the capital world of the Imperium under the Corrinos. They moved the capital there, from Salusa Secundus after an event on the latter planet. It is a pleasant world where the occasional strong storm sweeps across it’s surface.



https://dune.fandom.com/wiki/Kaitain

Caladan

Caladan is a primarily water world, third planet of Delta Pavonis. It has been the ancestral home of the Atreides until the Emperor’s edict of taking control of Arrakis meant that they had to leave Caladan and take up residence on Arrakis to cement their hold of the latter planet.



https://dune.fandom.com/wiki/Caladan

Giedi Prime

Giedi Prime was a heavily industrialized planet and the feudal home of House Harkonnen. The surface was covered by industry cities, military ones, and political ones. There were several forests that the Harkonnen kept thriving for their logging industry, to earn as many creds as possible.



https://dune.fandom.com/wiki/Giedi_Prime

Wallach IX

Wallach IX is the planet that the Bene Gesserit consider their home. Their training school and records halls were upon the planet. Any hopefuls to join the sisterhood were brought here to be trained. The Reverend Mother Mohiam considered Wallach IX her home and only returned to Kaitain when it was necessary as part of her work with the Emperor.



https://dune.fandom.com/wiki/Wallach_IX

Grumman

Grumman is the ancestral home of House Moritani.



https://dune.fandom.com/wiki/Grumman

Ginaz

Ginaz is the ancestral home of House Ginaz and where their famed school for Swordmasters is located. Any House that desires one or more of their troops to be trained by the Ginaz had to send them to the school for the duration of their training, or attempt to hire one of their graduates.



https://dune.fandom.com/wiki/Ginaz

Tupile

Tupile was the homebase of the Spacing Guild and the rumored location of where Houses that fled the Imperium were given sanctuary. Its location was kept secret from the rest of the galaxy, especially the Imperium by the orders of the Guild, for their safety and that of the rogue Houses.



https://dune.fandom.com/wiki/Tupile

Arrakis

Arrakis is a harsh desert planet with only a few cities scattered upon it. It’s primary significance is that it is the only place where the spice, Melange, can be found to naturally occur. Many attempts have been made to create spice on other worlds but none of those have been truly successful and, for now, the planet remains the only place where this vital substance can be found.



https://dune.fandom.com/wiki/Arrakis

 

Creatures, Equipment, Ships, and Weapons of Dune
​

Sandworm

The sandworm, not much was known about it, save that it had a part to play in the cycle of the creation of the spice, outside of Arrakis and the Fremen, that is. An infant sandworm was about the size of an adult human, just after birth but truly large specimens could be, at least according to unconfirmed reports, to be as long as 1000 meters in length. The beasts are attracted to vibrations in the sand and will hunt down anything that enters their territory, including other sandworms. There are, to the outside world, unconfirmed reports that the Fremen have some sort of mastery over the worms and even ride them.



https://dune.fandom.com/wiki/Sandworm

Ornithopter

Ornithopters are the vehicles of choice for travel across a planetary surface. They utilize jet propulsion assisted by wings that mimic the movement of birds wings. The standard seating allows for six to sit inside but up to nine can be fit inside, with the removal of a seat. They are used for both civilian and military purposes, the latter armored and often either with more powerful engines or are slower, when using standard engines.


(Concept art from the upcoming film)

https://dune.fandom.com/wiki/Ornithopter

Carryall

Carryalls are massive craft, used in spice mining. They usually transport a spice harvester and a wing of ornithopters to be used for spotting what is called wormsign, the track created by the sandworms as they travel near the surface. They are usually flown by a crew of six spice men and act as a command ship for a harvester and the spotters.


(Image concept from the 1984 Dune movie)

https://dune.fandom.com/wiki/Carryall

Spice Harvester

A large, heavy machine that is used on the surface of Arrakis to harvest the spice. It would sift the upper layers of the sand, removing the spice from the topmost layer and returning the sand to the desert. Because they were large, slow, and heavy, producing rhythmic sounds, the carryall would usually hover nearly overhead so that when wormsign was spotted it could be immediately retrieved and the precious spice not lost to the worm if the harvester was eaten by the sandworm.



https://dune.fandom.com/wiki/Spice_harvester

Starships

General listing of ships of the Dune universe in the link.

https://dune.fandom.com/wiki/Starship

Heighliner

The heighliner was the usual mode of transport utilized by the Spacing Guild. They were immense craft that could hold thousands of people as well as smaller ships and tons of cargo. The ships usually did not land on planets, could not do so. The crew was all Guildsmen and their rule was absolute when aboard the ship. Any breaking of their rules and the entire House could lose its transport privileges.



https://dune.fandom.com/wiki/Heighliner

Starship Lighter

There are a great variety of Lighters. This term refers to the class of ship that is smaller than a heighliner which is used to transport anything from people to goods to cargo to military units. They are of every shape or form that could be conceived with one item of uniformity, at some point on the craft there must be a section where the Lighter can dock with the Heighliner.

https://dune.fandom.com/wiki/Starship_Lighter

Weapons, a list, both book canon and movie canon

Full list included in the link below. Some weapons, such as the Weirding modules are from the 1984 film and are not book canon so speak to the GM before using a weapon if there is any doubt. Atomics will follow the Rules of the Landsraad, not to be used against people directly.

https://dune.fandom.com/wiki/Weapons

 

@BobaMatt, @greyjedi125, barring any edits that need to be made your CS's can now go up here, as of today.

@Mitth_Fisto, @Sinrebirth, once I receive your CS's and approve them, you both may do the same.

To everyone else, the same applies, but those four have already discussed their CS's or shared them with me, hence them being tagged.

 

GM APPROVED!

Name: Ike
Character Type: Fremen
Gender: He
Age: Early teens
Physical description (picture if applicable):

Personality: Quirky
Quirks: He has a personality of his own and often upsets people with his assertiveness
Likes/dislikes: SAND. He was fine with it before but sheesh.
Strengths/weaknesses: He’s not one to complete what he intended. Constantly.
Weapons (if applicable): Whatever he finds and keeps. He had a gun, once upon a time.

Short Bio: House Moritani by birth, but Fremen by nature. Or so he says. Ike couldn’t tell you much about galactic politics; it’s not important to him. He has his own goals, own objectives, own intents. He’ll make what he wants and take what he needs. It was a good idea, but after a few months in the middle of the chaos, he would quite like to get off the sand hellhole and back to civilisation.

 

For those who have shown interest but have not yet been able to write their CS's, as well as any others that may be interested, for the initial begin of the game I'll be accepting CS's up to Friday 15 October, as the initial part of the game will begin on the 18th. I will continue to accept CS's past then, but your first tag in that case, will be the following week, or later, depending on when you can share it with me.

@Shadowsun, @Darth Tormentum, @TheAdmiral, @HanSolo29, tagged as you have shown interest already.

 

Dramatis Personae (To Date)​

@greyjedi125 - Naveed (Fremen)
@BobaMatt - Thufir Hawat (Mentat, canon character)
@BobaMatt - TBD
@Sinrebirth - Ike (Fremen/Moritani, smuggler type)
@Mitth_Fisto - Randolpho Espanza (House Ginaz smuggler)
@TheAdmiral - Aya-Carolina Mohini (Bene Gesserit sister)
@pashatemur - Na'die, Kanti-Sokanon (Bene Gesserit sister)
@Darth Tormentum - Shafra Khadim “Blade Servant” (Fremen)
@Shadowsun - Shamir (Fremen)
@Corellian_Outrider - TBD
@HanSolo29 - TBD

 

Dramatis Personae (Updated)​

@greyjedi125 - Naveed (Fremen)
@BobaMatt - Thufir Hawat (Mentat, canon character)
@BobaMatt - TBD
@Sinrebirth - Ike (Fremen/Moritani, smuggler type)
@Mitth_Fisto - Randolpho Espanza (House Ginaz smuggler)
@TheAdmiral - Aya-Carolina Mohini (Bene Gesserit sister)
@pashatemur - Na'die, Kanti-Sokanon (Bene Gesserit sister)
@Darth Tormentum - Shafra Khadim “Blade Servant” (Fremen)
@Shadowsun - Shamir (Fremen)
@Corellian_Outrider - Garsiv Artaxerxes (House Ginaz)
@HanSolo29 - TBD

 

As things become necessary, such as to clear up ranks and how things are regimented, in organizations, I will add here, like this, about the Bene Gesserit.

Women unquestionably ruled the Bene Gesserit, and while men did maintain some important roles, they were always answerable to at least one woman - the Bene Gesserit Reverend Mother Superior.

• The Reverend Mother Superior: maintained ultimate control of the entire order, and invoked almost unquestioned loyalty among the subordinate Reverend Mothers. A Reverend Mother chooses her successor prior to her death, and imparts her memories and personality to her. The inheritance of the Reverend Mother Superiors, at times, diverged among multiple Reverend Mothers, usually for strategic reasons.

• Kwisatz Mother: possessed the strongest tie to the other voices, in charge of the program to breed the Kwisatz Haderach; She solely directed the breeding program.

The subordinate Reverend Mothers of the Bene Gesserit fulfilled many diverse roles, including intelligence gathering, diplomacy, and breeding to continue the objectives of the breeding program. They also pursued more menial roles, with their occupation determined by the quality of their genetic make-up.

• Reverend Mothers: Have undergone the Spice Agony and survived. They fill the role of advisors, faculty, historians, geneticists. General authority of the Order for most members and the outside populace.

• Proctor Superiors: In charge of a chapter house, each chapter house has a Proctor Superior.

• Truthsayer: taught the ways to invoke the truth trance.

• Sister: agents, concubines, potential wives.

• Initiate
  

Current Listing

Reverend Mother Superior Harishka

Kwisatz Mother - Last known - Lady Anirul Corrino

Reverend Mother - Gaius Helen Mohiam (Emperor’s Truthsayer)

Proctor Superiors - None listed specifically but each is in charge of a chapter house

Truthsayer - Gaius Helen Mohiam

Sister - many in existence

Initiate - many in existence

Chapterhouse - When said so, it refers to the main ‘home’ of the Bene Gesserit but when not said so can refer to any of the smaller ‘chapters’ of the Sisters.

https://dune.fandom.com/wiki/Bene_Gesserit

 

GM Approved.

Name: Sister Taina

Age: 30ish

Race: Zensunni

Gender: Female

Order: Bene Gesserit

Appearance:


170cm tall, black hair, a few greys, blue on blue eyes as her ancestry. Wears the robes of the Bene Gesserit but can be flexible due to her past life. She was a petty criminal who lived on the streets for many years and knows her way around the criminal element of the galaxy. She has added her street smarts/skills to her Prana Bindu and Truthsayer ones learned with the order.

Remembers little of her childhood, or her parents as she lived on the streets for many years. Powerful, strong willed and wise, she rarely participates group activities and hardly ever in politics.

Having seen so much, she empathizes with the Fremen in contrast with her beliefs.

She’s cunning and reserved. Watching and listening mostly, gathering information and knowledge. Her previous life on the streets had armed with with ‘street smarts’, something other Bene Gesserit’s often don’t have.

 

Squeeee!