-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- (03-01-01) | Dune III House Corrino Handbook | Dune III 1.4 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. History 1.1 Summary 1.2 Timeline 1.3 Recent History 2. House Character 2.1 Summary 2.2 View on Religion 2.3 View on Non-Landsraad Factions 2.3.1 Bene Gesserit 2.3.2 Bene Tleilaxu 2.3.3 Guild 2.3.4 Ix 2.3.5 Smugglers 2.4 View on Imperial Citizenry 3. Discussion of Home World 3.1 Summary 3.2 Ecology 3.3 Economy 4. Faction Members 4.1 Family Members 4.2 Family Retainers 4.3 Other Employees 5. Faction Protocols 5.1 Internal Protocols 5.2 Official Code of Conduct 5.3 Instructions for Interacting with Specific Houses Major 6. Contact Information -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 1. History --------------------------------------------- 1.1 Summary House Corrino was formed at the Battle of Corrino in 88 BG, when Count Sheuset Ecevit (afterward Emperor Sheuset Corrino I) and his infamous 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. --------------------------------------------- 1.2 Timeline Before Guild (BG) 88 BATTLE OF CORRIN (House Corrino defeats Landsraad forces to ascend Lion Throne.) 0 THE LION THRONE, THE SPACING GUILD, and CHOAM (as the arm of the Landsraad) combine to establish the form of human society for the next ten thousand years. After Guild (AG): 337 GREAT CONVENTION RATIFIED 388 Saudir III designates SALUSA SECUNDUS as PRISON PLANET. 1487 The Corrinos shift the Imperial Seat to Kaitain. 10,002 Year of no Emperors 10,002 Akbar II Avelard XX ends interregnum chaos 10,031 Hajus III assumes the throne 10,027 Prince Alman Lasidalus Corrino born 10,048 Prince Fredhrick Corrino born 10,069 Prince Alman rennounces his title, removing himself (though not his heirs) from line of succession 10,079 Hajus III dies, Fredhrick XIX ascends throne 10,081 Fredhrick XIX dies in an ornipthopter crash, Jeon XIV assumes throne. 10,083 Jeon XIV is assassinated, his brother Eduard abdicates in favor of his son Erich. --------------------------------------------- 1.3 Recent History The last 1000 years Emperors enjoyed long reigns of relatively stable conditions throughout the Imperium. The only notable exception to the stability of the line of succession occurred in 10,002. Emperor Rauvard Kalus IV (9960-10,002) died of natural causes leaving no heir apparent. A very short period of interregnum chaos ensued but was quickly ended when a distaff cousin of Rauvard stepped up to take control of the House. Emperor Akbar II Avelard XX (10,002-10,031) was an Imperial Noukker, a highly decorated Sardaukar officer who had been Rauvard's Aide de Camp, and a direct-line, but illegitimate, descendant of Fredhrick XVIII (9935-9960). Akbar II Avelard XX was succeeded by his son Hajus III (10,031-10,079), Fredhrick XIX's (10,079-10,081) father. Following Fredhrick XIX's death during the crash of a Venhei ornithopter, Jeon XIV assumed the throne. Despite the new emperor's efforts to appear as a man of the people, his rule was marked by dissention within the Landsraad. After several spectacular public relations failures on the part of his Sardaukar Emperor Jeon was assassinated by an, as yet, undisclosed party. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 2. House Character --------------------------------------------- 2.1 Summary Description House Corrino enjoys the enormous wealth brought it by its holdings in CHOAM and Imperial levies against the Houses of the Landsraad. No expense is spared in making the Emperor and members of his Imperial Court as pampered as possible. The extreme lavish conditions apparent in the Court betray the Imperium's absolute military and monetary stranglehold it has over the Landsraad. No single Great House could withstand a military confrontation with the Imperial Sardaukar because of both their renowned fighting prowess and the vast depth of their monetary reserve. Many members of the Court are pure hedonists, taking advantage of every pleasure available to them. The Emperor and his Royal Family, however, are austere in private, preferring to leave the pomp of the Court behind. The Emperor himself typically wears his Sardaukar Commander's uniform, leaving the official Imperial garb behind except during official Court functions. By wearing the Sardaukar uniform, the Emperor sends a continual message: "The Sardaukar are mine, my power wielded." Intrigue in the Court is typical. Every member of the Royal Family is 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 come from both without and within. It is not unheard of for a son to desire the Lion Throne before his time or for an Emperor to (paranoically) suspect others of wishing his Throne. Of course, attempting assassination upon another noble of the Landsraad without proper declaration is against the forms... and would *never* be thought of by a members of the Royal Crèche... --------------------------------------------- 2.2 View on Religion >From "Appendix II: The Religion of Dune": 3. The agnostic ruling class (including the Guild) for whom religion was a kind puppet show to amuse the populace and keep it docile, and who believed essentially that all phenomena--even religious phenomena--could be reduced to mechanical explanations. House Corrino falls into this category. The Emperor employs scholars with whom he sometimes consults on how best to communicate with the more religiously devout 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. The current generation of the Royal Family of House Corrino, however, has no such devotees. --------------------------------------------- 2.3 View on Non-Landsraad Factions --------------------------------------------- 2.3.1 Bene Gesserit House Corrino has a working relationship with the Bene Gesserit, employing a Reverend Mother to act as the Imperial Truthsayer. Some Imperial daughters are trained from a formative age (but not from birth) in the Bene Gesserit way, but not as full Sisters. They attend what is essentially the BG finishing school. --------------------------------------------- 2.3.2 Bene Tleilaxu Although it has little opportunity to interact with the Bene Tleilaxu on a political or economic level, House Corrino has permitted and at times even protected the activities of this outcast culture. Some BT products are even patronized, such as the Face Dancer Troupe which often plays at the Theatre Imperiale. --------------------------------------------- 2.3.3 Guild The relationship the Imperial House maintains with the Guild is the same relationship any other Landsraad House has: 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 exert its taxing and military powers. The Guild's banking and communication services are highly valued as trusted third-party operations. --------------------------------------------- 2.3.4 Ix (aka Richesse) The Emperor shares the widely held Butlerian conviction that man should not be replaced by machines. While certain devices are permitted, nothing which suggests the computational power of the human mind is allowed. The IXians enjoy the privilege of being the sole providers of technology to the Imperium, and no unauthorized transportation into the system is allowed. Transportation of unacceptable devices out of the system is heavily controlled. --------------------------------------------- 2.3.5 Smugglers Permitted to thrive so long as the Guild allows them, the Imperial family does not need to circumvent CHOAM. --------------------------------------------- 2.4 View on Citizenry The Emperor's citizenry is essentially comprised of the Landsraad nobles, through whom he deals with the general populace of the Universe. Outside of the Imperial Palace, he only interacts with the top two tiers of the faufreluches. With those he is disdainful, manipulative and overbearing. The same holds true for most the Imperial Family. Imperial retainers tend to display the same arrogance although it is mostly covered by a strict formality. Etiquette is adhered to as a means to impress upon others their rank and place within society. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 3. Discussion of Home World --------------------------------------------- 3.1 Summary The Imperial seat was moved from now-forgotten planet to Kaitain in 1487. Information about the home world prior to this move is scarce. Since the collection of the Siridari on Kaitain a certain tension has begun to develop over the nature of diplomatic rights on Kaitain. As it now stands, Embassy grounds are not policed by Sardaukar. However, should any crime be committed outside of Embassy grounds, or fugitives leave such areas, they can and will be subjected to the full weight of Imperial justice. --------------------------------------------- 3.2 Ecology Kaitain is a temperate planet, with a weather pattern that is highly controlled by weather satellites to reflect whatever weather pattern the Emperor fancies at the given moment. The planet is a garden world, full of gentle things for the most part with highly sculpted gardens and parks predominating the landscape. --------------------------------------------- 3.3 Economy Imperially supported. A huge service industry dominates the Kaitain economy with just about anything available as long as one is willing to pay the price. Vice industries are common as are varies other signs of the decadence associated with the accumulated wealth and power located on the planet. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 4. Faction Members --------------------------------------------- 4.1 Royal Family Erich Lasidals Corrino Padishah Emperor of the Known Universe Tat'iana Anstasovna Corrino Empress of the Known Universe Jenaa Alexandra Corrino Imperial Princess Eduard Corrino Prince, Imperial Academician --------------------------------------------- 4.2 Family Retainers Yolinar Chancellor of the Imperium Ibis Imperial Mentat Slade Imperial Hegemon Pavel Imperial Justiciar Scaurus Imperial Treasurer and Managing Director of CHOAM Layard Squire to His Majesty Justine Imperial Ambassador Saud Imperial Ambassador Acies Diplomatic Aide Wensicia Headmistress of the Imperial Closet (Her Majesty's) Emylie Lady-in-Waiting to Her Majesty, Chancellor's Daughter Asara Lady-in-Waiting to Her Majesty Melisande Imperial Minister of Revels (Her Majesty's) Viola Imperial Court Jester Cromwell Exile --------------------------------------------- 4.3 Other Employees Vacant Imperial Truthsayer -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 5. Faction Protocols --------------------------------------------- 5.1 Internal Protocols The faufreluches must be strictly adhered to within the Royal Court. The Emperor will not tolerate anything less. Always call the Emperor "Your Majesty" when speaking directly to him and use formal address as dictated by the +address field on a character's +sheet. The Emperor always speaks with the Royal Plural (ie, "We" instead of "I"). --------------------------------------------- 5.2 Official Code of Conduct Always know that you speak for the Emperor. Thus you have a large amount of influence but also a large burden, for your actions reflect upon your Emperor. For specifics directives please see the relevant material on the Corrino website --------------------------------------------- 5.3 Instructions for Interacting with Specific Houses Major (See relevant section of website) -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 6. Contact Information --------------------------------------------- If you have questions about or would like to join House Corrino, please either send @mail to Cromwell or e-mail to HouseCorrino@hotmail.com. Please be sure to read the bulletin board in the Recruiting Lounge (East from the central OOC Room) for a listing of current openings. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-