Thread: Student of Dune (DarkAngel & Sync)

Continuingcan be as difficult as beginning. Know, then, that it is now the year 10,247. More than fifty years have passed since House Atreides was ordered by the Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV to take over control the planet Arrakis from the Atriedes mortal enemy, House Harkonnen. The known universe is at an uneasy peace following the taking of the Imperial Throne by the God-Emperor Leto Atreides II following the death of the Imperial Regent, the Lady Alia Atreides, and the death of the former Emperor, Paul MaudDib Atreides. The Imperium is recovering from the jihad waged by the Fremen legions of the then-Emperor Paul Atreides. After wresting the Imperial Throne from Shaddam IV, Paul married the Princess Irulan in a political match that delivered the throne to him. For 12 years the Fremen warriors swept through the universe, removing any opposition to the rule of their Prophet. But even upon the end of the jihad, the resulting peace was uneasy at best. Many Fremen began to turn against their prophet, not liking the direction he was taking their planet, their people. The years following the jihad allowed the twins Leto and Ghanima Atreides to grow in sanctuary on Arrakis, learning as their father did amongst the Fremen. The times were tumultuous, though, and even in the shadow of peace stirred the unrest of malcontents. There were plots within plots, plans within plans, as elements throughout the empire sought to remove the Atreides from power before the Atreides grip could tighten. The spice melange is still the most precious resource in the universe, and it is still only found on Arrakis. The Atreides have made Arrakis their home, and the seat of the Imperial Throne has been moved to Arrakeen, the largest city on Arrakis. The planet is still a vast desert, but now, in the wake of the upheaval began by Paul Atreides, pockets of greenery are beginning to appear where once sand rested. Only the southern reaches of the planet as so far untouched by the planets transformation. The great worms of Arrakis have fallen in number, and their production of spice has fallen with them their number is now reported to be only half of what it was when Leto II ascended the Lion Throne. A number of the Houses Minor have fallen from lack of spice, and the Houses Major are even now beginning to show signs of being affected only the Bene Gesserit and the Spacing Guild have vast stockpiles of spice to meet their ongoing needs. In a directive he refers to as Secher Nbiw, the Golden Path, Leto II has begun pushing humanity down a new path his path, the path he foresaw for all of humanity. It is a path he deliberately put humanity on when he ascended the Imperial Throne nearly thirty years ago. The Golden Path will force humanity down a road of enforced peace, with the God Emperor as humanitys guide and protectorand master. But change does not come easy, and a forced peace even less easily. There are elements within the Empire plotting to overthrow Leto II, to end the breeding program Leto has embarked on, with his sister, Ghanima, and the Corrino prince, Faradn, beginning the program. Those who seek to end Letos reign cannot hurt the God-Emperor directlyso they must choose other, more vulnerable targets