Faction Name: Imperium
Homeplanet: Katain
Type of Government: Quasi-feudal Empire
Main Leader's Title: Padishah Emperor
Other Important Leaders: Heads of the Landsraad Houses
Capital: Corrinth City
History: (See History of the Galactic Padishah Empire)
Relations with other factions: Main Power in the Dune Universe
Logo:Technology Level: Primarily Tier 3, though there are elements of Tier 0 (Intergalactic Travel)
Morale Alignment: Neutral
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Faction Name: House Harkonnen
Homeplanet: Geidi Prime
Type of Government: Barony
Main Leader's Title: Baron
Other Important Leaders: Governor
Capital: Barony (Yes, that's the name of the city)
History:The Harkonnen name was believed to originate in what was western Russia on ancient Earth, and the region of Earth called Suomi, also Finland. It has been suggested that the Harkonnen name comes from Sweden as a derivation of Hakkon - but it is likely that it is indeed from Finland, as Härkönen is a 20th century Finnish name.
The Harkonnen family during the time of the League of Nobles maintained a burgeonning commercial empire, and owned mining operations on the planet Hagal. The patriarch of the family, Ulf Harkonnen, and his wife, Katarina, were caught by Cymeks in their starship, above the planet Caladan. Piers, a son who accompanied them, was ejected down to the planet's surface, was never heard from again, and was presumed dead.
His brother, Xavier Harkonnen, was raised by adoptive parents of the Tantor family, Emil and Lucille, on the League capital world of Salusa Secundus. Xavier eventually became a Primero during the Butlerian Jihad, but was disgraced when he killed Grand Patriarch Iblis Ginjo, in the Thalim system.
Xavier's grandson, Abulurd Harkonnen, came to be the founder of House Harkonnen. The long-running feud with the Atreides originated after Abulurd refused an order from Vorian Atreides, to kill the millions of humans enslaved by the thinking machines. Abulurd's disobedience was exposed by Vorian himself at the Battle of Corrin, the Jihad's last battle. As a result, Abulurd was labelled a coward and a traitor. He was banished from the League Worlds to the frosty planet of Lankiveil by his own brother, Faykan Corrino, who became the first Emperor. Abulurd's sons were told this story, and grew hate about the name Atreides, and all their descendants.
Relations with other factions: Hostile towards House Atredies.
Logo: Blue Griffon
Technology Level: Tier 4
Morale Alignment: Evil
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Faction Name: House Atreides
Homeplanet: Caladan
Type of Government: Feudal Lordship
Main Leader's Title: Duke
Other Important Leaders: N/A
Capital: Cala City
History:The legend stated that the Atreides family came from a noble family that originated in Greece on Earth, and that they rose to prominence during the Butlerian Jihad. House Atreides specifically claimed descent from King Agamemnon, a son of Atreus, in Greek mythology. The descendants of Atreus are called "Atreides" (plural "Atreidai", Latinized as "Atreidae") in the Greek language. This Royal House included many significant figures in Greek myth.
The earliest known ancestor was Vorian Atreides, the biological son of the Cymek Agamemnon. After turning against his father and the AI ruler Omnius, Vorian aligned himself with the League of Nobles, and helped lead them to eventual victory and the destruction of the Thinking Machines. This proved the catalyst for the growth of his personal prestige. Vorian Atreides had sired twins on Caladan, Estes and Kagin with whom he had no good relations, but after his withdrawal, it is possible that they had been ennobled grace to their father's prestige. Vorian Atreides adopted the hawk to be his official insignia on his Army of Humanity. Vorian had just returned to Salusa Secundus after killing the remaining Titans Juno, Dante, and his own father Agamemnon on the ice planet of Hessra. While speaking to Bashar Abulurd Harkonnen, Vorian stated now that the Cymek threat had been eliminated he could focus on destroying the CorrinOmnius. The Hawk would serve as a reminder of his duty to humanity.
Relations with other factions: Hostile towards House Harkonnen and Bene Tleilax
Logo:Technology Level: Tier 4
Morale Alignment: Good
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Faction Name: Bene Tleilax
Homeplanet: Tleilaxa
Type of Government: Theocracy
Main Leader's Title: Unknown
Other Important Leaders: Master Researcher
Capital: Bandalong
History:Around the years of the Butlerian Jihad, Tlulax was an Unallied planet. The Tlulaxa worked as merchants and slavers. Tlulaxa scientists were noted geneticists and cloners and the planet was known for its organ farms. During the war, due to the heightened demand, slaves were taken as organ reservoirs. This was revealed by Vorian Atreides, and public opinion had been inflamed against the genetic researchers; outraged mobs destroyed the organ farms and most of the Tlulaxa went into hiding, hated by the League. Ten thousand years later, during the time near the end of Corrino Empire, the Tleilax had re-established themselves, and had curried positions of favor with the Imperial House. The Master Researcher Hidar Fen Ajidica, presented a plan to synthesize melange to Emperor Elrood Corrino IX, and persuaded him to allow the Tleilax to conquer Ix from House Vernius.
Relations with other factions: Hostile towards Everyone. Secret alliance with House Corrino (Royal House of the Imperium)
Logo: Technology Level: Tier 4
Morale Alignment: Evil
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Faction Name: Bene Gesserit
Homeplanet: Wallach IX
Type of Government: Hierarchy
Main Leader's Title: Mother Superior
Other Important Leaders: Kwisatz Mother, Reverend Mother
Capital: Mother School
History:The origins of the Bene Gesserit are not widely known. What is clear is that the Bene Gesserit arose in the political turmoil that followed the Butlerian Jihad, and quickly established themselves as an influential political force. However, during the Butlerian Jihad, the Bene Gesserit already had a Mother Superior, which seem to show that their hierarchical structure had already formed.
The other memories that are made available to Reverend Mothers of the Bene Gesserit provided a wealth of knowledge that reaches far back into Humanity's past, to the days when Humans were bound to Earth. Some physical remnants, such as a surviving painting by Van Gogh, also support this connection and provide an anchor point to the distant past.
Relations with other factions: Most regard their members as 'witches.' Nonetheless, they are deemed necessary in Imperial Politics, as they serve as impartial mediators between different factions.
Logo:Technology Level: Tier 4
Morale Alignment: Neutral
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Faction Name: Spacing Guild
Homeplanet: N/A
Type of Government: Hierarchy
Main Leader's Title: N/A
Other Important Leaders: Navigator, Chief Administrator, Navigator Attendants, Guild Ambassadors
Capital: N/A
History: N/A
Relations with other factions: Arguable the most important of all Dune factions, the Guild has a government-enforced monopoly on Space Travel
Logo:Technology Level: See Imperium
Morale Alignment: Neutral
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Faction Name: CHOAM (Combine Honnete Ober Advancer Mercantiles)
Homeplanet: N/A
Type of Government: Corporation
Main Leader's Title: Padishah Emperor
Other Important Leaders: Various Directors
Capital: N/A
History: N/A
Relations with other factions: Controls all economic activity in the Imperium
Logo:Technology Level: Tier 4
Morale Alignment: Neutral
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Faction Name: House Vernius
Homeplanet: N/A; Ix (Former)
Type of Government: Renegade House; Feudal Lordship (Former)
Main Leader's Title: Earl
Other Important Leaders: N/A
Capital: N/A; Vernii (Former)
History:House Vernius specialized in technological innovations. After an intense economic war with House Richese, they won the right to manufacture the lucrative Heighliners for the Spacing Guild. While still a young man, Dominic Vernius lent Ixian forces to the Padishah Emperor Elrood IX to assist against the Ecazi Revolt and restore the Archduke Ferdinand Ecaz to the Mahagony Throne. It is during this time that he met and befriended Duke Paulus Atreides of Caladan. As a reward for his loyal service, the Emperor had expanded House Vernius' fief to include several more planets.
After the war, Dominic acquired Lady Shando from Emperor Elrood, and earned his undying enmity. They had two children, Rhombur and Kailea Vernius. Years later, Tleilaxu forces seized Ix with assistance from the Emperor, and by enciting riots among the Suboid working class, made them revolt against the leaders of Ix. House Vernius was forced to go renegade while Sardaukar forces landed on Ix, and proceded to Vernii City to "keep the peace".
The Ixian ambassador Cammar Pilru attempted to garner Landsraad support in retaking Ix, but the Tleilaxu accused the Ixians of creating thinking machines, therefore justifying their acts. Because Ix's internal affairs were completely closed off to the rest of the empire, there was no open knowledge of the Sardaukar presence. In fact, it is noted by some that the Empire's strength seemed to wane, and that they were promoting more officers than they were getting recruits. This was because the soldiers stationed on Ix were off the books. It was similar in many respects to the tactics used against the Atreides, which should be expected as both perpetrated by the same man.
The Vernius children were secretly sent to Caladan under the protection and care of Paulus Atreides. Lady Shando was hunted down and executed by Sardaukar forces on Bela Tegeuse, while Dominic hid on Arrakis with some loyal men.
Relationship with other factions: Renegade House. Official stance of Imperium is to kill all members on sight. (Except for the two children, who have been given amnesty)
Logo:Technology Level: Tier 3
Morale Alignment: Depends on your point of view.