Heralds of Azhar
The Heralds are a high order of the Bene Gesserit who serve as custodians to the Book of Azhar. We have been at work for millennia as envoys to the Sayyadina, to prune and preserve the secrets of Arrakis from the Fremen. While developing strong relationships with Dune Awakenings many guilds, we will look for opportunities to build an intelligence network on Arrakis. Our Missionaria Protectiva is to help balance the control of Spice between player factions, and seed power in Minor Houses in preparation for the prescient foretelling of The Scattering.
Our primary goals are:
Diplomacy: Build our diplomatic standing with DA's guilds and support a balanced distribution of power on Arrakis.
Information Broker: Focus on scouting and surveying after Coriolis Storms to provide the best intel on Arrakis' Deep Desert.
Research (PvE): Committed to the research of abandoned Sietches and Eco Labs to capitalize on forgotten technologies and relics.
Waystations (PvP): Provide the DA community with waypoints for rest and recuperation in the Deep Desert, serving as sites of religious worship and research.
 | |
| Guild Summary | |
|---|---|
| Established | 04 . March . 2024 . (formally) |
| Members | 50+ |
| Focus | Politics, Information Broker |
| Membership | |
| Recruitment | Invite Only |
| Platform | PC, Xbox, Playstation |
| Language | English |
| Timezones | Global |
| Play Style | |
| PVE | Yes |
| PVP | Yes |
| RP | Yes |
| Major House | Neutral |
| Links | |
| Discord | https://discord.gg/ra8uSc6DQC |
| Website | https://duneawakening.com |
Organization / Progression
Ranks
Herald
A custodian of the Book of Azhar, a Herald is trusted with the shared Other Memory of their forebears upon overcoming their spice agony.
Acolyte
Acolytes are Bene Gesserit operatives, actively gathering and disseminating information and working at the behest of the order.
Initiate
One not yet officially initiated into the Bene Gesserit order, they act as informants or confidants but may have allegiances to other guilds, groups, or themselves.
Divisions
Valkyrie
Focusing on PVP / PVE combat, the Valkryie serve as armed guards. They are entrusted with protection and escorting Handlers and Truthsayers on harvesting and recon missions.
Truthsayer
Focusing on intelligence gathering, Truthsayers contribute to intelligence capabilities, either through diplomacy or through the scouting and surveying of Arrakis.
Handler
Focusing on trade and securing Spice, Handlers have intimate knowledge of Arrakis and are entrusted with growing the resources needed to support operations on Arrakis.
Leadership
- Herald - Conkin, Arthel, Llivia, ClockworkSiren
Guild Lore
A high order of the Bene Gesserit, the Heralds safeguard the orders' spiritual, psychological, and genetic practices, and ensure they are fit for practice throughout the ages. While Reverend Mothers lead the order, Heralds serve as custodians to the Book of Azhar, working from the shadows to codify the secrets of the Known Universe into their sacred text.
With Arrakis as the epicentre of power in the Known Universe, the Heralds have been at work from the planet for millennia, acting as envoys to the Sayyadina to preserve the knowledge of the Fremen. Amid the War of Assassins and the Fremen's retreat into the Deep Desert, the Heralds persist in their mission against any and all adversity.
The upper echelons of the Heralds have come to foster practices that allow individuals to tap into both male and female Other Memory. By sharing this collective knowledge at the spice agony of every Herald, their collective consciousness is primed to understand the vast experience of humanity, and prepare failsafes lest the Kwizath Haderach fails.
Another central tenet in their doctrine is the prescient foretelling of The Scattering. With this prophecy in mind, they have started seeding power and wealth in minor houses - with Arrakis as the ultimate proving ground for those who will be sent out beyond the Known Universe.
While millennia have dulled divides within the Bene Gesserit, the sect's mantra hails back to the Orthodox Sisterhood: “Humility is the foundation of our virtues.”
Q&A
Is this guild a matriarchy?
In essence - we’re a queer and femme-rooted community, with an open door for open-minded folks.
Are male Bene Gesserit permitted?
The Bene Gesserit are a traditionally female, matriarchal order - which we honour. However in Dune Awakening males can be trained as BG, so we are open to members of any gender identity. Our approach is to be inclusive of queer, trans, non-binary+ identities.
How can Heralds tap into both male and female Other Memory?
As a high order of the Bene Gesserit based on Arrakis for millennia, charged with tending the vast knowledge required for the Book of Azhar, they have developed practices that are unbeknownst to most of the order. The idea behind this practice is rooted in our identity as a queer guild, which has a deeper understanding of the nuances of biological sex and gender, than perhaps the cis-male author of Dune. This is about exploring how queer experience and non-binary identity could manifest in the Dune Universe.
Can anyone access this understanding of Other Memory?
While Acolytes are primed with the spiritual knowledge and biological priming of a non-binary nature, the access to male and female Other Memory is achieved through the Spice Agony that one undergoes to reach the rank of Herald.
How does shared memory come into this?
Bene Gesserit with acccess to Other Memory can share their consciousness. Usually this is rarely done, however it is an integral part of the ritual when a Herald ascends. In their role as custodians to the Book of Azhar, this provides the Heralds with continuity and accumulated wisdom, to serve as a data bank of information.
They sound like Kwisatz Haderach - do that have advanced prescience?
The focus is on shared other memory - as the order serves as a data bank of information, to inform the Book of Azhar. Naturally, some prescience is present, but it is limited and focused on the Scattering.
Which servers do we plan to play on?
We will choose a world in East US and EU. Each member of that world will then take an individual Sietch, so that we can connect with as many players and guilds across our chosen worlds as possible.
Will we still play together?
Yes - you can freely visit other Sietches within the chosen world, the only limitation being claiming land. Those who are willing to create characters on both EU and US servers are encouraged to do so.
Which faction do we plan to join?
As a guild we will abstain from siding with the Atreides or Harkonnen, however we will likely side with the third unannounced faction.
Are we open to alliances?
The Heralds exists as a neutral entity - the aim is to act as a neutral faction in the common interest of Dune Awakening’s many guilds. We may support the growth and endevours of certain guilds from time to time, for a limited period.
Will we be partaking in PvP as well?
Yes - we will periodically align with other guilds and support them in their PvP endeavours, as well as maintain our own activity in the PvP area.
How do we envision roleplay in the game?
You are free to RP to the extent with which you are comfortable, whether that be in voice or text. We will plan RP events and meetings and encourage players to approach the world in a way that fits their character.