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| − | {{DE-Or,Ex|Alia Atreides}} |
+ | {{DE-Or,Ex|Alia Atreides}}[[File:Alia.png|thumb|Alia Atreides]] |
| − | '''Alia Atreides''', ([[10191 AG]] - [[ |
+ | '''Alia Atreides''', aka '''Saint Alia of the Knife''' and '''Womb of Heaven'''([[10191 AG]] - [[10219 AG]]), born in planet [[Arrakis/DE|Arrakis]]. Posthumous daughter of Duke [[Leto Atreides I/DE|Leto Atreides I]] and his [[Bene Gesserit/DE|Bene Gesserit]] [[concubine]] [[Lady]] [[Jessica Atreides/DE|Jessica]], was the younger sister of [[Paul Atreides/DE|Paul Atreides]]. |
| + | [[Regent| Regent]] of the [[Atreides Empire]], she established an autocratic government based in the cult of her personality. In 10219 AG she committed suicide after being overpowered by [[Leto II]] and having succumbed to [http://dune.wikia.com/wiki/Abomination possession] by her grandfather, the [[Baron Vladimir Harkonnen]] . |
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| + | ==Biography== |
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| + | ===Pre-birth=== |
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| + | While [[Jessica Atreides/DE|Jessica Atreides]] was pregnant with Alia, she went through the [[Water of Life/DE|Water of Life]] ceremony to become a [[Reverend Mother/DE|Reverend Mother]]. The [[Fremen/DE|Fremen]] did not know she was pregnant, but she could not refuse the "illuminating poison", even if she knew the effects; Alia's consciousness was permanently altered and became the first of the Atreides [[pre-born]], something Jessica's Bene Gesserit superiors had long feared. |
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| − | ==Early |
+ | ===Early years=== |
| + | Alia was born in 10191, with full awareness and knowledge of her ancestral memories. After only a few moments of crying, she looked with focused eyes around the birthing room, as in taking in every detail. Fremen women present at her birth, with knowledge abut the [[Abomination/DE|Abomination]], spread the word that the child would bear careful watching. With a curious life she drank the [[Water of Conception]] fed to her by [[Harah/DE|Harah]], her godmother. |
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| − | Alia was the first of the Atreides [[pre-born]] (her consciousness was permanently altered since her mother, Lady Jessica was pregnant to her during the [[Water of Life/DE|Water of Life]] ceremony which made her a [[Fremen/DE|Fremen]] [[Reverend Mother/DE|Reverend Mother]]. The Fremen did not know of Jessica's pregnancy, and so had no way of knowing that they were creating more than a new Reverend Mother when they fed Lady Jessica the "illuminating poison"; Jessica knew the effect the raw Water of Life would have on her unborn daughter, but could not refuse the ceremony. |
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| + | The superstitious Fremen were impressed by her from the first moments, with precocity to every matter. When only 8 months old, she could walk, and exercised thoroughly the water discipline, known to her by accessing the Fremen memories. Her first words were "I love you, Harah". She used to sit alone at the edge of the desert practicing [[Bene Gesserit/DE|Bene Gesserit]] exercises. |
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| − | The result was the creation of something Jessica's Bene Gesserit superiors had long feared: a child born with full awareness and knowledge of her ancestral memories and highly susceptible to [[Abomination/DE|Abomination]] from before birth. Alia was born in [[10191 AG]], within a year of her parents' move from [[Caladan/DE|Caladan]] to [[Arrakis/DE|Arrakis]]. The superstitious Fremen were affected by the child from the moment of her birth. After only a few moments of crying, the newborn had focused eyes and looked around the birthing room as if taking in every detail; with a curious smile, she drank the [[Water of Conception]] fed her by her godmother [[Harah]]. Some of the other women present at the birth were unnerved by this behavior and spread the word among their people that their new Reverend Mother had given birth to a child who would bear careful watching (the Bene Gesserit were not the only group in the Imperium with legends of Abomination). |
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| + | This odd sight was enough to make the Fremen consider the shameful [[Test of Possession]], but the stature of [[Paul Atreides/DE|her brother]] as the [[Mahdi]], and her mother, saved her from it. |
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| − | Alia had precocity in other matters. By the time she could walk, eight months old, and was exercising their water discipline as thoroughly as any adult among them. Her access to Fremen memories and to those of her own ancestors, meant she did not have to learn the discipline but simply implement what she already knew. Her first words to her godmother and nurse were not nonsense syllables, but a recognizable sentence: "I love you, Harah." Most unsettling was the child's habit of sitting alone at the edge of the desert, practicing adult Bene Gesserit exercises. |
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| + | [[Image:AliciaWitt.jpg|right|thumb]] |
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| + | When she was only 2 years old, in 10193, she witnessed the last engagements between her brother and Shaddam IV, and Muad'Dib's Fremen. Rather than telling her brother about the death of his son during the fighting, she allowed the [[Sardaukar/DE]] to capture her, and take her to the Emperor. Standing before [[Shaddam IV/DE]], his [[Truthsayer/DE|Truthsayer/]] [[Gaius Helen Mohiam/DE|Gaius Helen Mohiam]] and Baron [[Vladimir Harkonnen/DE|Vladimir Harkonnen]] (whom she recognised as her grandfather), she unnerved them with her poise and intelligence. Mohiam recognised to her the Abomination the Sisterhood long feared and demanded that she be killed at once, but Shaddam futilely tried to frighten her to learn her brother's whereabouts. The Baron dared to seize her, and in turn was struck with a [[Gom Jabar|poisoned needle]].<ref name=alia/> |
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| + | That year Mohiam sent a report to the [[Bene Gesserit General Council]] concerning Alia's existence and nature, which caused |
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| − | Only the stature of her family among the tribes saved the child from being put to the [[Test of Possession]]. This ritual evoked to the Fremen a feeling of communal guilt as no other action could and was seldom performed; but the sight of a child behaving so much older than her known years was enough to make them consider it. |
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| + | great consternation. The B.G. immediately ordered secret assassinations of both Jessica and Alia in spite of the enormous risks, but more rational thought prevailed, and they decided to study this Abomination for information needed to destroy her, while wooing her mother back into the ranks.<ref name=alia/> |
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| + | When Alia was just 14 years old, Paul gives her to a [[ghola/DE|ghola]] of [[Duncan Idaho/DE|Duncan Idaho]] as a reward for fealty.<ref name=paul1>Atreides, Paul</ref> |
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| − | [[Image:AliciaWitt.jpg|thumb|Alicia Witt played Alia Atreides in the 1984 ''Dune'' movie]] |
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| − | After living with the [[Fremen/DE|Fremen]] for several years, in [[10193 AG]] she was present in the palace in [[Arrakeen/DE|Arrakeen]] when her brother and his forces successfully conquered the combined forces of the [[Shaddam IV/DE|Shaddam IV]]'s [[Sardaukar/DE|Sardaukar]] and [[House Harkonnen/DE|House Harkonnen]]. During the last engagements between the forces of Shaddam IV and Muad'Dib's Fremen, the two-year-old Alia permitted herself |
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| − | to be captured rafter than take responsibility for telling her brother that his son had been killed in the fighting. |
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| + | As a young woman during the days of Muad'dib, Alia led crowds of pilgrims in prayer and prophesied for them. Being the sister of the Mahdi she was revered as Saint Alia-of-the-Knife, the divine huntress who sought out the faithless, who could not be deceived, and "The Womb of Heaven", her most popular title.<ref name=alia/> |
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| − | Taken before the Emperor, his [[Truthsayer]] R.M. [[Gaius Helen Mohiam/DE|Gaius Helen Mohiam]], and the Baron [[Vladimir Harkonnen/DE|Vladimir Harkonnen]], the little girl exhibited such poise and intelligence that she unnerved all three. Mohiam recognized that she was the Abomination the Sisterhood had long known was possible, a development feared above all other consequences of their breeding program demanded that she be killed at once. Shaddam IV insisted that she reveal her brother's whereabouts and tried futilely to frighten her as though she were any other child. |
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| + | Alia attended the funeral of [[Chani Kynes/DE|Chani Kynes]]. [[Harah/DE|Harah]] had restrained her from driving [[Irulan Corrino/DE|Irulan Corrino]] out of the cavern on sight.<ref>Atreides, Chani</ref> |
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| − | The old Baron, already known to the girl as her maternal grandfather, made the most foolish mistake of all by seizing her, believing that she was helpless and easily dispatched. The "helpless" child struck him with a [[Gom Jabbar]]; the Harkonnen died moments later. |
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| − | == |
+ | ===Regency=== |
[[Image:Alia01.jpg|left|thumb|Alia as Imperial Regent]] |
[[Image:Alia01.jpg|left|thumb|Alia as Imperial Regent]] |
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| ⚫ | Paul disappeared into the desert in [[10209 AG]], and with his children [[Leto II/DE|Leto]] and [[Ghanima Atreides/DE|Ghanima]] still too young to effectively rule remained under [[Stilgar/DE|Stilgar]]'s guardianship. Alia went from being a Princess to being the Imperial [[Regent]] '''Alia VIII ''' of the [[Atreides Empire]].<ref name=alia/> Jealous of the love Ghanima had for Harah, she removed her when she was 3.<ref name=ghanima>Atreides, Ghanima</ref> |
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| − | ===Establishing Her Rule=== |
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| ⚫ | |||
| + | One of the first acts of her regency was to execute all those who had conspired against Paul, including Mohiam, despite Paul's orders, obviously aware that she was her grandmother. This decision mared her first deviation from Atreides behavior. However she spared only the repentant Princess [[Irulan Corrino/DE|Irulan Corrino]]. |
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| ⚫ | |||
| + | [[File:Dune alia1.jpg|thumb|Alia on the [[Golden Lion Throne]].]] |
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| − | Shortly thereafter, Alia fell fully into Abomination, and was secretly tormented by the living personalities of countless ancestors. Chief among these was the personality of Vladimir Harkonnen, who sought to use his granddaughter as a tool to reclaim power from beyond the grave. |
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| + | In the first month of her regency, Alia married [[Duncan Idaho-10208]], the Atreides swordmaster. Hundreds of thousands of Imperial subjects atended The ceremony in the capital city of [[Arrakeen/DE]], which followed the Fremen rites. Alia opted to omit only those sections of the ritual which involved removing her [[crysknife]] from its sheath at her waist, as showing it before a crowd of out-freyn, would alienate the Fremen. |
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| + | In the next year of the Regency she dissolved the [[Fedaykin/DE|Fedaykin]]. |
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| − | ===Relationships=== |
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| + | |||
| + | With Jessica in Castle Caladan, and Stilgar content to defer to her, Alia was in complete control of her twin nephews. She knew they were pre-born like her, knew their capabilities and what large doses of melange had done to Alia and avoided it at all costs, fearing the effects of the [[spice-trance]].<ref name=alia/> Ghanima was both terrified and empathetic, seeing in her what she would easily become.<ref name=ghanima/> Alia encouraged them otherwise, hoping they wuld share with her the visions of prescience they could tap into. Their lack of cooperation puzzled, annoyed and infuriated Alia.<ref name=alia/> |
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| + | |||
| ⚫ | |||
[[Image:Alia02.jpg|thumb|As Abomination, Alia takes comfort in the metaphorical arms of Baron Harkonnen]] |
[[Image:Alia02.jpg|thumb|As Abomination, Alia takes comfort in the metaphorical arms of Baron Harkonnen]] |
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| + | As rebellions were put down and problems solved, however, Alia found herself more and more subject to her ancestral memories seeking a second chance, at her expense. She managed to silence them thanks to Bene Gesserit litanies and [[Zensunni/DE|Zensunni]] (which she knew from Fremen memories) but they grew stronger with time and the heavy doses of melange she used to take. Her decisions were harsh and her "divine rages" were infamous to her Aides. She ignored the advice of Idaho, and those closest to her to spare herself more. |
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| ⚫ | Alia had few close, genuine relationships, largely due to her mentally and emotionally imbalanced state. Her relationship with her mother was strained at best, and simmered with deep resentment. And her interaction with Fremen was tarnished at an early age by their fear of her abilities and knowledge. |
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| + | The strain against the maddening internal voices finally became too great and to avoid fragmentation of her personality, in 10217 she made an alliance with the strong memory of Vladimir Harkonnen. Both strong personalities acting in concert they managed to shut out the voices. Around that time she started Bene Gesserit techniques to maintain her young body. |
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| − | Though she loved and admired Paul, her brother, she also partly resented his influence. And her love for the original [[Duncan Idaho (gholas)|Duncan Idaho ghola]] was ultimately destroyed by a casual affair with [[Javid]], one of her priests who secretly served the Fremen insurgents who plotted against her. |
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| + | However the influence of Harkonnen corrupted her mind, resulting to a different way of decisions and actions, becoming more self-protective and less representative of the old Atreides codes. Alerted by the change, the Sisterhood sent a delegation to Caladan, asking the help from Lady Jessica to investigating her daughter. Jessica knew that the purpose of her Sisters would |
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| − | ===Spiralling Downward=== |
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| + | be to destroy the Abomination, so she accepted to help Alia to save herself. Soon after she arrived to Arrakeen, Jessica was a captive of [[House Corrino/DE]] and Alia expanded her control of the [[Imperium/DE|Imperium]]: Leto was presumed dead, and Ghanima who would ascend the throne, was to be engaged to [[Farad'n Corrino/DE|Farad'n Corrino]]. |
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| − | During the same years in which she held herself aloof from family and friends, Alia indulged in massive doses of [[spice melange|melange]], ostensibly for the purpose of broadening her [[prescience|prescient]] vision. However, Alia lacked her brother's prescient ability, and the [[spice trance]] most often failed her. The same drug which had initially keyed her sensitivity to her ancestral voices could be depended upon to keep those same voices from becoming blurred or unavailable. As a result, Alia's heavy melange consumption became a means of maintaining contact with her internal advisors and gave them power. |
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| + | Jessica, Leto, Ganima, Farad'n, even Idaho and [[Gurney Halleck/DE|Gurney Halleck]] planned against her in 10220. Alia put an assassin against Halleck, but when the attempt failed, she took greater risks. Idaho's death forced Stilgar to flee to the desert with Irulan and Ghanima. Her ally spent more time lusting after the young men in her court than he did helping her. |
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| − | Alia's actions during her Regency were those of a power-hungry woman aided by the memories of generations of ambitious rulers and princelings. Her every manoeuvre, including her marriage to the first Duncan Idaho ghola, was seen as having been performed in order to solidify her own position, and her manipulation of the children in whose names she ruled was also considered a devious maneuver. Not content with having destroyed herself, she set about to lead her niece and nephew into similarly destructive ways. Since the most direct way of achieving this goal involved the children's becoming enmeshed in their ancestral memories, Alia continually tried to interest them in the spice trance. |
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| + | |||
| + | [[Zia]] brought to her [[Buer Agarves/DE|Buer Agarves]] as her new aide who would later replace [[Javid]] in Alia's plaything in bed. Early in his service, Alia sent them to [[Sietch Tabr/DE|Sietch Tabr]] with messages, and Agarves returned reporting that [[Stilgar/DE|Stilgar]] had killed Idaho after Idaho had killed Javid. Agarves lied that he was not present, fearing for Alia's reprisals if he admitted that he did nothing to protect them. Alia commanded him to kill Stilgar promising him to become Naib of Tabr. During one of his reports, Alia lied that that her initial command was a result of ravaging grief but now she had forgiven him and only wanted Stilgar to return to Sietch Tabr; Alia also gave him as a parting gift new boots, where a transmitter was secreted. The transmitter let Alia's forces to Stilgar's refuge, and Agarves' death.<ref>Buer Agarves</ref> |
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| + | |||
| + | She secured Irulan and Stilgar in her dungeons and even persuaded Ghanima to accept Farad'n. But she had spread her forces too thin. |
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===Death=== |
===Death=== |
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| − | [[ |
+ | [[File:Leto's Return|thumb|left|Leto's return and Alia's suicide. ]] |
| + | Leto was now protected and strengthened by his [[sandtrout/DE|sandtrout]] skin, arrived at [[Alia's Temple]] and could overcome her legendary prowess at hand-to-hand combat. Defeated, Alia exerted the force of her own personality one final time. In spite of the protests of her inner voices, she took her own life rather than to submit to a Fremen Trial of Possession. As she flung |
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| − | Alia ordered the assassination of [[The Preacher]], despite knowing it was her beloved brother. Upon Leto's return from the desert, he gave her a choice, [[Trial of Possession]] or suicide. Realising that she would not pass the Trial, Alia threw herself from a high window to her death, a death that was witnessed by her mother Jessica, the Atreides twins, and Farad'n Corrino. |
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| + | herself to the Temple courtyard, she performed her first independent act in years. |
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| + | Her body was removed from the courtyard and processed through the nearest [[deathstill]]; the water was carried into the desert to evaporate in the fierce sun, a Fremen way of disposing with the water of one convicted of Possession, and indicative of the low opinion held of her by that time. |
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| − | Had it not been for her death, Alia could have continued to rule for several centuries by regenerating her cellular structure. According to Fremen tradition, as with all Abominations the only cure was death. |
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| + | ==Character== |
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| + | From her youth, Alia chose isolation, and as she grew older, Alia often mentioned her loneliness from the rest of humanity, increasingly blaming her mother for this condition. In certain aspects, she surpassed her brother. Jessica understood what had happened to her daughter as best as she could (for someone who had not experienced such an awakening) but could provide only little comfort.<ref name=alia/> Whenever her absence was not commanded, she absented from the Court; as a Regent she was mostly unavailable except for official duties. |
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| + | |||
| + | Lacking her brother's prescient abilities, Alia indulged in massive doses of melange to broaden her vision although the spice- |
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| + | trance most often failed her. Her heavy melange consumption was just another means of maintaining contact with her internal advisors. |
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| + | |||
| + | She ruled as a power-hungry woman, aided by the memories of ambitious and greedy rulers, and most of her actions had the aim to solidify her position, such as her marriage, and manipulation of her nephews.<ref name=abomination/> |
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| + | |||
| ⚫ | Alia had few close, genuine relationships, largely due to her mentally and emotionally imbalanced state. Her relationship with her mother was strained at best, and simmered with deep resentment. And her interaction with Fremen was tarnished at an early age by their fear of her abilities and knowledge. |
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==Legacy== |
==Legacy== |
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| + | After her water was poured into the sand, her family seldom spoke about her, but Ghanima told her children about the pains of being human and in contact with their past.<ref name=ghanima/> |
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| − | The impact of Alia's religious powerbase was long-lived. Many considered her a revered figure for several hundreds of years after her death. In the months prior to Leto II's death, a cult of Alia was discovered on [[Giedi Prime]] by Duncan Idaho's agents. Ultimately however, Alia's influence vanished after Leto's death, some three and a half thousand years after her own death. |
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| + | |||
| + | Princess Irulan, one of a number of B.G. spies were introduced into Muad'Dib's household posing as retainers, close to the Lady Alia even into her Regency and even until her death. Their observations, along with those of various Reverend Mothers who came into contact with her, provided the basis for the [[Report on Alia Atreides]], after which the [[Bene Gesserit Judiciary Council]] condemned Alia as an "Abomination to be Abhorred" in 10211. The authors (Sisters) of the final draft of the Report after Alia's death unanimously declared that Alia wilfully chose Abomination's way for herself, spurning all attempts to save her humanity. Her suicide relieved the Sisterhood.<ref name=abomination>Alia as Abomination</ref> |
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| + | The impact of Alia's religious powerbase was long-lived. Many considered her a revered figure for several hundreds of years after her death. While worshipped during her life, as a reflected image of Muad'dib, carrying on his work, after her death she was worshipped as a divine godhead of her own. Her title as "The Womb of Heaven" was adopted by the Cults as a far more hallowed connotation (her lesser titles were discarded). The first recorded [[Cult of Alia]] was established in Arrakeen in 10970 during the rule of Leto, with [[The Book of Alia]] dedicated to her divinity. |
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| − | ==Behind the Scenes== |
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| + | In ''[[The Dune Catastrophe]]'', [[Farad'n Corrino/DE|Harq al-Ada]] makes the very point that Alia was capable of encompassing each of the contradictory personalities with which she has been credited, citing the opinion of Ghanima Atreides: "My aunt chose her own course at many junctures, but the opportunity to choose was not always given her. Leto and I pitied her even as we feared her, and I believe that she often felt the same mix of emotions toward herself."<ref name=alia/> |
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| − | In the ''[[Children of Dune]]'' TV mini-series, Alia kills herself with a [[crysknife]]. |
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| + | [[Bronso of Ix]], in [[The Atreides Imperium]], dismisses Alia as "a self-made disaster". A similar opinion is held by [[Lors Karden]] author of [[Truth and Fancy in the Oral History]].<ref name=abomination/> |
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| − | Alia was played by three different actresses [[wikipedia:Alicia Witt|Alicia Witt]] in the [[Dune (1984 movie)|1984 movie]], Laura Burton in the [[Dune (2000 miniseries)|Dune 2000 miniseries]], and [[wikipedia:Daniela Amavia|Daniela Amavia]] in the [[Children of Dune (2003 miniseries)|2003 Children of Dune miniseries]]. |
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| + | {{Succession|Title= [[Padishah Emperor/DE|Padishah Emperor]] of the [[Known Universe]]| Previous=[[Paul Atreides/DE|Paul Muad'dib]]| Years=[[10209 AG]] - [[10218 AG]] | Next=[[Leto II Atreides]]}} |
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| − | == Appearances == |
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| + | {{ref}} |
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| − | * ''[[Dune (novel)|Dune]]'' |
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| − | * ''[[Dune Messiah (novel)|Dune Messiah]]'' |
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| − | * ''[[Children of Dune (novel)|Children of Dune]]'' |
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[[Category:females]] |
[[Category:females]] |
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[[Category:House Atreides]] |
[[Category:House Atreides]] |
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Revision as of 16:43, 4 July 2019
|
This article or section refers to elements from the Dune Encyclopedia. There are separate pages for this subject as it appears in the other canons, the reasons for this are explained here |
Alia Atreides
Alia Atreides, aka Saint Alia of the Knife and Womb of Heaven(10191 AG - 10219 AG), born in planet Arrakis. Posthumous daughter of Duke Leto Atreides I and his Bene Gesserit concubine Lady Jessica, was the younger sister of Paul Atreides. Regent of the Atreides Empire, she established an autocratic government based in the cult of her personality. In 10219 AG she committed suicide after being overpowered by Leto II and having succumbed to possession by her grandfather, the Baron Vladimir Harkonnen .
Biography
Pre-birth
While Jessica Atreides was pregnant with Alia, she went through the Water of Life ceremony to become a Reverend Mother. The Fremen did not know she was pregnant, but she could not refuse the "illuminating poison", even if she knew the effects; Alia's consciousness was permanently altered and became the first of the Atreides pre-born, something Jessica's Bene Gesserit superiors had long feared.
Early years
Alia was born in 10191, with full awareness and knowledge of her ancestral memories. After only a few moments of crying, she looked with focused eyes around the birthing room, as in taking in every detail. Fremen women present at her birth, with knowledge abut the Abomination, spread the word that the child would bear careful watching. With a curious life she drank the Water of Conception fed to her by Harah, her godmother.
The superstitious Fremen were impressed by her from the first moments, with precocity to every matter. When only 8 months old, she could walk, and exercised thoroughly the water discipline, known to her by accessing the Fremen memories. Her first words were "I love you, Harah". She used to sit alone at the edge of the desert practicing Bene Gesserit exercises.
This odd sight was enough to make the Fremen consider the shameful Test of Possession, but the stature of her brother as the Mahdi, and her mother, saved her from it.
When she was only 2 years old, in 10193, she witnessed the last engagements between her brother and Shaddam IV, and Muad'Dib's Fremen. Rather than telling her brother about the death of his son during the fighting, she allowed the Sardaukar/DE to capture her, and take her to the Emperor. Standing before Shaddam IV/DE, his Truthsayer/ Gaius Helen Mohiam and Baron Vladimir Harkonnen (whom she recognised as her grandfather), she unnerved them with her poise and intelligence. Mohiam recognised to her the Abomination the Sisterhood long feared and demanded that she be killed at once, but Shaddam futilely tried to frighten her to learn her brother's whereabouts. The Baron dared to seize her, and in turn was struck with a poisoned needle.[1]
That year Mohiam sent a report to the Bene Gesserit General Council concerning Alia's existence and nature, which caused great consternation. The B.G. immediately ordered secret assassinations of both Jessica and Alia in spite of the enormous risks, but more rational thought prevailed, and they decided to study this Abomination for information needed to destroy her, while wooing her mother back into the ranks.[1]
When Alia was just 14 years old, Paul gives her to a ghola of Duncan Idaho as a reward for fealty.[2]
As a young woman during the days of Muad'dib, Alia led crowds of pilgrims in prayer and prophesied for them. Being the sister of the Mahdi she was revered as Saint Alia-of-the-Knife, the divine huntress who sought out the faithless, who could not be deceived, and "The Womb of Heaven", her most popular title.[1]
Alia attended the funeral of Chani Kynes. Harah had restrained her from driving Irulan Corrino out of the cavern on sight.[3]
Regency
Alia as Imperial Regent
Paul disappeared into the desert in 10209 AG, and with his children Leto and Ghanima still too young to effectively rule remained under Stilgar's guardianship. Alia went from being a Princess to being the Imperial Regent Alia VIII of the Atreides Empire.[1] Jealous of the love Ghanima had for Harah, she removed her when she was 3.[4]
One of the first acts of her regency was to execute all those who had conspired against Paul, including Mohiam, despite Paul's orders, obviously aware that she was her grandmother. This decision mared her first deviation from Atreides behavior. However she spared only the repentant Princess Irulan Corrino.
Alia on the Golden Lion Throne.
In the first month of her regency, Alia married Duncan Idaho-10208, the Atreides swordmaster. Hundreds of thousands of Imperial subjects atended The ceremony in the capital city of Arrakeen/DE, which followed the Fremen rites. Alia opted to omit only those sections of the ritual which involved removing her crysknife from its sheath at her waist, as showing it before a crowd of out-freyn, would alienate the Fremen.
In the next year of the Regency she dissolved the Fedaykin.
With Jessica in Castle Caladan, and Stilgar content to defer to her, Alia was in complete control of her twin nephews. She knew they were pre-born like her, knew their capabilities and what large doses of melange had done to Alia and avoided it at all costs, fearing the effects of the spice-trance.[1] Ghanima was both terrified and empathetic, seeing in her what she would easily become.[4] Alia encouraged them otherwise, hoping they wuld share with her the visions of prescience they could tap into. Their lack of cooperation puzzled, annoyed and infuriated Alia.[1]
Into Abomination
As Abomination, Alia takes comfort in the metaphorical arms of Baron Harkonnen
As rebellions were put down and problems solved, however, Alia found herself more and more subject to her ancestral memories seeking a second chance, at her expense. She managed to silence them thanks to Bene Gesserit litanies and Zensunni (which she knew from Fremen memories) but they grew stronger with time and the heavy doses of melange she used to take. Her decisions were harsh and her "divine rages" were infamous to her Aides. She ignored the advice of Idaho, and those closest to her to spare herself more.
The strain against the maddening internal voices finally became too great and to avoid fragmentation of her personality, in 10217 she made an alliance with the strong memory of Vladimir Harkonnen. Both strong personalities acting in concert they managed to shut out the voices. Around that time she started Bene Gesserit techniques to maintain her young body.
However the influence of Harkonnen corrupted her mind, resulting to a different way of decisions and actions, becoming more self-protective and less representative of the old Atreides codes. Alerted by the change, the Sisterhood sent a delegation to Caladan, asking the help from Lady Jessica to investigating her daughter. Jessica knew that the purpose of her Sisters would be to destroy the Abomination, so she accepted to help Alia to save herself. Soon after she arrived to Arrakeen, Jessica was a captive of House Corrino/DE and Alia expanded her control of the Imperium: Leto was presumed dead, and Ghanima who would ascend the throne, was to be engaged to Farad'n Corrino.
Jessica, Leto, Ganima, Farad'n, even Idaho and Gurney Halleck planned against her in 10220. Alia put an assassin against Halleck, but when the attempt failed, she took greater risks. Idaho's death forced Stilgar to flee to the desert with Irulan and Ghanima. Her ally spent more time lusting after the young men in her court than he did helping her.
Zia brought to her Buer Agarves as her new aide who would later replace Javid in Alia's plaything in bed. Early in his service, Alia sent them to Sietch Tabr with messages, and Agarves returned reporting that Stilgar had killed Idaho after Idaho had killed Javid. Agarves lied that he was not present, fearing for Alia's reprisals if he admitted that he did nothing to protect them. Alia commanded him to kill Stilgar promising him to become Naib of Tabr. During one of his reports, Alia lied that that her initial command was a result of ravaging grief but now she had forgiven him and only wanted Stilgar to return to Sietch Tabr; Alia also gave him as a parting gift new boots, where a transmitter was secreted. The transmitter let Alia's forces to Stilgar's refuge, and Agarves' death.[5]
She secured Irulan and Stilgar in her dungeons and even persuaded Ghanima to accept Farad'n. But she had spread her forces too thin.
Death
Leto's Return
Leto's return and Alia's suicide.
Leto was now protected and strengthened by his sandtrout skin, arrived at Alia's Temple and could overcome her legendary prowess at hand-to-hand combat. Defeated, Alia exerted the force of her own personality one final time. In spite of the protests of her inner voices, she took her own life rather than to submit to a Fremen Trial of Possession. As she flung herself to the Temple courtyard, she performed her first independent act in years.
Her body was removed from the courtyard and processed through the nearest deathstill; the water was carried into the desert to evaporate in the fierce sun, a Fremen way of disposing with the water of one convicted of Possession, and indicative of the low opinion held of her by that time.
Character
From her youth, Alia chose isolation, and as she grew older, Alia often mentioned her loneliness from the rest of humanity, increasingly blaming her mother for this condition. In certain aspects, she surpassed her brother. Jessica understood what had happened to her daughter as best as she could (for someone who had not experienced such an awakening) but could provide only little comfort.[1] Whenever her absence was not commanded, she absented from the Court; as a Regent she was mostly unavailable except for official duties.
Lacking her brother's prescient abilities, Alia indulged in massive doses of melange to broaden her vision although the spice- trance most often failed her. Her heavy melange consumption was just another means of maintaining contact with her internal advisors.
She ruled as a power-hungry woman, aided by the memories of ambitious and greedy rulers, and most of her actions had the aim to solidify her position, such as her marriage, and manipulation of her nephews.[6]
Alia had few close, genuine relationships, largely due to her mentally and emotionally imbalanced state. Her relationship with her mother was strained at best, and simmered with deep resentment. And her interaction with Fremen was tarnished at an early age by their fear of her abilities and knowledge.
Legacy
After her water was poured into the sand, her family seldom spoke about her, but Ghanima told her children about the pains of being human and in contact with their past.[4]
Princess Irulan, one of a number of B.G. spies were introduced into Muad'Dib's household posing as retainers, close to the Lady Alia even into her Regency and even until her death. Their observations, along with those of various Reverend Mothers who came into contact with her, provided the basis for the Report on Alia Atreides, after which the Bene Gesserit Judiciary Council condemned Alia as an "Abomination to be Abhorred" in 10211. The authors (Sisters) of the final draft of the Report after Alia's death unanimously declared that Alia wilfully chose Abomination's way for herself, spurning all attempts to save her humanity. Her suicide relieved the Sisterhood.[6]
The impact of Alia's religious powerbase was long-lived. Many considered her a revered figure for several hundreds of years after her death. While worshipped during her life, as a reflected image of Muad'dib, carrying on his work, after her death she was worshipped as a divine godhead of her own. Her title as "The Womb of Heaven" was adopted by the Cults as a far more hallowed connotation (her lesser titles were discarded). The first recorded Cult of Alia was established in Arrakeen in 10970 during the rule of Leto, with The Book of Alia dedicated to her divinity.
In The Dune Catastrophe, Harq al-Ada makes the very point that Alia was capable of encompassing each of the contradictory personalities with which she has been credited, citing the opinion of Ghanima Atreides: "My aunt chose her own course at many junctures, but the opportunity to choose was not always given her. Leto and I pitied her even as we feared her, and I believe that she often felt the same mix of emotions toward herself."[1]
Bronso of Ix, in The Atreides Imperium, dismisses Alia as "a self-made disaster". A similar opinion is held by Lors Karden author of Truth and Fancy in the Oral History.[6]
| Preceded by Paul Muad'dib |
Padishah Emperor of the Known Universe 10209 AG - 10218 AG |
Succeeded by Leto II Atreides |