Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Morluindil 07-29-03, 05:10 PM	I have a character a dungeon crawl campaign who is based heavily on the Fremen civilization from Frank Herbert's Dune novels. However, despite many rereadings of the first three books, I don't feel as though I've distilled the essence of the Fremen enough to play him properly. Any of you who've read the books and feel they may have a better grasp of the mythos: can you help me out? The character is a male human from a large desert wasteland. Rgr2/Clr1 of Al-Kalim (LG deity of the desert). I have a background story for him (which I'll produce upon request), but I'm just looking for any trademark Fremen mannerisms, etc. so that I can get properly into character and produce a consistent face to the DM and other players. Thanks!
Edymnion 07-29-03, 05:58 PM	Um, strong clan connections, honor above death, very ritualistic, stealthy, always bothered by seeing water being wasted, even if water is available in great supply... Couple of books you might want to look at are the Dune prequals by Brian Herbert. Frank's son found all of his old notes and has been doing an admirable job continuing the story. After he does all the prequal books, he's going to end the cliffhanger that Chapterhouse Dune left (although I already know what the Honored Matres are running from, the big clue is in Dune: Butlerian Jihad). But the prequals actually have a lot of information on Arrakis and the Fremen in them, including all the backstory on Liet Kiens.
Morluindil 07-29-03, 07:39 PM	Really? I'd been kinda apprehensive about picking up Brian Herbert's works, as I was unsure as to whether he'd be able to measure up. However, I guess I'll give them a try. Thanks for your input!
Random bloke 07-29-03, 09:05 PM	Klingons. I'm even semi-serious here. Always thought that hobgoblins (D&D Klingons) would make great Fremen... with someone to make them charge over the humanoid lands... PS - The prequels are good (in a Fire and Ice sort of way) but they're much more historic/political intrigue, then psyychic/philosophical games...That's why I like them more then the original.
Edymnion 07-29-03, 10:14 PM	Yeah, Klingons without the whole anger managment issue would make a good model for Fremen. Originally posted by Morluindil Really? I'd been kinda apprehensive about picking up Brian Herbert's works, as I was unsure as to whether he'd be able to measure up. However, I guess I'll give them a try. Thanks for your input! Well, he's working off of all his father's notes, so all the major plot points are pure Frank. Brian is doing the prequals especially so he will be up to snuff before he tries to finish off the main story. The first book is a *little* weak in spots, but they're all worthy of the DUNE name far as I'm concerned. Brian seems to lean a bit more towards the story and what happened than the 9.2 billion layers of political intrigue that Frank enjoyed so much, but there's still a good bit of political stuff in the novels. He already did House Atreides, House Harkonen, and House Corrino, focusing on the backstory of the three main houses (Paul's, the Barron's, and the Emporer's), and is currently doing the Jihad against the thinking machines. Butlerian Jihad is all about humans rising up against the machine domination, including the actions of a couple of characters bearing the names of Atreides and Harkonen (remember, they didn't turn on each other until the Harkonens betrayed the Atreides at the pivotal battle against the thinking machines). Really paints a good picture on why everybody is still scared stiff of thinking machines, even 10,000 years after it happened. After he finishes all those, he'll check to see if he thinks himself worthy of finishing his father's work. Even with Frank's notes, if he isn't 100% sure he can do it (and he does listen to the opinions of others here), he won't even attempt it. A very admirable thing to do.