House Ordos

House Ordos is a mercantile House in the "Dune" universe as presented in the Westwood Studios "Dune" video games produced from 1992 to 2001. The House is listed in "The Dune Encyclopedia" (1984) [McNelly, Willis E. "The Dune Encyclopedia", June 1, 1984, pg. 273, ISBN 0-425-06813-7 (US edition)] but has never been mentioned in any of the novels.

Game history

In the series of computer games based on "Dune", the goal of House Ordos is the generation of revenue to sustain the pluto-technocratic elite of their society. The Ordos are portrayed as driven by a calculated and single-minded approach: destroying anything that stands between them and the the spice melange. [In "Emperor: Battle for Dune", Roma Atani says, "Control the spice. That is the directive."] According to the original game House Ordos originated from the amalgamation of several wealthy families into one large cartel who hire expensive but disloyal mercenaries to fight for their cause. "" further explains:

Their Mentat advisors, the game notes, often disappear under mysterious circumstances. In "Dune 2000", the Mentat Edric is rumored to be a thinking machine ordered to precise specifications from the Ixians.

Emblem

In "Dune II" (1992) and "Dune 2000" (1998), the emblem for House Ordos was a snake coiled around a book. In "Emperor: Battle for Dune" (2001), the emblem was modified. The book was removed, and was replaced by a blue circle, possibly representing Sigma Draconis IV. In "The Dune Encyclopedia", the coat of arms for the Ordos was a pair of crossed bones with ivy [McNelly, "Dune Encyclopedia", pg. 278.] (a book and snake symbol was used for House Wallach's coat of arms).

Cast

Mentat Amon

The Mentat who assists the player in "Dune II". Almost nothing is known about him, except that he was executed on charges of embezzlement.

Mentat Edric 0

The Mentat who assists the player in "Dune 2000". He is rumored to be a thinking machine of Ixian design.

The Executrix Council

Four beings who appear connected in some form of gestalt collective mind, known as The Executrix. All verbal contact between the rulers of House Ordos and the player is through the medium of a creature known only as 'The Speaker'.

Mentat Roma Atani

A human interpreter of the Executrix, Roma Atani briefs new Ordos generals on the state of the war on Arrakis.

Padishah Emperor Frederick Corrino IV

Cell samples of the Emperor's dead body are smuggled from Kaitain by Tleilaxu spies and purchased by House Ordos during the plot of one of the games in the series. The Executrix created a ghola of him and plan on placing it on the throne as a puppet emperor.

Capabilities

Units open to players controlling House Ordos in the games may include:

* Deviator tank: the Deviator tank, which usually replaces missile launcher vehicles available to other factions in the games, fires a gas that causes the target to temporarily switch sides and join the Ordos.

* Saboteur: originally the Ordos super weapon, they later become a standard unit. Saboteurs carry explosives which they use for suicide attacks against the enemy.

References