Fremen

Society(Edit)

The Fremen are a hardy, semi-nomadic people. They value tradition, are intensely loyal to their tribe, and are quite superstitious. Children are cared for and trained by the whole tribe, since the tribe's survival depends on every member being able to carry out their duties. The Naib is the leader of the tribe, chosen by single combat. Anyone may challenge the Naib for leadership, at any time (by invoking a Tahaddi Challenge). The Naib is advised by the tribe's Council of Elders and Reverend Mother. Although the Naib is technically in command, he leads by consensus. If he loses the consent of the tribe, then he risks being challenged. The Fremen's strong sense of duty to the tribe makes this system remarkably robust - challenges only really happen when a Naib fails to carry out his duties effectively.

Tahaddi Challenge(Edit)

A challenge to mortal combat, such as when challenging the naib for leadership of the tribe. The combat took place without stillsuits, and the victor received the loser's water, as recompense for the water lost in the fight. The victor would also receive the loser's possessions (except those that were taken during the funeral rite). The victor also took the loser's wife for one year (as wife or servant), after which time she would be free to choose. While the loser's wife was his, the victor was also responsible for any children the loser left behind.

Water is Everything(Edit)

Water is the most important substance there is. Everything else revolves around this one fact.

• Fremen rarely cry. Crying is known as "giving water to the dead"
• Spitting on someone is a sign of respect - it is a gift of water
• Fremen wear stillsuits when not in a sietch
• When water is given to the tribe, the giver receives water rings to indicate how much water he has given
• Giving water rings to a member of the opposite sex is seen as a proposal of marriage

Death(Edit)

When a Fremen dies, his water is extracted using a death still, and added to the tribe's store. His family will be given water rings equivalent to the amount of water extracted. Those who knew and liked the deceased sit in a large circle around his belongings. Each person takes an item and states why the person was their friend, eg: "/Stilgar was my friend. When the Harkonnen attacked us and I was wounded, he carried me to safety/"

If the Fremen was killed in a duel, the victor will receive the water rings, as recompense for the water lost during the duel. If the dead Fremen was married, the victor becomes responsible for the dead Fremen's family for a period of one year, and must take the widow as wife or servant during that time. At the end of the year, the widow may choose whether to continue or seek a new husband.

Sayyadina & Reverend Mothers(Edit)

Sayyadina means "Friend of God" in Chakobsa. Sayyadina are Fremen women in training to become reverend mothers. A Fremen reverend mother has the same abilities as a Bene Gesserit reverend mother.

In order to become a reverend mother, a sayyadina must ingest the water of life (the bile from a drowned little maker). The water of life is poisonous. The sayyadina must change the liquid so that it is no longer poisonous, thus becoming a reverend mother. If she fails, she dies. If she is successful, the whole tribe drink of the changed water, now a narcoleptic, leading to an orgy.

It takes a lot of training to be able to take the water of life and survive. Sayyadina are normally selected at an age of around 4-6 years old. It's unusual to take the water of life before the age of 40. When a sayyadina takes the water of life, a new sayyadine is usually initiated, so that if the attempt is unsuccessful, not all is lost to the tribe.

Shai-Hulud(Edit)

The Fremen believe the great worms (Shai-Hulud) are physical embodiments of the One God. They also use them as transport. Every Fremen learns to ride the worms at an early age - any Fremen past puberty should be able to capture and ride a worm. Shai-Hulud is a respectful term for the worms, and refers to their divinity.

Worms are also known as "The Old Man of the Desert" or "The Great Maker". It is unusual for a Fremen to refer to a worm as anything other than Shai-Hulud, though they may occasionally refer to a worm as "Shaitan" if they are angry at the worm (Shaitan generally being used to refer to an evil entity)

Spice(Edit)

Spice is everywhere, and in everything. The constant exposure to spice gives the Fremen their blue-within-blue eyes.

Legends(Edit)

Fremen beliefs have almost certainly been influenced by the Bene Gesserit's Missionaria Protectiva.

Mahdi(Edit)

The Fremen believe that a saviour (Mahdi: "The One Who Will Lead Us to Paradise") will come from off-world that will lead them to freedom, and transform their desert planet into a paradise.

Sietch Jacurutu(Edit)

A legendary location and one-time sietch located in the deep desert. It's people (known to the rest of the Fremen as "Iduali" - "Water Insects") had been cast out from wider Fremen society for heinous acts, which included water stealing and unwarranted murder.

Combat(Edit)

Fremen are extremely capable fighters, who particularly excel at melee combat, both armed and unarmed. However, Fremen fighters would be at a severe disadvantage when fighting a shielded opponent, since they are not familiar with, or trained for, the techniques required to penetrate a holtzman shield.

Contact with Outsiders(Edit)

Fremen contact with outsiders is limited - outsiders are normally killed for their water. However, they do deal with smugglers and the Spacing Guild. They bribe the Spacing Guild with spice in order to keep the skies of Arrakis free of satellites, since such satellites would allow others to know what they do.

Language(Edit)

Many Fremen understand standard Imperial Galach, but their native tongue is Chakobsa. The Bene Gesserit also use Chakobsa, and the Atreides battle language is a variant on Chakobsa.