To appreciate the complex tapestry of the Imperium, one must understand its people. One must know of the Great Houses that stand sway over the Known Universe — organized within a feudalistic hierarchy headed by my father, the Padishah Emperor.

In turn, the Great Houses and their Lords manage their own hierarchy of subjects and homeworlds within their siridar fiefs. Collectively, these Lords form a governing assembly known as the Landsraad Council. While the member Great Houses share in the Emperor's noble lineage and political authority, it is only through the collective strength of the Landsraad that they counterbalance the extensive influence of the Imperial House.

Next in the feudal hierarchy are the Regis Familia, the direct descendants of the Emperor and Siridar Lords, followed by the Na-Familia, their extended family.

Serving these are the Bondsmen, the professional and bureaucratic cogs that keep the Imperial machine running. At the base of the hierarchy are the Pyons, the vast unskilled serf class of the Empire, and the Maula, the slaves who serve at the nobility's pleasure — in more ways than one...

While the vast panoply of Great Houses and their attendant populaces are dispersed throughout the Known Universe, there are two places in the Imperium one can be certain they gather: Corrinth City, the Imperial Seat on Kaitain, and the desert planet Arrakis, the only place where the spice-drug mélange can be found.

Arrakis, in particular, draws representatives from all the Great Houses, hoping to improve their standing in the Landsraad. As the ongoing War of Assassins between House Atreides and House Harkonnen drags into its tenth year, any definitive resolution is still very much in doubt.

The various Great Houses and their envoys are eager to engage in the conflict, either by openly taking sides or by acting covertly. They believe that once the struggle is resolved, a new power dynamic will emerge, placing those who supported the winning side in a dominant position.

The Articles of Kanly define the sanctioned methods for adjudicated vendettas among the Regis and Na-Familia. The Articles support three different legal forms for settling such disputes—Kanly Negotiation, Formal Duels, and the War of Assassins.

Kanly Negotiation remains the preferred settlement method, including options such as marriage, ransom, political hostages, and financial or legal remuneration; such negotiations result in a peaceful resolution to a dispute.

On the other hand, Formal Duels and Wars of Assassins, though rare in the modern Imperium, still receive occasional Imperial sanction. A Formal Duel involves personal combat between two members of a House, often resulting in the death of one participant. The War of Assassins consists of organized efforts over time to eliminate all members of a specific House, adhering to established codes and conventions.