Sheeana Brugh
the girl who commanded the worms
Sheeana Brugh was a Fremen girl of Rakis whose ability to command the sandworms drew the attention of the Rakian Priesthood, the Bene Gesserit, and the Bene Tleilax. Of Atreides and Idaho descent, she became a Reverend Mother and fled the Old Empire aboard a no-ship as the Sisterhood scattered.
Sheeana Brugh was a Fremen of Rakis during the time of the return of the Lost Ones from the Scattering. Her ability to control the sandworms of Rakis brought her to the attention of the Rakian Priesthood, the Bene Gesserit, and the Bene Tleilax.
The orphan of Keen#
Sheeana was raised by her parents in a shanty town on the outskirts of Keen on Rakis. When she was eight years of age, her town was destroyed by a worm, and she watched from a distance as her parents and fellow villagers were killed. When she approached the worm that had orphaned her, it did not kill her. Instead she discovered that it obeyed her. Shortly afterward she found herself at the city of Keen, led there atop a worm she had climbed. Upon her arrival the Rakian Priesthood adopted the girl and obeyed her every whim, naming her their Holy Child.
Involvement with the Bene Gesserit#
Some years later the Bene Gesserit Sisterhood took an interest in Sheeana, intending to use her to propagate the worms on their planet Chapterhouse. The Sisterhood eventually made her a sister, though her Fremen upbringing and an early exposure to Honored Matres sexual practices, courtesy of the Tleilaxu, made her an unpredictable element within the order. Bene Gesserit analysis of her DNA revealed that she was a descendant of Siona Atreides and Duncan Idaho, which the Sisterhood theorized was the reason the worms obeyed her. It was also how the Sisterhood used her to lure a worm into a no-ship just before the Honored Matres sterilized the surface of Rakis. From there the worm made its way to Chapterhouse to be re-seeded.
Escape from the Old Empire#
Having grown unhappy with her involvement with the Bene Gesserit, and after striking up a friendship with the Sisterhood's Duncan Idaho ghola, Sheeana escaped in a no-ship together with Duncan, the imprisoned Tleilaxu Master Scytale, the ghola of Miles Teg, the Rabbi's Party including Rebecca, some Proctor Bene Gesserit, and several sandworms. Their flight took place amid the turmoil of the Bene Gesserit and Honored Matres merger, and carried them beyond the Known Universe into uncharted territory as the splinter group searched for a new home.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Sheeana Brugh?
- Sheeana Brugh was a Fremen girl of Rakis whose ability to control the sandworms drew the attention of the Rakian Priesthood, the Bene Gesserit, and the Bene Tleilax. She lived during the time of the return of the Lost Ones from the Scattering.
- How did Sheeana Brugh become able to command the sandworms?
- When Sheeana was eight, a worm destroyed her shanty town on the outskirts of Keen and killed her parents and fellow villagers. When she approached the worm that had orphaned her, it did not kill her but obeyed her, and she was carried into Keen atop a worm she had climbed.
- Why was Sheeana Brugh called the Holy Child?
- After Sheeana arrived at Keen led atop a worm, the Rakian Priesthood adopted her and obeyed her every whim, naming her their Holy Child.
- Why did the worms obey Sheeana Brugh?
- Bene Gesserit analysis of her DNA revealed that Sheeana was a descendant of Siona Atreides and Duncan Idaho, which the Sisterhood theorized was the reason the worms obeyed her.
- How did Sheeana Brugh escape the Old Empire?
- Having grown unhappy with the Bene Gesserit and after befriending the Sisterhood's Duncan Idaho ghola, Sheeana escaped in a no-ship along with Duncan, the Tleilaxu Master Scytale, the Miles Teg ghola, the Rabbi's Party, some Proctor Bene Gesserit, and several sandworms. Their flight carried them beyond the Known Universe as the Bene Gesserit and Honored Matres merged.
Gallery
Images via Dune Wiki
Sources
- WikiSheeana Brugh — Dune Wiki entry
- WikiDarwi Odrade — Dune Wiki entry
Spotted a factual error or a primary source we missed? Email a correction. Every flagged claim gets reviewed.
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