Murbella
| Murbella | |
|---|---|
| Dune character | |
|
|
| First appearance | Heretics of Dune (1984) |
| Last appearance | Sandworms of Dune (2007) |
| Created by | Frank Herbert |
| Information | |
| Occupation | Reverend Mother |
| Affiliation |
Honored Matres Bene Gesserit |
| Title | Mother Commander |
| Spouse(s) | Duncan Idaho |
| Children | |
Murbella is a fictional character in the Dune universe created by Frank Herbert. She appears in Heretics of Dune (1984) and Chapterhouse: Dune (1985) by Frank Herbert, as well as Hunters of Dune (2006) and Sandworms of Dune (2007) by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson.
Murbella is raised as an Honored Matre, and has above average superhuman abilities. Among these abilities are the superhuman reflexes independent of her central nervous system, which makes her a formidable fighting force. Also a part of her Honored Matre heritage is her ability to amplify sexual ecstasy to near unimaginable levels.
When Murbella tries to imprint (sexually condition) the young Bene Gesserit-loyal Duncan Idaho ghola, she is confronted by the power the Tleilaxu have secretly built into him. His power is the male equivalent of the powers of the female Honored Matres, and Murbella experiences the same sexual ecstasy that enslaves the Honored Matres' male victims. Her energy is completely drained as a result, and in her weakened condition she is easily captured by the Bene Gesserit. Murbella and Duncan Idaho become sexually addicted to one another, and have four daughters. This addiction enables the Bene Gesserit to keep Murbella subdued, and they train her to become a Bene Gesserit sister.
Duncan Idaho and Murbella are living together. The bond created by their mutual imprinting in Heretics has made them somewhat reluctant lovers. The Bene Gesserit have accepted Murbella as a novice and are training her to be a Sister, despite their belief that she intends to steal their secrets and escape back to the Honored Matres.
Murbella collapses under the pressure of Bene Gesserit training and pregnancy, giving in to "word weapons" that the Bene Gesserit planted to undermine her earlier Honored Matre identity. Murbella realizes that she really admires and wants to be Bene Gesserit, and sees her former Matres as ignorant children. The words of her initiation are repeated with an emphasis not in the original.
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