Episode 1 of "Dune: Prophecy" kicks off with an intimate glimpse into the life of our protagonist, Valya Harkonnen. On the icy planet of Wallach IX, she harbors an unyielding determination to rewrite the tarnished history that has long shadowed the Atreides name. This relentless pursuit stems from the betrayal her house perpetrated against humanity during their battle against the thinking machines. Alongside her sister, Tula, they found solace and a fresh start within the ranks of the Bene Gesserit.
There, Valya forged a profound bond with her de facto mother, the esteemed Mother Superior Taquella Berto-Anirul, a war hero who trained Sisters to become Truthsayers, skilled in distinguishing truth from deceit. This intricate web of influence paved the way for the future political landscape to be molded by those wielding immense power.
Mother Raquella harbored an ambitious dream to cultivate superior leaders, amassing a vast genetic archive to orchestrate strategic royal unions and nurture leaders whom the Sisterhood could manipulate. Valya embraced the Mother Superior's vision wholeheartedly. On her deathbed, Raquella summoned Valya close, whispering, "Tiran-Arafel. It is coming," as visions overwhelmed her senses. Before her final breath, she bestowed the power of the Sisterhood upon Valya, charging her with leading them forward and uncovering the burning truth.
What truth does Valya seek? The Sisters foresee a reckoning on the horizon and believe they must prepare by orchestrating a Sister's ascension to the throne—the first Empress to reign over the Imperium. However, Dorotea, the granddaughter of the first Mother Superior, rejects Valya's vision of overthrowing the male-dominated order. Unwilling to tolerate dissent, Valya makes a swift and ruthless decision to eliminate Dorotea, damning the Harkonnen name in the annals of history.
Thirty years later, Valya sits at the helm of the Sisterhood, her meticulously crafted plan finally coming to fruition. House Varick and Khumal have submitted requests for Truthsayers, while House Harkonnen's fourth request is summarily denied, with Varrick receiving the nod this time.
Prince Constantine arrives to confer with Valya amidst this backdrop. His sister, Princess Ynez, stands poised on the brink of becoming a Sister, and his caution is palpable. He seeks preferential treatment for his sister, but Valya sees through his charade, ultimately compelling Constantine to relent. After signing the treaty, Valya shares the good news with Tula.
Meanwhile, Princess Ynez resides on Salusa Secundus, the home of the Imperial House. She harbors a secret affection for her swordmaster, Keiran, and a tender moment unfolds between them after training, his finger resting gently on her chest. However, Constantine interrupts their intimate exchange.
Ynez, poised for a royal wedding, intends to leverage the Sisterhood to bolster her chances of ruling. Her mother, however, is not deceived by her daughter's cunning and warns her of her infatuation with Keiran. Ynez, confident and calculating, believes she knows how to navigate the treacherous waters of negotiation.
That night, Kasha visits Ynez after a particularly haunting nightmare, their bond evident. After kissing her head soothingly, Kasha rushes back to the Sisters.
In the midst of these unfolding dramas, tensions brew over Arrakis. The Duke is confronted by Desmond Hart, a man who has somehow survived the harsh environment of Arrakis and seeks an audience with him. This is surprising, as they had believed his regiment had been annihilated in a Fremen attack. Hart is here to set the record straight and speak the truth. The Duke, though reluctant about the impending marriage, recognizes its necessity. After all, the nine-year-old Lord Pruwet Richese arrives with a fleet of fighters, crucial for the stability of Arrakis.
This assault? It transpired to be an insurrection orchestrated from within their own dwellings, tinged with treacherous theft. And, logically speaking, the timing couldn't have been more opportune—the Sisters were industriously engaged in their duties. Desmond, harboring aspirations of securing a seat at the palace, wasfirst extended an invitation to partake in the jubilant festivities, pending any official accolades.
Meanwhile, on Wallach IX, the Truthsayers underwent rigorous trials, honing their abilities to expose deceit, fortify their resolutions, and ascend to greater heights. Amongst them, however, lurked a genuine psychopath who boasted about her past deeds—slaughtering her parents and captor with a cold heart. Valya and Tula, impressed by the women under their guardianship, embarked on a quest to identify a Sister whose virtues would complement the Princess's reign.
Enter Kasha, the incumbent Truthsayer, who graced the presence of Valya and Tula. She issued a grave warning regarding Nez's haunting nightmares, pondering if they might herald the reckoning they were diligently striving to avert. Regardless of the path taken, time seemed to slip through their fingers as Ynez wed Pruwet, marking the commencement of the revelry. Drama unfolded dramatically when Pruwet proudly unveiled a forbidden thinking machine—a scurrying lizard that traversed the ground with sinister intent. These creatures were taboo, and they ultimately stirred up chaos and discord within the throne room. The Duke, for reasons tied to the unfolding events in Arrakis, chose to overlook the infraction, albeit reluctantly and discontentedly.
After the conclusion of the ceremony, Valya delved deeply into the genetic archives, her conviction growing stronger that Ynez was the key to stabilizing the Corrino dynasty for generations. Refusing to tolerate subordination, she pondered whether Kasha's position should be revoked and drastic measures taken against her.
That very night, Ynez and Constantine embarked on their final sojourn in the Imperial World, intent on making it a memorable one. As they embarked on a night of revelry, appropriately colored by the theme of red from Ynez's haunting dreams, Ynez found herself in bed with Keiran.
Meanwhile, at the Imperium, Desmond engaged in a grave discussion with the Duke. He cautioned that while forces were being marshaled to address the turmoil on Arrakis, the insurgency brewing within the palace remained unchecked. He warned that too many individuals were beginning to question the Great Houses and their monopoly on the spice. If the Duke were to intervene, he risked being ostracized and "sacrificed to the mighty worms" of the desert. Despite his misgivings about the wedding, he clung to his decision to place trust in Kasha, unaware of the manipulations lurking in the shadows.
As the Duke reviewed footage from Arrakis, Desmond spoke with Pruwet, who was tossing and turning in his bed. He hinted at the presence of an adversary within, pulling the strings and manipulating their thoughts. In a chilling revelation, Desmond stated that sacrifices were necessary to win a war. And who would be that sacrifice? Pruwet. With a cold heart, Desmond ended the young man's life, plunging the wedding and the Sisterhood's decades-long plan into a whirlwind of chaos.
As Pruwet's life was extinguished, so was Kasha's. Valya watched in utter disbelief as Kasha was reduced to ashes in the corridor, her eyes wide with shock and horror.
