After the events of Dune, Paul Muad'Dib, now Padishah Emperor of the Known Universe, with the Princess Irulan, daughter of the deposed Padishah Emperor Shaddam Corrino IV at his side, and his armies, the Fremen have since launched several bloody jihads to solidify his position. The rest of his family are exiled to Salusa Secundus, where his other daughter and Irulan's sister Princess Wensicia along with the Tleilaxu, the Bene Gesserit, the Spacing Guild, even by the rebellious Fremen, who abhorred how Paul's terraforming project is changing Arrakis and the traditional Fremen way of life, hatch a conspiracy to overthrow Paul's reign, restore House Corrino to power, and years later, assassinate his heirs, Leto II and Ghanima after the death of his concubine Chani. By that time, Alia, Paul's sister, possessed by the spirit of the Evil Baron Vladimir Harkonnen, ruled Arrakis as Imperial Regent, while Leto II and Ghanima, now grown up, have to deal with another conspiracy, dealing with Alia's paranoia, along with an individual known as "The Preacher" whom has surfaced in the capital, speaking against the decline of the religion of Muad'Dib into fear and ritualism; but Alia's resistance to having him killed shares their popular belief and assumption of Paul's return which includes Jessica's resumed allegiance to the Bene Gesserit against her and House Atreides.
