House Ordos is a mercantile House in the Dune universe

Dune universe

Dune is a science fiction franchise which originated with the 1965 novel Dune by Frank Herbert. Considered by many to be the greatest science fiction novel of all time, Dune is frequently cited as the best-selling science fiction novel in history...

 as presented in the Westwood Studios

Westwood Studios

Westwood Studios was a computer and video game developer, based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was founded by Brett Sperry and Louis Castle in as Westwood Associates, and renamed to Westwood Studios when it merged with Virgin Interactive in...

 Dune video games produced from 1992 to 2001. The House is listed in the non-canon

Canon (fiction)

In the context of a work of fiction, the term canon denotes the material accepted as "official" in a fictional universe's fan base. It is often contrasted with, or used as the basis for, works of fan fiction, which are not considered canonical...

 Dune Encyclopedia (1984) by Willis E. McNelly

Willis E. McNelly

Willis Everett McNelly was a professor and writer best known for The Dune Encyclopedia, the 1984 companion to Frank Herbert's classic Dune series of science fiction novels....

 but has never been mentioned in any of the novels.

Game history

In the series of computer games based on Dune, the goal of House Ordos is the generation of revenue to sustain the pluto

Plutocracy

Plutocracy is rule by the wealthy, or power provided by wealth. The combination of both plutocracy and oligarchy is called plutarchy. The word plutocracy is derived from the Ancient Greek root ploutos, meaning wealth and kratos, meaning to rule or to govern.-Usage:The term plutocracy is generally...

-technocratic

Technocracy (bureaucratic)

Technocracy is a form of government where technical experts are in control of decision making in their respective fields. Economists, engineers, scientists, health professionals, and those who have knowledge, expertise or skills would compose the governing body...

 elite of their society. The Ordos are portrayed as driven by a calculated and single-minded approach: destroying anything that stands between them and the spice melange. According to the original game House Ordos originated from the amalgamation of several wealthy families into one large cartel

Cartel

A cartel is a formal agreement among competing firms. It is a formal organization of producers and manufacturers that agree to fix prices, marketing, and production. Cartels usually occur in an oligopolistic industry, where there is a small number of sellers and usually involve homogeneous products...

 who hire expensive but disloyal mercenaries to fight for their cause. Emperor: Battle for Dune

Emperor: Battle for Dune

Emperor: Battle for Dune is a Dune video game, released by Westwood Studios on June 12, 2001. It is based in Frank Herbert's science fiction Dune universe....

further explains:
Their Mentat

Mentat

A Mentat is a profession or discipline in Frank Herbert's fictional Dune universe. Mentats are humans trained to mimic computers: human minds developed to staggering heights of cognitive and analytical ability.- Overview :...

 advisors, the game notes, often disappear under mysterious circumstances. In Dune 2000

Dune 2000

Dune 2000 is a real-time strategy video game, released by Westwood Studios in 1998 for Microsoft Windows, and later ported to the PlayStation. It is a partial remake of Dune II, which is also based on Frank Herbert's Dune universe. The story of the game is similar to Dune II, and is continued in...

, the Mentat Edric is rumored to be a thinking machine

Thinking machines (Dune)

Thinking machines is a collective term for artificial intelligence in the Dune universe created by Frank Herbert. The Butlerian Jihad a human crusade against thinking machines is an epic turning point in the back-story of the Dune universe...

 ordered to precise specifications from the Ix

Ix (Dune)

Ix is a fictional planet featured in the Dune series of science fiction novels written by Frank Herbert, and derivative works. In Dune it is noted that Ix is classed with the planet Richese as "supreme in machine culture," and that Ixian solido projectors "are commonly considered the best." In...

ians.

Emblem

In Dune II

Dune II

Dune II: The Building of a Dynasty is a Dune computer game released in 1992 by Westwood Studios...

(1992) and Dune 2000

Dune 2000

Dune 2000 is a real-time strategy video game, released by Westwood Studios in 1998 for Microsoft Windows, and later ported to the PlayStation. It is a partial remake of Dune II, which is also based on Frank Herbert's Dune universe. The story of the game is similar to Dune II, and is continued in...

(1998), the emblem for House Ordos was a snake coiled around a book. In Emperor: Battle for Dune

Emperor: Battle for Dune

Emperor: Battle for Dune is a Dune video game, released by Westwood Studios on June 12, 2001. It is based in Frank Herbert's science fiction Dune universe....

(2001), the emblem was modified. The book was removed, and was replaced by a blue circle, possibly representing Sigma Draconis IV. In The Dune Encyclopedia, the coat of arms for the Ordos is a pair of crossed bones with ivy (a book and snake symbol is used for House Wallach's coat of arms).

Mentat Ammon

The Mentat who assists the player in Dune II

Dune II

Dune II: The Building of a Dynasty is a Dune computer game released in 1992 by Westwood Studios...

. Almost nothing is known about him, except that he was executed on charges of embezzlement.

Mentat Edric 0

The Mentat who assists the player in Dune 2000. He is rumored to be a thinking machine of Ixian design.

The Executrix Council

Four beings who appear connected in some form of gestalt collective mind, known as The Executrix. All verbal contact between the rulers of House Ordos and the player is through the medium of a creature known only as 'The Speaker'.

Mentat Roma Atani

A human interpreter of the Executrix, Roma Atani briefs new Ordos generals on the state of the war on Arrakis

Arrakis

Arrakis  — informally known as Dune and later called Rakis — is a fictional desert planet featured in the Dune series of novels by Frank Herbert. Herbert's first novel in the series, 1965's Dune, is popularly considered one of the greatest science fiction novels of all time, and it is...

.

Padishah Emperor Frederick Corrino IV

Cell samples of the Emperor's dead body are smuggled from Kaitain

Kaitain (Dune)

Kaitain is a fictional planet in the Dune universe created by Frank Herbert.In Herbert's 1965 novel Dune, it is mentioned briefly as the seat of power of Padishah Emperor Shaddam Corrino IV, the Royal Court being previously located on the planet Salusa Secundus.The Prelude to Dune prequel trilogy ...

 by Tleilaxu

Bene Tleilax

The Bene Tleilax or Tleilaxu are an extremely xenophobic and isolationist society in Frank Herbert's science fiction Dune universe. Genetic manipulators who traffic in biological products such as artificial eyes, gholas, and "twisted" Mentats, the Tleilaxu are a major power in the Imperium...

 spies and purchased by House Ordos during the plot of one of the games in the series. The Executrix created a ghola of him and plan on placing it on the throne as a puppet emperor.

Capabilities

Units open to players controlling House Ordos in the games may include:

• The Deviator Tank, which usually replaces missile launcher vehicles available to other factions in the games; fires a gas that causes the target to temporarily switch sides and join the Ordos.
• The Saboteur; originally the Ordos super weapon, they later become a standard unit. Saboteurs carry explosives which they use for suicide attacks against the enemy.