Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! The Fremen weapon of choice. It's made from a crystal tooth of a giant sandworm that is on Arrakis. According to the Fremen, it has to draw blood every time it's unsheathed. Why must it and what happens if it doesn't? Does it self destruct?
Ahhhhhhh. My favorite topic. The Fremen are descended from Zensuni pacifists who were enslaved on the planet Poritrin (the home world of the Zensuni religion) and sold to many planets. Directly, they were escaped slaves from the planet Bella Tegeus. During the events of the Butlerian Jihad (a war between humans and machines that takes place +/- 10,000 years from now and +/- 10,000 years before Dune), the Zensuni refused to fight against the machines, making them a marked people. Through a series of events (explained in the horrific prequels), they escape, hoping to make it to some paradise world, but end up on Dune (Arrakis). Upon escaping and arriving on Arrakis they began evolving into a race warriors and sand riders. The giant worms, having extremely large teeth, were a natural resource for cutting instruments. As to why "blood must be drawn" is never fully explained, but it has to do with their bloody times in the early years on Dune. ~String
The original six (which I've read to the point of memorization) don't explore why. I consider that canon. The prequels (written by Herbert's son) may tell why, but it isn't worth remembering. The issues surrounding a bloodied Crysknife in Dune only occur a few times in the novels. ~String
and doesn't a worm tooth that hasn't been turned into a knife yet turn into dust if its not kept close to......trying to remember....electricity??
A worm cannot die by dissolution (in water). It must be killed and have the knives harvested from it. They, in turn, must be kept in contact with the owner's body to provide it moisture and essential oils or it becomes brittle and starts breaking down. Fremen guard them with their lives. On record (in the books) not one has ever escaped its Fremen owner. ~String
I always assumed it was simply tradition. Part of the Fremen's straightforward lifestyle. Don't even draw the knife unless you're prepared to use it. No bluffing. No bluster. Once the knife is unsheathed, someone is going to die.
There are a number of weapons around which that traditional has supposedly developed, like (most often) the kukri and (some sources say) the katana. I once read that a the Gurkhas of Nepal would cut themselves if need be before resheathing their kukris. I think it was really a traditional Gurkha warrior's boast, rather than a tradition, that the Brits took seriously and spread into every adventure tale they wrote after taking over India.
That is why there is a Cho on a kukri, so according to tradition when it is drawn, and not used in a fight, the owner can nick His finger so blood is drawn, before returning it to it's scabard. So why not the same for the Crysknife.
