Editing Bene Gesserit (section)

===''Legends of Dune''===
In the ''[[Legends of Dune]]'' prequel trilogy (2002–2004) by Brian Herbert and Anderson it is revealed that the '''Sorceresses of Rossak''', who possess destructive telekinetic powers existing only in women and have a breeding plan to create more powerful telepaths, had been the predecessors of the Bene Gesserit. As a Sorceress is always killed when she unleashes her full power, they sacrifice themselves to destroy some of the [[Titan (Dune)|Titans]] and [[Cymek|Neo-Cymeks]] during the [[Butlerian Jihad]], over 10,000 years before the events in ''Dune''. Later, they expand their genetic program to preserve human bloodlines when humanity is endangered by a widespread plague called the "Demon Scourge", genetically engineered and unleashed by the thinking machines. [[Raquella Berto-Anirul]] becomes their leader after surviving a poisoning attempt by being the first to internally render the toxin harmless. The ordeal also makes Raquella the first to access Other Memory and use the power of Voice; she later establishes the Bene Gesserit, instituting a similar ritualized poisoning to unlock the same abilities in others.