Editing The Dark Crystal (section)

==Races==

===The UrSkeks===
The race that came to Thra a long time ago. Not much is known about them besides the fact that they are not of Thra and that their kin rejected them. Most likely, they were seeking refuge. They are curious creatures, although sometimes too curious for their own good. All the wisdom in the world didn’t stop them from touching the Crystal and end up dividing them into…

===The Skeksis===
The mean-spirited, BBEG of the Dark Crystal series. Although not as corrupted as they would become at first, the Skeksis are extremely methodological and [[Tzeentch|always have plans in motion]]. They act and interact with Thra in ways that would completely change the land. Smart and cunning, they would eventually seduce the Gelflings with their words and make them their slaves, and [[WAAAGH|salvage meaningless wars]] [[Khorne|to quench their bloodlust]]. Why? [[Lulz|Because they fucking can]].

With time, their corruption and materialistic vision of the world would lead them to seek immortality, thus ending up in them sucking the power of the Crystal away and using it for themselves. While they would live longer and enjoy a few more [[Slaanesh|years of hedonistic pleasures]], the Skeksis would [[Nurgle|degrade and rot]]. Only being able to remain youthful and strong by [[Vampire Counts|drinking the essence of Gelflings which they crave]].

The reasons why the Skeksis are so interesting to observe and speculate about are, for one, the fact that none of them can be trusted in any way, and two, that they revel in their evil and debauchery. The relationships between the Skeksis is the source of many rumours and theories, as it usually balances between genuine respect to complete rejection and hatred. [[Skaven|"Respect" is a hardly a thing among them]], since the only one they all truly respect is SkekSo, their cherished Emperor. They hate each other and befriend each other over their share hatred for one member of their little cabal. Thus, the observation of their every discussion is a fascinating subject, since they become as intricate as any political debate. Matter of fact, the fate of Thra can change entirely depending on how SkekSo or SkekVar feel that day.

They are the main reason why you remember the Dark Crystal. Creepy stalking scheming birds of pride who hate everyone and everything that gets in the way of their plans. Each Skeksis has a unique personality and role in their community, and all of them are batshit insane. They all have names starting with “Skek”, and each of them are responsible for at least one grave event in the history of Thra. Unlike their other-half brothers...

===The UrRu/Mystics===
Slow, quiet and peaceful creatures that are the polar opposite of the Skeksis. They live isolated from the rest of the world and practice shamanism everyday. They live simple lives and follow their rituals in such manners that they’d make a Buddhist jealous. You would assume they’d fight the Skeksis on a daily basis because of their direct opposition to materialism and wrong-doing, but no. The Skeksis are always on the move, they make change, they adapt themselves to new situations and actually do something, the UrRu do not intervene and never attempt to change the world. Their greatest failing is complacency.

Needless to say, they don’t do a whole lot in the franchise. However, some of them are more rebellious, and actually try to do something and prevent Thra from being completely corrupted. The Archer and the Wanderer being two examples of that. Unfortunately, because of their reclusive habits, they are perceived as stuff of legends by the Gelflings.

As for the inhabitants of Thra…

===The Gelflings===
The protagonists of the series. Curious little [[Wood Elves|elves who make one with nature]], they are capable of “dreamfasting” with one another, which allows them to share visions or memories. They are also incapable of lying. While there are some small differences between the two sexes, the most notable one is that female Gelflings have wings.

Unfortunately, despite all of this, Gelflings are also extremely naive. They were gullible enough to believe the Skeksis and hand over the Crystal to them without asking questions, they’ve let themselves being thrown into wars against former allies and committing genocides in the name of their masters, using the protection of the Crystal as an excuse to purge races which didn’t obey their will. 

Before the rise of the Skeksis, they were united and pretty much all looked the same, passing their days naked praying with Augrah. That all changed when the Skeksis started to mess with the crystal too much and usurp the leadership of the Gelflings. To achieve this, they used the usual divide and conquer tactic. The Gelflings were separated into seven clans (or so it seems), which drastically changed their appearance and behavior accordingly.
===The Firelings===
Gelflings with fiery hair who can throw fireballs. They live near the center of the earth and are much taller than your average run-of-the-mill gelfling. So much so that their eldest members are likely as tall as giraffes. One of them was supposed to be the protagonist of the scrapped Dark Crystal sequel, but since the first movie wasn't much of a success, all we got was a short comic book series.

''Mithra'', the land in which they lived, thrived thanks to the power generated by the crystal, which heats its core. Understand that when it becomes corrupted, [[grimdark|all it does is kill their kind with a fleeting flame, slowly turning their fiery homeworld into a cold mausoleum]]. 

===The Podlings===
Podlings are what you get when a hobbit makes out with a gnome. They are smaller than Gelflings, much more dim-witted, and take life as a party. They're also incredibly joyous and seemingly unnaffected by the current happenings of Thra. So much so that the Skeksis didn't even bother conquering them. 
They are friendly, until you start frightening or angering them. That doesn't mean they'll fight back, they'll just whimper and cry out for mercy. The Skeksis and the Gelflings use them as butlers. They don't seem to mind. Even Augrah has a whole family of them working for her.

===The Boblings===
Podlings, but with crab legs. They are as terrifying as you can imagine.

===The Gruenaks===
Slaves to the Skeksis, they are somewhat similar to the Podlings, they serve them in all sorts of ways. The two most notable being the ones that SkekTek owns personally, that he tied their mouths with fabric. Eventually, he used them with the corpses of a few Arathims to create the Garthim.

===The Arathim===
[[Tyranids]] if they weren't so bad. Big Spiders acting as a hive-mind who live in the caverns of Thra who refer to themselves as "The Ascendency". The Skeksis managed to generate hatred between them and the Gelflings, since the former refused to serve the cackling birds as their military force. When the two allied against their cause, SkekTek used an Arathim and a Gruenak to create...

===The Garthim===
[[Warforged]] beasts made for combat and built to serve the Skeksis, also the main reason for their success in the war against the Gelflings, which almost exterminated the elves of Thra. The most terrifying sight for a kid who watched the original movie back in the day. Still is a fucking horror that would give a tyranid hivemind nightmares.

===The Makraks===
Imagine if [[Dwarfs]] were literal bug men. Well that's what the Makraks are, bug people who dig holes and live in mines. They were supposed to appear as the slaves of the Skeksis along with the Garthims, but they ended up being cut for being too weird and ugly. They are still canon, however, as the Skeksis' constant abuse of the Crystal eventually led to the destruction of their caverns, forcing them to migrate somewhere else. The cackling birds, using the sporadic attacks of the Makraks, struck fear and anger to the surface dwellers, and allied themselves with the Gelflings to drive them away from their lands. 

They were eventually led by Raunip, Augrah's son, to uncharted lands, where they could live in peace.

If you're looking for someone to blame for the alliance of the Gelflings with the Skeksis, you can blame these guys.