WT (Master Cards era)

Let me say that one can spawn further lore drops by asking more questions! This will be rambling and disorganized, as such is my Way. This specific loredrop will deal mostly w/ Jen's initial story, which takes place from around 97 A.D. to 105 A.D. for the 'start'. I'm much more of a world-builder than I am a story-teller, so my "stories" are more just collections of events rather than linear narratives. Also, please note that my lore is subject to change as I develop it more, I am not a bitch who is afraid to change n retcon based on new ideas.

Background: The Dark Crystal and this fan continuity take place on the planet of Thra, which has three suns and three moons. 1,000 years prior to 0 A.D., the peaceful and wise (lol) urSkek aliens arrived on Thra and began to teach the creatures of Thra various things. They planned to return home after using the Crystal of Truth to purge themselves of the evil and sins that had led to their arrival, and emerge utterly pure beings. Obviously attempting to purge an abstract concept from their being didn't work out well, and the urSkeks were split into the cruel but passionate Skeksis and the kind but apathetic urRu/Mystics. This event, the Division, starts a new age, the Age of Division (0 A.D/After Division). However, the gelflings at least would have a reprieve, as the skeksis don't really start getting up to their shit until ~680 A.D. in my continuity.

Setting: Jen's story largely takes place in the Castle of the Crystal, but there's a tournament arc in the story start where we get to kind of go around and see the various places and cultures. Also, I made Thra bigger. It's too fucking small. I am American, I do not fucking understand the concept of traveling a day and being in a place w/ totally different culture. In America if you travel one day all that changes is local gas station brands. For context, in the Netflix series, from the Castle to the Vapran capital of Ha'rar is 1 day. No. Unacceptable. I can fit so much stuff if that trip takes a week instead.

Characters: So while there are obviously many more involved, this could be considered the 'main cast' atm.

1. Jen (any pronouns, will use he for this) (Spriton Clan) A Gelfling in the equivalent of his late twenties, previously a fur trapper. After some family difficulties, he was sent to live with a friend of his uncle. While living in that village, the annual Tithing Ceremony rolled around with skekZok presiding. As Jen's previous home was too small for a Ceremony (tithes were sent to a bigger nearby village), this is the first time that Jen has seen a skeksis. Obviously, Jen thinks Zok is the hottest thing he's ever seen, and somehow fumbles his way into getting Zok to hire him as a personal aide (97 A.D.) The main protagonist through whom the world is explored, he's just a lil country boy.

2. skekZok (he/him) (The Ritual Master) A skeksis who fills the functions of a priest, although his fellows disdain his rituals and mythology in favor of their own. Rather prim, even to the degree of eating daintily, and adheres to the skeksis idea of being proper. While ostentatiously a prideful and powerful Lord of the Crystal, he is in fact a coward with low self-esteem and control issues. One of the secondary protagonists along with skekShod, but also serves as a villain in the sense that Shod and Zok have a mutually abusive, toxic relationship. Skeksis unfortunately are not very good at healthy relationships due to the whole being a cosmically fucked half of a better being. Zok in particular tortures himself over the loss of his wholeness.

3. skekShod (he/him) (The Treasurer) Once a fiery and intense rebel, a severe beating at the hands of skekSo left Shod with a disability and a broken spirit. This early in the continuity, he still displays some of his fire, but recognizes that there's little he can do about the situation at this point, and is thus largely solitary and broody. While I'd say he's the other secondary protagonist along w/ Zok, he starts off more like a villain as he's jealous of Jen spending so much time with Zok. However, after an event in 99 A.D. and another in 100 A.D., they become friends, and things shift to focusing more on the beef between Zok and Shod.

4. skekSo (he/him) (The Emperor) Doesn't really interact w/ Jen directly much, but casts a shadow over the entire story. While at this point he's still fairly jolly and magnanimous compared to his older self, the seeds of his later severe paranoia have been planted, and his cruel streak is unmatched.

5. skekEer (she/her) (The Spymaster) Killed on accident by skekSo while she was attempting to assassinate him, Eer's death triggered the Oh Shit Everything is Gonna Be Bad All The Time starting, even if things take a few centuries to properly ramp up. Incredibly hot-headed and opinionated, but bold and deeply caring for her friends, Eer swore she would kill skekSo after he beat skekShod (her best friend since childhood). Her spirit was not crushed when she received punishments like a crushed beak or the removal of her tail after failed assassination attempts, and she nearly succeeded on her third try. The actual circumstances of her death in 30 A.D. are known to very few, even among the skeksis. Not present, but deeply interwoven in what happens.

6. skekMau (she/her) (The Lost) Ran away and became lost immediately after the Division, presumed dead after urDa's disappearance in 44 A.D., skekMau was known as MauDa the Arbiter when whole. She has been forgotten by all but the Skeksis, the urRu, and the Order of the Broken Beak (thought they only know her as the mysterious "Moon's Shadow", That Which Came Before, Who Ran with Our Lady.). Previously in a polycule w/ Zok and Shod and a few others. She was very close to both, and her vanishing continues to put strain on both.

7. Roca (she/her) (Stonewood clan) A rather serious Gelfling, with a tendency to become emotionally tired easily. Prefers to do things slowly and carefully. Initially, she couldn't stand Jen due to Jen's haughty attitude, but after receiving Jen's wings, the two began to bond and eventually became friends. Roca serves as some much-needed Gelfling influence for Jen after she realizes that he acts the way he does because he wasn't properly socialized. Very much a grounded, down-to-earth supporting character to balance out the often wacky antics that Jen and the Lords get into.

8. Eeriita (he/her) (Order of the Lady of the Broken Beak) A member of a Dousan cult that has several major splits from traditional Dousan religion. The Order is descended from spies hand-picked by skekEer from among the Dousan, as she hoped to adopt the clan. (Another skeksis, skekSa, adopted and became the patron of the Sifan clan.) Eeriita is the current leader of the cult, and after an overthrow in 99 A.D., becomes the Dousan Maudra. She does not press her religious differences on the rest of her clan, and respects differences in beliefs, but is extremely devout in private practice. Could be considered both a hero and a villain, as while he's aligned with the interests of those close to Jen, his activities also put them in significant danger.