Skeksis

skekUng the Garthim Master

The Skeksis are a fictional species which act as the main antagonists in the 1982 fantasy film The Dark Crystal, its companion book The World of The Dark Crystal and the Tokyopop prequel Legends of the Dark Crystal. They are also referenced as an alien race in S03E07 of Farscape and are strikingly similar in appearance to the Halosians in S02E09 of the same show, which was produced by Jim Henson Productions. The word "Skeksis" serves as both singular and plural form for this species, with the singular being pronounced /ˈskɛksᵻs/^[1] and the plural /ˈskɛksiːz/.^[1] They are described by concept artist Brian Froud as, "part reptile, part predatory bird, part dragon." In the film, the Skeksis are represented by puppets engineered under the direction of Jim Henson. Jim Henson said that in the development of the Skeksis, the creators drew inspiration from the Seven Deadly Sins.^[2]

Concept and creation

Jim Henson was inspired to design the Skeksis by an illustrated edition of a Lewis Carroll poem showing two elegantly dressed crocodiles in a bathroom. He became intrigued with the idea of a reptilian race assuming control over a formerly splendid past society.^[3] Numerous names were proposed for the species, including Skekses, Reptus, Karackt and Skek-sis.^[4]

Henson himself commented on the difficulty of performing as a Skeksis:

Characteristics

Appearance

The Skeksis are tall bipeds combining avian and reptilian features. They wear elaborate but threadbare robes of lace, velvet, and brocade which apparently keep the Skeksis' constantly decomposing bodies intact and make them look larger and more intimidating.^[5] Their heads are beaked like a vulture's, while simultaneously sporting curved fangs. They have enlarged bellies and long reptilian tails, as well as curved quills on their backs. Like their urRu counterparts, they have two pairs of arms, whereof in the Skeksis, only one pair is functional, the other atrophied.^[6] Despite their frail appearance, Skeskis are powerful creatures: skekUng, during the 'Haakskeeka' duel, destroys a block of rock with his sword, and skekSil single-handedly smashes a pilaster of rock onto protagonist Jen.

Society

The Skeksis are the corrupt rulers of the planet Thra, having inherited it from their benevolent UrSkek predecessors, and embody the knowledgeable, yet unrestrained aspects of the UrSkeks' behavior. The Skeksis culture favors repetitive flamboyance, emotional pettiness, and a wasteful attitude toward life. Though they are capable of alliances, none trusts the others and would immediately betray another out of self-preservation.

Due to the accelerated decomposition of their bodies, the Skeksis constantly search for ways to prolong their lives. Their primary method is to expose themselves to sunlight channeled directly through the Dark Crystal, its effect dependent on the conjunction of Thra's three suns. Another method is a form of acupuncture, in which power lines laid on their castle channels the planet's energy to them and feeds back noxious pulses, resulting in their kingdom's wasteland appearance.^[7] A third method is to directly drain the vitality from other life-forms by exposing them to reflected beams of the Dark Crystal. This has the effect of rendering the drained victims nearly mindless, which the Skeksis use as slaves. The life-force is collected in a liquid form and drunk by the Emperor, who briefly regains his youthful appearance. Originally, Gelflings were used for this purpose; but after their near-extinction, Podlings took their place.

The Skeksis have also created the huge, crab-like Garthim and the sentinel Crystal Bats. It is stated by Brian Froud in his book World of The Dark Crystal, that skekTek the scientist created the Garthim, but every other Skeksis attributes creation to itself.

Language

Originally, Jim Henson thought of having the Skeksis communicate through noises, though he later shot the film showing the Skeksis speaking a constructed language, based on ancient Greek and Egyptian, specially devised by linguist Alan Garner. The dialogue was later redubbed in English, as the original version proved unsuccessful in impressing test audiences.^[8] The original language is present in The World of the Dark Crystal and The Dark Crystal novelization, wherein (according to the former) it is "restricted to nouns, adjectives, and expletives",^[9] and has an object–verb–subject word order.^[5]

History

skekUng and skekSil perform the Trial By Stone.

The products of a botched attempt by UrSkeks to separate their 'good' from 'evil' behaviors, the Skeksis emerged fully formed, but resentful. Soon after the division, a fight broke out among the Skeksis, resulting in a shard of the story's eponymous Crystal being broken from the main rock and lost. The urRu then left the castle to the Skeksis, who began to modify the UrSkek architecture with their own grotesque designs, and attempted to create a crystal of their own. The black rocks they created were reused as targets for the Haakskeekah ritual, translated as "Trial by Stone", in which the loser is stripped of his position.^[7]

According to The World of The Dark Crystal, the Skeksis were originally a vibrant and jovial race that possessed the wisdom and knowledge of the UrSkeks, yet lacked restraint and patience. They ruled Thra over a thousand years and apparently had good relations with the Gelfling people, until they began to keep Gelflings as slaves. Desperate, the Gelflings devised a prophecy, which revealed that a Gelfling would end the rule of the Skeksis by restoring the broken shard to the Crystal. When the Skeksis learned of this, their first reaction was to create multiple crystal shards to confuse the Gelfling search, and their second to destroy the entire Gelfling race.^[7]

At the start of the film, only ten (later nine) Skeksis survive, with skekUng succeeding skekSo as Emperor. Toward the end, protagonist Jen and Kira reunite them with the urRu to recreate the UrSkeks.^[1]

List of Skeksis

Film

The Emperor skekSo

The first Skeksis emperor, skekSo is described in The World of The Dark Crystal as having originally been an energetic ruler who enjoyed lavish festivity and sporting events which he invariably won. As he aged, he became paranoid and spiteful, even toward his fellow Skeksis, elevating individuals to high positions only to depose them afterward.^[7] Once he died, skekUng succeeded him as emperor. In the film's deleted scenes, skekSo's decayed remains are cremated. He also has an appearance in Legends of the Dark Crystal. In the film, he is voiced by Jerry Nelson and puppeteered by Jim Henson.

The Chamberlain skekSil

As Chamberlain, skekSil is second in line to the Skeksis throne, but the confrontation with skekUng causes his exile. Even before the Emperor's death, skekSil and skekUng despise each other, with skekSil's trademark 'whimper' vexing skekUng. Of all the Skeksis, skekSil's intentions are never fully revealed and seem contradictory, most notably when he forcibly brought Kira to the other Skeksis and refuses to allow them to kill her.^[1] In the film, he is voiced by Barry Dennen and puppeteered by Frank Oz.

The Scientist skekTek

The creator of the Garthim and of essence extraction. His fascination with anatomy went as far as replacing his right arm and leg by mechanical constructs, and his jugular vein with a transparent external tube, to monitor his own circulation.^[5] He is a personal opponent of Aughra, who admired his UrSkek form.^[7] While attempting to drain Kira of her essence, she persuades all the laboratory animals tortured by skekTek to attack him, resulting with him losing his footing and falling down the crystal shaft into the magma below.^[1] He also has an appearance in Legends of the Dark Crystal. In the film, he is portrayed by Steve Whitmire.

The Ritual Master (aka High Priest) skekZok

Until the story of the film, skekZok fancied himself skekSo's closest adviser, and sought to control the other Skeksis through false prophecies and apparitions, although they distrusted his divinations and practised their own.^[7] Though a contender for the throne after skekSo's death, skekZok sides with skekUng. Though he assists in the search for the surviving Gelflings with his crystal bats, he is nonetheless distrusted and feared by skekUng.^[5] When skekSil arrived with Kira, he was annoyed at skekUng's commands to drain Kira of essence before killing her. Ironically, it was the failure of the Skeksis to kill Kira immediately (as suggested by skekZok) that marked the Skeksis' downfall.^[1] He is voiced by Jerry Nelson and puppeteered by Jim Henson.

The Garthim Master (aka General) skekUng

Formerly the commander of the brutish Garthim, skekUng was physically the strongest of the Skeksis after skekSo. He had a bitter rivalry with the chamberlain skekSil, which culminated in a duel for supremacy.^[7] Though the other Skeksis admire his ferocity, his constant failure to capture the surviving Gelflings fails to evoke the respect of his subjects.^[5] He is suspicious of skekZok's loyalty, and is constantly fearing a challenge to his authority.^[5] He is voiced by Michael Kilgarriff and puppeteered by Dave Goelz.

The Gourmand skekAyuk

The court gourmet expert, skekAyuk creates a different menu for each feast (preferring strong flavors and living prey), and eats gladly but is perpetually hungry. He is voiced by Thick Wilson and puppeteered by Louise Gold.

The Slave Master skekNa

The supervisor and disciplinarian of the Skeksis' slaves, he is described in The World of the Dark Crystal as "purely and openly evil from the beginning" and in The Dark Crystal novelization as having "no imagination and no nobility at all" and has a hook for a left hand. He dubiously claims to have an ear for music, and takes it upon himself to select specific slaves for skekTek to experiment upon.^[5] Along with skekTek, he is a strong supporter of skekUng, and at one point was considered for promotion to the rank of patriarch for his loyalty.^[5] He is voiced by David Buck and puppeteered by Mike Quinn.

The Treasurer skekShod

Administratively skekSil's subordinate,^[5] skekShod is incapable of acknowledging anyone's presence unless offered some gift. Due to his limited vocabulary and excessive material desires, he frequently bribes the other Skeksis into loaning him their personal possessions.^[7] Along with skekOk, he is a supporter of skekZok.^[5] He is voiced by Charles Collingwood and puppeteered by Tim Rose.

The Scroll Keeper (aka Historian) skekOk

The Scroll Keeper constantly rewrites the Skeksis' history to suit his propaganda and to please his shifting allies. SkekOk is the smallest, finest-featured, and least honest of them all. His loyalty is to skekZok. He is voiced by John Baddeley.

The Ornamentalist skekEkt

Despite possessing a genuine gift as a designer,^[5] skekEkt is nonetheless described in The World of the Dark Crystal as an extremely vain and callous character who would gladly cause the death of countless animals for the sake of fabricating one cloak.^[7] According to skekSil's thoughts in The Dark Crystal novelization, skekEkt's uncharismatic depravity was considered excessive, even by the standards of the Skeksis, to the point where it would never command their obedience. He has the responsibility of giving the final say in the selection of experimental Pod slaves modified by skekTek for ritual choruses. The most effeminate of the Skeksis, he is frequently seen screaming, cringing, or affecting delicate manners. Along with skekAyuk, he is a supporter of skekSil.^[5] He is voiced by Brian Muehl.

Expanded universe

Tokyo Pop came with 2 of originally 3 planned volumes called "Legends of the Dark Crystal", which took place 200 years before the events of the film.

The General skekVar

The General skekVar, as seen in Legends of the Dark Crystal Vol. 1: The Garthim Wars

A loyal military leader, skekVar is distrusted by skekSo, who under the influence of skekLach, believes the general is seeking to appropriate the throne.^[10]

The Collector skekLach

The Collector skekLach, as seen in Legends of the Dark Crystal Vol. 1: The Garthim Wars

The collector of gelfling prisoners, skekLach secretly tries to undermine skekSo's authority by withholding gelfling essence for himself, whilst convincing the emperor that the shortage is due to skekVar. He blackmails skekTek into remaining silent. He has a mechanised arm and a scarred face.^[10]

In Volume 2, two new Skeksis are shown in the Grand Banquet; skekCru the Mariner and skekEer the Spy-Master, standing next to skekVar the General as the Collector is praised by the rest of the court.

SkekMal The Hunter

In the Dark Crystal Author Quest Gelfling Gathering, posted online by the Jim Henson Company http://darkcrystal.com/pdfs/dc_GelflingGathering.pdf a new Skeksis is mention...

SkekMal the Hunter considered himself a sportsman, though in truth he was a brutal killer, feared even by his own kind for his wild nature. He captured his prey through all manner of traps, and bore a scar across his face, which he concealed with a 'spirit-like' mask. He was very fast, having the ability to dodge arrows and disappear into the trees. Few Gelflings knew about him, as he typically ate his prey, though his feats did become the source of fearsome legend.

Deaths

• skekSo expires in his deathbed at the beginning, leaving something he was in the middle of saying unsaid for lack of breath. He then progressively implodes piece by piece, starting with his beak, and crumbles into dust which was later cremated.
• As Kira cries out in the language of the creatures in the lab to incite a revolt against him, skekTek is toppled into the fiery pit beneath the Dark Crystal, where he is instantly incinerated.

Notes

The Skeksis frames were modified and re-used in the second season episode of Farscape - "Out of Their Minds", eighteen years after the release of The Dark Crystal.

References