Quoted By:
"To betray is to break the circle of trust. The Skeksis came to betray all friendship, without reason, without need."
The Skeksis were the self-proclaimed Lords of the Crystal, and rulers of an Empire which dominated Thra throughout the 'Age of Division'. Tall and reptilian in appearance, the Skeksis posed as benevolent caretakers of the Crystal, while in reality leeching off its power in order to prolong their lives, thus causing the spread of the Darkening. During their thousand-trine rule, the Skeksis formed the Alliance of the Crystal with the Gelfling, keeping the latter divided and subservient. Species that resisted their governance, such as the Gruenaks and Arathim, were either eradicated or evicted from their lands.
When the Crystal was exhausted of its power after a millennium of abuse, the Skeksis began to abduct the Gelfling in order to drain them of their essence, which had a rejuvenating effect on them. This lead to the formation of the Gelfling resistance and the outbreak of Garthim War. After the death of Emperor skekSo, the subsequent infighting among the Skeksis prevented them from stopping the fulfillment of a prophecy that foretold the end of their rule by Gelfling hand.
The Skeksis viewed themselves as bringers of order, innovation and purpose, and were convinced of their inherent superiority over all creatures of Thra, seeing them at best as sources of food, revenue and entertainment. I have, many times, characterized them as intelligent, ambitious and gregarious, full of daring wit and bold experiment - yet simultaneously manipulative, thieving, parasitic and needlessly treacherous, with ice in their hearts and a thirst for blood.
