Alliance of the Crystal

The Alliance of the Crystal between the Skeksis and the Gelfling was formed in the Age of Division and heralded the primacy of the Skeksis as rulers of Thra, as well as the unwitting subjugation and fragmentation of the Gelfling. Lasting throughout the Age of Division, the alliance ultimately broke down when the Skeksis began draining the Gelfling of their essence, resulting in the formation of the Gelfling Resistance and, ultimately, the start of the Garthim War.

History
To bolster his control over the Gelfling, SkekSo formalized the already existing divisions between the Gelfling Clans, setting up the Vapra as the dominant group and prime beneficiary of Skeksis patronage. As payment for their protection, the Skeksis recruited able-bodied Gelfling from most clans to act as guards in the Castle of the Crystal. The Dousan were exempted, as they were perceived as worshiping death, which went against Skeksis beliefs.

The Gelfling were also obligated to pay tithes in the form of food and weapons in exchange for continued Skeksis protection. This eventually evolved into the Tithing Ceremony, where once every trine, Skeksis emissaries would visit the capitals of the Gelfling Clans and accept offerings to take back to the Castle of the Crystal. These ceremonies were ostensibly to give their subjects an opportunity to show their gratitude, but were, in reality, meant to keep them divided and impoverished. With the relative peace before the Age of Resistance, the Tithes were expanded from just food and weapons, to richly decorated clothes, jewelry and anything of value. Failure to provide substantial tithes to the Skeksis often resulted in public shaming, with the Skeksis melodramatically feigning injury.

At one point, the Skeksis crushed the Arathim ascendancy, and allowed the ancestors of the Grottans to colonize the Arathim's ancestral home of Grot.

After the Skeksis began draining Gelfling of their essence, they attempted to hide the fact by ordering the arrest of Rian, who had witnessed the practice. Their lies were ultimately not believed and All-Maudra Mayrin dissolved the alliance, only to be killed by general SkekVar. Rumors of her death reached the Stonewood Clan and culminated in the Stonewood Rebellion. Her heir, Seladon, attempted to restore relations with the Skeksis, but was rebuffed, as they no longer held any desire to maintain the pretense of being benevolent protectors.

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