In honor of The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance’s Second Anniversary, we are working in a Great Conjunction (*wink*) with @thra-athon to sponsor a celebratory event for this wonderful fandom.
Starting Monday, August 30, and ending Sunday, September, 5, 2021, Create for Thra is designed to be a celebration and fun experience for fans to submit artwork, fanfiction, and all manner of creation related to the world of Thra and the week’s themes! You can focus on any character you’d like, from one character/ships to the full cast of characters. We are so excited to see what you create!
Here are the themes for the week:
August 30 — Day One: Creature Feature - Draw or write a story about your favorite Thra-creature, or post artwork of your own Thra-Creature Creation.
August 31 — Day Two: Original Characters - Introduce us to your original character within the world of Thra. Words, images, sculptures, dolls, puppets... the world of Thra is, as they say, your... gobble? Hm...
September 1 — Day Three: Where in the World? / Home Is Where the Heart Is - Show us your favorite locale on Thra with art or words, or create something about your favorite character in the little piece of Thra they call home.
September 2 — Day Four: Scene Work - Draw/write an interpretation of your favorite scene, or create your own deleted scene from the show. What occurred offscreen that you would have liked to see? What would your favorite scene have looked like from a different character’s eyes?
September 3 — Day Five: What Was Sundered and Undone - The Division of the UrSkeks... the splitting of the Seven Clans... the cracking of the Crystal of Truth. Many things on Thra have been torn apart. Create a piece about this topic.
September 4 — Day Six: "There are many paths laid before us, some good, most bad." - Create a story or drawing about the differing paths Aughra sees. Brea tells her mother to imagine the possibilities - what can you imagine?
September 5 — Day Seven: A Great Conjunction - “Alright, together then!” From the reunification of the Skeksis and Mystics and the Gelfling fires of resistance, the alliance of the Arathim and the Gelfling, to our favorite Podling Paladin, unity is an important concept during the Age of Resistance. Make a creation about embracing unity instead of continuing division!
It isn’t required to participate for the entire week. If you’d just like to submit a piece of work for only one of the theme days, that’s completely fine! Please be sure that any work submitted is new content.
Rules:
1) Tag your work properly so that any parties who are either a) too young for certain subject matter, or b) concerned about potentially unsavory subject matter, may make informed decisions about what works they do and do not want to engage with.
2) Character-hate and ship-hate is not allowed or welcome. Any fan of this fandom is welcome to participate. Don’t like it? Don’t read/view it, and don’t comment a bunch of hate on it. End. Of. Story. You will be blocked if you engage in that type of behavior.
3) HAVE FUN AND SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER!
We encourage you to leave the artist/author/creator a comment if you enjoyed the creation - it doesn’t have to be something long or detailed. Something as simple as “really enjoyed reading/viewing this” will make the creator’s day a bit brighter.
Be sure to hashtag #CreateforThra so we can see it and reblog your creations!
Remember - all characters are welcome! Skeksis, Mystics, Gelfling, Podlings, pluff’ms, and everything in between.
Looking forward to seeing your creations beginning Monday, August 30.
Thank you so much to everyone who participated in this week’s events! Your fan works were amazing!
We will be checking the tags and blog a few times a week for the rest of September, so feel free to @ us and tag #createforthra on any theme-day works which may not have been finished in time to post this last week!
Day 7- the siblings reunite! Does this count? Maybe it would have made more sense with the prompt if it was just Seladon and Brea…
There are no points for guessing who my favourite characters are. Just pretend Tavra didn’t get stabbed to death like five minutes after this happened.
I definitely overestimated my own capabilities by believing I could do something for every day of the week. 5/7 ain’t too bad though. I was originally going to have the sisters split up on their separate paths for the ‘sundered’ prompt and have them come back together for day 7… but I guess that didn’t pan out.
@createforthra Day 6 : “There are many paths laid out before us, some good, most bad” late submission!
This is pretty rushed and I may redo it when I’m less busy and stressed. (This is a cropped version, I drew more but I just couldn’t draw everything)
In a perfect world I imagine our heroes being successful in overthrowing the Skeksis and reuniting the UrSkeks. Deet gets healed from the darkening and Stonegrot can begin the happily ever after they deserve. For anyone who read the, Attack on Titan manga, I was inspired by the shards of memory page to show the fragments of a path that led to victory for the Gelfling.
Lol I picture this happy ending being the universe all my favorite wholesome Stonegrot fanfics happened in. I need to go reread them!
I wanted to draw SkekSard and UrDahr together for quite a while so @createforthra was a great opportunity! It was meant to fit Day 7′s theme of unity but it can work for Day 5′s division too. Depends on how you see it!
As both are face to face, I wanted to highlight how their overall head shapes are similar. There’s a page on The World of the Dark Crystal that shows how both counterparts were meant to have these similarities…It’s not very respected in the movie/show, but I kinda did it here because it was a cool idea. They are the same being, after all. They are SardDahr the UrSkek!
Create For Thra Day 6: "There are many paths laid before us, some good, most bad."
@createforthra
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Here's a thing I have written months ago, which happens to be a perfect fit for today's topic!
Excuse my writing skills and enjoy!... Or cry.
🌟
Open Your Eyes
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Kira tried to wipe away some of the blush from her freckled cheeks. She loved her reflection on the dressing mirror, but she thought her mom could do her make up a little bit less.
She heard her mom laugh.
"And here I was wondering how long would it take you to remove some of it."
"But it feels heavy, you know I like how I look."
"Yes honey, but this is a special occasion... Spare me this once?"
Kira rolled her eyes playfully as Brea braided her silver hair with beads. Kira's hair fell from her shoulders, she especially wanted side braids like her gorgeous mother, but had thin side braids instead of thick ones. She made them herself, then Brea offered help attaching the beads. Brea made two braids, connecting into one thick braid at the center.
"Looking good as ever." Came a silent voice. Kira turned to her aunt, whose body, spider body, was sitting on top of the counter. She couldn't help but blush, looking down.
"Don't move your head, sweetheart." Brea said, posing her head straight again.
"Sorry. I am just... Excited." She was terrifyingly aware of her heartbeat, tried to take a deep breath.
"I can sense your fear." Tavra walked with her thin legs and stopped between Kira and the mirror. "You have nothing to be afraid of."
"I can't help it." Kira explained. " I wish I could know what the future holds for me, like Mother Aughra. Maybe then I wouldn't be this vulnerable."
"You are not vulnerable." She felt her mother tug on her finished braid as a warning. She didn't like it when Kira dragged herself down this way. "Do you think I didn't feel afraid? I thought I was going to faint."
"Ah yes, glad that you only puked and didn't faint."
"Tavra!"
Kira started to laugh. Well, this story was new.
"You puked?! Why didn't you tell me?!"
"I didn't want my daughter to know this ridiculous fact, thank you very much."
"She was so excited, so she ate whatever she could find from the kitchen and made herself sick." Tavra spoke mischievously.
"I had to keep myself busy!" Brea argued with her big sister. Kira loved their bickering. They were almost never serious with it, that's why Kira even started some of them on purpose.
While they were stating opinions on how to cope with these kinds of excitement, Kira looked at the mirror once more, and decided her fear was a good thing. She would always have her loved ones by her side, possibly talking nonsense like this and she realized, there was nothing to be afraid of. Her future, their future was filled with hope and laughter, she just knew it.
Another deep breath. And a big smile.
"Alright, all done here." Her mother said. For final touch, Tavra brought her golden coronet, which Brea placed on Kira's brow.
A knock on the door which made Kira's heart flip. Only Onica's wild red hair could be seen since she opened the door ajar while talking with someone outside the dressing room. Tavra's tiny body bounced with joy. When Onica came in, they also saw Tae outside, waving at them.
"We are all set. You can come out whenever you want." said the Far-Dreamer.
"Thra's Mighty Hooyim King, you look amazing, Kira!" Tae cheered.
Kira thanked her while she got up from her chair. Her white gown with gold and silver rands fell smoothly behind her. Embroidered with both Vapra and Spriton symbols, she was very proud of this dress she made herself.
One last glance at her reflection, one last deep breathe.
Brea reached to fix her bangs while Onica put out her hand for Tavra to climb on. Tavra wished her a good luck with: "Go get him!" while moving her legs exaggeratively, causing a big laughter in the room.
Then they got out, it was only her and her mother now. Brea's eyes were shining, her little fizzgig was now all grown up, taking another big step in her life.
"Mother, I will be okay."
"I know, baby."
"So, don't cry."
Brea abruptly wiped her tears on her long sleeve, trying not to smear her make up. Then she held Kira's hand and squuezed. Supposedly, they promised each other just this morning as a family that they weren't going to cry.
But all those hardships back in the trines, almost getting killed by a Garthim several times... Brea still couldn't believe it was all over. Skeksis no more.
Another knock on the door, and this time both of their eyes sparkled, as the legendary songteller stepped in to the dressing room with a blinding smile.
Kylan stopped in his tracks and stared at his daughter in awe. Kira laughed and went to hug him.
"Please don't start crying like mother did just now."
Kylan chuckled as he wrapped his arms around her and spinned once. Then he sent a playful smirk on Brea's way and said: "It seems you lost our bet, love."
Brea pretended to be angry with a pout, but when she glanced at her little family, she smiled until her cheeks hurt.
"I want a hug too!" she said as she took big steps towards her husband. Kylan opened one arm for her and immidiately in she was. Kira leaned on her father's shoulder, which always felt like home. After some minutes, Brea sniffled once more, and Kira reached and hugged her as well. This is nice, she thought. It had been a while since they could be like this because of the fussy preparations.
When they let go, Kylan placed both hands on her cheeks and kissed her forehead. Kira could see his eyes becoming misty with emotion as well. She smiled widely with the same eyes she has as her father.
Brea took his arm and started to lead him toward the door.
"Aww, I don't want to give her to Jen yet!"
Brea raised a laugh. "You are not giving her to anyone, honey. Let's give her a moment and take our places at the balcony."
Then she flashed Kira a proud look, and they were gone.
Kira felt aware of her heart again. She couldn't stop this fuzzy feeling inside her stomach and bounced around happily. Calm yourself before you sweat inside the dress, she thought to herself. She let go of the fists she made without noticing, and reached for the door.
Citadel's hallways were empty. As she passed each one, she heard the Gelf folk outside, crowded and excited, just like her. The noise grew louder and louder, then she made a left turn, reaching the last corridor before the Citadel's balcony.
She already could see her parents, on the left side. Brea was already looking at her direction and when she saw Kira coming, she gently elbowed Kylan's arm, causing him to look at her too. And the smile he gave her was everything. Before she teared up, she took a right glance, and saw Rian and Deet, also waiting for her to arrive.
With all the rustling her parents caused, Jen turned around where he was standing at the center and their eyes met.
The flutter inside her chest made her think that she was really about to let go of the lunch she had at noon.
Even if he tried to, Jen couldn't stop looking at her until she was at his side. He awkwardly reached his hand out for her. She took it eagerly.
They both stood straight before her Aunt Seladon, who was going to perform their marriage ceremony. She smiled down at them lovingly, which, Kira didn't experience often much before.
Kira glanced down at all the Gelfling who attended their wedding. Besides the whole citizens of Ha'rar, she could see many faces from every clan. Well, if there is any left, at this point.
Her Uncle Gurjin and Auntie Naia were cheering loudly, as well as her Uncle Amri. As her closest family friends, they had every right to scream.
She couldn't even begin to count everyone she knew when her eyes locked with a figure, at the very back of the crowd. Her eyes widened as the old creature's crane's shard shined with light.
"Mother Aughra..." she let out before she could manage. Jen smiled knowingly.
"I also thought she wouldn't be here today."
Kira, not being sure if Aughra could see it, bowed her head slowly at her direction. Jen followed right after her, thanking Mother Thra for everything she's done for the Gelfling.
When they finally started the ceremony, Aughra snickered loudly.
"These kids..." she said to herself. She ignored the looks of some Gelfling who heard her loud and sudden snicker, and glanced at the endless sky.
"You spoil these children, old friend." She talked to Thra, jokingly mentioning the great weather today. Her tired eyes scanned her every children, happy and bonded with the song of Thra.
They deserved this, she thought.
Their future is brighter than the stars above, she thought.
Then she closed her eyes, listening to her children's voices.
She didn't want to open them. She truly didn't. However, she had no other choice. She counted every star she visited while she was sleeping, just to kill time. But, they also came to an end.
When she opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was a Gelfling. Laying and unmoving, already returned to Thra. After every slow step she took, she saw another. And another.
She recognized one, two, three... Maybe all. Or maybe she didn't. She didn't know.
She wondered, why Thra showed her this vision now. Which didn't mean anything. She huffed, then coughed, trying to silence her pain.
She knew where she was. In which reality, in which possible future she was in. She had this reality as a vision trines ago, and there they were. Her children, poor children...
And she knew what she was supposed to do. Her feet took her to the right direction as if moving without her consent. But that was she. That was Thra. Already decided fate. Too late to return.
One tear dropped from her eye to the bloody soil as she stood beside the corpse of a certain songteller, his eyes are half open as he clutched into his magical firca, like a last hope.
She leaned down and grabbed it. With delicate care, she fully closed his eyes, careful of her crooked nail.
Without looking back, she made her way toward the already decided route again. She wished all of her children, for them to return to Thra safely, as that was all she could do.
Grunting while she walked, scolding Thra for showing her a vision this heartbreaking, for making her cry, off to the UrRu valley she went. With the firca around her neck.
Really loose interpretation of the prompt. The shrookil is found in the Dark Crystal Bestiary, where it states Skeksis hunted them to extinction. Yet another example of the Skeksis severing themselves from the land they publically claimed to be stewarding.
My favorite creature of Thra is the thrushpog! I usually do fanfic for these, but I happened to be making some little polymer thrushpog for a mini terrarium, so here is my contribution:
"As it would turn out, permitting the Conqueror to hole away in that desert ruin to indulge his more creative urges was a fortuitous decision. SkekGra's stone spy-creature was ready just on time to lure three Gelfling and one Podling, would-be leaders of this little...'rebellion'...out to his stronghold. Under the guise of enlightening them as to the 'true history of Thra,' no less. Amusing. Their welcome at the Circle of the Suns was doubtless not the turn of events they'd hoped for. So much for the heroes of Thra."
