War of the Dark Crystal: Campaigns and Resources

Chapter 5: Campaigns and Resources

This is a violent time for the world of Thra. The darkness of the Crystal spreads across the land and the races are entering war for the first time. The previous chapters outlined the general mechanics for using Fate Core, common creatures, and areas. Chapter 5 provides insights for how to use those mechanics and areas in your game as well as links to important reference materials.

Running a Game

While the source materials of The Dark Crystal provide elements of danger and exploration, a game set in Thra should not be one of Monty Haul or murderhobos. Instead, characters should be explorers, crafters, and unlikely heroes thrust into a conflict they did not plan for. While Thra may have ancient ruins, the labyrinths of the world are ones of nature and not crafted by Gelfling hand.

When preparing your game, work with your players to determine how canon the game should be. If you want to tweak Thra so there are new darkened creatures, additional Skeksis fortresses, and fantastic inventions, be sure that the entire table is aware (and in agreement). Don’t feel beholden to the movies, but use the source materials to craft a game you and your friends want to play.

Campaign Ideas

Campaigns are a series of game sessions, often with multiple adventures and small side-quests within the scope of a larger story or quest. Below are four ideas for Gelfling-based campaigns (with possible Podling assistance).

• Shard Seekers The player characters seek the Shard that will heal the Crystal and take that shard to Aughra. Crystals are common throughout Thra, but the PCs have heard a rumor of the true resting place of the Shard and must find it.
• Shadow of War War has only just reached the doorstep of a Gelfling village. The PCs must patrol their territory, keeping an eye out for crystal bats and helping to defend against Garthim attacks.
• Mapping Thra Unaffected by the war (though not the darkness) the PCs seek to map a portion of Thra, dealing with the dangers of the region.
• Peacemakers The Skeksis were once the friends of the Gelfling and the PCs represent a clan or clans in an attempt to make peace and convince the Skeksis they pose no threat. The Skeksis may toy with their supplicants, sending them on various errands and tasks as “tests of skill.”

Adventure Seeds

Adventures are a single or double session story that may serve as a vignette in a larger campaign or a stand-alone night. Below are five ideas for adventures within the War of the Dark Crystal.

• Skeksis Prisoners The PCs are imprisoned by the Skeksis and must escape before their life essence is drained and they become mindless slaves.
• Nebrie Stampede A herd of large, swamp nebrie have been spooked by recent Garthim incursions and now plow through the land, laying waste to Gelfling and Podling encampments. Even those with soul-soothing can’t get the attention of the beasts long enough to stop the herd from trampling.
• Training for Battle This idea serves as a “boot camp” adventure as the Gelflings prepare themselves for defense against the Garthim.
• The Maudra The PCs are sent to warn a clan Maudra about the danger the Skeksis now pose to all life. In this non-combat adventure, the PCs will have to deal with the bureaucracy and traditions of that clan’s court.
• The Sorcerer While the many Gelflings remain pure, there are some who have been turned into mindless slaves under the control of the Skeksis. There are also the very few who have been tainted by the corruption of the Dark Crystal. A Gelfling powerful in the Songs of Thra has been using them for twisted means, gathering power and a cult-like following as they strike against the Skeksis. The PCs must determine what to do with the powerful Gelfling; can they be redeemed or must the Gelflings war with themselves?

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Official Resources

The following materials and sites are considered “official” and provide canon information and ideas that can be useful for a game set in the world of the Dark Crystal.

• The Dark Crystal (4K and blu-ray edition)* is the chief resource and inspiration of all that follows.
• The World of the Dark Crystal* book is out of print, but is the best visual encyclopedia and history guide of Thra.
• DarkCrystal.com replicates and expands on most of the information (but not visual) of the book and is a key resources when examining the setting of Thra, including a timeline, character and world overview, and glossary of terms. Also featured are creature creation contests which may serve as inspiration when populating Thra with custom animals.
• Dark Crystal Creation Myths* is a three-volume set of comics that details the birth of Auhgra, first appearances of the urSkek and their separation into urRu and Skeksis, as well as the start of the War of the Dark Crystal.
• Power of the Dark Crystal* is a three-volume set of comics that illustrates new tales many years after the events the movie and may provide insights into the lands of Thra and/or inspiration for a campaign set after the movie.
• Shadows of the Dark Crystal* is the first in a series of books that takes place shortly before the War of the Dark Crystal and features important exposition on the Gelfling clans and how they interact with each other. The books also provide understanding of the Skeksis descent from eccentric allies to egomaniacal adversaries.
• Legends of the Dark Crystal is an unfinished manga that examines the Garthim Wars and introduces new adversaries like the spyeyes.
• The Gelfling Gathering PDF is a fun, official, look at the Gelfling clans from the point of view of the Skeksis.
• The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance is a 10-episode Netflix prequel series scheduled for 2019; and its announcement was one of the main reasons I re-started my War of the Dark Crystal project.

Fan Resources

The Dark Crystal has many dedicated fans. These three resources were invaluable in my planning and writing of War of the Dark Crystal.

• Unofficial Dark Crystal Wiki provided information and filled in some gaps that the official DarkCrystal.com site did not.
• Trial By Stone: Dark Crystal Podcast not only has interviews with Dark Crystal official and unofficial creators, but also provides analysis of the movie, comics, and books, often providing observations and facts that may have previously been missed or unknown.
• Dark Crystal Conjunction is a YouTube channel that likewise looks at the lore of the Dark Crystal and provides reading lists, upcoming news, and trivia.

Fate Resources

Use of this write-up requires the Fate Core*. Fate Core is an Open Gaming License system produced by Evil Hat. While books are helpful, the following sites provide rules an insights into running a Fate game without purchased materials.

• FateRpg.com is the official Fate site, which provides details of upcoming books and materials.
• Fate SRD provides all the base rules for Fate Core, helpful for book-owners doing a fast look-up or for non-book-owners running or playing the game.
• Fate Wiki is a great companion as it provides easy lists of official resources, errata, and aspect examples.