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Skeksis (specifically skekUng the General) on permanent display at The Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta, GA

The Skeksis are the corrupt rulers of the planet Thra in the film The Dark Crystal. The base of the characters is that they are the selfish and wicked halves of the former ruling UrSkeks. The word "Skeksis" serves as both singular and plural form for this species, with the singular being pronounced /skɛk.sɪs/ and the plural pronounced /skɛk.siz/. The Skeksis culture favors repetitive flamboyance, emotional pettiness, and a carnivorous attitude toward life. The power lines laid on their castle to channels the planet energy to them and then feedback noxious pulses, resulting in the area's wasteland appearance. The Skeksis also mastered using the Crystal to siphon sunlight to extend their lives. They have created creatures such as the huge, crab-like Garthim to be their enforcers and the Crystal Bats to act as their eyes & ears throughout Thra.

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 lacking any form of restraint or contemplation. They apparently had good relations with the Gelfling people, inviting them to their castle and reveling with them in festivity and song. As time passed and the Skeksis morality decayed along with their bodies, they began to keep Gelflings as slaves. Desperate, the Gelflings sought counsel in prophecy, which revealed that a Gelfling would end the rule of the Skeksis. When the Skeksis learned of this, they had the Garthim carry out the genocide of the entire Gelfling race. However, only Jen and Kira survived the massacre, eventually finding each other and fulfilling the prophecy that destroyed the Skeksis and reintegrated them into the Uru to recreate the urSkeks.

In the film, the Skeksis are represented by puppets engineered under the direction of Jim Henson. They are described by concept artist Brian Froud as, "... part reptile, part predatory bird, part dragon." They have sinister, decaying bodies under elaborate robes of lace, velvet, and brocade. The faces of the Skeksis have hooded, uneasy eyes and beaklike jaws. Arched talons and long necks are held poised as if to strike.

Jim Henson said that, in the development of the Skeksis, the creators drew from the Seven Deadly Sins.

• In the South Park episode Tsst, one of the nannies from "Nanny 911" is named Nanny Skeksis.
  

  

  "Nanny Skeksis".
• In the expansion pack The Burning Crusade for World of Warcraft, a non-playable race of beings known as the Arakkoa was introduced. Arakkoa are virtually identical in appearance to the Skeksis. One of the quests a player can complete involves a large, floating dark crystal called the Darkstone of Terrok that the Arakkoa control. The hidden capital of the Arakkoa is called Skettis, to further tie in the name. Also the first boss of the instance Sethekk Halls yells "Mmmm...Time to make my move!" a quote taken directly from SkekSil the Chamberlain.
• A song called "Skeksis" is the second song on the 2005 album Alien (album) by Strapping Young Lad.

At the film's beginning, there are ten Skeksis:

• the Emperor skekSo
• the Ritual Master skekZok
• the General skekUng
• the Chamberlain skekSil
• the Scientist skekTek
• the Gourmand skekAyuk
• the Slave Master skekNa
• the Treasurer skekShod
• the Scroll Keeper skekOk
• the Ornamentalist skekEkt