#Captain Kam'Lu

[tdc-incorrect-quotes]

Kam’lu: Those Gelfling look up to you.

Seladon: ….Yeah I know.

Kam’lu: Yeah you know, but you don’t know. When Gelfling look up to you, you don’t get to be selfish.

Seladon: I’m not-

Kam’lu: You say run, they run. You say swim, they dive in. You say light a fire, they show up with oil. And whatever happens, it’s on you.

#kam'lu #seladon #captain kam'lu #all maudra seladon #loyal seladon #tdc incorrect quotes #source: arcane #user quotes #simkim704 #q

[thebibliomancer]

#dark crystal #the dark crystal #dark crystal age of resistance #Archaia's Dark Crystal #Gunda the Bobling #All Maudra Mayrin #Captain Kam'Lu #awww #tjitml liveblog

[nurloxx]

tale as old as time

summary: it’s bedtime, and kam’lu is in charge of telling the story

a/n: MAY’LU SHIPPERS COME GET Y’ALL JUICE

"What story do you think papa is going to tell this time?" Brea asked from where she sat on her mother's lap as the older Vapra diligently combed her long pale locks.

"It better not be the one where he got sun frenzy and thought a Hooyim was trying to speak to him." Seladon sighed, running a silver brush through her own hair. She was curled up on a mountain of plush velvet pillows beside her sister Tavra, who was fidgeting impatiently.

"I just hope it's not boring." she said simply.

Mayrin chuckled as she finished up, pecking Brea on the forehead and placing her back down so she could rejoin her sisters on the bed.

"I'm sure whatever your father has planned won't dissapoint." She then discreetly added under her breath. "I hope...."

"Do my ears deceive me or are there four fair gelfling maidens in dire need of a story?"

Four heads simultaneously turned in the direction of a playful voice that boomed from down the hall. The girls squealed in unison as the door swung open to reveal the form of their father, and they abandoned the bed in favor of crowding around his legs enthusiastically.

Kam'lu laughed heartily, scooping his two youngest daughters into his arms, then bending down so that his eldest could climb up on his back.

Mayrin rolled her eyes. "Love, you know they're not supposed to get too excited. It is their bedtime after all."

The Sifa captain gave her a lopsided grin. "Oh but bedtime is the most exciting time of the day, didn't you know? Especially tonights!" He dug his fingers into Tavra and Brea's sides, making them squeal and shriek with laughter.

"Papa, do you have a story for us?" Brea asked, her characteristic curious pools of gold twinkling.

"He better!" Tavra jabbed her tiny finger into her father's chest. "Otherwise I stayed awake for nothing!"

"Fear not my beauties. Tonight's story is a very special one." He gently placed them all down on the pile of cushions, claiming his spot on the biggest one. "One I think your mother will be quite familiar with."

Mayrin almost wanted to ask what Kam'lu was getting at, but the knowing look he threw over his shoulder gave her all the clarification she needed. Smiling, she stood from the vanity chair and got comfortable next to her mate. Their hands interlaced in clear view of their daughters, both not even needing to think about the action. It was practically second nature at that point.

"So, first things first. I have a question for you all." Mayrin gestured between her and Kam'lu. "Do you believe our initial meeting was love at first sight?"

Brea nodded enthusiastically, while Tavra and Seladon shared a look of doubt.

"I'd be surprised if it was..." Seladon muttered.

Mayrin tittered, putting her fingers to her lips. "You'd be correct, my dear. When I first encountered your father, we couldn't have been more different from each other. In the back of my mind I couldn't even begin to fathom how I'd be able to get along with someone so oafish, and thick skulled, and brash-"

"Really feeling the love here...." Kam'lu deflated, ears pinning to the sides of his head. He was actually pouting, and it caused his mate to let out a proper laugh.

"You didn't let me finish." She leaned her head on his shoulder. "I truly did believe you to be all those things. However, I'd be proven wrong later on. You were so much more, my love."

The smile slowly returned to Kam'lus face. He kissed her cheek, nuzzling it tenderly. "And to think, all it took was being swallowed up by a sea monster and fighting for our lives trying to escape."

"Wait, you got swallowed by a what?!" Brea exclaimed in disbelief, bouncing around in her seat.

"Sea monster?!" Tavra balked.

"How did you get out?!" Seladon placed a hand to her chest, eyes wide in shock.

The questions continued to pour in at a steady rate.

"Was it a big monster?"

"Did you fight it?!"

"Did you have to light a fire inside it's belly and have it sneeze you out?!"

All eyes in the room fell on Brea with varying levels of puzzlement.

She merely shrugged. "It was in one of my books."

Kam'lu and Mayrin bursted out laughing at that, the older Sifa having to wipe away a tear or two. Such differing personalities their daughters had, but it made them all the more lovable in their eyes.

"That is where our story begins, my young ones. You see, it was a rather dreary and stormy night. The waves had become quite restless..." Kam'lu started his tale, motioning with his hands for the girls to come in closer. They did so without question.

Despite her mate's rather.... eccentric style of storytelling, Mayrin found herself being oddly soothed by it. She studied her daughter's faces with a serene expression. Brea and Tavra seemed the most enraptured, while Seladon appeared more concerned than anything else.

A larger pale hand subtly reached out to grasp hers, and she unconsciously squeezed back.

"..... when we were suddenly face to face with Bobling King himself! Oh he was as helpful as he was fearsome!" Kam'lu made large theatric gestures with his arms, and Mayrin wasn't sure if it was solely for the girls amusement or if he genuinely remembered the King Bobling in that way.

"Pfft, he doesn't sound so scary." Tavra scoffed, crossing her arms.

"That's because he wasn't, dear." Mayrin interjected. She turned to Kam'lu and raised a brow at him. "Love, he barely reached your knee."

"I'm sorry, who is the one telling the story here?"

She pinched the tip of his ear, eliciting a slight yelp from him. "I was there too, you fool." When before the word rolled off her tongue with scorn and exasperation, now there was only fondness present in the Vapra's tone.

This time it was Seladon's turn to laugh. She doubled over on the pillow, clutching her stomach. "Father, you were scared by something so small?" Her sisters soon followed suite, and even Mayrin couldn't resist letting out a chuckle at Kam'lus expense.

The older Sifa's cheeks flared red, and he huffed indignantly. "Well, if that's how you're all going to act, then I think we should cut this story short."

He was only joking of course, but they didn't know that. At least, his daughters didn't. Only Mayrin seemed to catch on to the slight mischievous glint in his eye that told her he didn't really take it to heart.

"No!!!!" Three pairs of arms shot out and latched onto Kam'lu before he could even think about getting up.

"We're sorry Papa!"

"Yeah, really really sorry!"

"You gotta finish the story!"

He looked down at the pleading faces of his little ones, and feigned a look of pensiveness.

"Well, I suppose I can't stay mad at my beauties for long, can I?"

"No, no you can't." Mayrin smirked, playing with a lock of russet colored hair. "We all have you wrapped around our fingers. Forever."

"There's no other fate on Thra I'd rather resign myself to. Now then," He pulled his mate, along with his daughters onto his lap, much to their amusement. It was a tight fit, but they managed. "As I was saying, we had begun our treacherous journey into the belly of the beast..."

Kam'lu smoothly picked up where he had left off, progressing through the rest of the story with little to no interruptions. Though he had to pause multiple times to chuckle at Tavra's starstruck expression when the subject of the flying Zoa and the final battle aboard skekSa's ship came up.

"From that day on, I swore I'd stay by your mother's side through thick and thin. No matter what unholy terrors Thra tossed our way, I'd be right there with her." Kam'lu smiled lovingly, kissing the head of his mate, who hummed in acknowledgement.

"And not long after, we had our first daughter. Our little Seladon." Mayrin cooed, cupping her eldest's cheek and stroking it with her thumb. "Do you remember where your name comes from, dearest?"

"It was the name of a famous Vapran general, right? The one who saved her village from an avalanche?"

Mayrin nodded, tapping her nose. "That's exactly right. I sensed a very stalwart spirit when I was pregnant with you, and I wanted your name to reflect that."

"Can we hear that story next?" Brea asked, yawning.

Kam'lu chuckled. "I'm afraid we'll have to save that particular tale for another night. For now, I think it's time for my beauties to get some sleep."

A low whine of protest sounded from each girl, and Mayrin gently shushed them. "Your father's right. It's already past your bedtime, and you have a big day tomorrow."

"We do?" They all tilted their heads curiously.

Kam'lu grinned. "Yes! It'll be a nice sunny day tomorrow, and I figured what better way to spend it than to take all of you out on the ship for the afternoon."

"So the sooner you go to sleep, the sooner morning will come, and we can ready ourselves accordingly." Mayrin collected her daughters into her arms as she spoke, tucking them each into their respective beds and kissing them goodnight. Kam'lu went around to do the same, saying quiet Sifan prayers under his breath as he did so.

When they were finally laid to rest, Mayrin quietly stepped out of the room, holding the door open for her mate to join her in the hallway.

"Well, let it never be said that I didn't marry a halfway decent storyteller." She jested, elbowing Kam'lu in the side. "Better than I could have told it anyway."

"Ah, so you finally admit I'm better than you at something. Never thought I'd live to see the day." He grinned smugly.

Mayrin popped him on the shoulder. "Don't let it go to your head now. You're a better storyteller than you are a captain, let's put it that way." She ribbed him teasingly. Then she began to saunter ahead of him towards their bed chambers.

"Come, the hour is late and I could use some shut-eye myself."

Kam'lu watched her go at first, making sure her back was completely turned to him before responding.

"Right away, my All Maudra."

In one fluid motion Kam'lu came up behind Mayrin and swept her up into a bridal carry, walking her the rest of the way with a big smile on his face.

She slapped a hand over her mouth to stifle her laughter lest she wake the children.

He couldn't see it, but she was wearing a grin big enough to rival his.

#the dark crystal #the dark crytsal: age of resistance #prequel comics #all maudra mayrin #kam'lu #i write stuff

[tdc-incorrect-quotes]

Mayrin, to Seladon about Kam'Lu: Seladon, I think it's time we have a mother-daughter talk.

Mayrin: Your father is part of the family's trash. Any questions?

#mayrin #seladon #kam'lu #all maudra mayrin #proud all maudra #loyal seladon #all maudra seladon #captain kam'lu #tdc incorrect quotes #source: desperate housewives #mod quotes #mondo levidian arc #tdc | comics #q

[tdc-incorrect-quotes]

[After Kam'Lu catches Fenth trying to murder Mayrin]

Kam'Lu: Here's the traitor, Captain!

Fenth: Please, my Lord, have mercy!

SkekSa: After ye scrub all the floors on Thra, then we can talk about mercy! Take 'im away.

Kam'Lu: Yes, Captain!

#kam'lu #captain kam'lu #fenth #captain fenth #skeksa #skeksa the mariner #skeksis #tdc incorrect quotes #source: zelda cd-i #mod quotes #tdc | comics #mondo levidian arc #q #vassa #mondo levidian alternate ending #mayrin #proud all maudra #all maudra mayrin

[tdc-incorrect-quotes]

Kam'Lu: You were happy once, Mayrin.

Mayrin: I was never happy. I was just less pissed off.

#kam'lu #mayrin #captain kam'lu #all maudra mayrin #proud all maudra #tdc incorrect quotes #source: that 70s show #mod quotes #kinda like a what if Kam'Lu met with Mayrin again after so many years apart #q #tdc | comics #mondo levidian arc

[thebibliomancer]

#dark crystal #the dark crystal #dark crystal age of resistance #Archaia's dark crystal #All Maudra Mayrin #Captain Kam'Lu #tjitml liveblog

[thebibliomancer]

#dot got her way #dark crystal #the dark crystal #dark crystal age of resistance #Archaia's dark crystal #All Maudra Mayrin #Captain Kam'Lu #his utter bafflement at these knickknacks #tjitml liveblog

[thebibliomancer]

Archaia’s Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal Age of Resistance #10

The Journey into the Mondo Levidian Part 2

The true untold tale of All-Maudra Mayrin’s inaugural adventure!

Well, untold in the show. Comic is telling plenty.

In part one, Mayrin becomes All-Maudra and has plenty of unresolved mother issues and insecurity about it. Her first crisis is the growing Sifan separatist movement which threatens to shatter Gelfling solidarity and make her more of a Most-Maudra. She charters a ride with Captain Kam’Lu to go speak to the separatist leader Fenth but the ship goes and sinks.

So far we’ve had a journey so far but not into or Mondo Levidian. We probably should get around to that soon. There’s only three issues left.

So let’s get started!

When the ship sank, Mayrin jumped overboard to save Kam’Lu. Now they’re stranded in the middle of the ocean on a raft.

Mayrin is insistent that they try to find and save the crew of the Scalene Anchor and also Dot. Kam’Lu is equally insistent that No That’s A Terrible Idea. They have no food, no water, and no hope of survival unless they’re lucky enough to find land. They’re in no position to rescue anyone else. Plus...

There are political considerations.

Kam’Lu: “If the other clans believe the Sifans killed the All-Maudra, we’ll never be trusted again.”

He also mentions that Fenth predicted that THIS EXACT SITUATION might happen if the All-Maudra intervened in the Sifan separatist movement.

Huh.

Speaking of Fenth, the plot cuts over to him for a bit.

He learns of the sinking the Scalene Anchor and the presumed death of the New-All-Maudra and thinks hey, its free real estate.

High Councilor Fenth: “That means... There’s no one in line for the All-Maudra’s throne! The seat is vacant!”

skekSa: “How... fortunate! Haha! Ha! Haha! You wanted autonomy for the Sifans! Freedom from the greedy hands of the Vapra clan, yes? That is why honored me with this grand tithing -- to enlist my immortal aid? I am the only one who is sympathetic to your cause. That is why the Skeksis are here. To help Gelfling lead...!”

Call it a shot in the dark but I feel like skekSa was involved in the suspicious sea monster sinking of the Scalene Anchor.

Of course, she’ll probably get away with it. It’d spoil the surprise too early if a Skeksis was caught doing an evil scheme.

Also, look at the ambition on Fenth. Grows up in a matriarchy where clan leaders are always women, where the word for clan leader means ‘clan mother’ and thinks to himself ‘psssh i can do that.’ Good on him. Dream big, guy.

Back over with our mismatched comedy duo, as all Dark Crystal stories must have, Mayrin and Kam’Lu have some mismatched comedy duo banter.

Like her criticizing him for not being able to find land despite being a captain of a ship. And then immediately spotting land while he’s indignantly defending his credentials.

Or her maligning his swimming abilities since he fell off a boat and got knocked unconscious and had to be saved from drowning by her.

So he decides to turn this into a swimming contest, winner gets to be All-Maudra.

Good fun.

Just how I like my Gelfling buddy comedies.

Of course, its all fun and games until the island turns out to be a sea monster that eats them.

And it turns out that the island is a sea monster that eats them.

A mondo levidian, if I had to guess.

Giant turtles passing as landscape. Giant monsters being mistaken for islands. This comic series is too good to me.

So the two slide down the mondo levidian’s throat (gross) MANAGING TO BICKER ON THE WAY DOWN!

Kam’Lu: “Don’t you have wings?!”

Mayrin: “They don’t work well when they’re wet!”

Amazing.

They slide and slorp and flump all the way down to presumably the stomach.

But as they stop to rest, they realize they’re not alone.

Sulub: “Yer some kinda fishie-fish I ain’t ever seen! Betchur tasty! Anyway! No wrigglin’ while I kill ya good!”

OH MY GOD

This comic series is too good to me.

Look at this delightful podling crabtaur.

Once Kam’Lu proves immune to Sulub’s “advanced technology” (ie Sulub stabs Kam’Lu in the foot with a spear), the podcrab agrees to take the two Gelfling to see his village elder.

Sulub actually assumes that Mayrin and Kam’Lu are married and here on honeymoon at the thriving fish digestive system tourism industry I guess. Mayrin claims that Kam’Lu is just a fool and her servant (and Kam’Lu doesn’t speak Podling very well so has no idea about this) and introduces herself as the All-Maudra.

Sulub: “ALL-MAUDRA! The legendary All-Maudra! Well, why didn’t ya say so! Sulub is gilltickled and downright honored to lead ‘the all-powerful and all-knowing’ All-Maudra to our home. You’ll be enjoyin’ to know we’ve kept care of your most regal gifts! Still in pristine condition for havin’ come in a while ago!”

The gut city of Bajula has a statue of the previous All-Maudra, one apparently commissioned when Mayrin was baby.

Huh.

Well. Its helpful to Mayrin that they know about the All-Maudra and are excited to have her here. And that they’re assuming that she sent the statue ahead of herself, like luggage.

Sulub tours Mayrin and Kam’Lu around Bajula. Showing them the goo farms, the visitor center, the fermented... milk wine bar.

The king shows up and is disappointed that the Gelfling want to leave so soon into their visit and asks if Sulub even bothered to show them the goo farms!

But since Mayrin insists that they have important outside stuff to do outside, the king decides to rush through some exposition.

These podling crabs? They’re called Boblings.

Bobling King: “Thousands of trine ago, my tribe set out to explore the Silver Sea as proud, stalwart Podlings! Our regal forefathers were not known to swim, but their bravery was unmatched, and they set out to conquer everything they discovered! All those who would get in their way would be destroyed by the might of the Podlings! Yet there are creatures in this world that are mightier, and the Mondo Leviadin emerged from the Silver Sea and devoured their ships. Thousands of digestive cycles passed as we changed to better suit our new home. Our new world.”

An unstoppable army of Podlings sounds funny until you remember how awesome Hup is. The Mono Levidian may have spared the peoples of Thra a tragic fate.

Also, I’m a big impressed at the lack of linguistic drift. Thousands of trine and Bobling language is indistinguishable from Podling and Gelfling is still recognizable.

Kam’Lu gets fed up with the Bobling King and starts yelling that he’s cold, he’s hungry, he doesn’t want to be in a fish’s guts! Mayrin manages to convince the king by speaking of duty.

Bobling King: “You speak of duty. I know it well. As a leader of my kind, I would do anything for their survival. So yes, I will help you and your servant. Why you married him, I will never know.”

Kam’Lu: “Her what? We’re what?!”

Hah, that misunderstanding is paying dividends.

The king explains that the levidian only surfaces to feed once per trine and that it stays near the surface for a time after feeding.

So if Mayrin and Kam’Lu don’t get to the porticol (blowhole) within eight or so intestinal groans (.... hours??), they’ll be stuck until next trine.

WHICH IS GOING TO BE REAL BAD FOR MAYRIN’S CAREER.

Even though the Boblings are but a simple goo-farming people, the king sends his daughter Gunda, the most skilled hunter in Bajula, to escort them.

Gunda: “But father, the journey as never been done by a single Bobling. You send me into certain danger!”

King: “And do you not crave danger?! My daughter, you are the only one capable and brave enough to undertake such a quest! Please! A duty for your king!”

Gunda: “So be it. I will guide you to the porticol, but know that it is dangerous and uncharted. There are many creatures that call this place home. We must be vigilant. Stalwart. Like my podling ancestors!”

This is a fun little bit because it implies a life and experiences and that these Boblings haven’t just been sitting waiting for protagonists to show up. I mean, they also have been doing that. They have a visitor center set up. But they’ve been living their own dramas.

And off they go! Mayrin, Kam’Lu, and Gunda! On a grand journey to a giant sea monster’s blowhole!

Wait, is this thing a mammal?

So that’s issue 2.

We’re finally in the Mondo Levidian. And now all the protagonists want is to get out. So we’ve got the title, we’ve got an objective, we’ve got some fun side cast, we’ve got a ticking clock before Mayrin and Kam’Lu have to look at the sea monster gut apartment listings, and we’ve got some outside stakes!

Mayrin continues to impress. There’s even a moment right when Kam’Lu rouses after the shipwreck where he seems in awe of her confidence in a crisis.

Kam’Lu has his own personality now that’s not parroting Fenth. Its being a butt monkey, with a slight shade of being a little shit. Between Mayrin giving him shit for supposedly being bad at sailor stuff to getting stabbed in the foot by Boblings twice to being mistaken for Mayrin’s servant-husband, Kam’Lu is having a trying adventure. Plus his ship sank and all of his friends may be dead and if they fail to escape the Mondo Levidian, he’ll go down in history as the idiot that got an All-Maudra killed.

Poor guy.

Gunda has only had two pages to shine and she seems endearing! But it feels weird that Sulub isn’t coming along. He’s the introductory Bobling and all. But I guess speaking only Podling would be an impediment to interacting with Kam’Lu. Still, its weird that he just seems to fade out of the story once the king shows up.

Farewell, Sulub, you funky crab potato.

#dark crystal #the dark crystal #dark crystal age of resistance #Archaia's dark crystal #a prequel to a prequel #All Maudra Mayrin #Captain Kam'Lu #skekSa #the Mariner #Sulub the Bobling #Gunda the Bobling #Bobling King the Bobling

[thebibliomancer]

Archaia’s Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal Age of Resistance #9

The Journey into the Mondo Levidian Part 1

And back to Archaia’s Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal Age of Resistance for the last arc!

It makes me sad.

With Netflix deciding not to renew Age of Resistance, the boom of new Dark Crystal material is probably over for a while. I’ve still got this arc and two of the YA novels and that upcoming tabletop game.

But I’ll miss having all this stuff on my to-do list.

On the plus side, this arc is about All-Maudra Mayrin. Much like Ordon, she’s a character ripe to be explored outside of the context of being a parent to a main character. See what makes them tick, what shaped them into the people they became.

And the title is “The Journey into the Mondo Levidian”! That’s a heck of a title!

So let’s get started!

When Pre-Maudra Fara was the co-star of the first arc, she wasn’t the Stonewood Maudra until the last issue. Mayrin starts this story already All-Maudra’d.

Actually. Her mom died just before the story starts. And Mayrin is... still coming to terms with it.

Mayrin: “They told me that I’d never conquer the winds of Raunip’s pass. I can still hear their voices... Especially hers. I can feel her presence. The All-Maudra -- hm -- the former All-Maudra... My mother. Even though Thra has reclaimed her, I can still feel her dancing around me. Inspiring me. Taunting me. Because -- mother, you were the wind.”

Its like mother issues all the way down. Mayrin’s mother gave them to her and she’ll eventually give them to Seladon. And Seladon’s kids.... will live in a world where the Skeksis send out horrible crab monsters to harvest the population.

So, anyway, Mayrin feels like she has a lot to prove, being the new All-Maudra and the daughter of her mother who was apparently just the best.

Mayrin: “No one really knows my true nature. But I will defeat those who doubt my determination. Who call me reckless. Who see my courage as a weakness. I’ll prove them all wrong. Including you, mother. For I am Mayrin, the newly crowned All-Maudra and protector of Gelfling-kind!”

And Mayrin has bigger problems than people just doing things the traditional way without consulting her because thats the way her mom did it.

There’s a growing Sifan separtist movement and wouldn’t you know it, an untested new All-Maudra is the opportune time for them to kick their rhetoric up a notch.

The leader of this movement is an advisor to the Sifan Maudra named Fenth. Apparently he’s such a charming bugger that he made a credible claim to the Sifan crown, which is pretty outstanding considering all the matriarchy the Gelfling got going on.

The takeaway: he is a singular individual.

Fenth is advocating for the Sifan to separate themselves from the other Gelfling clans.

And he’s got kind of a point. Due to the Chamberlain’s wily words, the Gelfling clans view each other with disdain and distrust. But the Sifan are notable in welcoming non-Sifans and prizing individualism over clan loyalty.

They’ve got a good thing going on the sea so what do they need of an All-Maudra?

But going ‘we don’t think we’ll listen to you anymore kthx bai’ is being seen with great alarm among the Vapran, with Mayrin’s advisors urging her to act immediately, don’t even think about it, diplomatic repercussions and trade sanctions!

Mayrin: “ENOUGH! I need time to understand what exactly we are struggling to avoid. Thra will not break apart because of my mother’s passing. Because of me... So... Please, quickly. Tell me, what do I do?”

I think her train of thought jumped the rails right there.

Although, its more likely that she swiftly lost confidence in her own decisiveness halfway through.

Definitely confused the advisors who think she should come up with a plan since that’s what her mother used to do.

But after declaring the meeting done with and then beating herself to hell in the mommy metaphor of flying Raunip’s Pass, Mayrin decides she has a plan.

She’ll just meet with the Sifans and Fenth on neutral/Skeksis ground and tell them she cares about them! Good plan!

Mayrin and her advisor Dot go to the docks, stopping to pick up some goodwill gifts, and meet Captain Kam’Lu of the Scalene Anchor.

Hello, other half of the requisite odd couple!

Kam’Lu and Mayrin do not endear to each other off the bat.

Possibly because when Mayrin shows up at the ship, Kam’Lu is shouting stuff about how the Age of Sifan is here.

Or perhaps its because Dot’s idea of great diplomatic gifts are some kitschy Vapran miniatures that Kam’Lu is just baffled at.

Either way, Mayrin tries to talk about how the Vapra and Sifa clans are alike and should be cool friends but Kam’Lu dismisses it.

Kam’Lu: “Listen. You are the All-Maudra. Sure. Fine. I get it. But I am the captain. And right now, I have to finish loading.”

Mayrin: “I am trying to be your friend!”

Kam’Lu: “These are my friends... You’re just cargo.”

Oof.

Dot breaks up the discussion but they are off on the wrong foot.

Mayrin goes and takes a nap in the cargo hold, out of spite, but Dot convinces her to try again to mingle with the Sifan sailors and prove herself.

Of course, she comes up right when Kam’Lu is talking about how cool Fenth is and how he’s going to lead the Sifa to a bright new beautiful tomorrow.

The Sifan will be the guardians of the waters of the Silver Sea! Masters of the tides of Thra! The ones who’ll inherit Aughra’s wisdom!

Mayrin just sasses back that its a nice, canned speech. A flustered Kam’Lu has to admit that yeah he’s just parroting Fenth’s words.

Mayrin: “Fenth sounds like quite the figure, and I’m sure he inspired you all to have pride in being a Sifan. And I’m not here to ruin your pride and confidence. Just to convince you that alone we are weak, and as Gelfling united, we are stronger!”

And this much better attempt from Mayrin is spoiled when it immediately starts raining and a giant sea monster shows up.

Ain’t it just the way?

The fearsome beast’s tentacles start battering the ship and the Sifan sailors all jump overboard to swim to relative safety.

But Kam’Lu is knocked overhead and is unconscious when he hits the water so Mayrin jumps in after him.

Mayrin: Whenever I jump -- I fall. No matter how hard I try, I always fall. But I must try again. It will hurt, and I may die. I may never succeed. But it doesn’t matter. I can’t control the outcome, but I’m still responsible. I won’t let anyone down...

She pulls Kam’Lu out of the depths onto some floating debris. Seeing the sinking ship, Mayrin has the sinking feeling that her mission is already failed.

And I mean. Its not going great so far?

But on the other hand, there’s three issues left. Lot of time to turn this around!

So right off the bat we have very strong characterization for Mayrin who has a mother-sized chip on her shoulder and a lot to prove. She’s that fun combination of insecure and reckless.

That’s how you get that fun swing between yelling at the advisors for telling her what to do and then asking them what she should do.

And she’s got a lot of determination. She keeps throwing herself at Raunip’s Pass even though she keeps crashing and injuring herself. As Dot notes “I’ve watched as you fail to fly the same treacherous cliffs your mother would fly with ease... But I’ve watched you get back up and try again. And that is why you are powerful.”

Too stubborn to quit.

I have less of a sense for Kam’Lu. He bounces off Mayrin entertainingly enough but he’s been more of a mouthpiece for Fenth’s views than his own person so far. Looking forward to seeing more of him.

Also, skekSa is in this. SkekSaaaaaaaaaa.

I wonder what possible role she could have in this story where the stakes are the Sifan clan’s future!

#dark crystal #the dark crystal #dark crystal age of resistance #Archaia's Dark Crystal #a prequel to a prequel #All Maudra Mayrin #Captain Kam'Lu

[thebibliomancer]

Visit the famous goo farms of scenic Bajula

#dark crystal #the dark crystal #dark crystal age of resistance #Archaia's Dark Crystal #All Maudra Mayrin #Captain Kam'Lu #Sulub the Bobling #Bobling King the Bobling #the bobling tourism industry is very optimistic #tjitml liveblog

[thebibliomancer]

Archaia’s Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal Age of Resistance #12

The Journey into the Mondo Levidian Part 4

In this installment, they do not journey into the Mondo Levidian at all. Maybe this should have been titled Into the Guts and Back Again: A Gelfling’s Tale.

In part one, newly All-Maudra’d Mayrin deals with a Sifan separatist crisis but also plenty of unresolved mother-induced insecurity issues. She charters a ride with Captain Kam’Lu to speak to the separatist leader Fenth but a sea monster sinks the ship.

In part two, Mayrin and Kam’Lu are adrift at sea on a raft following the sinking but then they get eaten by a sea monster. The two meet the monster gut dwelling Boblings and learn that they have a limited time before the Mondo Levidian returns to the deeps and then there’ll be no escape for a trine. With the Bobling King’s daughter Gunda, the two set off on a journey out of the Mondo Levidian.

In part three, Mayrin, Kam’Lu, and Gunda set off on a journey to the Mondo Levidian’s porticol and fight a lot of Zoa. Mayrin and Kam’Lu become friends on the basis of name-shortening. And Mayrin flies Kam’Lu out of the closing porticol to save him from Zoa and prove her mom wrong.

So they’re out of the giant fish so what more is left of the story at this point? The answer is beneath the keep reading.

So let’s get started!

Dot arrives on SkekSa’s totally sweet monster/ship which she is very proud of.

SkekSa: “Greetings and welcome to the greatest behemoth in the Silver Sea, Ambassador Dot’leth! You’re aboard an unstoppable ship built with Skeksis ingenuity. Does our mastery of nature itself make you tremble in awe?”

Dot: “I assume you mean the second greatest behemoth in the Silver Sea, considering the attack on the Sifan ship that cost the lives of All-Maudra Mayrin and Captain Kam’Lu --”

SkekSa: “Well, yes, that was reported... but the captain of this ship has yet to find any proof of the alleged creature that destroyed the Sifan ship.”

Now, at first blush, this seems like SkekSa slipping up and accidentally admitting culpability like Prince Humperdinck in Princess Bride and his fastest ships.

But when the Mondo Levidian emerges from underwater, SkekSa goes from ‘what the heck’ to ‘i WANT that.’

SkekSa: “Second-greatest behemoth in the sea... bah! What does that ignorant old Vapran know about the sea! The only monsters here are --”

Mondo Levidian: -emerges-

SkekSa: “Oh. What other secrets are hiding in this infernal world...?”

And

SkekSa: “It’s been many trine since SkekSa discovered such a wonder -- and a majestic creature such as this deserves a naming ceremony! Vassa... You will be mine! The Mariner sails only the greatest creature -- er, ship -- in all of Thra!”

I had been assuming that the Mondo Levidian attack was a conspiracy by SkekSa to seize power for her preferred Gelfling clan. But it seems like it was just crazy random happenstance that she and Fenth got opportunistic over.

Also, holy crap, Dot has a full name?

And Fenth and Dot are implied to have History, being a little awkward around each other.

Over on top of the sea monster, Mayrin and Kam’Lu discover that the Zoa (led by the Zoa wearing clothes. The Necrozoa?) are following them up and out of the porticol. Mayrin and Kam’Lu have to take to the air again to try to escape to SkekSa’s ship.

Watching all of this happen, SkekSa settles on ‘bored of this.’

SkekSa: “New plan. SkekSa doesnt’ care anymore about your Gelfling squabbles.”

Fenth: “But...! But....! You said I could have power! We had a deal!”

SkekSa: “And SkekSa is bored of politics. I want that creature. I will be unstoppable, and all of Thra will be mine to explore! Entire lands waiting to be named -- named after me!”

I kind of like that SkekSa’s priorities are 1) Giant monsters, 2) Naming a lot of shit after herself, 3) The Sifan, I guessss. 2.5) is probably ‘ugh Skeksis politics uuugh.’

Mayrin manages to lead most of the Zoa swarm in front of the Mondo Levidian which jumps up and eats them.

She lands on the deck of SkekSa’s ship and has a moment with Kam’Lu.

This very good friendship has just become a kissing relationship.

It has been a hell of an enemies to lovers for them, huh?

The remaining Zoa and the Zoa-in-clothes, identified as being a queen Zoa? land on SkekSa’s dreadnought and Mayrin declares that the Zoa stand before a United Thra “Vapran courage and Sifan honor!” and for the Zoa to turn back or be destroyed.

Then there’s a massive Zoa vs Gelfling fight scene with SkekSa yelling for them to get off her ship.

I adore her.

Fenth gets upset that Mayrin is uniting the Sifa and Vapra and decides ‘hey, all kinds of things can happen in the heat of combat’ and throws an entire ass sword at Mayrin’s back.

But Kam’Lu blocks the attack with the goo shield (which he evidently kept). And its a bit of a broken pedestal moment considering Kam’Lu’s personality in issue one was ‘hey did you hear this cool stuff Fenth is saying??’

Kam’Lu: “Vile traitor! I trusted you! I believed in your lies and your wisdom! I thought you would lead us to something better... But you are the poison to all Gelfling-kind -- a poison I can no longer willingly imbibe!”

Good for you, Kam’Lu.

The war against the bugs ends when Mayrin stabs the queen Zoa in the eye and yells a defiant speech to her.

Mayrin: Queen, I am not one for violence -- But I will resort to it if I must! I will do whatever is necessary to save my kind -- just like you. We are the same! Please! Turn away! Turn away and end this needless bloodshed!”

And the queen Zoa does.

Whether actually moved or cowed by Mayrin’s speech or because she’s smart enough not to go in for sunk cost, the queen and the remaining Zoa take off.

Good job, Mayrin.

Although, it is funny that you tried to sue for peace when you earlier described the queen Zoa as “a monster filled with blind hate, resentment, and beastly rage. Something born in the pit of despair and darkness... Something that knows only hunger and power.”

But it won’t be the first time that Gelfling were way off in regards to the Arathim slash offshoots, nor the last.

Still, it feels right that the final boss of Mayrin’s plot was a giant monster queen wearing her mother’s clothes that she fends off by confidently telling to buzz off.

Fenth tries to blame the whole situation on Mayrin for leading the bugs to the ship, which is technically true. But Kam’Lu has become Mayrin’s biggest supporter because the boy believes with all his heart.

Kam’Lu: “You’re wrong! Mayrin is here because she had to save us at all costs! She is here because she is fighting to keep the seven clans together! She has been through a bizarre adventure, struggling through the stomach of monsters unknown!”

“I was just like Fenth -- I distrusted Mayrin because she was a Vapran. But Mayrin has saved my life too many times to count. She proved her strength in the toothrakes! She outwitted the horrifying King Bobling! She fought bravely and earned the respect of the greatest warrior of Bajula! She is what the Sifa clan needs. What all Gelfling need! In the darkness of the Mondo Leviadin, Mayrin led the way. I believe in her.”

“LONG LIVE ALL-MAUDRA MAYRIN!”

“And I swear, from this day to my last, when my body is taken by Thra, that I will fight for her -- by her side. As her friend... Her captain... Her...”

And then he trails off there because Mayrin holds his hand and the poor boy only has so much processing power.

Also, he kinda embellished Mayrin’s accomplishments by saying she outwitted the “horrifying” Bobling King. That guy was a kitten.

The Sifan Maudra is intrigued by all this love biz and asks Mayrin what she would do if the Sifans do decide to leave the clans.

Mayrin: “If we are to separate, then the seas will weep for the lonely Sifa clan. The mountains of Ha’rar will shake in the bitter Vapran gales. We must be the shining light of Thra -- together!”

“We are the living monuments of everything that touches us, be it the good and warm that gives us hope... or the malice and greed that drives us down darker paths. And... I wear my mother’s colors. I know it. I feel it -- I accept it. But I am not my mother.”

“I promise that I will bleed for you! I will fight for you! I will break my body in half to ensure that you have yours! To sail the sea as you see fit! So please, give me the chance to prove it to you! Give me the chance to fail and to succeed! if you do... Perhaps we may all grow old together -- knowing what unity is meant to be... knowing what love is --”

WOO!

Fenth is less than thrilled. Not just for his thwarted ambitions but because SkekSa has thoroughly gotten sick of him and is probably annoyed that she had to sit through all these speeches without even getting a giant sea monster.

She grabs him and drags him away through the crowd while everyone is distracted being jubilant.

SkekSa: “Take a long look at the Silver Sea, Fenth -- It will be many trine before you witness it again... Skeksis friend SkekTek the Scientist has plans for Gelfling who fail!”

Huh. Wonder what that means. This is way too soon for draining to be on the table.

Later, WEDDING TIME!

On the cliff above Raunip’s pass, the Sifan and Vapran come together for the wedding of Mayrin and Kam’Lu.

Dot assumes that Mayrin chose the venue so she can fly Raunip’s Pass with the power of love but Mayrin chose the venue so she can deliberately not do that because she’s done following her mom’s path.

Mayrin: “You have taught me the most important thing, Kam’Lu -- that I am the only one responsible for the path I fly. That we must all chart our own path -- and that we cannot do that when the dense cloud of grief fogs our vision. And that to be my best self -- no matter who it is that I am -- I must be myself. Faults and failures and scars and all. Understanding that acceptance is not the same as failure. We must think of the future of our kind.”

Its also implied that Mayrin is already pregnant as she declares that she’ll name her firstborn Seladon, after Mayrin’s mother.

... It is incredibly ironic. Mayrin declares that she’s going to set her own path and then chooses her mother’s name for her daughter. The daughter that she’s going to repeat a lot of Seladon I’s parenting mistakes with, giving Seladon II a whopping case of insecurity and unfortunately no character building adventure with a hunky sea captain.

Hm. I wonder what happens with Kam’Lu. That whole family situation probably would have been less of a timebomb with him around. Alas, the sea is a harsh mistress. Full of fish and salt.

So, the last arc of Archaia’s Jim Henson’s Dark Crystal Age of Resistance comics. I still have two of the YA novels to read but with the cancellation of the show, who can say when there will be more comics.

But the comic ends strong. We visit another parent when they’re young and get to see more wild Thra life. We get to see SkekSa! She’s a delight. We get to see another side of the Sifan than the brief appearances in the show.

Thanks for the good times, Archaia’s Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal Age of Resistance comic.

#dark crystal #the dark crystal #dark crystal age of resistance #Archaia's Dark Crystal #a prequel to a prequel #All Maudra Mayrin #Captain Kam'Lu #Fenth #SkekSa #The Mariner #Dot the Undaunted

[thebibliomancer]

Various butt monkey Kam’Lu moments from issue #10

#dark crystal #the dark crystal #dark crystal age of resistance #Archaia's Dark Crystal #All Maudra Mayrin #Captain Kam'Lu #Gunda the Bobling #Sulub the Bobling #Bobling King the Bobling #tjitml liveblog

[thebibliomancer]

#dark crystal #the dark crystal #dark crystal age of resistance #Archaia's Dark Crystal #Gunda the Bobling #All Maudra Mayrin #Captain Kam'Lu #no stronger motivation than mom spite #and needing to save your best pal and a cool bobling #tjitml liveblog

[thebibliomancer]

Boblings sure are a fascinating people

#dark crystal #the dark crystal #dark crystal age of resistance #Archaia's Dark Crystal #Gunda the Bobling #Captain Kam'Lu #All Maudra Mayrin #tjitml liveblog

[thebibliomancer]

Archaia’s Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal Age of Resistance #11

The Journey into the Mondo Levidian Part 3

Y’know, the title page says “Mondo Levidian” but its spelled more like Mondo Leviadin inside the book. Vexing.

Maybe we haven’t even reached the Mondo Levidian yet and Mayrin and Kam’Lu are going to get swallowed by an even BIGGER monster!

Only time will tell!

In part one, newly All-Maudra’d Mayrin deals with a Sifan separatist crisis but also plenty of unresolved mother-induced insecurity issues. She charters a ride with Captain Kam’Lu to speak to the separatist leader Fenth but a sea monster sinks the ship.

In part two, Mayrin and Kam’Lu are adrift at sea on a raft following the sinking but then they get eaten by a sea monster. The two meet the monster gut dwelling Boblings and learn that they have a limited time before the Mondo Levidian returns to the deeps and then there’ll be no escape for a year. With the Bobling King’s daughter Gunda, the two set off on a journey out of the Mondo Levidian.

Hm. Maybe the book should have been called Escape from the Mondo Levidian? They’ve only just Journey’d into and now they’re trying to leave.

But let’s get started!

Gunda takes Mayrin and Kam’Lu to the Gateway of the Toothrakes.

Gunda: “This is the fastest path to the porticol from Bajula. We’ll keep our pincers ready and our goo shields steady.”

Mayrin: “What if we don’t have goo shields?”

Gunda: “Then Thra have mercy on you.”

Goo sure is popular among Boblings.

She explains that everything that the Mondo Levidian swallows that the Boblings don’t take ends up here, making it a wasteland of forgotten things, living and dead.

In a brief scene in Ha’rar, Mayrin’s advisors discuss whether they should go on without the All-Maudra when Fenth shows up demanding that the meeting about Sifan autonomy will be now, with or without an All-Maudra.

Fenth: “There will be no Vapran victory. There will be no moment of false unity. What we want is undeliverable by Vapran hands -- only by ours! So which of you -- the All-Maudra’s most trusted and loyal advisors -- will take her place in these dire times? A Vapran of courage? Of strategy? Of... decorations?”

Dot: “Don’t you dare touch that, Fenth! Those decorations belong to All-Maudra Mayrin!”

HOLY GEEZ DOT

Dot: -sees Fenth touching her throne decorations- ‘I see you’ve chosen death’

She apparently came right here from surviving the shipwreck because she’s still soaking wet and full of just-survived-shipwreck energy.

Dot also declares she’ll be the Vapran representative.

I’m glad she survived the shipwreck because she’s a delight.

Back in the Mondo Levidian, Mayrin and Kam’Lu become Officially Friends when she abbreviates his name.

Kam’Lu: “You... you called me ‘Lu. Only my friends call me that... but we’re not...?”

Mayrin: “After everything we’ve been through, ‘Lu, of course we’re friends.”

Kam’Lu: “Friends -- hehe -- with the All-Maudra! Today keeps getting weirder.”

AND THEN A ZOA ATTACKS

Turns out that its not just Gelfing and Podlings that are ridiculously adaptable.

Some Arathim that were gobbled up by the Levidian also adapted. They lost the hive mind and gained some crustacean aesthetic.

The three fight the Zoa, having to toss Gunda’s goo shield (its a shield with goo on it) and sword around during the fight. They defeat the spider-crab-monster but Kam’Lu gets his leg hurt pushing Mayrin out of the way of the Zoa during the fight.

Its a wound that requires thorough cleansing because Zoa apparently implant their spawn in wounds so its clean the injury with fermented levidian digestive acids or be eaten from the inside out by little baby Zoa.

And then after Kam’Lu screams that the acid burns (he’s doing a good job still being the butt monkey) Gunda takes a belt of the acids as, I dunno, a power move.

They move past the toothrakes and towards the porticol which is where the Zoa decided they live now. So Gunda comes up with a plan (drawing it out in the Levidian’s inside meat?? I know that the scale is so small that the Levidian is going to barely notice but eeuch) to sneak through tunnels to a derelict ship and hopefully not run into a Necrizoa.

Mayrin: “What is the Necrizoa?”

Gunda: “If it is necessary to know, we’re already dead.”

From the derelict ship, there will just be a vertical climb to the porticol.

But Mayrin is surprised when they reach the derelict ship.

Mayrin: “The Hope of Thra?! That was... that was one of my mother’s ships! One of our fleet! I rode on this ship as a childling!”

Gunda: “Shush, you fool. Sneaky time begins now!”

Mayrin: “Right. Sorry.”

Being in her mother’s old ship, seeing her own old rooms, is bringing back a lot of mom-related angsts for Mayrin.

Kam’Lu: “Were you close with the... your mother?”

Mayrin: “It’s hard to say. It always felt like close was too close. I... I... never had an opportunity to tell her how I felt.”

Kam’Lu: “And how did you feel...?”

Mayrin: “Angry. I was angry at her. It felt like she was always preparing me for some grand responsibility. She never let me just figure things out. But... maybe that was for the best. Look where I got us.”

Kam’Lu has taken a kind of holistic view to getting swallowed by a sea monster and tells her that she’s taken him to things he’s never seen or imagined.

For example: a Zoa wearing clothes.

THE FANCIEST ZOA

Its wearing the previous All-Maudra’s clothes from a derelict ship inside a giant sea monster’s respiratory tract. What an odd encounter!

Thanks to Gunda expelling goo (so they farm it AND blrrrrrb it up?), the three gutventurers outrun a whole swam of Zoa and reach the porticol!

But it’s closing (clenching?) earlier than estimated! And the Zoa are right behind them!

Earlier, Mayrin had asked Kam’Lu to deliver her message of Gelfling unity if she didn’t make it and he played it off as a joke.

Now, with his leg hurt and the porticol clenching, Kam’Lu tells Mayrin she’ll have to go on without him. He won’t be able to make the climb and she won’t be able to carry all of them on wet wings.

Kam’Lu: “Your life is worth more than mine! My All-Maudra survives at all costs! Fly! Get to the porticol! Save yourself, Mayrin!”

He’s really turned around on her!

Kam’Lu and Gunda face the oncoming Zoa swarm as Mayrin tears up and has one of those internal mom monologues that she has sometimes.

Mayrin: “Mother, it seems you have found me here at the ends of the world. Found me how you always found me. Unsure. Scared. Weak. It’s so beautiful, the big whole heart of everything. You brought it to me -- strangely, here, in this place. And even as we are under siege, in the darkness of Thra, where even the light of the three suns has lost us, you’re here with me. Bringing light. I must be strong, mother. I must be stronger than you.”

Where’s Mayrin’s Stronger Than You song parody??

The Zoa fly after because why wouldn’t Arathim adapted to live in a sea monster’s guts develop wings?

But with one more ‘I’ll show you, mom!’ flashback, Mayrin finds the strength to reach the porticol juuust before it closes. Gunda drops off because she lives in here.

Gunda: “Farewell Gelfling! We hope you enjoyed your matrimonial cabal journey! Come back soooooooon!”

A consummate tourism professional to the last.

Mayrin and Kam’Lu stand atop the Mondo Levidian, seeing things that aren’t sea monster guts once again!

Aww, frens.

Also, the Zoa are still coming but that’s next issue’s problem.

So it was a little abrupt considering they started off very much at odds, so much so that Mayrin was going to sit in her quarters the whole time rather than deal with him. But nothing like the crucible of a sea monster gut to fast track a friendship and LIFELONG DEVOTION.

In fairness, it started all the way back at the beginning of the second issue, where Kam’Lu was briefly stunned by her charisma on the raft. And then slightly delayed because the universe conspired to make him the butt of every joke.

But by example and not word, Mayrin has convinced him of Gelfling unity. Also, she flew a thing without crashing, so she beat her mom-shaped personal arc too.

Things are going well and will surely continue to be well next issue.

Which will presumably be twenty pages of Dot kicking Fenth’s butt in debate club. A shipwreck didn’t stop her and neither will rhetoric.

#dark crystal #the dark crystal #dark crystal age of resistance #Archaia's Dark Crystal #a prequel to a prequel #All Maudra Mayrin #Captain Kam'Lu #Gunda the Bobling #Dot the Undaunted