Gelfling

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Gelflings are elf-like beings populating the fictional world of Thra in Jim Henson's 1982 movie The Dark Crystal.

Jen and Kira are the only two known survivors of a massacre perpetrated by the diabolical vulture-like Skeksis upon their race. Gelflings can speak in the languages of animals and upon physical contact with one another can share thoughts, memories, and feelings in a process called dreamfasting.

Before the Dark Millennium (the 1000-year period from when the Crystal cracked to when it was restored), female Gelfling could fly great distances by use of retractable butterfly-like wings which unfolded from their backs. However, during the Dark Millennium, their ability to fly was compromised to gliding and/or slowing a fall (something that Jen found out only by accident, when he and Kira had to jump from a cliff to escape a swarm of Garthim). Jen and Kira were instrumental in fulfilling the prophecy that restored the Dark Crystal to its natural state.

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Art and Music

Two of the major delights of Gelfling are their art and their music. Both have developed to a very advanced level, and musical artifacts dating back nearly to the very beginning of Gelfling history have been found. Much of the stonework done in the Great Castle of the Skeksis was done by Gelfling during the reign of the Skeksis until the Purge of 529 revealed the true intentions of the reptilian beasts.

Although both art and music are highly developed there has not ever been feelings of competition amongst the Gelfling as there is with humans, quite the contrary; Gelfling artists and musicians greatly enjoyed teaching their crafts and enjoyed it even more when one of their pupils turned out to be very gifted at the craft.

The vast majority of their music was limited to oral tradition; therefore, in the great purges carried out against the Gelfling by the Skeksis, much of this music was lost forever. Only a few songs were ever recorded in written form; a few of these pieces survived the burning and destruction of the Music Academy.

Gelfling Birth Rate

The Gelfling possess a relatively low birth rate, in comparison to humans. They are not capable of bearing children until they reach their forties. Generally after bonding there would be a period of roughly ten to twenty years before any children would be born. After that several children would be born within the next couple of decades; after that the rate of births tends to decline. Typically, a Gelfling female will bear ten to fifteen children during her life span, although sometimes (in the case of the Queen, for instance) the female bears more.

Overpopulation, however, has never become a severe problem. It seems that the Gelfling lived extremely close to the planet itself and were deeply connected in some way to it. A sort of feedback mechanism developed between the environment and the female Gelfling. If, for example, the number of Gelfling should fall off through some sort of accident or disease, then there would be an immediate increase in the birth rate. Should the environment be in danger from impending overpopulation, the birth rate declines markedly.

Bonding

There are several levels of bonding, varying in intensity and length of effects. One level is through the process of dreamfasting. This can be done between two Gelfling or between Gelfling and Podling. This level tends to temporarily increase the psychic awareness of the bonders, establishing a mental link between the two that would gradually decrease over time unless a deeper level of bonding is obtained.

The strongest level of bonding results in a bonding (usually heterosexual, but same-sex pairs are not uncommon) that lasts throughout an entire lifetime (This situation can, on rare instances, happen during the first dreamfasting episode, as it did with Jen and Kira. The psychic bonds formed can be intense and permanent and be present on many levels of activity. A strong degree of telepathy is usually established and, during the most intense sexual sessions a virtual unification of the minds of the Gelfling couple takes place.

An extended familiar bonding also takes place, increasing the strength of the family relationship in Gelfling society. This bonding also tends to last the entire lifetime of the individual. Should one of the two members of the strong pair-bonding die, some elements of the bonding still remain, but a new bonding can still take place so that even the eldest of the Gelfling can be found in the highest level of pair-bond relationships.

Bone Structure

The Gelfling possess a light bone structure, and the female much moreso than the male. The ability to fly, of course, would be impossible if the Gelfling had a heavy bone structure so it is believed that the light bone structure is a product of Gelfling evolution and, in their earliest times, was in some way tied to the survival of their people.

Crafts

A wide variety of crafts are practiced by Gelfling. Flower arrangement, jewelry making, carpentry, dancing and some degree of the use of metals are all practiced, although never on a massive scale. Objects produced are made in numbers sufficient for immediate use with a strong emphasis on beauty of form. The tendency to want "possessions", which is so common in humans, is not present in the Gelfling. They possess no factories and thus do not suffer from problems such as air pollution and acid rain.

Dreamfasting

Dreamfasting is an important means of communication amongst the Gelfling in that it allows a very deep sharing of personal experiences between any two Gelfling. Dreamfasting also varies in strength and takes place between Gelflings, Gelflings and Podlings, and possibly Gelfling and Aughra, although no evidence of this has yet been found. It is not a prerequisite to the strongest level of offending but can lead to that level. It is an instinctual activity and cannot be "taught" or "improved upon." It helps to increase the ability of Gelfling to obtain an understanding of each other and thus reduces the threat of any potential conflicts.

Family

The Gelfling are very family-oriented. Once permanent bonding has taken place and the raising of a family begins, then the intimate family structure becomes obvious. The Gelfling possess an extended family structure and thus several generations of the family might live in the same dwelling.

They have no concept of family "pride" or territoriality. One family is never considered superior to another, and no individual Gelfling is considered superior to another except for the Queen. Delight and appreciation is taken in differences of thought and ability. Care of children is a community project, with many adults interacting daily with children of several families, caring for them and seeing to their needs.

Fertility

Fertility is controlled by the female Gelfling, and is in some manner intimately linked to the environment. When the environment is able to support more Gelfling then the females tend to become more fertile.

At the same time the female can lower fertility if she so desires. Unlike in human circles, this area is never a point of disagreement between males and females, however. When a female becomes fertile her body produces a greater quantity of pheromones, and the pheremones produced are much stronger than the pheremones produced when she is less fertile. This tends to serve as a very strong enticement to the male Gelfling, usually resulting in the female becoming pregnant within a relatively short time.

Flight

The ability to fly is possessed only by female Gelfling. During the early years of Gelfling history females could fly for considerable distances, by use of diaphanous butterfly-like wings which unfold from their backs. During the Dark Millennium this ability to fly was gradually lost, resulting in the females being capable only of gliding. After the healing of the Great Crystal, however, the ability to fly quickly returned.

Flight has two primary advantages to the female. First, the mating ritual involves an aerial dance and other activities which the male Gelfling find unresistable. This inevitably results in sexual union and a renewal of the bond strength between the two Gelfling.

The second advantages is [tactical]. Females can explore wider areas, search for new food sources and, in some instances, do aerial art work. The physical advantage over the male Gelfling was never exploited by the females, however.

The Gathering of the Tribes

The purpose of a Gathering of the Tribes is to select a new Queen. If a Queen ends her reign and none of her daughters desired to become Queen, or if rare instances a Queen dies without having daughters, then representatives of all Gelfling tribes meet in the capital of Tarakendal. The representatives, both male and female, hold hands and engage in a mass dreamfasting session, after which follows a period of meditation. The name of the individual that was to become the Queen would then become known to all the Gelfling in a process that cannot be analyzed or expressed in words. The Gelfling so chosen would be coronated and recognized by all Gelfling tribes as the "rightful" Queen.

At no time during Gelfling history has any female "campaigned" for Queen, nor has any tribe attempted to put forth a "candidate." Such thoughts were alien to the Gelfling race.

Healers

Healers are almost always female. They are born with the ability and once this ability is recognized they are trained by other healers. A healer has the ability to heal both physical and emotional illnesses. In severe cases the services of more than one healer are used, sometimes as many as four healers working on one Gelfling at the same time.

The Queen is either a known healer or one possessed with latent healing talents. The moment she becomes Queen, however, her healing abilities increase tremendously for reasons not yet understood, but it is likely that since she has the responsibility to rule, she must have the ability to heal any wounds that might arise.

Life Span

The average lifespan of a Gelfling is from 350 to 400 years. The ability to reproduce begins during their forties and extends nearly throughout their entire lifespan. The Gelfling remain physically vigorous and mentally alert until shortly before their death. Gelfling can somehow sense when their natural lifespan is near at hand and they approach their death with calm dignity.

Sex

The Gelfling are an intensely sexual race, using sex as much as a means of communication and bonding as anything else. Sexual activity begins for the Gelfling when they enter their twenties. Until the permanent bonding takes place sex is undertaken with a wide variety of partners. Never during this time, however, is the mating ritual performed and no female Gelfling ever becomes pregnant before permanent bonding takes place.

The sexual activity itself is generally the female-on-top form since the female-on-bottom could potentially result in damage to the female's wings.

Once permanent bonding takes place sex is primarily with one's bondmate, although sex with other Gelfling does occur but not frequently. The concept of jealousy does not seem to exist in Gelfling society.

Sexual activity is quite frequent, both before and after bonding, and is considered one of life's greatest pleasures. Sex is considered fun, natural, enjoyable and a great strengthener of bonding. Sex continues for the Gelfling up until their death.

Mating Dance

The mating dance is the most sensual experience that the Gelfling ever feel. It occurs only between deeply bonded pairs, and the female determines the time and place of the dance. The dance is not a prerequisite to sexual activity at all, but often was the preliminary to the most intense sexual mating. The female performs a preliminary dance during which she gradually sheds her clothing. The normal female pheromones become especially strong during this activity. After disrobing the female becomes airborne, performing an aerial ballet for the male. During this activity the male is virtually spellbound. After the aerial ballet the female lands, mounts the male and begins the actual sexual activities.

The session of sexual activity continues for a period of hours after which the male ritualistically gently caresses the female's wings and both Gelfling fall asleep. Pregnancy as a result of the mating dance is estimated to be in the neighborhood of 93%, so a link between the dance and the reproductive drive is considerably quite likely.

While the dance is between heterosexual couples the majority of the time, the mating dance has been done between female same-sex couples with similar results. Male same-sex couples are not able to completely participate in the dance, as males cannot fly.

Gelfling Matriarchy

Gelfling society is matriarchal in nature. Only female Gelfling become the "rulers" of all Gelfling tribes. This does not mean, however, that females were considered dominant or superior to the males. The matriarchal arrangement is accepted by all Gelfling without any qualms. Whenever a situation arises in which a male Gelfling has to assume command of a tribe a great deal of unease is felt, and the leadership of the tribe is turned over to a female Gelfling as quickly as possible.

This is also not a case of true equality, however, since the female has the wings and controls her fertility. The males are not considered subordinate to the females, either. There seems to be no word in the human language to describe this form of arrangement of Gelfling society.

Meals

Meals are often taken communally. At least two families if not more eat their meals at the same time and in the same place. The preparation of meals is done by the female Gelfling, with children being allowed to assist. Each Gelfling castle contained a single large banquet hall at which all the individuals staying at the castle would take their meals.

The Gelfling are vegetarians and never partake of meat. The food is gathered by both male and female Gelflings and is then taken to the communal kitchen.

Before the meal begins there is a short period of grace during which nonverbal thanks are given for the food. This grace generally consists of an apology for taking the life of the plants involved and a sincere wish that, through the death of the plants, new life would be created and would serve the planet well.

Pictographic Writing

Pictographic writing was developed early in Gelfling history and is believed to have been introduced by Aughra around 3325 BDM. Almost all history records are kept in this format. Pictographic writing became an art form unto itself and resulted in the decoration of many castles with pictographs that described the history of the tribes forming the castle family. The ability to read pictographic writing, for reasons unknown, is limited strictly to male Gelfling.

Gelfling Psychology

The Gelfling are a very peaceful race that lives in complete harmony with their planet. Their greatest pleasures are in music, food, fun, love, and sex. No concepts of tribal superiority, sexual superiority or age superiority are present. The Gelfling consider all their surroundings to be alive and to be treated with the greatest of respect.

Female Gelfling are extremely sensual in nature and are in some manner strongly psychically linked to the planet itself.

There are some emotional disturbances amongst the Gelfling, however, generally due to the loss of a bondmate. No true "psychotic" Gelfling remain so for long as several healers will gather together to help restore the Gelfling to mental harmony. In the absolute worst of cases the Queen herself will perform a healing on the mentally disturbed Gelfling.

Virtually all music is performed and constructed by male Gelfling, as they are also the only ones capable of reading pictographic writing.

The vast majority of Gelfling relationships occur on the nonverbal level, and a description of their deepest psychological traits is beyond the ability of mere words to express. Much of Gelfling life is on a "felt" level rather than a rational/logical level of understanding.

Gelfling Religion

Religion is a very personal experience for the Gelfling, and there is apparently only one form of religion present amongst the tribes. A single Creator is worshipped, the worship consisting primarily of the Gelfling living their lives the best way they can in the closest harmony with the planet and all other life forms that they can achieve.

No formal churches or religious artifacts ever arose in Gelfling history. There is a firm belief in an afterlife in which the individual goes to another dimension in which he or she finds himself or herself on another Thra, but at a very young age, allowing the individual to live another full life. A series of such events is postulated, but there is no "goal" of "eventual purification" as is assumed in human reincarnation theory.

Telepathy

All Gelfling are mildly telepathic at birth. The strongest adult telepathy occurs between bonded Gelfling pairs. Some Gelfling have prophetic abilities although this is relatively rare.

General

In general, then, the Gelfling are a complex and fascinating intelligent life form.

External links

[Habidibad's profile of the Gelflings]
[Kira's Swamp] A Gelfling & Dark Crystal fansite
[Gelfling. Like us.] Tales of rogue gelfling from the time before Jen and Kira's birth.

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