Arathim

The Arathim were a symbiotic family of sentient, eusocial arthropod-like creatures, sporting innumerable subspecies which differed in size and number of limbs. All subspecies were psychically united by a hive-mind known as the Ascendancy.[4] Among the more prominent subspecies were Spitters, which constituted the Arathim's main fighting force, and Threaders, who had the ability to control Gelfling and other creatures. The Spitters themselves came in several different forms, including Silk Spitters, responsible for constructing nests, Poison Spitters, which were nearly wiped out by skekVar, and the Zoa, who had evolved to live as parasites in the sea-beast Mondo Levidian.

The Arathim were one of Thra's oldest races,[4] and initially lived in the caves of Grot, before being banished to the catacombs of the Castle of the Crystal by the Skeksis when they refused to serve them as an army.[5] The Skeksis then handed Grot to the ancestors of the Grottan Clan, thus causing the Arathim to feel bitter towards Gelfling.[1] Hundreds of trine later, the Arathim fought against the Stonewood Clan in what became known as the Arathim Wars, but were defeated during the First Battle of Stone-in-the-Wood.[6]

Thirty trine later, skekSo the Emperor convinced the Arathim to join the Skeksis in their war against the Gelfling resistance, promising to return their ancient homeland to them. Arathim forces lead by skekVar successfully defeated the Stonewood Rebellion, and then headed to Grot, unaware that the caves had been infected by the Darkening and that the Skeksis intended for them to die there.[1]

After securing Grot, the Arathim were trapped and attacked by darkened Nurlocs. They subsequently agreed to switch their allegiance to the Gelflings after Deet showed them a safe exit from the caves and promised to share Grot with them in the future.[7] The Ascendancy participated in the later stages of the Second Battle of Stone-in-the-Wood, driving back the Skeksis and joining the Gelflings in the victory celebrations.[8]

During and after the battle, SkekTek created the first Garthim using Arathim and Gruenak corpses.[8]