We make a surprisingly deep dive into the 1st 3 chapters of The Golden Compass and begin our journey into Lyra's world.
The Golden Compass opens with a young girl named Lyra Belacqua and her daemon, Pantalaimon, attempting to spy on the Master at Jordan College in Oxford. While they are sneaking around the Retiring Room, Lyra and Pantalaimon are forced to hide in a wardrobe to keep from being discovered. From a crack in the door, Lyra sees the Master come in and poison a decanter of wine called Tokay. Shortly after, Lyra’s formidable uncle, Lord Asriel enters the Retiring Room and pours a glass of Tokay for himself. Lyra calls out from the wardrobe, alerting Lord Asriel in time to save his life. Though agitated with her, Asriel instructs Lyra to be of use and spy on the Master from the wardrobe. During a strange and secret meeting about Dust, Asriel convinces the Scholars to fund another expedition North so he may continue his research. Lyra is fascinated by Dust and begs Lord Asriel to take her with him but he refuses, demanding she stay at Jordan College.
Lyra’s best friend is a boy named Roger Parslow, whose family works in the kitchen at the college. Lyra and Roger spend their days exploring the roofs and catacombs of Jordan College and along the streets of Oxford, planning adventures and getting into trouble with the local Gyptian children. There is a rumor going around that children are being stolen by a mysterious group called The Gobblers and that they are now taking children in Oxford. Soon after, Lyra realizes that The Gobblers have taken Roger and she is desperate to get him back. As she frantically searches for Roger, Lyra is called by the Master to greet several guests visiting the college. Among them is a beautiful, young woman named Mrs. Coulter and her daemon, a sinuous golden monkey.