Ghyll:Iganefta
Hmm, a dibby, little travelogue, perhaps? Well, in any case, I should be able to do something with this. --Doctor Phineas Crank 09:55, 7 Nov 2004 (EST)
I don't envy you. Iganefta has 12 (?) articles linking to it (not to mention all the non-article links). --Jcowan 10:25, 8 Nov 2004 (EST)
Contents
An Overview
The twin cities of Iganefta and Iganefta-on-the-Sea are the Southernmost "civilized" settlements on Ghyll. Most famous for being the Southern terminus of the Cataract Road, Iganefta is a brisk two lele walk from the Azura Mines and a mere 1200 lele East of the infamous mountaineering challenge, Mount Yurch. In fact, Iganefta has hosted so many expeditions to Mount Yurch that the locals often refer to it as The Grim Mr. Yurch.
Iganefta has been referred to as a "City of Settlements" by her native historians and scholars due to the inclusive nature of her growth. The original "Old City" district has existed since there are any records of the general area and has grown steadily ever since swallowing smaller settlements, often without their consent. It has been suggested by certain hyper-conservative political wags that, at the current rate of encroachment, the roughly 300 lele of rough terrain that separate Iganefta and Iganefta-on-the-Sea will vanish in a few short years.
It is somewhat unclear just when Iganefta-on-the-Sea became more than the simple resort town from which she started. What is abundantly clear, however, is that Iganefta-on-the-Sea is very expensive and highly exclusive. Certainly considered one of the most wealthy and exclusive settlements in Ghyll, Iganefta-on-the-Sea sports many richly appointed villas and retreats with spectacular views of the Dagger Seas, for which the district is named. Originally settled by retired sea captains, Iganefta-on-the-Sea has overcome her "quaint" history with the infusion of both old and new money, not to mention the influx of Adrizians. Indeed, it is rumored that the local branch of the Harrabloon Bank is the wealthiest in all of Ghyll.
Political Significance and Current Events
Conflict That Is Not Happening Doggerel plague Furious Apple Extraordinarily Bloodless Revolution, when the Iganeftan soldiers became known as Pickers (that is, apple-pickers). The name survives to this day, though it is now the name of the Iganeftan Bindlet Ball team. Citizens of Iganefta are sometimes vulgarly referred to as "Applers". Lord Glosfordshier
Economic Significance
As the Southernmost end-point of the Cataract Road, Iganefta is afforded countless economic opportunities that lesser cities are denied. Iganefta's size, wealth and location make it an ideal stop for DermPachyges, which also enables this living, pulsing, growing metropolis to prosper beyond initial expectations. Iganefta is most famous as the birth-place of the Altoxian Bulb and, as such, has a thriving Altoxian Bulb industry. This is aided, of course, by the proximity of the Azura Mines, which provide the steadiest source of the bioluminescent gel, which is the main ingredient in Altoxian Bulb creation.
Despite the Adrizians attempts to santize the reputation of Iganefta-on-the-Sea, the port there remains a thriving center of commerce, both during the day and in the deep of night. In recent years, the Iganefta Council of Lords has made feeble attempts to stem the tide of illicit goods flowing through the back alleys of the city, though they have been less than successful. As of this writing, the "back markets" of Iganefta-on-the-Sea are the only place where one may purchase the wildly popular Boxing EctoMechanauts game that has swept Ghyll.
Iganefta is also a leader in military technology. Their development of Ball Lightning Liqueur as a powerful weapon has brought quite a bit of renown to their experimental laboratories. Currently, there are several projects in the works with the goal of refining Ball Lightning Liqueur into a self-contained incendiary. It is hoped that this will one day erase the stain on their reputation for having hosted the creator of the dreaded Gravion Process.
Famous Residents
Iganefta's most famous residents are the Grommies, as members of the Grommie family are known locally. The Grommie name first appears in Iganefta in -153 EC and the family currently owns Iganefta's only local news daily, the Iganefta Recorder. The most powerful Grommie residing in Iganefta today is Thureau Grommie, who recieved a family fortune amased by his father and grandfather, Daffid and Rikkard Grommie, respectively. The local Grommie concerns include a chain of casinos, a theme park, and several entertainment halls in both Iganefta and Iganefta-on-the-Sea. The family denies any connection to the more scuroulus history of smuggling associated with old money in Iganefta-on-the-Sea and Thureau has the connections in the Iganefta government to make that the official history.
Other well-known residents of the twin Iganefta cities include:
- Agwa Reeum, the infamous translator of the Grimporke Grimoire.
- Doc Rockett, S. J. "Doc" Rockett was a highly successful and exceptionally prolific writer, best known for his works of popularized scholarship for the lay Ghyllian. Rocket moved to Iganefta with his family when he was three, but was so enamoured with the twin cities that he never left again.
- Godfroi Hasawithe, the "Sage of Nininger" was briefly a resident of the twin cities when he came to work for Baron James Horkmanifester where he learned and followed Horkmanifester's investment rules. Interestingly enough, his own fame eclipsed that of his mentor who is hardly ever mentioned outside of Hasawithe biographies.
- Harv Gretborn, the infamous theoalchemist and inventor who's creations include the Snotgun, the Fountain Spray, the Blue Ice, and, of course, his infamous Gravion Process. Gretborn's famous "invention laboratory" was roughly halfway between the twin cities of Iganefta and Iganefta-on-the-Sea.