Inigmiq (i.niɣ.miq)
"Some people claim it is a building. I don't think so - it is no more a building than a sandcastle might be. I think it is a work of art, executed on a nearly unimaginable scale. As for who built it? I have no idea." - Miyagi Yumeko, in a letter to her son.
On the northern shores of Kitlineq, there is a gargantuan edifice of ice built overlooking the Avannarleq Sea. It has been there for as long as anyone can remember, built by hands long since vanished from the world. It has been named Inigmiq by the Kylitak people who live nearest to it, and according to their traditions it is a piece of artwork placed there by forgotten gods, as a memorial to who once lived in the northernmost parts of the Great Ring.
From a distance, it looks like a great fortress, with towers and spires rising high into the sky. Patches of blue and white ice catch the light and reflect so that it appears to glow in places, and there are open archways that seem to lead into the interior. Up close, it is clear that there are no rooms within Inigmiq; most of the doorways are indentations only deep enough to create the illusion of an opening. A few do lead into a maze of corridors that snake inside and beneath the sculpture, frozen tunnels that extend for miles.
The Lure of Inigmiq
Every now and then, someone becomes so fascinated with Inigmiq that they cannot tear themselves away. The play of light and shadow within the icy walls calls to them, presenting images of other worlds that only they can see. The Kylitak call those that Inigmiq has entranced the Nayuqtuqtuq, or wanderers. They will return to the site time and time again, exploring the labyrinth and seeking the meaning of the patterns embedded in the ice. Eventually, all Nayuqtuqtuq vanish into Inigmiq's interior. Their bodies are never found, and they are not seen again in this world. Some believe that they travel into some other world that crosses the Great Ring within the depths of the ice, but nobody can ever be sure of the truth.
Inigmaq is constructed entirely of ice, although it is unlike any other ice in the region. It does not melt, even when the temperatures do rise above freezing. It has many colors, including blue, black, and pink. These colors are placed in three-dimensional patterns within the structure of the frozen walls, and they shift and dance as the light moves through them.
Southern Connections
While there is nothing like Inigmiq anywhere else in the world, some people have drawn parallels to the massive stone buildings on Koa'ki and other islands south of Kitlineq. The most obvious thing they have in common is the incredible scale of their construction, as well as their longevity. Also, some people claim that the patterns within the ice of Inigmiq echo the symbols of the Book of Koa'ki, and believe that there may be secrets recorded in the ice that even the book does not contain.
This article was originally written for Spooktober 2024. You can find all of my Spooktober Articles at Spooktober Central.
This article was originally written for Spooktober 2023. You can find all of my Spooktober Articles at Spooktober Central.
There are 100% bodies deep within those tunnels. It sounds so beautiful though.
Explore Etrea | March of 31 Tales
Oh probably. But I think there's also a portal to another world, where this structure originated. I've been thinking about the larger universe beyond the islands recently, and some of these structures are seeds to connect to other worlds across the Dream.