The head of the geology department at the University of Lüm, Ijari Ghoum has held this position for more than twenty years. She is a highly intelligent woman who not only has an impressive knowledge of geology, but is also a lover of literature and peppers her speech with quotes from and allusions to classic novels and plays. She has been working as long as most of her colleagues have known her on several novels of her own, but has yet to finish any of them.

In addition to learning about the various minerals found on Curcalen, Ghoum has also expressed an interest in learning more about those found on other worlds and planes as well, and studying how they compare with the local types to perhaps throw more illumination on their formation and properties. Hearing of this, some agents of the Wayfarers' Union, a wizardly covin specializing in interplanar travel, have approached her for an alliance. She has tentatively agreed to some dealings with the covin, and they have assisted her in her studies, but she has always been careful to pay them in full, mistrustful of their ultimate purposes and wary of becoming indebted to them.

Ijari Ghoum is a large woman with hooded eyes and a grayish cast to her skin. Her size and complexion may owe something to the fact she has some navanar blood; one of her ancestors was an elephant given human form. She usually speaks slowly and deliberately, but her [speech]] may speed up considerably when she becomes excited. She prefers to dress in flowing robes and saris with colorful floral patterns.