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Aglaophotis is an herb mentioned occasionally in works dealing with the occult and in the Kabbalah. References to it have been made in the Necronomicon and various other sources. The Greek doctor Dioscorides named Aglaophotis as part of the peony family and there is much speculation as to which precise species of peony it could be directly related to.

The term Aglaophotis is not restricted to a flower; it is also the name of a liquid that comes from it. This liquid is said to resemble blood in thickness and color. It is very potent and carries mystical properties, most notably in the use of expelling or warding off demons. Its effects can be brought about either through ingestion or contact and it has also been known as an ingredient in certain potions. It is a very rare herb and an even rarer liquid, so it is highly sought after by those who are involved in the occult and more by those looking to make a fortune.

Being a member of the peony family, and once thought to be directly related to the factual European Peony, Aglaophotis takes on many properties similar to these flowers. Peonies are a main ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine as an antifungal, and also to treat wounds, pain, fever, and spasms. In certain cultures it is believed that uncontrollable movements of the body can be a sign of possession by a supernatural being. This likely means that the use of Aglaophotis to dispel evil is a clever wordplay on the actual medicinal properties of various species of peonies.

Character Name: Iris Lilibeth Floros
Nicknames: Lily, Crazy Old Lady
Gender: Female
Age: 72

Home: Near enough to the Whi Forest that people tend to leave her alone but far enough that there is no immediate threat from the forest's inhabitants. She is able to walk into the nearest Amies town for food and supplies, but it is a bit of a trek (roughly half an hour). When traveling with large cargo or in poor weather, she does have an old wagon which she can tie to her mule that lives in a small shed-turned-barn at the side of the house.

Appearance: Iris stands at roughly 5'9" with a gaunt structure. She is elderly and appears physically weak, exhausted, and as if death's visit is right around the corner. Despite this appearance, she manages to get along well enough, though she has her share of problems with arthritis, weakened bones, and occasional shaking fits. Her skin is wrinkled, both from age and sun damage, which gives her a rather imposing facial structure these days. Her eyes are deep set and surrounded by bags, but her eyes are a surprisingly bright blue (one, however, is slowly being taken over by a cataract). All of her hair is completely greyed by now, a mix of dull and silvery strands, which she keeps long and doesn't bother doing much with. It is this messiness of her long, wavy locks as well as her natural features and largely unapproachable demeanor that lead to current opinions of her. Her standard style of dress is modest, humble even, and behind the current times. She enjoys long dresses and shawls, but prefers her sleeves not to go over her wrists. For the most part, she dresses practically rather than for show and a lot of her clothes are dirt covered or stained because of her frequent treks through the woods and mud.
Distinguishing Features: A cataract forming over one eye causes it to look milky compared to her other bright blue one. The whites of her eyes are also beginning to yellow the slightest bit. Her nails, while not overly long, are not well cared for and generally dirty looking with flat tips.

Personality: When she was young, Iris was spry, intelligent, sympathetic, and eager to please. Over the course of her life, many events have left her jaded and cold toward others and many would say she is a ghost of her former self. A great deal of her interests and routines today are left over coping mechanisms of losing the most important people in her life. Despite her age, her mind is still strong -- something she feels may be doing her more harm than good in a lot of ways. Iris is still an intelligent woman, hard working, with a strong moral integrity who prefers to be left to her own devices and not need to rely on anyone else to make due. She's the sort of woman, also, who would waste no time picking up a cane and whacking you with it if she found you trespassing on her property. Though she may grumble and appear reluctant, she will not begrudge those who come to her in need. Iris keeps herself and her belongings on a tight leash and her personal beliefs on an even tighter one. She doesn't want to know about your home life or your job, and she most definitely doesn't want to hear your opinion of the weather or to get to know you unless absolutely necessary.

Some may say her customer service could use work, but in all her years she has never short changed a single one and has always worked to cater to those who were unhappy with her products. Socially, Iris is very lacking these days and acts as something of a hermit. She's just an old woman that wants to be left alone. There is, however, one thing that still drives her curiosity rather than going through the motions of life; something she still hears rumors of, spoken in whispers. The mythical herb aglaophotis is one thing she nor any member of her family was able to attain. Many believe it to be an extinct species of plant, but the supposed properties of it could be infinitely useful to people all over the world. This and many other fabled plants attract what lingers of Iris' imagination, hope and faith and she desires to at least see one with her own eyes in what little of her lifetime remains. It is almost childlike, her wonder for these seemingly unattainable things, but when you've been living next to a forest filled with fairies and centaurs for over twenty years, anything can seem possible.

Likes/Dislikes: Iris has a distinct fondness for being on her own as well as a great loathing of bustling, populated areas. These both can be attested to by her current living conditions. Her love of nature knows no bounds and she vastly prefers the company of plants and animals to that of her fellow man. Children are an exception to this, and she will often give them small gifts like sweets or free samples if they approach her. Small talk is something that aggravates Iris to no end, because it feels like beating around the bush. She greatly appreciates strength of character and that is most easily shown through one's ability not to pussyfoot around issues. Honesty, passion, these are things she feels are vastly important, so it can be expected that she detests liars, thieves and hypocrites. Singing is actually something Iris is very fond of, but very few have ever heard her do so. While she isn't great by any means (due to no formal training as well as her age setting in and weakening her voice), Iris certainly has a unique voice that is surprisingly pleasant.

Hobbies: Because Iris keeps to herself and prefers living like a hermit, her hobbies are a constantly growing list. A lot of them also tie deeply into her occupation, which is the only way she makes money, though for the most part she prefers to live off the land rather than barter or buy. Iris has a large collection of books, old first editions that are extremely well cared for. Over the years she has come to acquire various trinkets, tools and instruments which she routinely cleans and plays with when the mood strikes her. For the most part, her ideal way to spend time is outside in her garden. Most of her home is covered in thick vines, foliage and plant life. Iris grows her own fruits and vegetables (though she does not have a large area in which to do this) and has a wide expanse of flowers and other plants. Sewing, knitting, crochet, wood carving, Iris has had plenty of years to sample a multitude of hobbies and, though she has mastered very few, one could consider her a jack of all trades in a lot of ways. Very few know just to what extent her interests span.

What she does for a living is more like freelance work. Iris brews home made potions and remedies, elixirs and the like. None of that mumbo-jumbo "miracle" stuff people used to try and hock, but actual sorts. Unique liquid soaps, cleaning products, cooking oils, body lotions, things of that nature. It is rare she will get specialty commissions but when she does the money is good. To sell these, she normally makes a large batch of various goods and sets up a stall in the closest town. The only animal on her property is a mule she uses to carry her wagon for ease of travel, named Daisy.

History: Iris was born in Helena to a family of mostly women that consisted largely of apothecaries and herbalists. She and her sisters, Ivy, Primrose and Amarylis, were raised to be proper house wives, but expected to marry within their extended family to keep their bloodline pure. This belief stemmed from their religion, which shared many traits with the beliefs of the mainland but still differed greatly. It was Ozara they worshipped, while Aevah and Sojo were her angels. They believed that the end of the world may happen when they least expect it and that they were one family of the "chosen few" who were expected to survive. Iris' family was mostly comprised of fanatics; they physically abused themselves in "prayer" to Ozara, would sometimes leave animal killings in offer to her, and treated those around them who did not share their beliefs very poorly while attempting to assuage them to see Ozara as the true goddess. Their homelife was strict and harsh, almost entirely revolving around their religion. She and her sisters were not offered many liberties while their only and eldest brother, Florian, was put on a pedestal. The four sisters got along well enough despite their situation. They were friends as well as siblings, but often they had to comfort each other and keep themselves from getting into trouble. The youngest, Ivy, usually reserved the worst treatment because their parents were so exasperated and out of touch, they didn't know what else to do but dole out punishment.

When Iris was seventeen, she was promised to a distant cousin for marriage. Amarylis had been married off similarly just the previous year and Primrose was to follow not long after. Her chosen fiance was Ellery Floros, a meek but gentle man. All things considered, she could have gotten far worse. Iris was eager to leave the rule of her parents though reluctant to leave her two younger siblings in their care by their lonesome. Their wedding was held the same year and Ellery promised that they would not live far away so she could always visit her sisters whenever she pleased. For the first few months, things went smoothly. Transitioning between the two households was surprisingly easy with Ellery's support and the lack of her overbearing parents. Both of them got along well and over the course of their time together began genuinely caring for each other. What seemed almost too good to be true was split when pressures from their family began for them to have children. Save for her youngest sister, Ivy, Iris was the only one to not have given them at least one grandchild. With their encouragement, the couple tried several times to produce a child but it seemed luck wasn't in their favor. The longer it took, the more worried Iris became and the less patient were her family's remarks. All signs pointed to Iris being barren the more they tried. Of course this news did not go over well with any of their family.

Desperate to fill the gap, they began rushing Ivy's preparations for marriage right around the time she became ill. Whenever Iris asked about her, she was brushed off. She didn't even know what sickness she had, but her symptoms were quite serious. It came to Iris' attention far too late that her parents were not actually doing anything to help her youngest sister get better, but were relying on their prayers. They assured their daughter that Ozara would welcome her early, if it was her time, and not to fear for it was destiny. Ivy passed away. Iris could barely handle this news, but seemed more prepared for it than either of her other sisters. When told, Primrose had withdrawn in on herself and became mute while Amarylis lost her second child not long after. Iris begged Ellery to move far away, so their lives wouldn't be poisoned anymore, and he accepted her request. The two nestled themselves in a quaint village in Amies and broke contact with Iris' side of the family. For the next ten odd years they lived comfortably together. Things were quiet, peaceful, and Iris complete relief for the first time in her life. Of course her family would find a way to break this serenity.

Out of the blue, a letter arrived from Amarylis' husband. After suffering her second miscarriage for their fourth child, Iris' eldest sister took her own life. She and Ellery attended the funeral and noticed a lack of attendance from her parents. With only one remaining sister, Iris sought to visit Primrose in the wake of this tragedy. Though she had her moments of fatigue and catatonia, as well as still refusing to speak, Primrose appeared to be fairing far better than anyone else in their family. Her husband was very accommodating to her condition, as well as her two young twins. Iris would often visit her niece and nephew, inviting the two over to stay with her and Ellery when Primrose needed a break. Sometimes she would do the same for Amarylis' children but the times were few and far between, her widower preferring to keep the children close. Years passed as such. Iris' loved ones that remain began to grow old. Primrose's husband passed, her children grew and married, then she passed as well. It was rare for Iris to see Amarylis' children again, nor her husband, and Primrose's children were busy living their lives.

For some time it was just she and Ellery, getting by in the ways they knew how, trying to make the most of things. Ellery had started a small farm while Iris decided to start a small business in trinkets to help with extra money and the two survived together until Ellery was stricken with tuberculosis. The two could not spend as much time together as they had before, Ellery concerned about the condition's contagious nature, and he decided to move closer to his family while sending Iris money as needed. Months passed this way; he would send a letter, she would send one back, he would send a little money, then another letter. It was every week, like clockwork. Iris sometimes wondered if he wrote a few letters in advance just so they would arrive on time. Rather abruptly, that clock stopped. At first she thought he was just busy or low on money. It was alright, she was still able to pay for things and had been saving up for a long time. One week, two weeks, three. She never stopped writing letters to him, in the hopes that he would find the time to respond to one, but when two months passed without a single word she refused to sit quietly and wait. It turned out that Ellery had passed away in that time, and his family had not seen fit to tell her nor allow her to attend the funeral.

Iris sequestered herself in their home for weeks, slowly letting herself and the home they shared wither. Some goods and animals were stolen from the property, others she sold to just barely keep herself afloat. Eventually she had to relocate entirely, the house and property much too big and expensive for her to care for on her own. A few local townspeople assisted her in finding a new place, but none of the ones they showed her were any good. She didn't want to live near anyone else, she wanted to be alone so that maybe she could find peace. After a few long weeks of searching, they located a single cottage, not too far but not too close to town by its lonesome, and Iris settled in. There she stayed for the next twenty years, managing to scrape by. Those who helped her grew old too, barely remembering her now, and the rest of the town just assumed she always lived there.

Anything Else: There are some rumors from those in town who think she is insane, or even a witch. These rumors are fairly groundless aside from her seeming strange. Iris does not dabble in witchcraft of any sort, nor does she have any mystical powers to her name. However, her estranged family was involved with a pagan religion of sorts which may attribute to some of their perceptions of her despite her having no involvement with this belief system currently. (I can elaborate more on this religion if necessary but it will honestly not come to affect much aside from Iris' personal history).

OPEEENNN

Aaahhh, thank you thank you!

I was thinking it over some today before replying and had the idea that maybe, instead of being super powerful, it acted more like a debuff and deterrent? Like, say, the smell of her blood if spilled would be a bit overpowering and make demons feel sick, but they may not necessarily flee. Alternatively, if they came in physical contact with her blood, it may cause pain and slowly lower their HP as if under a poison status, but none of it would be intense or immediate effects and unless her blood was out in the open then there'd be nothing happening against the demons aside from her smelling unpleasant to them.

Do you think that would be alright? :0a I can't see her actually having many physical attacks until she gets older so for now I figure she'd mostly be a support type and have to grow into her skill set, so to go one on one against a demon would still be really bad news unless it was extremely weak.

As for consequences of using her powers, that's a good idea! Maybe when she uses her abilities, she takes a small HP hit each time (since her own aglaophotis blood is vital to most of her offensive abilities)? Or she has a limit to how many times she can use a specific ability in battle, so she has low stamina? I'm sure we can figure something out but I am totally open to those sorts of drawbacks!



Oh good, I was kind of worried she'd be a meh character dkfgkd

As for the hermit business, she's not completely secluded from people at all times. She's close enough to town that walking there is an option, it'd just be about a half hour hike. Also, she often makes trips to the town both to buy and sell goods, which happens at least once a week, if not more. There'd definitely be the potential for interaction away from her home for both herself and Scarlet, I definitely didn't want to sequester them both off completely -- that'd make RP extremely difficult and frustrating for everyone involved. When she's in town herself, she doesn't ignore people or speak rudely to them, she's actually pretty cordial, it's just she prefers to live away from others so she can have peace and quiet and not be involved in other people's drama.

Just as well, having not had the opportunity to be a mother before and being an older woman, Iris would put Scarlet's needs before her own so if she requested going to town then Iris would do her best to make it happen. With how social I can see Scarlet being, this request probably would come fairly often and Iris understands how important socializing is for children.

I hope that answers your question and offers some reassurance but let me know if it doesn't make sense. ; u ;;

Snoof is actually my "name" so I would prefer if everyone called me that or a variation thereof. Thanks for asking :B

Yeah, lessening the effect to that degree, while it still having some nod to its origins, would probably be the best idea to not be over powered. Especially when she's younger.

LOL I'm not really worried about people getting offended by her. Konstantin's guardian is so much worse as far as rudeness and bad attitudes go and he manages fine. He doesn't get many friends at all, of course, but even negative interaction can be positive towards plots. As long as people understand I don't share my character's views if they dislike people or make rude comments. Iris is more the type to keep that to herself. She's blunt, not cruel.

I could see her preferring to pick packages up herself, but that's an interesting occupation c: I think he's the only one in the shop with it so far.




Would it be alright if I prodded you guys? > u > I saw other people quoting you in their quest threads and I figured that'd be the easiest way to get your attention...