Asphodel, Earl of Omonporch

is a legendary sapient mutated plant member of the Consortium of Phyta and flowers factions. Xe is the self-proclaimed "Earl" of, and resides there, in the Arcade to the Twin Gates.

Character
Asphodel is a sentient mutated flower, presumably a kind of asphodel given xyr name. They are the Earl of Omonporch; not by appointment or inheritance, but, by xyr own account, because xe "proclaimed it so" and "there was no Earl to tell [xem] otherwise". According to, xe was able to do this due to "some precedent of law established in Abram's time", though xe wasn't the first Consortium member to have this idea.

Asphodel appears to be generally disliked throughout Qud, particularly by the Barathrumites. refers to Asphodel as a "self-important churl"; refers to xem as "the so-called Earl" and claims he is "loath to recognize nobility to begin with";  says he has "little to say about self-appointed nobility" and believes that the Barathrumites should "simply appease Asphodel and leave xem to xyr fantasies"; and  refers to xem as a "troublesome merchant" and encourages the player to "dispose" of xem if they are not able to successfully negotiate for the Spindle.

Even the Consortium of Phyta seems to have a distaste for the Earl; Yurl refers to Asphodel as a "socialite" and a "scoundrel" and says of xem: "You can hate xym -- and I do -- but you have to admire xym (I don't)." Additionally, Yurl claims that Asphodel would feel pressured to agree to the player's terms if they were loved by the Consortium, as "xe has enough enemies among phyta", and tells the player to "sharpen [their] shears" if negotiation falls through (they then wink with one of their leaves somehow).

Quest
Asphodel is central to the The Earl of Omonporch quest. The player is required to travel to Omonporch and lease control of the Spindle from Asphodel, which can be accomplished by convening a council, or by killing Asphodel. The player can also lease control of the Spindle if they have at least 600 reputation with the Consortium of Phyta.

Combat
Asphodel beings neutral to the player but will become hostile if the player attacks xem or any Consortium of Phyta members within view of xem. Xe will also become hostile if the player's reputation with the Consortium of Phyta falls low enough.

Asphodelytes
Asphodel will always be accompanied by 12, who will be followers to xem. These asphodelytes will fight alongside Asphodel and each other if any of them are made hostile. Like Asphodel, asphodelytes are sapient mutated plants belonging to the Consortium of Phyta and flowers factions. Unlike Asphodel, however, they possess Electrical Generation at mutation level 7 and Teleportation at mutation level 10. Their electric resistance is 100, making them completely immune to electric damage. Asphodelytes come with no equipment or weaponry, and will simply attack in melee with their "manipulators", which are equivalent to their fists.

Equipment
Asphodel only comes with one piece of equipment, a, which will grant xem an AV bonus of 2. Xe possesses no weaponry, and will simply attack in melee with xyr manipulators, which are equivalent to xyr fists.

Skills
Asphodel possesses only one skill, Berate, which allows xem to inflict shamed on xyr targets.

Properties
Asphodel will never spawn hated by insects or trees.

Water Ritual
If the player performs the water ritual with Asphodel and has sufficient reputation with the Consortium of Phyta, xe can teach them the Snake Oiler skill. The player can also trade secrets with xem, or recruit xem as a companion, in this way. Finally, the player is able to buy xyr most valuable item for reputation through the water ritual; however, this will usually be xyr clay pot, as it is the only item xe will usually possess.

Notably, Asphodel is able to reveal to the player the location of the as a secret.

Tips

 * While Asphodel xemself has unremarkable attack options, the many asphodelytes xe appears with all have high-level electrical generation, making it extremely dangerous to attack xem.
 * With a source of defoliant, or powerful explosives, and Domination, the in  can be used to soften up Asphodel and his followers.

Trivia

 * Asphodels are perennial flowering plants of the genus Asphodelus. In Greek mythology, they are commonly associated with death and the underworld; Asphodel's presence outside the may be a reference to this.