Iris Spencer

**Iris Spencer** (born May 27th, 1876 - also known as *Dr Iris Spencer* and *Commissioner Iris Spencer*) is the owner and current Editor of the New Elizabeth Social Transcript. She is a licensed attorney who served as the Commissioner of the Internal Affairs and Reporting Commission (IARC.), briefly the 3rd Attorney General of New Elizabeth during the February 1900 Constitutional Crisis, before her resignation from the DoJ on February 23rd, 1900.

## Early Life and Education

Iris Spencer was born in 1876 in London, England to Phillip Spencer and Kiyoko Spencer (nee Tsuda.) Her father was a British diplomat, and her mother was a member of the Japanese Iwakura Mission visiting Europe following the Meiji Restoration. The two met at a diplomatic event in Austria and courted through letters, marrying after a short engagement and a small campaign to obtain permission from both the Queen and Japanese Parliament for the two to wed. Iris is the youngest of four children.

As the daughter of a high ranking diplomat, Iris was raised in line with the aristocratic expectations of a young woman in mind, although her parent's passion for women's education led her to spend less time on 'women's subjects' such as music and needlework and more time on subjects traditionally taught to boys. Iris was notably not taught by a governess (as was the norm at the time in her social class) and was educated by her own mother, although she frequently would sit in on her brother's lessons.

### Social Debut

Although Iris' father quickly recognised her high academic aptitude, Iris' mother was more concerned with the pressures of her daughter being afforded the same opportunities as her peers - a task quite difficult for a half-Japanese woman in an otherwise predominantly white aristocratic society, but one that was not considered *impossible* following the successful marriage of her older sister to a Lord after her first social season. Despite wanting to follow her brothers and attend university, some of which had started allowing women to obtain formal education, Iris' mother was insistent that she end her education and instead focus on preparing for her upcoming coming out as a debutante at the age of 16. Her father, however, hired Iris a private tutor from the University of London (a peer of her brothers) to further her studies from home as a compromise.

At the age of 17, Iris was presented as a debutante to Queen Victoria and enjoyed a successful first social season. Despite enjoying a good number of callers, Iris refused all of her suitors despite the protests of her Mother.

### Enrolment in University

Iris insisted that she would not marry until she had received a full education. Iris then told her mother that she would tell the Queen during her next presentation her wishes in protest if she was denied any longer. Terrified of the social faux pas, her mother relented, and her father quickly saw to it that she was enrolled in the University of London. Iris being one of a handful of women to enrol in university was, while still somewhat of a scandal to some, a curiosity and novelty to others in society, and the Spencer house still received a number of callers the following social season as a result despite Iris barely attending -- much to the delight of her mother.

Although Iris was not a fan of the social season, she was absolutely fascinated by the numerous tabloids and newspapers surrounding the events. This led her to develop an interest in general newspaper publications as well, and she quickly began writing for the university's monthly Student Digest.

Despite the controversy surrounding higher education for women at the time, and despite university events being strictly segregated by gender, Iris quickly rebelled and became a popular figure, often attention 'boys events' as a guest of her brothers. Her disregard for 'women's etiquette' saw her fit in with her male peers, and she was quickly welcomed into academic social circles as an 'honorary sister,' which led to her becoming enamoured with cocaine - a substance that was not only a party favour, but was prescribed to her by a physician in her second year to prevent burnout, as was common for students.

## Doctorate and Immigration to the US

Iris continued her studies past obtaining her degree and, through hard work, advocation, and some sizeable donations from her father, was granted permission to undertake Doctoral studies in Language and Literature, making her the first woman at the University to do so. On obtaining her Doctorate, her achievements earned her an invitation to a social event with the Queen in which it was expected that she would be asked to join court as a governess for the Royal Grandchildren. Feeling as though the door on her freedom was closing and that she would soon have no more options but to join 'society' for good, Iris and her university friends went on one last bender -- an event that ended up spanning four days and saw Iris arrive to her meeting with the Queen still under the influence. On meeting the Queen, Iris, who had 'snorted so much cocaine that it was in her eyeballs by then,' found herself raving at the Queen about how a republic system of government was paramount and how while she likes Queen Victoria, wouldn't she rather be head of state as elected by her people rather than have it 'just *'cause?'* Iris was quickly escorted out of the event and shunned from high society.

Her family now risking social banishment, the only option was to send Iris away under the guise of 'allowing her to recover from the evils of addiction and influence' so that the incident could be quietly played off as a bout of illness and Iris could instead be painted as a victim out of the public eye. It was agreed that she would be sent to America where she could pursue the career of her choosing in New York - journalism. However, Iris quickly found that her qualifications proved little to American Editors, who only hired her to cover social matters and 'women's interests.' After a time, Iris grew tired of only being permitted to cover the social pages and began to seek employment at publications that would allow her to write about actual current events. On the suggestion of a colleague, Iris boarded a train to New Elizabeth, hoping that the ever evolving face of the frontier would allow her to carve a space for herself as a proper journalist.

## New Elizabeth

Iris arrived in Valentine, New Elizabeth, seeking employment with The Old Post as a reporter. However, following lack of response from the Editor and seeing an urgent need for a publication, Iris established The New Elizabeth Social Transcript. Originally focusing on social matters, the paper quickly expanded to cover matters of crime, health, and current events. While independently distributed at first, the publication was soon granted government syndication and is now distributed county-wide via a system of newspaper stands.

On December 28th, 1899, Iris successfully passed the bar exam and became a licensed attorney. Her bar license number is #018.

Shortly after arriving in New Elizabeth, Iris entered a relationship with Amari Jackson. Following Edai Alharith and Demi Hanson-Alharith's wedding, Iris learned she had fallen pregnant, and despite originally planning to terminate, decided to keep the baby after much discussion. Amari left for a long business trip a short time later, leaving Iris to complete her pregnancy by herself. On January 2nd, 1900, Iris gave birth to her and Amari Jackson's first child, Valentina Jackson, in Saint Denis, Lemoyne. Valentina has been described as 'unusually large' and 'somewhat gargantuan' in size.

Following the birth of Valentina, Iris fell into a depression stemming from feelings of uncertainty towards her relationship. Having discovered her passion for law and also becoming a mother, Iris' priorities had changed and she no longer wished to marry Amari as she felt that the marriage was a social obligation in order to protect her reputation after having a child out of wedlock. Iris also feared that the criminal activity Amari had disclosed to her shortly before leaving would put her at risk of disbarment, and she was no longer willing to raise her child in such an environment.

After a long period of suffering, crying, and consulting with her close friend Chase Hanson, Iris decided that she would leave Amari on his return to New Elizabeth and attempt a co-parenting arrangement. After several attempts to contact Amari to arrange this were ignored, Iris was forced to break the news via telegram. Valentina currently resides with a nanny in an undisclosed location while the terms of the co-parenting agreement are negotiated. Iris has since entered into a relationship with Dax Emerson, the Sheriff of New Elizabeth.

On the 17th of January, 1900, Iris was sworn in as the Commissioner of the IARC, a Department that she had personally developed with the assistance of Whiskey Yi, Chase Hanson, and Arthur Frazier as consultants. She was sworn in by Chase Hanson, with Dax Emerson acting as witness. On February 21st, she was appointed as the 3rd Attorney General of New Elizabeth, becoming the first woman to hold that office, and resigned two days later;