One of the more sociable of the Glades' wealthy residents, Rithi Aghalien holds frequent galas with extensive guest lists, favoring themed masquerade events where guests come appropriately costumed. In consideration of her neighbors, she veils her manor during such events with enchantments to prevent noise and other distractions from reaching anyone outside her estate, although some Gladers still dislike the extra traffic on the Glades' roads caused by her guests' arrivals and departures. While many of the Glades' residents come from old money, heirs of fortunes made generations ago, Aghalien has no such vieux riche background, having made her wealth in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

She didn't attain that wealth without some help, however. Though she certainly does not advertise the fact, Rithi Aghalien is an accomplished mage and a member of the Bit and Basket, a wizardly covin that specializes in trafficking with demons. Many of the substances her companies sell and market have demonic origins, or at least were discovered with demonic aid. Aghalien is not associated with Neremi Astaston and his demon-summoning cult, but she is aware of them. The reverse is not true; she has considered approaching Astaston about joining the Bit and Basket, but has not done so mostly for the simple reason that she doesn't like him.

Rithi Aghalien is a tall, elegant woman with a long face that looks like it was molded from wax. Despite her involvement with the cosmetics industry, she makes only light use of makeup herself, some creams to soften her wrinkles and hide minor blemishes and some mascara to highlight her eyelashes but nothing brightly colored or ostentatious. She addresses everyone with various terms of endearment, ranging from the relatively commonplace ("darling", "my little doll") to the downright odd ("buttercake", "my baby pelican"). Aghalien has a large and varied wardrobe, but especially favors long gowns with inset hoops that keep them in a cylindrical shape, usually in shades of white, red, or black.