#perdita rambles

But boy I’d eat some apple pie... It’s freaking snowing in here...

https://www.tumblr.com/cassandrapentayaaaaas/164651482467/questions-about-creating-your-ocs

Thank you for the asks, lovely! It's such a nice surprise that people want to know more about Mina 😊

Ask list

1. What was the first element of your OC that you remember considering (name, appearance, backstory, etc.)?

Ooh, this is an interesting question. Mina is unique among my OCs as she started as a personality. A fairly vague concept of a character that floated in and out of various hyperfixations and fandoms. For the longest time, she only existed in my head. She became a solid character during my Obey Me days, gaining a definitive design and personality, and was then repurposed for BG3.

OG Mina (and Zeke) design:

Vs Tav Mina

3. How did you choose their name? 

I shamelessly stole the name from Dracula as Mina Harker was my favourite character. Something about how she stays strong, but doesn't hide that she's afraid, seemed fitting. Her full name Philomena has always been a favourite of mine and the meaning of 'Lover of strength' or 'Lover of the moon' suits her perfectly. 'Heath' comes from heather and heathland, which is commonly found on the moors and by the coast. It's a landscape that looks fairly unremarkable, it lacks bright flowers or towering trees, but it's unbelievably resilient— much like Mina.

9. Are they based off of you, in some way? 

Thank you so much for the asks!

Ask list

5. Is there any significance behind their hair color? 

Breoch's hair colour is the complete opposite of what a typical drow's hair should be because of his dragon great-grandfather. It's an outward sign that his family do not strictly follow Menzoberranzan doctrine.

Mina's hair is a dirty blonde. She's always been a blonde, but the specific shade is supposed to be more muted and not typically considered an 'attractive' shade. It's much more mundane.

Shrike's hair colour is reminscent of blood and fire, both of which have dual-symbolism of life and death.

Zeke's purple hair is a carry over from his previous iteration. The in-universe significance is that it's the colour his father chose for him.

14. If you had to narrow it down to 2 things that you MUST keep in mind while working with your OC, what would those things be? 

Breoch:

He will always act however you expect him to. Everything he does is poised, calculated and conducted to endear himself to others.

Despite his insight into others' behaviours, he has no self-awareness. He never introspects or reflects on his own actions. His gaze is always focussed outwards.

Shrike:

They are frugal with their words. Why use 50 words when 5 and a sharp blade gets the message across?

Thank you for the asks! :3

I don't often ramble about Mina, so these were very fun to answer! 💙

5. Where is your character from? How do they feel about that place now?

Mina grew up in Daggerford, a small town just outside of Waterdeep. Her parents were textile weavers, so her earliest memories of that place are sitting at her family's loom and spending hours upon hours weaving intricate fabrics. Most of her early life was spent working the loom, spinning thread, or sewing garments, so she has no strong attachments to Daggerford itself other than it being the place where several generations of her family lived and died. The family business will be inherited by her younger sister (due to her sister marrying a wealthy merchant, which is something Mina had no interest in). It always felt like a chain she needed to break free from. The only positive of the place is how close it is to the sea, which is Mina's greatest love.

When she turned 18, she moved to Waterdeep for an apprenticeship. There she learned how to harness the Weave and weave it into fabrics and enchanted embroidery. Despite being horrendously shy, she loves the hustle and bustle of the City of Splendors. She loves feeling like she's a part of the fabric of city life, even though she thinks of herself as an ultimately insignificant part of it. When she isn't busy working, either as an informant or seamstress, then she's at the harbour watching the waves roll in until the sun sets below the horizon.

8. Does your character have a best friend in the party? Who is it, and why do they get along?

Mina is personable, but not overly friendly. She gets along with mostly everyone in the group, except Astarion: he knows she's lying about something, but he can't quite prove it yet. She's reluctant to call anybody there her 'friend', even if many of the companions think of her as theirs. As she spends most of her time at camp, she often sits with Halsin as she mends clothes or embroiders enchantments. He'll talk her through his plans to stop the shadowcurse and she'll patiently listen, only occasionally offering a quiet reassurance or suggestion. But even then, she wouldn't call Halsin a 'friend'.

The person she would be closest to— surprisingly— is Lae'zel. When Mina is hiding her true identity, Lae'zel is the first to discover the brand of the Absolute that Mina's been concealing. She is the first person Mina confides in about her spy work and how she's already infiltrated Moonrise Towers. They have both led such wildly different lives and have such opposing views on how to approach their situation, that in fact they are the best person for the other to consult when deciding a path forward. They learn to rely on the other's insight and trust each other's instinct. It completely baffles the other companions, but the two of them slowly become inseparable.

Tagged by @weirdest-wyrd

Thank you for the tag! These were really fun to answer!

Not sure who to tag for this one, so consider this an open tag to anyone who wants to answer these questions for your own OCs

[For context: Breoch's father, Isthriir, married into the V'ysse house from the Telach house; much to his mother's disapproval. The V'ysse family are very loyal and loving. Isthriir's mother, Lirith'fein Telach— Breoch's grandmother— is a very ambitious matriarch.]

Story behind the picture below the cut: