Okay, I should have answered that a long time ago. Sorry and thanks for the ask! 😥I'll definitely answer them all…
1. Do they think they're going to make it out alive?
Not so much at the beginning of the game. For Melissa, many factors and coincidences seemed too crazy. And it seemed to get worse and worse each time (what a fun adventure in the Abyss). I'm glad that at the end of the game she finally had hope for a better outcome and the strength to keep fighting, not only for the sake of others, but for herself.
2. What do they desire most?
Freedom. She desires many things. Especially freedom. I think it's a theme that would make her a good friend to Daeran. After his quest, they will sit down together and have a glass of wine, having a good time over private conversation and the future. He was the second of the companions to learn such interesting details about her.
For her, freedom is the absence of enemies, adventures and travels to distant lands, as well as a life without unnecessary worries and without burden on the soul.
Bonus: in the Areelu Vorlesh Laboratory we get trapped, as I recall, and each of the companions would see their dreams and desires. So why shouldn't the Commander see his illusions as well? In a way, Melissa also desires a quiet life. Her illusions took place in the family tavern where she served both guests and all her acquaintances with friends. What brought her to her senses, however, was the realization that one of her best friends was long dead.
3.Which event of the crusade traumatized them?
I've already written that Baphomet got into her head when Melissa was on a mission to save Hand of the Inheritor. The tragedy is that the demon lord really didn't have to traumatize her as much as just remind her of the past, which she still hasn't come to terms with. No magic here, just psychology.
I have a little story about that on AO3.
But I can tell you about other traumatic events. For example, about one quest in the Abyss. I didn't save that quest, but I remember an aasimar appearing in the Abyss and asking me to bring him some poor aasimar girls to help them (yeah yeah of course). Some time ago I drew two pages of a small comic on the subject.
It would remind her of a few sad months with a special collar from Numeria for slaves.
She doesn't dislike the aasimars, but she is incredibly angry at this difference in attitude based on appearance and background.
Oh no Melissa, are you being stalked by a psychotic aasimar who has severely damaged your psyche with his obsession? ;D He knows where you are, what you're doing in Mendeve, and periodically makes hints about himself. Tieflings and aasimars, it's an old story….. That's probably too cliché, right?
Okay, besides me fawning over Raphael on @archcambion, I felt I should talk about my top five favorite loves of the Hells.
Thank you so much, @dujour13, for letting me info dump!
5. Glasya, the Archdevil of Malbolge (D&D)
The only child of Asmodeus, Glasya has always been in the side lines of D&D since it's inception, a bit of a minor player with she severing as a consort for an edition or two for Mammon. In late 2e and in 3.Xe, Glasya became such a political issue for Asmodeus, he bumped her to Archdevil to give her more work and to use in political maneuvering. Glasya still is the most chaotic of the Archdevils, focusing on her criminal empire within the Hells, and befriending her peer Fierna in a manner that suggest they were best friends.
4. Enecura, the Queen of Dis (PF)
The concept of Enecura bit me while learning more about the Archdevils in Pathfinder. This moral woman stole immorality from one of the most powerful gods in Pathfinder, got sent to hell, managed to thrive in this setting, and either fell in love or manipulated another demi-deity to fall in love with her. Not only does this woman have ovaries of steel, she and Dispater are a Hades and Persephone romance in disguise without any problematic tropes.
3. Dispater, Lord of Dis (PF)
I liked Dispater when I first read about him in D&D, but became less impressed with 5e lore of making him paranoid and yet easily manipulated. It wasn't so much the sexuality it suggested for Dispater as is making a feared Archdevil a little weak - though most Archdevils in D&D have more obvious flaws. When reading about PF, I liked this depiction of Dispater even more. I could see the bones of D&D's Dispater in the character, built into a logical way with unique details. A fast friend of Asmodeus, loyal and focused on law and order, he willingly fell with his wife to follow his leader. And during that fall, something happened to his wife. And no one knows what. Regardless, it brought out genuine puppy dog eyes from a design that is particularly kinky. His story with his son, the trouble second marriage, and the third marriage is also quite intresting. He might not have the 40 years of backstory as his counterpart, but what he has is amazing.
2. Mephistopheles, Lord of Cania (D&D and PF)
Mephistopheles is the one that got me really interested in DnD planar lore, leading me to Planescape Torment. When I was younger, my first DnD interest began with BG1 and it grew from there with BG2 and then Neverwinter Nights. Mephistopheles was an NPC Villain that caught my attention quicker than the game's intended villain and got me to reading more about him and his comrades. A Starcream with delusions of grandeur that he could almost back up, Mephistopheles was my favorite for a long time with a DnD campaign that brought his attention to me again. It was also around the time I was playing Pathfinder CRPGs, but I didn't get poking into that until he showed up, again, in WotR. Of course, Pathfinder Mephistopheles is very different from DnD Mephistopheles. The incarnation of Hell itself with a deeply loyalty to anyone that advances Hell cause, Mephistopheles beloved by Asmodeus, and Mephistopheles is very much his right hand person. He also has a gorgeous design that does take nods from his 3e depiction.
And oddly, a blend of both depictions with a unique twist of UST make Mephistopheles even more fun.
Asmodeus, Lord of Nessus, God of Indulgence (D&D)
Although I find myself favoring the Pathfinder takes of the Archdevils, this doesn't hold true to Asmodeus. Pathfinder Asmodeus is great, but the only advantage he might have over his D&D counterpart was always being a god, and yet he lacks the same prestige as D&D Asmodeus for that role. D&D Asmodeus has been apart of the brand since it's inception as the ruler of Hell through all the five editions, with the 2nd edition only using bare descriptions to indicate who he was when you couldn't use devils or demons in D&D. He has several origin stories inspired from Christianity and Zoroastrianism and he's gone through several crises, always rising on the top. I think that's why I love him a bit more than his counterpart. Asmodeus has scraped and crawled from being a devil to becoming a greater Deity if only due to 4e deciding it was about fucking time he become one. He's earned this status, you've seen how he's earned it, and while how they cement his godhood in Forgotten Realms is super dumb, he should be a God - he who is more crafty and chaotic than anyone realizes.
Aaah thank you for the ask Dujour! I saw you already noticed I did already talk about this piece here but I'll share another snippet below the cut!
When she'd told the queen of her plans to run away it had been a test, will you prevent me from leaving, but it had also been a plea: make me want to stay. And her queen had passed the test but failed the entreaty, and Silaena had disappeared into the wilds, remade as Laena the Bard, and even if that freedom was a heady drought it still tasted bitter in her mouth.
It was senseless, of course. Galfrey was only the queen, her entire life dedicated to emulating her own glinting profile seen in the paintings done of her leading the charge against the demons. There was no room for the actual human hidden underneath the horrendous weight of her station, the flashes of woman Silaena had seen, impressions of weak light filtering through a thick canopy of trees.
@dujour13 I had to take a screenshot to get it out of the sideblog. Sorry.💕
Thanks for asking. 😊
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The lake lies quietly in the orange glow of the setting sun as Daeran approaches its shore with a blanket, a bottle of wine, and two glasses. He pauses when he recognizes Tishlia's silhouette, sitting near the shore with her arms wrapped around her knees, gazing into the water. She shouldn't be here. She should be looking for the animals, losing track of time as usual, and then finding him waiting on the shore, wine in hand, smiling at her.
The closer he gets, the more his stomach clenches when she does not turn her eyes to him, despite the fact that it should be impossible to approach her unnoticed. The slight trembling of her shoulders makes his gaze freeze for a moment. If she's crying, there must be a reason, one he doesn't know. As he continues to approach, he feverishly ponders what could be making her sad, and even more so, what could be keeping her from coming to him with that sadness.
Daeran is on the last steps to his wife when she wipes her eyes and sits up straighter, but she still doesn't look back at him. Shadowy, evil thoughts are already troubling him, and he tries to push them away until he can talk to her and get some clarity. "Tisha? What's wrong?"
"Nothing Dae, everything is fine."
The cramp in his stomach intensifies at this all too obvious lie. He sits down next to her, inverted so she can't avoid his gaze. When he tries to grab her hand, she reflexively pulls it away and the feeling of being rejected sends a chill down his spine and he tries hard not to let it affect his voice.
"It doesn't look like all is well, why the tears, my love?"
"I'm grieving for my friend." Her voice is cold and dismissive.
"Midnight is gone, not dead. When Jax finds him and they settle their stupid argument, he'll be back." He relaxes a bit when he hears her reasoning, he doesn't quite understand it, but at least it doesn't seem threatening.
"You have no idea, Dae. They are dragons, I haven't heard any news from him, I have no idea where he is, he doesn't contact me. They are dragons, Dae, they have a different sense of time than we do. It could be years before he comes back." Without a sob, tears run down her cheeks again, but she doesn't try to hide them.
"If he wants to miss years with us, that's his choice and his loss. He won't risk it for long. Don't be sad, it wasn't you who argued with him. Until they return, we will be happy without them, you still have my most delightful company." Hoping that his motivating, light tone will brighten her mood, he tries to reach out his hand in her direction, but again she flinches from his touch.
Her reaction hits him like a low blow, and he drops his eyes to the ground. Hurt. Unsettled. He takes a deep breath, trying to control his voice, but the uncertainty clearly resonates in his next question. "What did I do wrong, Tisha?"
"It's not about you. It's nothing you've done, but it's not going to be all right because you decide so, Dae! Things do not come to you just because you want them to. You're not the center of the world." Her eyes pierce him and the anger in her sharp voice increases with every word.
The fury she makes him feel makes him flinch as if he had been physically hit. He quivers, angry at himself for not knowing where her anger comes from. His insecurity increases, he has no idea what words he can use now without making things worse.
A moment passes in which only the soft wind rustling the reeds can be heard. She has turned her eyes back to the water and he can see her holding back her anger, but he can't see why. The silence does not answer his questions and Tishlia seems unwilling to break it again.
His voice barely above a whisper, he makes a cautious approach. "I never wanted to be the center of the world. I only want to be the center of your world."
The wind continues to whisper, as if continuing his thoughts. When Tishlia looks into his eyes, he can see the sadness in the dark blue depths. For a moment, she stares at him as if to tell him her thoughts, and he chides himself for not understanding her. His self-reproach is interrupted when she finally speaks to him, calm and tender.
"That's what you are, you stupid idiot. That's why I'm sitting here, because of what you are." Her gaze returns to the water and more tears glisten on her cheeks. Hesitantly, as if trying to touch a burning log, he makes another attempt to take her hand. As she allows him to touch her, he finds himself holding his breath as he exhales in relief.
The warmth of her body suddenly leaning against his shoulder gently loosens the tense knot in his stomach. His free hand begins to gently brush her back, calming the renewed trembling of her shoulders. Without further questions, he waits patiently for her to explain what this is all about.
The setting sun bathes the lake in a reddish glow, the wind dies down so that even the whispering in the reeds seems to await her next words.
"He wanted me to go with him. I tried to change his mind so he would stay. But he couldn't, he had to leave, and he wanted us to go together. I had to make a decision. I decided. And now… I miss him, Dae. It's like a part of me is gone. I don't regret my decision, I belong by your side, but sometimes… like today, it tears me apart".
He is glad that she can't see his face, in which his eyes now shine after her revelation. He holds her tighter in his arms, feeling the restless rhythm of her breathing and hearing the slight sob that has come over her again. His lips press tenderly against her temple as he says, "We'll look for him, everywhere, and we won't give up until we find him, I promise you, Tisha." She hears his promise and snuggles closer into his arms.
These are the last words the lake will hear until the darkness falls.
For Melissa! Eros 5, Ludus 5, Pragma 2, Philautia 1 please ❤️
Thank you, thank you very much 💘
!!!Disclaimer!!!
I may not be able to answer some questions correctly because of the language barrier. I'm sorry 😥
Eros 5
How closely is their opinion of their own beauty (or lack thereof) linked to their confidence? Do they see themselves as more or less worthy of love or sex based on how attractive they feel?
Melissa has never doubted her beauty, in terms of ego she can safely rival Daeran!
She is very proud, and this is reinforced every time she uses her looks, and she usually succeeds.
After one “specific” incident in the past, she's only gotten more promiscuous and wild. I'm not going to say what it was... But it was a very wrong way to experience “love”. This is definitely not an incident Melissa would want to talk about.
Does Melissa consider herself worthy of sex? Yes. She's beautiful and experienced. It's her usual method of relaxing and forgetting herself, like alcohol.
Does Melissa consider herself worthy of love? No, never. She stopped expecting to be loved for who she is a long time ago, so she behaves as she pleases, even if no one likes it. What does it matter what others think of you, when everyone has already made up their own mind at first sight?
Ludus 5
What seduction techniques are most likely to be effective when it comes to your OC? Are there some things guaranteed to get them going? Or are they immune to such things?
No cringe during seduction and making yourself look like the king of the world ;D Then you'll just make her laugh.
Don't be too assertive if she's not really interested. And if you try to force her... Worst case scenario, you're already dead.
In fact, Melissa is open to any kind of flirting. She likes directness and confidence.
She might be attracted to an unusual partner. Serious. For example, for her a person is very boring, but if a person has, for example, a lot of scars, it already becomes more interesting. She also likes guys who look tough and strong.
...But then Woljif bursts through the door, breaks her system and steals her heart.ХD
Pragma 2
What is the biggest challenge that your OC has had to overcome in a long-term relationship or friendship? What helped them get through this?
Good question.
The biggest challenge for her is trust and faith in a positive outcome. Fear of tomorrow and the future. It's easier to destroy everything herself than to wait for others to do it. Because of this mindset, she almost ruined her life forever. In that case, she would have had a very sad but expected end after the game when she closed the World Wound.
Immediately then, no one would ever see the commander again after the battle, and victory for all would be overshadowed by Melissa's sudden disappearance. Maybe someday I'll reveal that ending, but there's a lot of glass in there...
You can try to guess what happened to her and where she disappeared to. It's pretty easy.
Melissa is often compared to stone or iron for her character and actions, but stone has a tendency to break down over time and iron has a tendency to rust.
Let's be honest:
Melissa is a funny pessimist with years of severe depression and a self-destructive lifestyle.
She doesn't want to appear vulnerable or she'll become unnecessary dead weight.
But I try not to give bad endings!
Faithful friends will be there to show that they can be trusted and will always help.
Time and events will present challenges that will force her to rethink her own life, to stop being afraid and running away, to face her problems head-on instead of hiding behind another drink.
And her favorite thief will prove that she is also worthy of love and affection, that he needs her always and he is ready to listen to all her thoughts and problems.
Philautia 1
Does your OC have a healthy sense of their own worth and value? Or do they see themselves as failing to live up to their original potential? Perhaps they are convinced of their own sinful or inadequate nature?
It's the other side of the coin. She thinks she's beautiful, but she has absolutely no appreciation for herself. It's like she's not a diamond, but a copper coin for barter. That's normal for her.
Even death hasn't taught her to care about herself, her body or her health. If you cut off Melissa's arm, she wouldn't be too upset. If need be, she will be ready to die for someone very close to her.
Before her death she tried to save her friends in this way, it's better not to know what was done to her… But she didn't care.
Periodically Melissa and her gang will be caught by inept robbers and murderers. Every time she found a feather from them, as if someone was reminding her of herself on purpose.
Never show her the azure feather.
It'll blow her mind.
I'll try to explain why later. But she's being hunted...
It's not uncommon for her to jokingly or seriously say how bad she is, even though the same Ember claims it's not true.
In time, that will be corrected. For Woljif's sake, she will become more careful and start to appreciate and take care of herself, because she has someone and something to live for (he will often tell her off). But she will still have a hard time staying unharmed in battle.
28. Would they prefer a lie over an unpleasant truth?
40. How sensitive are they to their own flaws?
28. Would they prefer a lie over an unpleasant truth?
Evaethi absolutely would prefer to be lied to, though she would say she prefers the truth! She's very uncomfortable with hard realities and dislikes the reality that she is uncomfortable with that. So even though she tells people to be honest, to just tell her when she's wrong or being a fuck up or hurting them, she gets very defensive and upset when it's actually pointed out to her. Give her the comforting lie to give her what she actually wants; give her the unpleasant truth if you ever want that to change.
40. How sensitive are they to their own flaws?
Evaethi is possibly the most thin-skinned OC I've ever created lol. She has incredibly low self esteem and takes criticism against her as a personal attack basically on instinct. She struggles to move past that initial knee-jerk reaction to be defensive, to break down if things get too intense, and to actually take comments about her flaws in any good faith. Part of it is just a trauma response; she constantly talks down on herself but she does it with her father's voice, and it's hard not to hear him when others talk negatively about her because her way of dealing with the way she grew up is essentially a form of learned helplessness.
I feel like this one speaks so clearly to her cautious nature and how it will sometimes freeze her into indecision. "No amount of waiting will make you brave/no amount of fear will keep you safe" is an important lesson she has to learn.
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And for Ophenia—the song that inspired the first bits of her character! https://open.spotify.com/track/02Aw6IyFursVr67JbQrb1l?si=455OF0k4R4SXySO2G_UGmQ
When I first came up with the broad strokes of her character, "I have written you down now / you will live forever" was one of the first notes I put down. It draws back to why Ophenia became the person she is today: she wanted to preserve someone she loved and lost in the only way she could think of.
