Optimal

Optimal

As a tiefling, Optimal has reddish-pink skin and yellow eyes. Her hair, meticulously cared for, is an unlikely shade of blonde. Small, white freckles dot her cheeks and the bridge of her nose. Optimal cares greatly for her appearance. She enjoys feminine, pretty clothing and takes great care in her makeup, skin care, and hair routines. The other girls in the dorm room have seen her extensive morning and nighttime routines. She wears a red and gold necklace.

Optimal has pledged to join Quandrix. After a conversation with Slayeh about the importance of honesty and nicknames, she tells the group that "Optimal" is a traditional tiefling virtue name. She tells them that her name is actually Bellarose Bant: a lovely name, she says, and not one she's ashamed of.

### Magical Abilities and Her Deity

Optimal admits to only having magical abilities for a few weeks, aside from Thaumaturgy, which she's always been able to cast. She first cast Guidance on herself quite by accident before coming to Strixhaven, recognizing the feeling of casting a spell due to her knowledge of Thaumaturgy. She assumed she was a Sorcerer, that the magic was naturally occurring from within her. However, in Raina's dream, she cast a spell that was decidedly not Arcane based, but Divinely based: Turn Undead. This has caused her to rethink her magical capabilities, although it's confusing to her as she has no deity.

When Optimal meets Mother Crone in the Sedgemoore, the name of her deity and the source of her powers is revealed. Mother Crone greets her as a "Follower of Majere", an ancient deity that has walked many domains in many worlds, but until now was lost until a little tiefling girl has begun to rediscover him. She tells Optimal that he will direct her if she seeks him out. His domains are discipline, loyalty, and meditation.

### Goals

In a drunken discussion with Slayeh and Raina, Optimal explained her goal in attending Strixhaven. The plan is to graduate from Strixhaven with honors, return home and find a job. This will give her the best chance of finding perhaps an older man to marry - someone who has no need of heirs; perhaps someone who seeks companionship. She noted that love has no place in marriage.

## Relationships

### Quinten Bant

Optimal has mentioned that her brother, a graduate of Strixhaven, was a member of Lorehold (as is traditional for her family). She expressed her high opinion of him. She writes to him on a weekly basis.

### Slayeh Illspine

The two girls have an unknown history, but it's clear that there is some sort of rivalry between the two. They bicker quite often with each other. Both from Alara, Optimal and Slayeh have admitted to a privileged upbringing in nobility. Slayeh, unlike Optimal, does not speak highly of the nobility.

When Clifford asks Optimal if the two are best friends, she replies "Yes" with a smile. Whether or not this was to prod Slayeh was unclear, but it's obvious that the two have become closer due to their time in Strixhaven.

During their trip to the Sedgemoore, Mother Crone tells Optimal that only she can remove Slayeh's arm and free her from her pact. Although the decision weighs heavily on her, Optimal sees the determination in Slayeh and respects her choice to free herself from this evil presence.

### Grayson Wildmere

After celebrating at the Firejolt after passing their first exams, Optimal saves Grayson from one of the giant frogs that attack. As a thanks, he offers to take her for a midday drink after class in a few days. While she has looked for him afterwards, she has not seen him in the weeks since.

### Prince Endymion

The Prince has both Slayeh and Optimal in an unfortunate situation. He insists on their silence for the next year and a half. He has suggested building trust between them. Optimal made it clear that she does not respect him, nor does she appreciate the unfair power dynamic that he's exercising over them.

With a key to his Scriptorium, Optimal often visits Endymion in order to give him letters for his review to send to her family back home, per his request. She often writes obnoxiously lengthy and in-depth letters for the simple pleasure of annoying the Prince so that he has to read through pages.

### Heathcliff

Optimal finds him to be a delightful and polite gentleman in the most platonic manner. She often visits him at the Fantasy Costco to view his most recent clothing and to discuss fashion trends.

## History

Optimal is from Gallia, a small nation in the plane of Alara. She has an unknown relationship and rivalry with Slayeh Illspine. She has admitted being born into a privileged lifestyle, including private tutors. She has expressed to the group that she has had challenges being the only tiefling noble; she never even saw another tiefling before coming to Strixhaven. (Although she assumes there are more tieflings back home, just not on Atlas where she lived.)