Character Process Deep-Dive: Elijah Annorin
What was the original thought that led to the creation of this character?
I'm pretty sure that I knew that Oskar needed to have an apprentice whilst he was in Henford. Originally it was just going to be a random character that didn't really add much to the story...then I also had ideas to show Samuel Annorin's children...why not make one a black sheep of the family? Better still, why not make him Oskar's apprentice to eventually tie him into Samuel's arc?How long was the process before the character reached its final version? (or a version that would be clearly recognizable as the character?)
At first, I played with the idea of possibly making Eli quite snobby, but I decided to make him overly anxious and emotional. This ended up contrasting nicely with the other characters who tried to hide their feelings more, and so then it stuck.
What was the first thing you decided on, the character's name, appearance, personality or their role in the story?
- Name- Personality (Emotional, anxious, nothing like Samuel)
- Appearance (awkward-looking but down-to-Earth teenage boy)
- Role in the story
Which one of the four things did you struggle with the most?
Role in the story, since I didn't really think of one initially with Eli. Not much anyway. He was only going to be a bit of comic relief...
How did you choose their name and why? Was it simply based on vibes or is there any specific meaning behind the name? Are their reasons behind their name different in and out of universe?
Once again, using English / Welsh census for the rough time period. Biblical names are popular IRL during those times. Whilst there is no Bible in this story's universe, the supposed weight of such names seemed fitting for a member of an elite family.
What was the thought process behind their appearance? Did you go mostly for the aesthetic or are there other reasons they look the way they do?
I just wanted him to look like an awkward teenage boy. I aimed to give him a much tidier and more confident adult look to reflect his development since living with Oskar.
What is an aspect of their appearance that you like the most?
The hair really suits him and I like his default white suit.
What is the origin of their personality? And let's be honest - how much of it is projecting?
Eli is interesting since the projection is more focused on a past version of myself, back when I was over-emotional and disliked and demonised for it. Eli's stand-out trait is the fact that he wears his heart on his sleeve when many of the others downplay their emotions, have them repressed to some extent, try to hold them back with disastrous results, or don't feel them at all. This part isn't projecting, but Eli is also someone who is completely at odds with his family legacy. He doesn't have magic, nor does he have any interest in the medical field, nor does his father want anything to do with him. He has to carve out his own path in life - quite difficult to do with a father like Samuel.How big is their role in the story? Do they make a frequent appearance or are they a character with little "screentime" but big influence? Or are they just a favourite background guy?
Eli is kind of a weird state of 'main-but-side' character. Much like Daniel, his role in the story isn't huge, but he is representative of many of the unmentioned characters in this story who are just trying to enjoy their life as much as they can. Not every character has a massive part to play in the overarching fight against witches, but their stories are no less important.
What is their main character arc in the story? Where do they start and how do they develop?
Eli's is breaking away physically and mentally from an abusive father, and to try and find confidence and his own path in life when his father considers him a letdown for not being what he wants (a ) not having magic, and b) not being interested in the medical field.)
Is there any existing character from other media that your character resembles? Was the resemblance intentional or was it a coincidence?
Not that I can think of.
Do you have a playlist for the character? What songs do you associate with them and why?
Not for Eli, unfortunately.
Do you have a voice claim for the character? What do you imagine the character sounds like?
It's a hard one to nail down, Eli's voice, because whilst his natural accent is the English received pronunciation (the typical Southern posh accent you hear in most historical dramas), he doesn't speak with as strong as an accent as Owen or Samuel do. In part, I think this might be intentional because he doesn't want to be associated with that and wants to appear down-to-Earth to people. In part, I think it could be that he's less interested in keeping up appearances as Samuel is. In part again, it could just be a natural part of going from a life in the Annorin family to a still-affluent-but-not-quite-as-much life. His voice I imagine to be quite soft, a little whispery-sounding.Is there any memes or running jokes associated with the character, both in- and out of universe?
In me and my friend's stupid little headcanons, Eli is still worrisome, starting every sentence with 'Uhhhhhh...'. He's also the only one for whatever reason to know he's actually in a story as well as a game, leading the others to think he's mad. He tends to miss the point or lets jokes go over his head, and animals love him (and hate Owen).
He is obsessed with men and horses. He also often questions Owen's true motives, and Owen, not wanting to answer such questions, often distracts him by telling him he should go and tend to his horse instead of asking these questions.
One of the funnier random ideas I've discussed with a friend, is one where Eli ends up with an alien baby, completely baffling his physician of an older brother and being clueless as to why he's so baffled by it. XD
Are there any motifs or symbols associated with the character? How are they represented, in their design, personality or in some other way?
Not really a motif, but Eli's clothes (at least in Act 3) are usually white or pale in contrast to Oskar's dark and black clothing. It's less a motif and more just colour variety in the clothes, though. Whilst Eli's family is represented by the gryphon, Eli doesn't care for the symbolism of it.Does the character have other characters connected to them? Do you have a family tree and "offscreen" connections made up for them or do they exist in a vacuum purely for the purpose of the story?
Not really. The only offscreen Annorins who get mentioned are his mother Liza, and his uncle, Jonah, who neither he nor Owen ever met.
What is your general favourite thing about the character? What is your least favourite?
Eli is very lovable and probably one of the more relatable and realistic characters, and though he's so different he slots in nicely with everyone else. He also has a different life path than the other characters in that he isn't quite as tied to the big goal of trying to save the witches, and he's mostly just trying to get through life and hopefully enjoy it.