Character Process Deep-Dive: Julian Jourdain
He doesn't look intimidating in this picture, I know. It was taken later on during the story.
What was the original thought that led to the creation of this character?
I wanted to have the Jacoban and Peteran religions not portrayed as good or evil, but run in different ways with different tenets and rules and beliefs which sometimes get fudged by differing situations and people. the Jacoban religion is built mostly on fear and intimidation, and so we needed an Eye of Jacob who embodied both of those things.How long was the process before the character reached its final version? (or a version that would be clearly recognizable as the character?)
As usual, not very long. Julian was going to be mostly just very intimidating and convincing, that was it.What was the first thing you decided on, the character's name, appearance, personality or their role in the story?
- Name- Personality
- Appearance
- Role in the story
Which one of the four things did you struggle with the most?
None.
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?
As usual, census records.
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 wanted him to just look like an old tired and somewhat-scary man.
What is an aspect of their appearance that you like the most?
Nothing really? He's just an old guy, there's not much more to him appearance-wise.
What is the origin of their personality? And let's be honest - how much of it is projecting?
Julian is a man who has been fully convinced that the Watcher is a punishing figure, and that witches are in fact a punishment sent by the Watcher that needs to be dealt with. In this story, all the antagonists are fully convinced that what they are doing is right - so is Julian. He fully believes that the witches need to be punished, and that Jacobans must play their part if they are to be spared by the Watcher upon their deaths.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?
Julian's role isn't massive, but his level of influence gives him a fairly big part in the story. He is a large part of Reynold and Clementia's story.
What is their main character arc in the story? Where do they start and how do they develop?
Julian's main arc in the story is him coming to realise that the version of Jacobism he's been preaching is not the same as the core tenets of the original, more a bastardised version edited to suppress, silence and frighten people. He's been an Eye of Jacob for years, so there is a lot of unlearning he will have to do, and his trying to be a better person may come at a very big cost.
Is there any existing character from other media that your character resembles? Was the resemblance intentional or was it a coincidence?
None.
Do you have a playlist for the character? What songs do you associate with them and why?
Almost every Jacoban-related scene I write to this chant about the 'Day of Wrath' - very fitting for Jacobans who strongly believe in the Eve of Retribution - where the Watcher punishes all those who have displeased or gone against Them.
Do you have a voice claim for the character? What do you imagine the character sounds like?
Hard to say and couldn't find a matching example on the Speech Accent archive. He has quite a gruff and slightly hoarse voice, and what I can only describe (in vague terms, my apologies) as a very strong French accent.Is there any memes or running jokes associated with the character, both in- and out of universe?
Not with Julian, no. He doesn't really come up in the jokes. He also isn't one himself for jokes. XD
Are there any motifs or symbols associated with the character? How are they represented, in their design, personality or in some other way?
The Eye of Jacob symbol. It's on his outit, all around the Jacoban cathedral. It's a reminder of not only his domineering air, but the way that he too is being watched for every little thing he does by the Watcher...in his own eyes, anyhow.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?
Clementia. He recruited her and made her High Shepherdess (one level under him). She sees him as a father figure. He also did this to try and boost the idea of women in higher positions in the Jacoban cathedral, as Jacobans are still new to the idea of women being capable. Julian was once like this too, until he realised their worth and value and knowledge.
What is your general favourite thing about the character? What is your least favourite?
The thing with Jacobism is it's a big chain of command and being looked over. Julian may rule over his flock, but he's also got the higher-ups on his own ass making things difficult, and then there's of course the eyes of the Watcher. It's a fun journey watching him try to undo years of having the wool pulled over his eyes about the truth of Jacobism.