Playable Character Silhouette - Jonathan
Our group chose “Dracula” as our theme, with Arcane serving as our stylistic inspiration. We looked to Jonathan Harker from the original novel, who introduces the book through his journal entries. Although he is not a detective, he assumes an investigative role in the story.
Building on this, we reimagined Jonathan as our playable character, now a junior detective investigating a string of serial killings in an otherwise peaceful town. This concept draws from the Jack the Ripper case, blending gothic horror with historical mystery.
In our world, Dracula takes the role of an influential mogul, respected by the townspeople yet entangled in the investigation. As such, he is our interactive character and antagonist. As the game’s antagonist, he manipulates events from the shadows, while the player must gather evidence and persuade others that Dracula himself is behind the murders.
Jonathan Silhouettes:
In contrast to Dracula, Jonathan is not wealthy. His attire avoids the extravagant accessories and refined tailoring typical of gentlemen of the era (long mantles, fur coats, gold gauntlet buttons). Instead, he is sometimes depicted with oversized trousers and a simple pair of glasses, reflecting his more humble background. To bring variety to his design, I incorporated props: a lantern in place of a flashlight to fit the setting, a pocket watch or pistol to tie into his profession, and a cigarette rather than a pipe—pipes being a luxury for the rich, emphasizing both his lower status and the stress that fuels his smoking habit.
I also imagined Jonathan as somewhat clumsy, reflecting his inexperience within the task force. This trait supports the idea that he isn’t fully respected by his peers, which explains why the investigation of this serial murder case, one that no one else wanted to take on, ultimately fell to him. In shaping his character, I was also inspired by R.F. Kuang’s Babel, where a half-Chinese, half-British boy struggles to find his place in Western society while holding onto his own heritage. Similarly, I envisioned Jonathan as someone marginalized by both class and race, which contributes to his lack of recognition from his seniors. This lens also opens up the possibility of tying Dracula’s wealth to colonial exploitation, deepening the social and historical themes within the narrative.
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