Character Profile: Tilla Jorcastle
Duchess Jorcastle is one of the leaders of the Four Families and thus one of the most powerful people in Finsel. Despite that, her position is not as secure as she’d like - being a woman, a widow, and the one “left behind” to watch over Jorcastle interests.
What we know about her
In her youth, Tilla was a writer. She actually has at least one published novel out there, though under a pen name - I don’t think Duchess Jorcastle wants to be associated with anything so frivolous and sentimental. She does have a sentimental side, but it’s usually hidden behind a front of business. Her husband had an affair leading to an illegitimate daughter, and then later on his deathbed asked Tilla to care for the girl as if she was her own. Resentfully, she has. This is just one more burden on top of all the responsibility she has had to shoulder to lead the Jorcastle Family alone for many years, in a position few women could attain. We can see this is a strain on her at times, but Duchess Jorcastle will never shy from a challenge or avoid doing what (she thinks) needs to be done.
Alignment: Lawful Evil
Duchess Jorcastle will look after her interests and her family’s advancement first and foremost - the Evil part of this alignment shows that she’s willing to do whatever it takes in pursuit of those goals. If other people get hurt in the process, well, people she doesn’t know or care about just don’t matter. She doesn’t go out of her way to hurt people or lash out, however; as a Lawful character she’s inclined to work within the rules and manoeuvre things to her benefit. Tilla is ruthless, no doubt about it... but not cruel, most of the time.
Element: Earth
You won’t see this duchess get worked up; if she’s angry, it will be a cold and hard anger under tight control (and she’ll destroy you later). Her calm is one of her distinctive qualities. In the nature of Earth she is stable, persistent and survives whatever comes her way. Despite her history as an author she is not especially swayed by appeals to emotion, and rules are important to her.
Politics: Conservative
For all that she’s a woman making her way in a traditionally masculine role, and as a young woman was quite ambitious and daring in her own ways, Duchess Jorcastle maintains the status quo exactly as you’d expect for a member of the Four Families. Things are the way they are for a reason, people have their place in society and should remember it, and status and rank matter. In the face of her late husband’s indiscretions, and his saddling of her with their consequences, the duchess may be holding even tighter to these ideas of propriety since she has to protect her own reputation and right to her power.
Connections: The House of Jorcastle
Duchess Jorcastle’s husband, the late Duke Jorcastle, is deceased.
Ramus is her eldest son, out of Finsel until his return home in Season 2. His talents lie very much in the Jorcastle tradition of magic.
Gonzalo is her other son, and the one bearing a lot of the Jorcastle family burden with her despite being poorly suited to the responsibility.
Lynna is her step-daughter, the illegitimate child of her husband and a commoner woman. When your husband’s dying wish is that his bastard daughter be looked after what can you do? Tilla resents this constant reminder of her husband’s unfaithfulness.
