Who is Ellen Kiel?
Ellen Kiel is a human woman that lately has proven her value with the Lionguard during recent campaigns in Southsun Cove (both during the first incursion to the karka infested island, and during the Canach incident with the settlers and the Consortium) and during the assault to the Aetherblade lair to take their leader, Mai Trin, to justice.
She is also Magnus’ protegee, given the connection both have since he rescued her from a shipwreck when she was just a little girl, and how she has constantly proven her value for the Lionguard that Magnus leads.
Recently, after one of the captains from the Council was assassinated during Mai Trin’s attemp to take his seat, Magnus came to the recently ascended Captain Ellen Kiel and talked her into candidancy for this seat.
But… is this a good idea for Ellen and Lion’s Arc future?
Ellen Kiel is a soldier, and a very good one at that as she has led troops to dangerous situations and emerged victorious. And even if it can be argued that it was the player characters that really did the most important tasks, she managed to get those players fighting for her.
And that’s what she is: A soldier. How exactly is she going to lead troops to battle from behind a desk? And what is she supposed to do from that desk? Her talents are for fighting, even when an investigation was needed to solve the crime during Dragon Bash, we needed help from external sources.
If she becomes part of the Captain’s Council, we’re cutting this bird’s wings and throwing her in a cage. Think about it, she has shown little talent outside fighting and leading troops. That’s what she is good at, and what she has worked hard to be all her life (probably trying to impress her saviour Magnus). Why deprive Tyria’s from one of its finest front line talents and use them where they can’t help?
But not allowing her to use her talents is just half of the story. Now comes where voting her would transform her from Soldier to Puppet.
Ellen Kiel was only recently ascended to Captain. She is young and all her experience is in battle. She’s only trying to get a seat at the Council because Magnus told her. But honestly, what good will she do from that position given her lack of experience?
Basically, she would be Robin to Magnus’ Batman. She’s going to second everything he says, as he is her boss and she looks up to him (both as her boss and as the guy that saved her life when she was a little girl).
Magnus is a good character and I have nothing against him, but having 2 votes could have really bad consequences. As it is right now, there is a balance of personalities in the Council, each one has its own interests that could go or not in line with the others interests and each one will judge and vote on their proposals.
Magnus having 2 votes basically means the balance is broken as anything he says automatically gets more support from the beginning. This could result on the Council not liking that situation and starting to form factions, which could create a lot of tension inside the government.
Now throw to that tension that the guy that started having an advantage (and the woman looking up to him and giving him his second vote) is the leader of the militar organization and you have even more tension as we all know what happens when you put too much militar influence in a government.
Even if this doesn’t result into tension (and knowing the pirate background of the government at the end someone will cause tension because they won’t like the unfair situation), there is another point of interest here: Theo Ashford came from a wealthy family and could offer foundings to the city while Ellen Kiel is an employee at Magnus organization.
So basically voting Ellen Kiel means:
- Depriving Tyria from one of its prominent front line fighters and putting her behind a desk.
- Creating tension inside the Council as suddenly the member that leads the Lionguard has double the votes of anyone else.
- As Kiel isn’t a wealthy woman, less foundings for the city and its future progress.
Nothing of that will happen if you vote Evon Gnashblade instead, as Kiel will still be out there fighting in the frontlines, he offers a different point of view to the other Council members so no side will have 2 votes from start and there will be a balance and he has more than enough foundings to make Lion’s Arc thrive and progress.
If you really like Ellen Kiel and Lion’s Arc, vote for Evon Gnashblade instead. Don’t let our brave SOLDIER become a PUPPET!