Eminan Tatel was a career politician who lived in Winscon and long represented the ward of West Cellrenacs. He entered politics at an early age and served for a time in the Mayering Rooms and Huwdone's Fundings Office. During the latter spell he first met an even more precocious young Emissary, Holan Brightson, and acted as a mentor to the novice. However, Eminan was never especially ambitious and didn't want to neglect either his ward or his family in favour of federal politics. In 1289 he resigned his last Huwdone post. Though he was involved in the recruitment drive in the wake of the Labbish invasion, his career was chiefly devoted to day-to-day local issues. He had four children; Myran, Tomas, Lobossel and Chela, the youngest who was born in 1281.
Brightson remained a close friend as his own career took off. He often invited the Tatels to Mierview Castle, which he had recently inherited, and was particularly fond of Chela. To her father's incredulity Brightson often declared her to be the brightest of the children. Various family folk tales began, telling how the girl had caught Brightson out telling two contradictory lies or tricked him into giving her sweets. More objective witnesses claim she was an unremarkable child, if good at school and very strong willed. She gave evidence of the latter when she was 13; she persuaded her father to let her undergo her tertiary education in the Cities. (Brightson later claimed responsibility for the idea). Though wealthy, the Tatels weren't rich enough to own a Cities townhouse; so Chela lived with an aunt and uncle while she attended first private school and then in 1298 the University of Dorlaf.
Eminan was by this time dillusioned with politics - the country was still mired in the Ten Years War - and not keen for his children to emulate him. He therefore wasn't pleased when Chela took a politically orientated blend of economics, with a side dish of oratory. (People now wonder what she did instead of attending those oratory lessons). A few minor escapades involving drinking bouts and bohemian parties almost made him pull Chela out of university entirely. But he was talked out of it by his wife Marie, and also by Brightson. At Dorlaf University Chela met and fell in love with Thelton Siasso, an architecture student from a middle class Dorlafan coast family. She graduated with first-class honours in 1301 and the couple married six years later. A period of uncertainty followed while Thelton completed his own degree; they lived in a very cheap Forgar flat while Chela took on part-time teaching duties and wondered what to do with her life. She drifted away from Brightson a little, though still accompanied he and her parents on a tour of the Campbells and Zabrial.
The next year Thelton graduated and became and architect's assistant; and Chela gave birth to her first daughter, Kendel. Saerith followed in 1304. The family moved into a Yaleth house and for a time Chela settled into the role of wife and mother. Yet her political yearnings returned and she became restless. She now claims that the sight of beggars lining Kings Road one night inspired her to try and improve the world, and this might even be true. Employing a nanny, in 1306 she got a part-time job as a researcher for Yaleth Council. From then on her career advanced quickly. She soon became full time and made an invaluable assistant to the Trade and Industry Councillor. Praise for her abilities contains phrases which would become very familiar; diligent, meticulous, scrupulous. In 1312 the Education Councillor was forced to retire by a serious illness. Chela Tatel was nominated to take her place and, after deliberating for some time, accepted. She was unknown to the Yaleth voters, but the Council threw their weight behind her and she narrowly won the election.
In 1314 Thelton, then an increasingly successful architect, was crushed under a carriage and killed instantly. Six weeks later Eminan Tatel also died, after a long illness during which his youngest daughter was too ill to visit him. Chela coped with the double loss by adopting a manner she has yet to shed. She immersed herself in her duties, working extremely long hours, studying obsessively hard as if doing a second degree course, and largely leaving her daughters in the care of others. In 1316 Yaleth Council underwent one of its periodic palpitations and Tatel ended with the more senior Trade and Industry remit. It wasn't enough to save the fast-plummeting reputation of the Council, however, as they were hit by assorted corruption scandals and an irresolvable budget crisis. In the 1318 elections half the Council were slung off; Tatel was the most senior figure who escaped the cull. She was therefore the natural choice as the new Chairman.
Tatel's years in charge were what is known as an 'invisible period' for Yaleth Council. This is a compliment, given that people only pay attention to politicians when they are doing something wrong. She oversaw an uncontroversial, scrupulous regime which favoured conciliatory, inclusive politics and low-key solutions. There were squalls involving the Baelan (whose Forgar laboratory was forced to close in 1321) and the Guards, who were accused of racism in their treatment of Zabric settlers. Both were however out of her hands; and housing, poverty relief, education and the road network all showed a marked improvement. (There are some rumours about what exactly the Council got up to, because Tatel has never allowed their records to be properly examined.) During this time she also met many figures who would have a key bearing on her early days in Highest Office. She clashed several times with Elak Griegson but won the (very grudging) respect of Holstace Fortraine and became friends with Gasel Satswan and Hellender Reslich. In 1321 Tatel also became Chairwoman of the Combined Council a largely honorific but still notable achievement.
Brightson was by now in his pomp, Principal Secretary to a Chancellor slowly subsiding from his duties. Looking to reorganise Huwdone House in his image, Brightson was trying to recruit his favourites and Tatel was the first name on his list. She resisted for a time until 1322, when he dangled the stewardship of Petitions Office in front of her. Appointing an outsider directly to the head of an Office created a minor stir; but only a minor one because Petitions was considered to be the runt of the Huwdone litter. Tatel resigned her assorted chairs to free up time for her new job, taking the less demanding post of Highways and Amenities. She claims that eight years in Petitions Office turned her into the bitter woman she is today and it's easy to believe her. Local Cities politics were slowly improving but the federal government was going to hell and many of the provinces were following in its wake. Tatel revitalised Petitions Office, reorganised its national network, assembled an eager young team under her (which eventually included Madran Balbiss and Jastac Miers). Yet she was constantly banging her head against growing public cynicism towards Huwdone House, rampant corruption amongst her peers and overwhelming apathy from her superiors. Huwdone was dragged more and more to the right as Fortraine's influence grew and even an inveterate cautious liberal like Tatel seemed radical by its standards. Those who she came into contact with still speak of her in glowing terms, but even she admits her actual achievements were minimal. She was known to be on the verge of resigning several times, particularly when Radav Mestic was forced out. However, Brightson always talked out of it. Hang in federal politics, he would tell her, and your chance will come eventually.
As the decade came to a close it was made clear to Chancellor Acrippa that he should stand down. Unfortunately the list of his possible successors was also whittled down alarmingly. One by one they either withdrew, died or disgraced themselves. Soon the only credible contenders were Molan Grist, the left wing lawyer who frightened the Barons, and Rudanc Tannerz, the conservative aristocrat who horrified everyone else. A compromise candidate was clearly needed. It is now debatable whether Brightson put forwards as his ideal choice a respected but nonetheless uncharismatic and obscure woman merely to prove that he could, because of his personal ties to Tatel or because he genuinely believed in her abilities. He first sounded her out about it in 1327 and eventually persuaded her that she actually had a chance. Nonetheless she continued her Petitions Office duties the same as before and scarcely talked about standing as Chancellor. Her election was almost all Brightson's show. He carried out all the formidable array of backroom meetings needed to rally support behind her. Tatel was simply wheeled out on select occasions to say a few platitudes. And these were mainly just speeches designed to prove that she was neither Molan Grist nor Rudanc Tannerz.
Tatel's victory in 1330 was a shock. What has occurred since has been even more surprising. Everyone was certain she would be even more of a stooge to Brightson than Acrippa. At first she was, and the country continued to be effectively run from the Principal Secretary's office. That seemed to just be due to her inexperience, however. With each passing month her knowledge has grown, and with it her influence. In both style and policies, her reign is showing an increasingly sharp divergence to the 1320's. Oddly enough, Brightson has made no apparent effort to stem the dwindling of his power. Indeed he has taken to hinting that he planned this all along, having realised that a weak Chancellor was more a hindrance than a help. Few believe his claims to be anything other than an old man accepting the inevitable.
Tatel's success thus far has been due to combining apparently irreconcilable approaches. Her policies remain cautious and centrist. Her economic and judicial bills have been more left-wing than Acrippa's, but they could hardly have gone further right. A laissez faire attitude to many issues has prevailed. On the other hand, she has started a rigorous campaign against the corruption of the 1320's. This has partly been a necessary clearing up of an unacceptable mess, and a neat way to knock out some personal enemies. But getting a merciless radical like Allark Liarno to lead the charge and talking of introducing legislation to curb the Emissary's freedom suggests Tatel is taking it seriously. She is also examining problems which have been swept under the carpet for decade. The great territorial imbroglios of East Zabrial and Annexed Labland, the abuses of Guards Central Command, even taboos like electoral reform and the power of the Barons – all are being opened for discussion. Cynics, though, would counter that she has yet to do anything about any of them.
Her style is also contradictory. She favours vigorous debate in meetings, a relaxed and informal approach everywhere. The door to her Chancellor's Office has famously become open to almost anyone. But she depends on a small, tight inner quorum – Brightson, her legal advisor Ferent Copson, her financial advisor Myrella Stace, increasingly Liarno and Jiri Colbic. Picked solely because Tatel trusts them and their intellect, their secretive meetings are much more important in shaping policy than those of the Privy Council. Also countering Tatel's laid-back approach is her temper. When riled, she becomes more an Empress than a modern administrator and doesn't care who she's addressing. The public have seen flashes of her outbursts in Parliament Hall. They spread many more rumours about her taking the heads off ambassadors, Barons and kings in private. Stymieing this theatrical side to her, though, is her constant failure on the rostrum. She remains a dreadful orator. A political lightweight, Ses Amore, has been promoted solely because he has a wonderful voice and can be used to give most of Tatel's speeches for her. She only appears in public on the few occasions a year when tradition demands it. And large crowds always gather, happily looking forward to watching her mumbling and forgetting her lines.
That has become part of her persona. As has her insecurities, her ridiculously long hours, her unshakable plebeian aura. People are becoming fond of it and Tatel is growing very popular. There are already comparisons made with the likes of Molan Ulrint and Myers Lianti, atypical Chancellors who were nonetheless great successes. The caveat is that Tatel has had an easy ride so far. The economy is gradually improving, the trauma of the Labbish invasion receding. There have been no rebellions or other major crises. When they come – and few doubt Christoté is heading for one of some description – Tatel's true worth can be gauged.