Ella has a charming personality and is highly intelligent, basically Asura-level smart. She sees the world analytically, with very little need for mysticism beyond practical magic. This trait, however, means Ella tends to be absent-minded and may not process fully how her words could be construed, which makes some of her statements blunt and seem harsher than she intended. For people she does not know, they may see her as callous and unkind. She performs well under pressure, but also tends to be cynical, coming to negative conclusions that may or may not be true, though she's been trying to work this one out.

She uses her charm to tease her girlfriend, Anna, and may use it seductively when she needs to.

While Ella does believe in the gods of Tyria, she accepts that they have moved on and does not view them as gods any further, making her one of the few humans who can functionally be called agnostic. Ella has very little in the way of faith, except for faith in her machinery.

250 years ago, a group on the run from the events of Nightfall ended up in a strange, distant land called Tyria. They were trekking the snowy hills of the Shiverpeaks when they were discovered by dwarves. This noble race took pity on the refugees, and so they offered to escort them through the frozen mountains to a place called Kryta. It was here that these and many other families of Elonian refugees settled, bringing their Elonian customs with them.

These families have since intermingled with Krytan bloodlines, and distinctly Elonian names gave way to mixed Krytan names, and eventually to fully Krytan names that kept the old Elonian naming customs. One family in particular established themselves in Tyria through selling wine and coffee, made and spiced in the style of the distant land of Elona, which was now gradually becoming closed off from the rest of the world.

The descendants of these early migrants now live relatively peaceful, noble lives off of the legacy of their ancestors. A one Samantha Ralaja Misko became incredibly well-known, possessing enough influence to appear on councils regarding Krytan matters. The moment that she gained enough clout to be respected among nobility, Samantha moved her family nearer to the Krytan throne. The family has followed the throne ever since, and today, descendants of Samantha Ralaja Misko live in the Ossan quarter of Divinity’s Reach.

Eleanor Samantha Turnberry was born in 1302 AE to one of these nobles, a woman who had married a low-class military soldier that lived in Divinity’s Reach. When Ella was around 5 years old, her father died protecting the Krytan countryside from centaurs, leaving Ella’s mother alone to care for her.

Ella was given a formal education, however she wasn't completely thrilled with formalities and the teachings of the Six. Instead, she took a liking to machinery and engineering. After she graduated, she joined the Seraph as a technician at the young age of 18. However, Ella proved herself to be more than capable, and she was given training in firearms. Much to her mother's dismay, Ella joined the frontlines as part of a heavy infantry division. Ella made extra sure to write to her mother daily and reassure her that she made the right decision for herself.

Unfortunately, Ella's left eye was permanently injured during a raid on a centaur camp, and she was formally and honorably discharged from the Seraph guard. Afterward, Ella left her home of Divinity's Reach to study engineering, meeting up with the best Asuran minds to learn from them and incorporate their teachings into her own practical applications. One of these was an Asura named Dazzu, who used Magitek to help Ella overcome her disability. Dazzu's specialty was in light manipulation and optics, and she built a prosthetic eye for Ella.

During the events of Path of Fire, Ella had heard through the grapevine that a guild called Dragon's Watch had found their way into the mists and met face-to-face with Kormir, the goddess that is said to have blessed Ella as a child. She felt a twinge of religious faith in her heart before she learned that, after her meeting with the heroes, Kormir had departed, thus truly leaving Tyria godless. This, coupled with Balthazar's rampage and subsequent death, solidified Ella's distaste for the gods.