Sea Princes Nobles 576 CY - Governor Jon Ellis

Hola Greyhawkers! I haven't submitted a new noble in my Sea Princes series since May 2022. So, let's return to the Hold and look at one of the most beloved members of this buccaneer aristocracy. Enjoy!

His Solemn Lordship, Governor Jon Ellis of Port Calm. (House Rhola, Prince's Fleet, Rogue 8)

The governor of Port Calm is appointed by the Prince of Monmurg. Jon Ellis has reliably held this office since the reign of Jeon II. He is married to the foreign-born Rhani of Longspear (F2), the daughter of a Yeomanry grosspokesman. While she is trained in martial armaments like all Yeomen, Rhani is a progressive influence on her husband, and the couple is much loved by the citizens of Port Calm. Their prosperous town is an important stop on the road along Cape Rhon to the larger capital city of Monmurg. Governor Ellis is a skilled negotiator and writer, formerly working as a merchant for House Rhola’s interests in the Sheldomar Valley. The Ellis family lives and works out of the governor’s estate, a Keoish-style mansion set on a high hill with a winding path connecting to the center of town.

Politics and Intrigues: All is not so peaceful for the governor of Port Calm in truth. Highwaymen have recently been attracted to the area, emboldened by Governor Ellis’ forgiving brand of justice. This increased banditry outside Port Calm is roundly mocked in court by nobles from Flotsom Isle and Port Toli. Despite this, Governor Ellis has a great many friends in the House of Peers, some even among the Toli Armada who don’t see him as a political threat.

Governor Ellis and his wife are excellent low to mid-level contacts for good-aligned player characters who will defend and uphold the laws of the town. Jon and his wife still have interests beyond the Hold and can be a hook for missions involving overland travel. Port Calm also makes a suitable home for starting Sea Princes adventurers before moving on to larger cities and intrigues.

House of Peers in the Sea Princes
The Hold of the Sea Princes comprises thirty domains, divided amongst a dozen noble houses. A few of these houses can trace their lineage back hundreds of years to the first Suel migrations, while most are merely fabricated hereditary titles of pirate captains who settled down a century ago. While the Hold is currently ruled by the Prince of Monmurg, the Prince of Port Toli has led the House of Peers for much of the Holds’ history. In political situations, the twelve houses are evenly divided between naval factions called the Princes’ Fleet and the Toli Armada. Those Sea Princes captains who choose to avoid house politics, nominally defer to a fleet named the Hold Flotilla in times of war.