Tom Matthews is a Midshipman on The Hotspur, a tall and lanky man in his early 20s. He is human and grew up in the Capital city, which is mostly populated by elves and humans living in relative harmony. Despite experiencing some haughty and rude behavior from elves, Tom remained open-minded and developed a level of comfort around them. Tom's father is a Baronet, and he was inspired to become a Midshipman in the navy in order to impress him.
Tom has taken young Libby Henderson, one of the two powder monkeys on the ship, under his wing. He sees in her the fresh, excited feeling of youth that he is afraid of losing as he takes on more responsibilities as a commissioned officer. Mentoring and helping Libby reminds Tom of his own youthful enthusiasm and drive and helps him stay connected to the sense of adventure and wonder that drew him to the navy in the first place.