While House Davila is still relatively small scale with regard to ships and trade, it has managed to place itself at the center of an alliance of merchant guilds and craftsmen that control much of the production with the town of Haven itself. The Guilds have been slowly growing in power and riches as Haven becomes richer and more prosperous, and have long chaffed at their lack of representation among the oligarchy.
Through Rodrigo Davila they have found a voice and champion, so much so that when the last Governor died, Rodrigo pulled off a major upset by securing the governorship, mostly through money provided by the guilds
In addition the new Governor surprised the ruling classes once more by his choice in wife. Maria Cristina was a commoner and Creole to boot, with rumors of Voodoo associations. However she was extremely charismatic and popular especially with the middle and lower classes of the republic.
Lady Maria has used her popularity with the masses to form her own personal guards (called the Queens Men). Wearing the white rose of Erzulie, and drawn from the poor and downtrodden they are swelling in numbers daily, revolutionary muttering of “restoring the republic” are becoming more and more of a concern among the ruling classes. Davila is a short, energetic man with a magnetic personality and boundless energy.