Captain Marcus Valerius
"I protect people, not politics. If your investigation serves Canorate's citizens, you'll have my support."
Captain of the Canorate City Guard. The kind of officer who got the rank by being competent instead of connected, which means he's respected by his soldiers, tolerated by his superiors, and perpetually under-resourced.
Appearance
Middle-aged human, Chelaxian heritage. A face that's been broken in at least two places and healed by someone who wasn't a dedicated healer — the nose lists slightly left, and a scar runs from his right temple to his jaw in a pale, well-faded line. Close-cropped grey-streaked hair, kept military-short because he hasn't had time for a proper cut in weeks. Worn City Guard uniform, technically regulation but showing the signs of a man who sleeps in his office more than his bed. The armour is maintained — the boots are not. Ink stains on his right hand from writing reports nobody reads.
Demeanour
Gruff, direct, and fair. Valerius speaks like a man who has twelve problems, resources for three of them, and no patience for speeches. He's protective of civilians in a way that feels personal rather than professional — like he remembers a time when protecting people was the point rather than a line item in someone's budget. He doesn't trust politicians, he doesn't trust mercenaries, and he doesn't trust anyone who talks about "the greater good" without being able to name the people they're willing to sacrifice for it.
He's also tired. The kind of tired that doesn't go away with sleep.
What You'd Know
Anyone who's spent more than a day in Canorate would know that Captain Valerius runs the City Guard with a combination of competence and stubbornness that his superiors find inconvenient. He's been investigating the festival disappearances personally, which is unusual for an officer of his rank — but then, the disappearances are unusual, and Valerius is the kind of man who doesn't delegate problems he doesn't understand yet.
The Silver Star Company mercenaries don't like him. The Guard respects him. The citizens in the lower districts trust him, which is the most unusual thing of all.