Admiral Valerius Thorne

Admiral Valerius Thorne
Title: Lord of the Gilded Fleet
Role: Valerius was once a high-ranking admiral in Kigum’s navy. After a disagreement with the High Council over "expendable assets," he defected, taking three of the city’s most advanced galleons with him. He now leads the "Gilded Fleet," a group of highly organized pirates who operate with naval precision. He is a man of refinement and cold calculation.
Secret Motivation: Valerius is still on the payroll of the Grand Arcane Bank. Aurelius the Golden pays him to "unofficially" protect certain merchant lanes and "selectively" target Steamfort’s ironclads. He is also tasked with recovering "draconic relics" from sunken ships. He is a man caught between his desire for freedom and his need for the Bank’s gold.
Adventure Hook: Valerius hires the party to "test" the defenses of a Kigum treasure ship. In reality, he wants them to see if the ship is carrying a specific "Emerald Compass" that he has been ordered to recover.