Valerius was born in the 'Glimmer-Gut,' the most claustrophobic jewelry district in the city of Oakhaven, where sunlight barely touches the cobblestones. While other Aasimar sought out temples to channel their celestial light, Valerius found his calling in a basement forge. He discovered that by focusing his inner radiance through a specialized jeweler’s lens, he could generate a heat so precise it could weld a spider's silk made of gold. He didn't see the sun as a god; he saw it as the ultimate high-temperature kiln, a tool for the trade.
His ascent from a street-rat apprentice to the city’s premier 'neutral ground' diplomat happened by accident. He realized that a war between the local Thieves' Guild and the High Council meant the trade routes for rare gems would close. To save his business, he began brokering deals in his attic workshop. He treats people like gemstones: the 'rough gems' are the broken souls he takes in, believing that their trauma and flaws are merely unpolished facets that make them more valuable. He is fiercely protective of his 'rough' associates, viewing their survival as his most important work of art.