Captain Sawark was the Malazan commander of the guard in the Otataral mining camp, Skullcup. He presided over the camp from his hexagonal tower keep. Sawark was described as a pale, thin, wiry man, devoid of fat. The muscles on his forearms resembled twisted cables. He wore a beard which he kept oiled and scented and kept his black hair short. He had watery green eyes, high cheekbones, and a wide mouth which rarely smiled. He worked with the crime lord Beneth to maintain order within the camp, and seemed to have an interest in underaged girls.