Gideon Huxley

Baron Gideon von Huxley, or Gideon Huxley for short, is one of the members of the Krono Krew party. He became a noble when he was given the deed to Fort Huxley. He is the owner of the Shield of the Lightguard.

Gideon became the first champion of Elder Kosmos in over a thousand years, when he was recreated by him to balance the light and dark within Gideon. He later appeared during the The Light of Lunaria.

Biography

Early Life

Gideon was an archaeologist. He had taken up the profession to follow in the footsteps of his father, with whom he had spent much of his time exploring the caverns near Yawrôn.

Although they were human, their work was appreciated by the dwarven academics, and universities provided them with funds and resources to continue their research. This would be a contentious matter for a vocal minority in the dwarven community who did not like that people of a different race were being allowed and encouraged to desecrate the halls of their ancestors.

Gideon and his father would barely pay any heed to such arguments, for they knew that their work was much more significant than the issues of men and dwarves.

Deep within the ruins of an ancient dwarven tomb they had found an even older chamber, a chamber so old it could predate even the Vedavin. It would take months before they would reach the inner sanctum of this structure which housed a very curious orb. Unbeknownst to them this orb contained the essence of the Primeval Light.

As they touch the orb, there is a huge shockwave that ripples through the mountain, causing an earthquake that damages much of Yawrôn. It causes more than a few casualties, and many dwarves end up forming a mob and try to lynch the two humans. As an altercation happens, Gideon ends up accidentally absorbing the Liikran Orb, and sees nothing but light. Once he comes to, his father and all the dwarves around him are charred dead.

Gideon was deeply affected by how fear and mistrust could lead to such disastrous results. He makes a conscious decision to try and dispel doubt, deceit, and darkness wherever he finds it. Escaping down the valley into the land of Zietaria, he spends the next few years traveling the kingdom with bands of mercenaries, working to earn his keep while also looking for more clues regarding the Pure Light, trying understand the meaning of it all.

Shards of the Empire

Check the main campaign page for the detailed plot summary.

Gideon was hired as a security guard by a farmers caravan heading up from Kolstermold to Rockham. On the way, he ran into Kai Li, who joined the caravan and showed to him a pamphlet from the Department of Dungeons. Intrigued by the exploration of an old ruin and the promise of an artifact, he decided to join her. When they reached Rockham, they met the rest of the party and decided to create a team. He started very closed off to the rest of the team, but slowly warmed up to them. When learning about the Time Gears, he connected them to old Omniborn ruins. During the expedition to Varkaria, he got separated and ended up with Erna, Tasmyn, Sakii, and Lorndyr. They ended up in an old temple where Gideon's knowledge of Omnikarn helped them solve enough puzzles for them to escape and rejoin the others. They faced off against Gothwyn for the first time, and then got transported days ahead alongside the time gear. They named the team the Krono Krew.

Deciding to head to the College of Zaubarovia, they went through many obstacles on the way. At Kystby before heading to Tromden, Gideon gets a dream where the pure light directs him to the darkness under the city. At Tromden, they followed Gideon's vision to the sewers beneath the old church, eventually meeting up with a Blackreyne Hunter who revealed the abyssal threat. They headed deep under the city where Gideon had a vision of Lightwatchers from millenia past. After destroying the abyssal monster, Gideon gained a Shield of the Lightwatcher and what felt like a blessing from the light.

At the College, he looked into the pure light, the lightwatchers, as well as the omniborn. Eventually, they decided to ask Prof. Urmene for help. For Kai Li, the professor summoned an Ulitharid and asked Kai Li to look into its head. She got a vision to the Far Realm where she saw aberrations of all kinds linked to her powers. This actually ended up releasing the Ulitharid, who killed Gideon by eating his brain. After Gideon was revived, he started attacking one of the abyssal familiars of the Professor. After slowly regaining his head, he talked to the professor the next day about the pure light. They fought Gothwyn for the second time, and then decided to go to the Underdark for the next time gear.

Through most of chapter 3, Gideon kept a low profile during the investigation into the Emerald Fog at Vogh Vulfrhûn. He didn't like heading into the darkness of the Underdark, but did well enough down there, even fighting off being swallowed by the purple worm that guarded the second time gear. When they went to arrest Baron Emeraldeye, General Hanmaeth told him that they realized that he's the same Huxley from the Yawrôn incident, and that this might be his time to redeem himself. Gideon explained that he didn't felt like he needed to redeem himself at all, but would help the dwarves regardless. After the tough fight with Tulunvithar, Gideon was the one who manages to finally kill the dragon, saving the city. For this, he was rewarded by King Baergrumm. Preceptor Stella Di Silvestri, on Gothwyn's behalf, rewarded Gideon with the barony of Fort Altenhügel, henceforth known as Fort Huxley- Making him a Baron. He decided to spend most of the next year fixing up the fort and making it a branch of the Department of Dungeons.

At the fort, Gideon sets up a small shrine to the Pure Light. He uses much of his newfound wealth to gather up as much research materials as he can about the Pure Light and the Lightwatchers, much of the books coming from Lunar lands where some still worship the light. With Noke helping him out as an archivist, Gideon manages to create quite a comprehensive personal library at the Fort full of Omniborn and Divine lore of religions long forgotten. He makes more than few trips back to the Ruins of Varkaria as well, finally working as an archaeologist again after so many years.

Gideon finds out that the Liikran Orbs are ancient artifacts that channel the pure light, and if fully unlocked, give their wearers many light abilities as well as truesight. The Lightwatchers were an extremist group, fighting the darkness of the abyss and trying to eliminate the dark within the world. They were rejected by the Omniborn Temporal Empire, and the Elves and Omniborn worked together to destroy the Lightwatchers. Their leader, Kol Han, was arrested and sealed away for eternity. Gideon does link this to the present day Lunar Bolt "Kol Zolotov", and realizes that the Lunar Ballista are the remnants of the millenia old extremist Lightwatchers.

Gideon felt the pull of the Lightwatchers' extremist ideology, but managed to keep a hold of his morals and reject their way of things. He could still follow the Light, but in his own way. He might be one of the first people to successfully fight against the corruption of the pure light and not let the power get to his head... But this might not last too long. He felt that if he ever slips up and lets his black and white instincts take control, the light might corrupt him for good. He also discovered old documents detailing the time gears and their locations. Although rumors, he matched up enough locations to the four locations they are already aware of. Although only a suspicion with no concrete proof, he felt that the final time gear might be under the capital city of Timeron. Supporting Ingrid and the DoD's fight against the Ogolavi Clan the best he can, eventually he received a letter from Werner, which explained that Gothwyn is once again advancing his plans, and that he was also basically trapped in Etabrück, and they would need to come rescue him from his mother.

On the day of the Riversong Resonance festival in the city of Etabrück, the Krono Krew came back together to rescue Werner from Arxbrück Castle. They discussed politics and the current state of things with his mother, Duchess Iôlwen von Gaten. They asked for her to not try to kill Innes, and she asked them to go talk to King Renaer Aldriglød and convince him to attend the Grand Wedding held at the capital in a month’s time. Having his enemy there would prompt Gothwyn to get reckless and reveal their true self. Back at Fort Huxley, they met all the members that work there as well as Tasmyn and Grumpy. Everything seemed to be converging at the capital. Gideon asked Eryka Amberberry what the quickest route to Aldrigvinter would be, and she said that teleporting to Hyarat and taking a ship through the icy ocean would be faster but not safer.

Teleporting to Hyarat Docks, they asked around but find no one willing to sail up north in this winter. Werner eventually located Captain Jahaesko, who has some business in Uppborg and willing to drop them off at Aldrigvinter. The next days were spent mostly through storms and harsh seas, and dealing with reaper crabs. The day before they reached Uppborg, the crew overheard Jahaesko and Ingfrid argue. Busting into his office, they made them reveal their smuggling operation and deal with the Lunars in Uppborg. They decided to help out and interfere if the need be. That night, the party snuck into the cargo hold and unlocked the magically locked crate without triggering the trap. They saw the Abysscube, which nearly charmed Ingrid. They decided to lock it away again and see how things play out. In the ensuing chaos of the Lunar Deal, Gideon ended up accidentally absorbing the abysscube which powered him up.

Aldrigvinter was decorated for Vakosi Arcanos, and they met King Renaer and Ser Gerion. They eventually ended up telling the full truth about Gothwyn and the time gears to him and Ser Gerion, which made them reconsider and try to call off the war. However, he’d already made alliances and set things in motion that he can’t easily undo, such as an alliance with JIIK HAN, the ruler of Shatterrealm. Alfarihm helped him make this contract. He asked for their help in calling it off, but shadowed filled the room and they were attacked by vampires from Shatterrealm. The vampires avoided Gideon until he used light magic. They headed into Shatterrealm, and took on Jiik Han's offer of calling off the deal by winning the Shatterworld Tournament on Varkosi Arcanos. Zuq'zeen gave Gideon many diamonds for revivify, setting the tone. On the day of Varkosi Arcanos, in the first round, Gerion & Gideon faced off against Vasirr and Siceois. The fight went on for a while until Vasirr realized that this was wasting Primerealm resources, and called off the fight and had a conversation with the new party. Gideon had to revive Kai Li and Renaer with revivify, and got the Spellguard shield from Siceois.

In Round 2, Zuq’zeen, Gideon, and Kai-Li faced off against Xephak, Ophelia, and Izana. The fight was pretty evenly matched, and at one point Xephak transported everyone into his demiplane. After Gideon killed him, the others forfeited. Khaz Jiik Han jumped into the ring, and challenged the remaining primerealm fighters directly in a final Round 3. The fight was difficult, and Gideon yelled at Jiik Han about how he should be extinct like the rest of his race, even speaking in Omnikarn. Ingrid blocked all of Jiik Han’s attacks at one point, and eventually managed to get the kill on him. Zuq’zeen revived Werner and sent out a big proclamation to Shatterrealm to choose their next emperor next year, and that they were forbidden from trying to conquer Primerealm for another century. They teleported back to Castle Fyrst back in Abmarah. The next day, Gideon had a bad dream and woke up having lost 30 kgs, most of his health, and with black veins visible under his ksin. Weakened, he even tried to stab out his eye before he was stopped by Kai Li. Realizing that the battle of light and dark within him was killing him, he wished to remove both. Zuq’zeen said that he’ll help him out in Timeron. They teleported back to Fort Huxley, where they received an invitation to dinner with Gothwyn in her Timeron mansion.

In Timeron, they finally reunited with Team Ivory Suns. Guildmaster Holroth introduced them to the DoD Grandmaster, Aam-Fen-Ross. They decided to reveal everything about the time gears and Gothwyn to Holroth and Fen, who agreed to help out the party if push came to shove. Fen revealed that the Ivory Suns had been working for Gothwyn for the past year. After a brief moment of doubt, Meras said that they have been working for Gothwyn to be closer to the enemy, and had a map to the time gear under Timeron. Gideon by now looked bad enough that he had to wear a mask and struggled to even walk.

Next evening, they headed to Villa Gothwyn. The dinner got heated, and they managed to reach no real compromise especially due to Gideon's stand-off against Gabryelle. Gothwyn still wanted the wedding to proceed without any issue, and for them to not fight during the ceremonies. They agreed for now, and she vowed that even in her perfect world, neither she nor any future Gabryel would erase them from the timeline- promising the party their perfect ending in her world. The party didn’t realize it, but she used time stop to steal the time gears as they left. Back at Villa Gaten, they found alternate universe versions of people they knew, Gideon facing off against an alternate timeline version of his father Gordon who had become a Ballista.

Zuq’zeen arrived with a solution for Gideon’s sickness. He warned that he would most likely die, and to come with him alone. However, the entire party decided to go with him. Zuq’zeen took him to an asteroid above a dying star, a black hole. There, Gideon witnessed two possible futures for himself- The light future leading him into becoming a saint and training new lightwatchers, but ending up causing a lot of religious clashes with the Ballista. The dark path involved him becoming a lich to do what must be done, becoming a herald of darkness to counter Kol Han’s light, even corrupting gods. Conflicted by the two choices, he focused on the feeling of balance, and was eventually transported before Elder Kosmos himself. He ended up making a pact with the Elder God to be their eyes and ears on Abmarah, as balance was restored within Gideon. He kept both the artifacts, and his health was restored as he was remade entirely by the Original One.

In the Green Wedding, they interacted with a lot of nobles and important people from all over the world, most importantly Emperor Sombra of the Crimson Empire. He instantly sensed their powers, items, and abilities, and asked them how important their goals are, eventually trusting them. They then saw King Renaer enter last, much to everyone’s stress. He knelt before the Kaiser, preventing war. He then baited Gothwyn out into the gardens, where she tried to kill him. The party intervened, and managed to kill Gabryelle, and this time they ended up taking Time Gear Alpha before the new Gothwyn arrived, who felt much stronger than any before.

The party eventually heads into the depths under Olzarburg. The party got lost in the labyrinth a fair bit despite the map, and after many trials they ended up in the deepest chamber where they saw the goddess Tempos in her slumber alongside the final time gear. Kai Li suddenly tried to kill Ingrid. “Prime Kai-Li” revealed herself to both the party and to Kai-Li. She revealed that our Kai-Li was from a different timeline all along, and she was the one who had the pact with Orr’eeyar. They ended up defeating her, and as that happened, Gothwyn showed up with Stella di Silvestri. During the final fight, they ended up traveling back through time all the way back to the Rockham Depths, where they finally killed Gothwyn.

The Temporal Spire was restored, and the timeline ironed itself out and fixed everything, including closing all these gateways to other timelines. Uxius decides to scatter the five time gears again, and raise new temples and guardians to protect the time gears again. The party was honored by the Kaiser and some important people as saviors of the world. Later, they all shared farewells with each other and discussed their future plans, as the wedding continued without a hitch. With time finally restored, their work came to an end.

After the Campaign

Gideon, with his increased lifespan, continued to research the Light and the Dark as Kosmos' champion. He was also welcomed back to Yawrôn, where in 3E498 during the The Light of Lunaria he was conducting an archaeological dig into the Mountainfey Ruins alongisde Bakos. The Darklight Crusaders discovered a dossier of important individuals that Skion Labs was keeping a track of. This included Gideon, who they had marked as 'DARKLIGHT' and kept a lot of information about his life.

At Yawrôn, Ingrid introduced the Darklight Crusaders to him. He healed the curse on Ilya. After he was briefed on the entire situation, he realized that Anya and Dmitri are linked to the fey in some way. He tried to unlock their memories, returning to them snippets of memories. Dmitri had an angry reaction and was calmed down by his friends. Anya however transformed into her Nightmare Spirit, lashing out at everyone and reflecting magic as she did so. As they finally calmed her down, she vowed to kill Babaoga and anyone else who has wronged her. Bakos was also there at the dig as they camp, where Ingrid revealed some DoD news of Viera and Zahn disappearing in Goldheim. Gideon and Ingrid decided to go look into that, while Mash realized that with Viera gone Viktor will likely be up to some bad things at Night's End. Gideon then said his farewells to the party after giving them advice regarding the light and the dark.

Timeline

3E456- Gideon is born in Yawrôn.
3E473 - Gideon receives the Liikran Orb within his eye, and ends up causing an explosion that kills his father and many of the dwarves in the city. He ends up escaping to Zietaria.
3E482 - Gideon is hired as a caravan guard, starting off the events of Shards of the Empire. After saving Vogh Vulfrhûn, he is given the barony of Fort Huxley, and decides to spend the next year setting up a new branch of the Department of Dungeons there.
3E483 - Chapters 4 and 5 of Shards of the Empire take place, including the Shatterworld Tournament and the Green Wedding.
3E498 - During The Light of Lunaria, him and Ingrid met the Darklight Crusaders and helped them during their fight against the light and the dark.