Julian von Gaten, also known by his nickname Werner, is one of the members of the Krono Krew party. He is a noble of House Gaten and later married Crown Princess Sabrae Sombra of the Crimson Empire.

As the heir of House Gaten, he became the rightful owner of the rapier Moonshade. Due to him defeating an alternate timeline version of his brother, he gained a duplicate of the sword.

Biography

Early Life

Born with a silver spoon in his mouth, Julian was taught the ways of diplomacy and statecraft from a young age. He was constantly reminded of his responsibilities, which he diligently wished to uphold. As a noble family of Etabrück, he was taught the culture of the city through song and drama. Learning from the many playwrights and songwriters that worked at the Hugberto Opera House, he was set to become a bard from a young age. Despite being a noble, he didn't truly expect to inherit anything.

However, his mother Iôlwen was getting older, and when Julian was 33 (late-elven-teens), his brother Sören was born. His mother knew that she would not be getting a traditional female heir, and that Julian would be the one to inherit the duchy. Thus, his responsibilities increased.

His mother was also very paranoid by nature, always on the lookout for threats and ways to mitigate them. She was old enough to remember much of post-war Terros, and her family's tenuous status as usurpers always gave her reasons to be as wary as she was. She taught Julian the art of subterfuge from a young age, even teaching him to use his nickname 'Werner' whenever he had to hide his true identity. "We stand Alone." would be the motto drilled into his head, as she trusted no one outside her own family.

She would try to teach Sören the same things, but Julian always felt protective of his younger brother. He wished for his brother to enjoy the art and culture of the city and spend his life burdened with little to no responsibilities as he had. He fought his mother on many things for Sören's sake, preventing her from teaching Sören to be a spy like him.

This all came to a forefront a few years ago, when Preceptor Stella Di Silvestri built a base for the Knights of Gothwyn within Etabrück. Iôlwen never liked Duke Gothwyn unlike most other people who trusted him blindly, and she was suspicious of his intentions with the knights. She started looking into his matters discreetly, but it was difficult especially as he became the Hand of the Kaiser.

When Gothwyn called for an expedition through the Department of Dungeons, she knew something was up. Her gut instinct against Gothwyn led her to try and send Sören as a spy to Rockham. Sören was not a teenager anymore in elven eyes, and she thought that he should finally do something responsible. Julian argued with her for days, but eventually settled on a compromise- He would go spy on Gothwyn himself, taking on the Werner nickname. She then gave him the family rapier, Moonshade, and sent him on his way.

Shards of the Empire

When Werner reaches Rockham, he runs into Tasmyn and helps her solve a missing persons case which involves missing people and lifestock. They realize that one of fisherwomen's husband had been polymorphed into a young purple worm, who they defeat. Upon heading to the DoD, they run into the rest of the party and decide to form a team.

Werner is distant to much of the team at first, and sends back letters to his mother often. He takes his time slowly warming up to them, especially Tasmyn. He keeps his identity hidden even after Ingrid's identity as a Rennwald is revealed during the Finethir incident. During the expedition in Varkaria, he receives a letter from his mother which Gideon does see. He gets separated, ending up with Ingrid, Kai Li, Meras, and Dagaek. After fighting some monsters, he and Dagaek end up falling down many stories almost to their deaths, but are rescued. The team fights Gothwyn for the first time, and then gets transported days ahead. They name the team the Krono Krew.

Deciding to head to the College of Zaubarovia, they go through many obstacles on the way. He wants to find out more about his family rapier. After saving a fort from the Ogolavi Goliaths, they end up accidentally reviving a lich named Zuq'zeen, who reveals to the party Werner's true identity. He explains most of his reality to them that night. At Tromden, Rolf Rennwald recognizes Werner, and is cold to him. At the college, he duels Prof. Shoushan alongside Ingrid, barely beating him. He then studies under him learning to be more of a fighter. He asks Prof. Urmene, another drow, about his rapier. She reveals that the rapier is Moonshade, one of Serenox's legendary weapons, and holds thousands of souls within it. They fight Gothwyn for the second time, and then decide to go to the Underdark for the next time gear.

At Vogh Vulfrhûn, Werner uses much of privilege during their investigations into the Verdant Fog. He starts having dreams of one of the Time Guardians, named Olzari. He slowly connects to her, convincing her to let them take the time gear. In the Underdark, he faces the harsh reality of what drow are, facing off against many such assassins, eventually recruiting Bakos. They even find another dying drow dressed up as Werner, left to intimidate him. In the Hourglass Caverns, he promises Olzari freedom to come outside with them. He gets eaten by the purple worm, but manages to claw himself out before they kill it. However, upon reaching the Hourglass Temple, he finds out that Olzari is already dead and has been a psychic manifestation. He shares some final words with her, and receives her time gear. When Qesrea shows up to take the time gears, Werner is instrumental in preventing her from taking them. The party then heads over to arrest Baron Emeraldeye, who then reveals himself to be the dragon Tulunvithar. After defeating him, they are rewarded as saviors of the city.

While Werner sent her letters of his progress throughout his adventurers with the Krono Krew, when Iôlwen learned of "Julian von Gaten" being rewarded as the savior of Vogh Vulfrhûn, she recalled him back to Etabrück. When he would've reached his home, his mother chastised him for not being able to keep his identity hidden. Sören also would not have been there, and his mother would've explained that she sent him to the capital Timeron to the Hall of Harmony, where he was learning to be a bard. Werner's time gear and story confirmed all her suspicions of Gothwyn. She then spends the year setting up plans to deal with Gothwyn once and for all, using all the resources within her power.

However, she forbade Werner from rejoining the Krono Krew, especially since they were busy dealing with the Ogolavi Clan anyway and that he "needed to focus on administration". It was clear to Werner that his mother simply did not want him putting himself in danger or more importantly, associating publically with Ingrid especially. As such, Werner has essentially been trapped in Arxbrück for the better part of the year, unable to rejoin his friends or explore the underdark as he intended.

However, he did spend a lot more time in the drow colony of Etabrück, New Mukuyl, and learned all he could of the Weavemother. He learned most of her story and tenets, finding renewed purpose in Serenox's night. He swore himself to her service, becoming a true paladin and distancing himself from the subterfuge taught by his mother. While he and his mother's goals were ultimately the same, he would not defeat Gothwyn using spies and secrecy. He also learned a lot more about the rapier, and his mother explained to him all that she knew of Moonshade- souls are currency, and they are to be used.

Eventually, almost a year after Vulfrhûn, his mother learned that Gothwyn was mobilizing the Knights of Gothwyn in Timeron for some reason. Knowing that something was up, she started to figure out how to take down Gothwyn and Innes Rennwald. Werner realized that things were about to get ugly, and knowing that his mother wouldn't be convinced to let him go, he calls on the rest of the Krono Krew to come 'rescue' him from Arxbrück Castle- Whether that involves convincing his mother or breaking him out, that only time would tell.

On the day of the Riversong Resonance festival in the city of Etabrück, the Krono Krew come back together to rescue Werner from Arxbrück Castle. They discuss politics and the current state of things with his mother, Duchess Iôlwen von Gaten. She reveals that Julian’s brother Sören has been spying on Duchess Innes at the capital city of Timeron while studying at the Hall of Harmony. They ask for her to not try to kill Innes, and she asks 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. They agree, but she doesn’t let Werner go with them. They all eventually manage to convince her to let Werner rejoin the party, but only on the condition that he agrees to marry Princess Sloe Sombra of the Crimson Empire for a political alliance.

At Fort Huxley, they meet all the members that work there as well as Tasmyn, and Erna introduces Werner to Grumpy. Everything seems to be converging at the capital. Gideon asks Eryka Amberberry what the quickest route to Aldrigvinter would be, and she says that teleporting to Hyarat and taking a ship through the icy ocean would be faster but not safer. They choose that option, and stock up on supplies.

That night, Ingrid and Kai Li seem to have a shared dream of the plane of Tindalos. They see corpses of goliaths and monks alike, and sense a time gear under Timeron. They then see a flash of Orr’eeyar. In the early morning, Ingrid wakes up to Kai Li taking out the time gear from her bag, who apparently sleepwalked into the state. After some misunderstandings with the others when they see the two in Ingrid’s room, they all have a serious discussion about the time gears and the monoliths. Werner gives his time gear to Kai Li for the time being.

Eryka hands Werner a postcard from his father who is still in Kasaaq. Teleporting to Hyarat Docks, they ask around but find no one willing to sail up north in this winter. In a tavern, Werner eventually located Captain Jahaesko, who has some business in Uppborg and willing to drop them off at Aldrigvinter. Werner doesn’t take well to the choppy seas, getting sick. The next days are spent mostly through storms and harsh seas, and dealing with reaper crabs. The day before they reach Uppborg, the crew overhears Jahaesko and Ingfrid argue. Busting into his office, they make them reveal their smuggling operation and deal with the Lunars in Uppborg. They decide to help out and interfere if the need be. That night, the party sneaks into the cargo hold and unlocks the magically locked crate without triggering the trap. They see the Abysscube, which nearly charms Ingrid. They decide to lock it away again and see how things play out. In the ensuing chaos of the Lunar Deal, Ingrid accidentally blows up the entire warehouse full of gunpowder using a fireball, nearly killing Ingfrid.

Aldrigvinter is decorated for Vakosi Arcanos (the holy day of Varkanus during which all mages are stronger) soon, and they head into Castle Fyrst. At a meeting room, they meet Ser Gerion Ulfheart, one of the most important generals in the Førish military and one of Ingrid’s mother’s main rivals. When King Renaer enters with a book in his hand, he has a civil conversation about his reasons for wanting independence. They eventually end up telling the full truth about Gothwyn and the time gears to him and Ser Gerion, which makes them reconsider and try to call off the war. However, he’s 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.

They head into Shatterrealm, and take on Jiik Han's offer of calling off the deal by winning the Shatterworld Tournament on Varkosi Arcanos. Zuq'zeen gives Gideon many diamonds for revivify, setting the tone. On the day of Varkosi Arcanos, in the first round, Werner and Kai-Li face off against Yatra and Blazar. Yatra kills both of them, but Kai Li’s revival of Werner comes in clutch. Kai Li dies, and Werner barely wins the fight after Blazar’s forfeit. She is revived by Gideon.

In Round 2, Erna, Ingrid, and Werner face off against Alfarihm, Qesrea, and Ceolmaer. After some words are exchanged, the fight begins and Alfarihm instantly calls down a meteor swarm. Alfarihm chooses not to disintegrate Erna. Ingrid ends up killing Qesrea, and Erna convinces Ceolmaer to forfeit and escape Alfarihm. Eventually, Ingrid casts earthbind on him, setting up Erna to finally kill him.

Khaz Jiik Han jumps into the ring, and challenges the remaining primerealm fighters directly in a final Round 3. The fight is difficult, with most of the fighters not managing to beat out their fear of him for a while, until Ser Gerion’s aura helps them. Jiik Han used a lot of ki attacks alongside his legendary spear, Krajul. He kills Werner for the second time with a ki beam. Ingrid blocks all of Jiik Han’s attacks at one point, and eventually manages to get the kill on him. Zuq’zeen revives Werner and sends out a big proclamation to Shatterrealm to choose their next emperor next year, and that they are forbidden from trying to conquer Primerealm for another century.

They teleport back to Castle Fyrst back in Abmarah after taking Jiik Han’s spear and cape. Renaer is angry at his lack of uselfulnsess, but vows to help the party and agrees to attend the wedding. Back in Fort Huxley, they receive an invitation to dinner with Gothwyn in her Timeron mansion.

Timeline

• 3E397- Werner is born in Etabrück.

• 3E482 - Werner is sent to Rockham as a spy, starting off the events of Shards of the Empire. After saving Vogh Vulfrhûn, he is recalled to his home by his mother where he spends most of the next year. He swears himself to Serenox during this time period.

• 3E483 - Chapters 4 and 5 of Shards of the Empire take place, including the Shatterworld Tournament and the Green Wedding.

Gallery

Werner during Ch. 1-3 of SotE (Credit: Sam)

Werner attending the Green Wedding (Credit: Sam)

Pixel Art Evolution (Credit: Daibik)

Werner during Ch. 4 of SotE (Credit: Sam)

Werner Mii (Credit: Tomodachi Life)

Werner's Rapier, Moonshade (Credit: Aaron)

Werner Ponytail (Credit: Jouweria)

Werner Chad (Credit: Daibik)