Gidas Frihep
Viscount Gidas Frihep (a.k.a. Lord Silvermask)
Physical Description
Facial Features
Lord Gidas always wears a silver mask, inlayed with spiralling designs while in public. He wears a well maintained beard.
Identifying Characteristics
Lord Gidas has become easily recognizable by his ornate silver mask, covering most of his face, which he wears at all times.
Apparel & Accessories
Lord Gidas typically wears ornate suits befitting someone of his social position, trimmed with gold and fur where appropriate. Typically dressing in dark blues and reds, he cuts a dramatic figure upon his entry into a room.
A denizen of Dreger, her often wears scarfs and a tri-corner hat to counter the winds and mists that cover his holdings. His scarf if fastened with an iron hermine-pattern brooch which he can use as a dagger in emergencies.
Specialized Equipment
As Baron of Ar Mor Emrodez, Gidas has obtained several artifacts of House Bisclavret that he has taken for his personal use, most notably the Windship, the Emerald Storm and Kilstourm, the ancestral blade of the House. .
Gidas also carries a Rod of Taranis on his person at all times, hidden in an ornate cane he carries.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Gidas was born the Thirdson of House Frihep a powerful family of textile merchants in Dinan. With two older brothers in line to inherit the title of Biskont of Dinan, Gidas was sent to the Abbey of Fontevraud in the Lordship of Saumur to study to enter the priesthood of the Southern Church.
Angry at being denied what he saw as his birthright, he plotted his ascension, leaning alchemy and history as his plans were set in motion. Elbard, his eldest brother, was beset by bandits while riding to Roazhon and killed during the robbery by Talbart Talbardon. Pierrot, the next in line, was gutted by a boar during a hunt, succumbing to an infection shortly afterwards. His two rivals out of his way, Gidas returned to Dinan with a small retinue of followers and seized control of his family's affair, placing himself as the heir to the title. He quickly quelled his rivals in the Viscounty and set his eyes northwards to the Barony of Ar Mor Emrodez, a coastal region that House Frihep held a distant claim to.
He attempted to secure the marriage to the legitimized Seconddaughter of his political rival, Melion Bisclavret of Ar Mor Emrodez. Bisclavret refused, instead betrothing the girl to Morgan of Dreger. Enraged, Gidas arranged for the girl's kidnapping, selling her to the Slaver captain Patav Loudard.
Gender Identity
Cisgender Male.
Sexuality
Gidas views romantic or sexual partnerships are merely another tool to expand his influence or exert his power.
Education
It was never his father's intention that Gidas become Lord of Dinan, viewing his Thirdson's ambition and lack of compassion as dangerous. He arranged for the boy to be educated and become a Perfect, far removed from the politics of Dregerb. Gidas excelled at his studies of Alchemy and history, becoming a skilled alchemist and man of letters. But Gidas never lost sight of his goal, and secretly aided by his mother, Judith Pentevr, he pursued studies in etiquette, swordsmanship and martial strategy in secret, becoming an adept swordsman and building up support in the Anjevin nobility.
Employment
Gidas is the power behind House Frihep and its textiles empire, holding title of both the Viscount of Dinan and the Baron of Ar Mor Emrodez. his wealth and political connections have made him a powerful local ally to the Pentevr claim to the Ducal throne. With his cousin, Janed "Ar Gammez" Pentevr, Gidas hopes to secure the position of Count of Dreger before ultimately ascending to rule all of Breizh or even Gallia
Accomplishments & Achievements
Gidas has risen from the unwanted Thirdson of a small noble family to the head of his House and the ruler of two regions of Northern Breizh, eliminating his personal and political rivals in his quest for personal power. His connections to Anjev and the Pentevr claim leave him well positioned to continue his ascent.
In addition to his personal and political machinations, Gidas is a well respected alchemist and man of letters, writing several treatise on ecclesiastic esoterica and political theory. His work is exceptionally popular with staunchist factions, exposing significant vitriol against the Fae and Kontamanet, especially Milliget. Gidas is seen by many as a patron of the arts, although largely those that support his anti-fae idiology and a captain of industry, having secured numerous contracts and trade routes for his textile company.
In martial matters, Gidas is a renowned duelist and swordsman, frequently dispatching those foolish enough to face him. Unlike many of his class, he has little interest in the Hastiludes, sponsoring and attending them for poltical clout, but never taking part himself. He is an accomplished commander in both infantry and aerial combat, overseeing the battlefield in his personal Windship, the Emerald Storm.
Failures & Embarrassments
Gidas is a prideful man, and does not take insults lightly. His inability to secure the marriage of Kathalia Bisclavret provided a temporary setback to his machinations for the Emerald Coast, and he has not forgotten the slight of her public refusal, a hatred only strengthened by her return from Faerie and public opposition to his political claims. Her "corruption" into a Milliget has only strengthened his resolve.
Mental Trauma
Gidas always wears his ornate silver mask, flying into a homicidal rage should anyone see him without it.
Morality & Philosophy
Lacking any form of empathy, Gidas view morality as another tool for political power, positioning himself as a well respected authority on ecclesiastic and political dialogues, authoring several books exposing maintaining the purity of the Bediz and the ethics of Bediz-Fae relations. Despite his outward appearance of religious fervor, which has gained him the support of his cousin-in-law "Sant" Charlez Blaez, in reality he cares little for the tenets of the Faith, privately ignoring any that become inconvenient for his purposes.
Gidas views his fellow nobles and the clergy in a utilitarian fashion, little more than tools or obstacles to his plans.
Personality Characteristics
Motivation
Gidas bears a burning hatred for House Bisclavret and actively works towards their eradication.
Social
Contacts & Relations
Gidas maintains close connections with the Staunchist movement and is an ally of "Sant" Charlez Blaez, supporting the claim of his cousin Janed "Ar Gammez" Pentevr to the throne of Letha.
Gidas employs the Tards-Venus as his personal army, and has strong connections with several of their officers, including Seguin Badefol, his field commander, Camus Bour, the Castellan of Roc'h Goueon and Lamit, the Captain of the Emerald Storm.
Family Ties
Gidas maintains strong ties with his kin, House Frihep and their cousins, House Pentevr. His mother, Judith Pentevr the wizened matriarch of the family, resides in the family keep in Roazhon, dominating the social life of the capital with an army of agents and her grandaughter, the beautiful courtesan, Alana Frihep.
His younger brothers, Paol and Pierrick are active members of the Faith and the Silverblade Company, respectively.
Religious Views
Gidas appears as a zealous member of the Faith, publicly adhering to its strictures and tenets. While privately pragmatic and open to overlook inconvenient moral stipulations, he nevertheless maintains a facade of a devout holy man, donating to religious causes, attending church services regularly and writing actively on the subject. This has gained him the support of zealous Faithful, such as Sant Charlez Blaez, which he has translated into wealth and political power.
One area that is not a politically convenient act is his intense hatred of the Fae, seeing them as a corrupting influence fit only to be purged. His hatred is especially directed at demi-human kontammanet, and he has quietly support both the Slave Trade and the prison of Kastellivin to eradicate these individuals.
Despite his convictions, he has no qualms in hiring Fae willing to take on his jobs, hiring Redcap assassins and Formorian raiders when the situation suits his needs.
Social Aptitude
Gidas maintains a gentlemanly outer appearance and is well regarded in Court. A manipulative man, he is capable of swaying a room to his side with enough time based on eloquence, bribery and blackmail.
Wealth & Financial state
Despite House Frihep's well deserved reputation as spendthrifts, Gidas himself has proven himself a capable businessman, securing control of a vast textiles empire that spans from Montroulez to the Cloth Cities, allowing him to maintain his family holdings and the extravagant lifestyle of the upper nobility. His wealth and connections has allowed him to secure the loyalty of the Tards-Venus mercenary company as his personal army.
He maintains several castles and manorial estates in Dinan, Gwitreg, Kab Frehel and even a keep on the Golden Hill of Roazhon, as well as large supporting lands throughout the counties of Roazhon and Dreger. House Frihep, under Gidas's careful management, hosts lavish parties and sponsors Hastiludes, a showing of wealth and largess.
Despite the success of Gidas, the majority of House Frihep are less stable than their appearance suggests, often hemorrhaging money as fast as they earn it, with several members on the verge of bankruptcy. To counter this and stabilize funding, Gidas has authorized a draconian system of taxation and exploitation on properties within his influence, even authorizing the Tards-Venus to act as his illicit enforcers, taking advantage of jus Naufragii by encouraging wrecks along the Ar Mor Emrodez and sacking towns supporting the Monforz claim to the ducal throne.
Gidas has made the Emerald Storm, the Windship of House Bisclavret, his personal flagship of a small fleet of Windships under his command, in addition to a large number of traditional maritime vessels. Gi
Current Location
Species
Honorary & Occupational Titles
Viscount of Dinan, Baron of Ar Mor Emrodez, and Protector of the Mor Briezh.
Year of Birth
999 SI
240 Years old
Birthplace
Dinan, Dreger
Family
Children
Current Residence
Dinan, Dreger
Pronouns
He/Him
Gender
Male
Eyes
Grey
Hair
Dark Brown
Owned Vehicles
Belief/Deity
The Faith
Aligned Organization
Other Affiliations
Ruled Locations
Comments