diff --git a/src/client/Launcher/Controllers/MainController.cs b/src/client/Launcher/Controllers/MainController.cs
index 0222fa4e..02c278de 100644
--- a/src/client/Launcher/Controllers/MainController.cs
+++ b/src/client/Launcher/Controllers/MainController.cs
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 using System.Windows.Input;
+using Arise.Client.Gateway;
 using Arise.Client.Launcher.Media;
+using Avalonia.Data;
 
 namespace Arise.Client.Launcher.Controllers;
 
@@ -11,6 +13,7 @@ public sealed class MainController : LauncherController
     private string _password = string.Empty;
     private bool _rememberMe;
     private bool _isModalVisible;
+    private string _serverAddress = string.Empty;
 
     public bool IsLoggedIn
     {
@@ -48,6 +51,24 @@ public bool IsModalVisible
         set => this.RaiseAndSetIfChanged(ref _isModalVisible, value);
     }
 
+    public string ServerAddress
+    {
+        get => _serverAddress;
+        set
+        {
+            try
+            {
+                var svc = Services.GetService<GatewayClient>()!;
+                svc.BaseAddress = new Uri(value);
+                _ = this.RaiseAndSetIfChanged(ref _serverAddress, value);
+            }
+            catch (Exception ex)
+            {
+                throw new DataValidationException($"{ex.Message}");
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
     public ICommand LoginCommand { get; }
 
     public ICommand RecoverPasswordCommand { get; }
@@ -68,6 +89,9 @@ public MainController(IServiceProvider services, MusicPlayer musicPlayer)
             disposable.Add(Disposable.Create(musicPlayer, static player => player.Stop()));
         });
 
+        // todo: figure out where to get this URI from at startup
+        _serverAddress = Services.GetService<GatewayClient>()!.BaseAddress?.ToString() ?? string.Empty;
+
         LoginCommand = ReactiveCommand.Create(LoginAsync);
         RecoverPasswordCommand = ReactiveCommand.Create(RecoverPassword);
         RegisterCommand = ReactiveCommand.Create(Register);
@@ -106,14 +130,43 @@ private void RecoverPassword()
 
     private async Task LoginAsync()
     {
+        // todo: add an IsLoggingIn state to signal the user that the request is being processed
+        // maybe bind it to a spinning indicator
+
+        // todo: use RememberMe setting (save it locally?)
+
         if (!IsLoggedIn)
         {
-            // todo: call GatewayClient
-
-            IsLoggedIn = true;
-            CurrentAccountName = "Foglio";
+            var client = Services.GetService<GatewayClient>()
+                ?? throw new InvalidOperationException("GatewayClient service not found"); // todo: idk how we should handle this case, if even possible
+
+            // todo: catch something?
+
+            try
+            {
+                var resp = await client.Rest.AuthenticateAccountAsync(Username, Password).ConfigureAwait(true);
+
+                if (resp.IsSuccessStatusCode)
+                {
+                    IsLoggedIn = true;
+                    CurrentAccountName = Username;
+
+                    // todo: handle all the data in the response (ban, mail verification, etc)
+                }
+                else
+                {
+                    // todo: handle login fail
+                }
+            }
+            finally
+            {
+                // clear the password as soon as it's been sent
+                Password = string.Empty;
+            }
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            // todo: warn?
         }
-
-        await Task.CompletedTask.ConfigureAwait(true);
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/client/Launcher/Views/LoginForm.axaml b/src/client/Launcher/Views/LoginForm.axaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3b045ef1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/client/Launcher/Views/LoginForm.axaml
@@ -0,0 +1,102 @@
+<UserControl xmlns="https://github.com/avaloniaui"
+             xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
+             xmlns:d="http://schemas.microsoft.com/expression/blend/2008"
+             xmlns:mc="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/markup-compatibility/2006"
+             xmlns:avalonia="clr-namespace:Material.Icons.Avalonia;assembly=Material.Icons.Avalonia"
+             xmlns:controls="using:Arise.Client.Launcher.Controls"
+             xmlns:controllers="using:Arise.Client.Launcher.Controllers"
+             mc:Ignorable="d" d:DesignWidth="300" d:DesignHeight="400"
+             x:DataType="controllers:MainController"
+             x:Class="Arise.Client.Launcher.Views.LoginForm"
+             Background="Transparent"
+             >
+
+    <Grid RowDefinitions="*,*,*,*,*,*"
+          >
+        <Grid.Styles>
+            <Style Selector="TextBox">
+                <Setter Property="Margin" Value="0 0 0 10"/>
+                <Setter Property="Padding" Value="12"/>
+                <Setter Property="CornerRadius" Value="8"/>
+                <Setter Property="BorderBrush" Value="{DynamicResource ThemeTextMidBrush}"/>
+            </Style>
+        </Grid.Styles>
+        <TextBlock Margin="0 0 0 20"
+                   TextWrapping="Wrap">
+            <Run Text="TERA Arise"
+                 FontSize="22"
+                 FontWeight="DemiBold"/>
+            <LineBreak/>
+            <LineBreak/>
+            <Run Text="Use your account name and password to login"
+                 Foreground="{DynamicResource ThemeTextMidBrush}"/>
+        </TextBlock>
+        <Button HorizontalAlignment="Right"
+                VerticalAlignment="Top"
+                Height="28"
+                Width="28"
+                CornerRadius="8"
+                Margin="0"
+                Background="Transparent"
+                Command="{Binding CloseModalCommand}">
+            <avalonia:MaterialIcon Kind="Close" />
+        </Button>
+        <TextBox VerticalAlignment="Center"
+                 Watermark="Username"
+                 x:Name="UsernameTextBox"
+                 Text="{Binding Username, Mode=TwoWay}"
+                 Grid.Row="1"
+                         />
+        <TextBox PasswordChar="•"
+                 Watermark="Password"
+                 VerticalAlignment="Center"
+                 Grid.Row="2"
+                 Text="{Binding Password, Mode=TwoWay}"
+                         />
+        <Button Content="Login"
+                Grid.Row="3"
+                CornerRadius="8"
+                HorizontalAlignment="Stretch"
+                HorizontalContentAlignment="Center"
+                VerticalContentAlignment="Center"
+                Height="{Binding #UsernameTextBox.Bounds.Height}"
+                Command="{Binding LoginCommand}"
+                Background="{DynamicResource AccentBrush}"
+                        />
+        <CheckBox Grid.Row="4"
+                  Content="Remember me"
+                  FontSize="10"
+                  Padding="4 0 4 0"
+                  Classes="small"
+                  HorizontalAlignment="Left"
+                  VerticalAlignment="Center"
+                  IsChecked="{Binding RememberMe}"
+                          />
+        <TextBlock HorizontalAlignment="Right"
+                   VerticalAlignment="Center"
+                   Text="Recover password"
+                   Grid.Row="4"
+                   Padding="0 1 0 0"
+                   FontSize="10"
+                   Foreground="{DynamicResource AccentBrush}"
+                   Cursor="Hand"
+                   controls:CommandBehavior.Command="{Binding RecoverPasswordCommand}"
+                           />
+        <!--looks like we have no inline hyperlinks in avalonia
+                    https://github.com/AvaloniaUI/Avalonia/discussions/8818-->
+        <WrapPanel Grid.Row="5"
+                   Margin="0 10 0 0"
+                   Orientation="Horizontal"
+                   VerticalAlignment="Center"
+                   HorizontalAlignment="Center">
+            <TextBlock Text="You don't have an account? " FontSize="10"/>
+            <TextBlock Text="Register"
+                       FontSize="10"
+                       Foreground="{DynamicResource AccentBrush}"
+                       Cursor="Hand"
+                       controls:CommandBehavior.Command="{Binding RegisterCommand}"
+                               />
+            <TextBlock Text=" now." FontSize="10"/>
+        </WrapPanel>
+    </Grid>
+</UserControl>
diff --git a/src/client/Launcher/Views/LoginForm.axaml.cs b/src/client/Launcher/Views/LoginForm.axaml.cs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..df4bec3e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/client/Launcher/Views/LoginForm.axaml.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+namespace Arise.Client.Launcher.Views;
+
+public partial class LoginForm : UserControl
+{
+    public LoginForm()
+    {
+        InitializeComponent();
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/client/Launcher/Windows/MainWindow.axaml b/src/client/Launcher/Windows/MainWindow.axaml
index 9fba19d8..1b1b2526 100644
--- a/src/client/Launcher/Windows/MainWindow.axaml
+++ b/src/client/Launcher/Windows/MainWindow.axaml
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
         xmlns:controllers="using:Arise.Client.Launcher.Controllers"
         xmlns:avalonia="clr-namespace:Material.Icons.Avalonia;assembly=Material.Icons.Avalonia"
         xmlns:controls="using:Arise.Client.Launcher.Controls"
+        xmlns:views="using:Arise.Client.Launcher.Views"
         x:Class="Arise.Client.Launcher.Windows.MainWindow"
         x:DataType="controllers:MainController"
         Width="1280"
@@ -106,114 +107,36 @@
                Stretch="Uniform"
                Grid.Row="1" />-->
 
+        <!--this should only be visible in dev builds
+            (also move it to settings later)-->
+        <TextBox Text="{Binding ServerAddress, Mode=TwoWay}"
+                 Grid.Row="1"
+                 VerticalAlignment="Top"
+                 Watermark="Server address"
+                 
+                 />
 
         <Border x:Name="ModalDarkening"
                 Background="#5000"
                 Grid.RowSpan="2"
                 IsHitTestVisible="{Binding IsModalVisible}"
                 Classes.visible="{Binding IsModalVisible}"
-                controls:CommandBehavior.Command="{Binding CloseModalCommand}">
+                >
             <Border.Transitions>
                 <Transitions>
-                    <DoubleTransition Property="Opacity" Duration="0:0:0.25"/>
+                    <DoubleTransition Property="Opacity" Duration="0:0:0.20"/>
                 </Transitions>
             </Border.Transitions>
 
-            <Border x:Name="LoginForm"
+            <Border x:Name="FormContainer"
                     Background="{DynamicResource WindowBackground}"
                     CornerRadius="10"
                     BoxShadow="0 10 20 0 #5000"
                     Padding="24"
                     HorizontalAlignment="Center"
                     VerticalAlignment="Center"
-                    Width="300"
-                >
-                <Border.Styles>
-                    <Style Selector="TextBox">
-                        <Setter Property="Margin" Value="0 0 0 10"/>
-                        <Setter Property="Padding" Value="12"/>
-                        <Setter Property="CornerRadius" Value="8"/>
-                        <Setter Property="BorderBrush" Value="{DynamicResource ThemeTextMidBrush}"/>
-                    </Style>
-                </Border.Styles>
-                <Grid RowDefinitions="*,*,*,*,*,*">
-                    <TextBlock Margin="0 0 0 20"
-                               TextWrapping="Wrap">
-                        <Run Text="TERA Arise"
-                             FontSize="22"
-                             FontWeight="DemiBold"/>
-                        <LineBreak/>
-                        <LineBreak/>
-                        <Run Text="Use your account name and password to login"
-                             Foreground="{DynamicResource ThemeTextMidBrush}"/>
-                    </TextBlock>
-                    <Button HorizontalAlignment="Right"
-                            VerticalAlignment="Top"
-                            Height="28"
-                            Width="28"
-                            CornerRadius="14"
-                            Background="Transparent"
-                            Command="{Binding CloseModalCommand}">
-                        <avalonia:MaterialIcon Kind="Close" />
-                    </Button>
-                    <TextBox VerticalAlignment="Center"
-                             Watermark="Username"
-                             x:Name="UsernameTextBox"
-                             Text="{Binding Username, Mode=TwoWay}"
-                             Grid.Row="1"
-                         />
-                    <TextBox PasswordChar="•"
-                             Watermark="Password"
-                             VerticalAlignment="Center"
-                             Grid.Row="2"
-                             Text="{Binding Password, Mode=TwoWay}"
-                         />
-                    <Button Content="Login"
-                            Grid.Row="3"
-                            CornerRadius="8"
-                            HorizontalAlignment="Stretch"
-                            HorizontalContentAlignment="Center"
-                            VerticalContentAlignment="Center"
-                            Height="{Binding #UsernameTextBox.Bounds.Height}"
-                            Command="{Binding LoginCommand}"
-                            Background="{DynamicResource AccentBrush}"
-                        />
-                    <CheckBox Grid.Row="4"
-                              Content="Remember me"
-                              FontSize="10"
-                              Padding="4 0 4 0"
-                              Classes="small"
-                              HorizontalAlignment="Left"
-                              VerticalAlignment="Center"
-                              IsChecked="{Binding RememberMe}"
-                          />
-                    <TextBlock HorizontalAlignment="Right"
-                               VerticalAlignment="Center"
-                               Text="Recover password"
-                               Grid.Row="4"
-                               Padding="0 1 0 0"
-                               FontSize="10"
-                               Foreground="{DynamicResource AccentBrush}"
-                               Cursor="Hand"
-                               controls:CommandBehavior.Command="{Binding RecoverPasswordCommand}"
-                           />
-                    <!--looks like we have no inline hyperlinks in avalonia
-                    https://github.com/AvaloniaUI/Avalonia/discussions/8818-->
-                    <WrapPanel Grid.Row="5"
-                               Margin="0 10 0 0"
-                               Orientation="Horizontal"
-                               VerticalAlignment="Center"
-                               HorizontalAlignment="Center">
-                        <TextBlock Text="You don't have an account? " FontSize="10"/>
-                        <TextBlock Text="Register"
-                                   FontSize="10"
-                                   Foreground="{DynamicResource AccentBrush}"
-                                   Cursor="Hand"
-                                   controls:CommandBehavior.Command="{Binding RegisterCommand}"
-                               />
-                        <TextBlock Text=" now." FontSize="10"/>
-                    </WrapPanel>
-                </Grid>
+                    Width="300">
+                <views:LoginForm/>
             </Border>
         </Border>
     </Grid>