The Connected System

“Dad!”

Loch heard the voice. He knew the voice. He remembered that voice when it was littler. Loch remembered how the voice had changed as the speaker had grown up from little girl to young woman. Images of her filled his mind as he fought against the darkness holding him down.

Her birth. First steps. The first time he’d heard the voice. First time riding a bike. Hitting a baseball. Her first dance. The first time she’d cried over a boy.

Her first kill.

Loch opened his eyes, the world slowly coming into focus. It was still night, the moon still bright with a clear sky full of stars. He could see them, but not all, a shape blocking his vision.

“Dad!,” the voice cried out, the wetness of tears falling against his face.

Harper’s voice.

***

Loch felt the healing energy spread through his body. The smaller aches and pains, the lesser cuts and bruises, started to heal. Warmth flowed through his body, the wounded areas growing a little warmer. He looked away, not wanting to see his flesh knitting itself together.

“This is the best I can do for now,” Julia said. “Susan will have to do the full healing. I’m pretty tapped out on Spirit and she’s probably not much better. There’s a lot of wounded.”

As she stepped back, taking her hands from his shoulders, Loch stood up. The world started to spin. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath that hurt. The ribs weren’t as bad as before. Breathing was no longer extremely painful, it was just painful. Opening his eyes, he willed the world to stop spinning. It did.

He looked around, seeing he was still on the parking lot side of the wall. The Dullahan’s body lay to the side. Lots of bodies lay everywhere. There were people moving around, not Clan Brady defenders, but the civilians and non-combatants. He watched as a man and woman lifted a gaunt’s body, struggling to carry it to somewhere. He didn’t follow them, choosing to focus on the people in front of him.

Harper was there, only a couple feet away, tonfas in the sheaths on her back. She looked tired. Dried blood covered her body, but he couldn’t tell if any of it was hers. She smiled at him, relief in her eyes. Behind her was Brian, looming large. Jenny was off to the side, not looking at him, but eyes on the road to the west. Darren was a couple steps to the side, on the edge, not wanting to intrude. Another man stood next to Darren. About the same age, someone Loch didn’t recognize.

Loch didn’t see Piper.

“Where is..,” he started to say, taking a step forward, looking around wildly.

“She’s fine,” Harper said, arms out, waiting for a hug.

Loch took her by the arms and pulled her in close. He held her tight.

“Pipes is unconscious,” Harper said. “She’s good.”

Loch looked to Julia for confirmation. The Battlemender nodded.

“She overtaxed herself,” Julia replied to Loch’s unspoken question. “She’s just sleeping. Cerie is with her.”

Loch glanced up at the roof, looking for the telltale green glow of the fairy. He couldn’t see it. They’d probably moved Piper to the room they shared. Which was where he should probably go, but he had questions. He looked at Darren.

“Fled,” the man answered. “After you killed the big one,” he gestured to the corpse of the Dullahan. “The survivors just took off. They headed west back the way they came.”

That was surprising. Loch had thought the gaunts would have stayed fighting, especially the Drones. Without a Captain or the Dullahan to control them, the Drones must have become completely mindless. What would have prompted them to retreat?

The only answer was something else controlling them. But what? The Concept of Death? Another Dullahan?

Loch didn’t like either question, or what their answers would be. He’d hoped the Clan could rest after the battle, but it looked like they’d have to go searching for answers. Tomorrow, or the next day. Not immediately. They all needed rest.

“How bad,” he asked, not wanting to know but needing to.

Darren shook his head.

“Not as bad as it could have been but…,” he sighed. “We don’t have a full counting yet but at least twenty dead, maybe twice that wounded.”

Twenty. Maybe more.

It was too many. But Darren was right, it could have been worse. There had been hundreds of gaunts. That only twenty of the defenders had died? Many generals would have thought those acceptable losses.

Loch didn’t.

But it could have been worse.

Much worse.

He walked over to the Dullahan, glaring down at the headless corpse. The fires had gone out, the neck hollow with a bit of white spine now visible. The tip of bone had been sheared off. He looked around for the skull, remembering that he had crushed it with Onyx. Crouching down, Loch ran his hand along the ground where the skull should have been. He thought he felt dust.

“Dad,” Harper said as Loch stood up. She gestured to the unknown man, motioning him forward. “This is Drew. He and his people showed up after the gaunts had breached the south wall. They helped us, probably saved a lot of lives.”

The man stepped forward. Loch held out his hand, taking Drews.

“Thank you.”

“Gotta be honest, we weren’t sure if we should get involved,” Drew said, releasing Loch’s hand. “Our camp up in Strafford had been attacked and we headed south. Weren’t sure if we wanted to go to Barrington or here. Got to the 202 intersection and…,” he paused, just shrugging. “Something just kind of pulled us this way.”

“Pulled?”

“An urge to come to Northwood instead of Barrington.”

“How many,” Loch asked, curious about what the man was saying.

Something had urged them to come to Northwood? Was it the Holdstone? That made some sense. Wouldn’t there have been one in Barrington though? That town was much bigger, there had to be more survivors there, more gathering. So why were they sent to Northwood and Clan Brady?

“There’s about thirty of us total,” Drew continued. “A dozen or so fighters and the rest non-combatants. A couple kids. We had a larger camp until the giants…”

“Giants,” Loch interrupted. “Where in Strafford?”

“At the school. The intersection of 202A and 126.”

Loch cursed. That meant the giants were closer than he had thought. Had hoped really. That wasn’t good. Giants, gaunts, hobs and the elves. There were a lot of forces arrayed against Clan Brady.

It was like the Connection didn’t want them to survive.

Or it wanted to temper them through adversity.

Either way, it was not something Loch liked.

“Thank you for your help,” he said. “We can’t offer much but can give you and yours shelter.”

“We’d appreciate it. We’ve been on the road for days.”

“You need rest,” Julia said, stepping in front of Loch, hands on hips.

He was about to protest but agreed with her. He was tired and still hurt. Susan Turner could heal him but Loch knew there would be higher priorities. She’d hold off on the others to help him, the leader of the Clan, but that wasn’t right. He would wait.

And there was the annoying flashing icon in the upper corner of his vision. The notifications he’d received.

GO BEYOND HAS REACHED RANK TWO.

GO BEYOND RANK TWO (ACTIVE ABILITY): WHEN HEALTH, SPIRIT AND STAMINA GOES BELOW 10% THE CONNECTED CAN GET A BONUS OF 20% OF THEIR TOTAL IN THEIR STATS. THERE IS NO COST FOR ACTIVATION OF THIS ABILITY. IT LASTS FOR 15 SECONDS, +5 SECONDS PER FIVE CLASS LEVELS. CANNOT BE USED AGAIN FOR 7 DAYS.

Loch was surprised as he read over the notification. He’d barely used the Ability and it had reached Rank Two and it seemed he had used the Rank Two aspects of it. Before it had just been below 10% in a single stat. That remained but now it was a huge boost if below 10% in all stats. He tried to think but couldn’t remember being able to use any Abilities higher ranked aspects until he’d hit that rank, not before. It was something he’d have to ask Cerie about but he wondered if Unfettered had somehow influenced the Ability in his moment of need?

Hadn’t it had a days long cooldown as well for Rank One? He’d used it earlier so shouldn’t have been able to use it for days. Had getting to Level Twenty-Five somehow reset the cooldown?

The new aspects of Go Beyond were huge. The cooldown was longer but the Ability would be Active for longer. As much as Loch liked the changes, he hoped he’d never have to use it.

He dismissed that one, looking at the next, which was a long series of changes. Like the jump in experience gained by the Go Beyond Ability, his armor had also made a large leap. He hadn’t expected it to change so much and it wasn’t just in appearance.

YOUR CHALLENGER’S ARMOR HAS REACHED LEVEL FIVE.

CHALLENGER’S MAIL CHEST.

ARMOR LEVEL FIVE.

DEFENSE +8%, +2% EVERY FIVE ARMOR LEVELS, +5% RESISTANCE TO ALL DAMAGE TYPES, +2% EVERY FIVE ARMOR LEVELS, +5% RESISTANCE TO ELEMENTAL DAMAGE, +2% EVERY FIVE ARMOR LEVELS.

CHALLENGER’S MAIL BOOTS.

ARMOR LEVEL FIVE.

DEFENSE +4%, +1% EVERY FIVE ARMOR LEVELS, +3% RESISTANCE TO ALL DAMAGE TYPES, +1% EVERY FIVE ARMOR LEVELS, +3% RESISTANCE TO ELEMENTAL DAMAGE, +1% EVERY FIVE ARMOR LEVELS.

CHALLENGER’S MAIL BRACERS.

ARMOR LEVEL FIVE.

ATTACK +4%, +1% EVERY FIVE ARMOR LEVELS, +3% TO ALL DAMAGE TYPES, +1% EVERY FIVE ARMOR LEVELS, +3% ELEMENTAL DAMAGE, +1% EVERY FIVE ARMOR LEVELS

CHALLENGER’S MAIL GLOVES.

ARMOR LEVEL FIVE.

ATTACK +3%, +1% EVERY FIVE ARMOR LEVELS, +3% TO ALL DAMAGE TYPES, +1% EVERY FIVE ARMOR LEVELS, +3% ELEMENTAL DAMAGE, +1% EVERY FIVE ARMOR LEVELS

CHALLENGER’S MAIL LEGGINGS.

ARMOR LEVEL FIVE.

DEFENSE +8%, +2% PER EVERY FIVE ARMOR LEVELS; +8% ELEMENTAL DAMAGE, +2% PER EVERY FIVE ARMOR LEVELS. +3% RESISTANCE TO ALL DAMAGE TYPES, +1% EVERY FIVE ARMOR LEVELS, +3% RESISTANCE TO ELEMENTAL DAMAGE, +1% EVERY FIVE ARMOR LEVELS

ELEMENTAL SURGE:

SURGE HAS TWO MODES. DEFENSIVE CREATES A BUBBLE OF PROTECTIVE ELEMENTAL ENERGY OF THE TYPE MOST ABLE TO RESIST INCOMING ATTACK. COST: 200 SPIRIT TO ACTIVATE, 25 SPIRIT PER FIVE SECONDS TO MAINTAIN. MORE SPIRIT CAN BE USED AT ACTIVATION TO CREATE A STRONGER SURGE SHIELD. OFFENSIVE CREATES A BUBBLE OF DAMAGING ELEMENTAL ENERGY OF THE TYPE LEAST ABLE TO BE RESISTED. COST: 200 SPIRIT TO ACTIVATE.

WINDSTEP:

CAUSES WEARER TO SHIFT IN ANY DIRECTION UP TO FIFTEEN FEET INSTANTLY. MUST HAVE CLEAR PATH OF TRAVEL. +3 FEET PER EVERY FIVE ARMOR LEVELS. COST: 100 SPIRIT. FREQUENCY: ONE MINUTE.

The changes weren’t huge, just a couple percentage points for each piece. As he read the notification he started to get confused. The amount that each armor piece’s percentages had gone up didn’t align with what he read. Where it said +2% every five armor levels, or similar, Loch was seeing an increase of an extra 1% across each piece and all their bonuses. The math wasn’t adding up.

Was the armor supposed to remain leather? When he had somehow converted it to mail armor, did that grant the extra percentages? 1% wasn’t much, but when it added up he’d gain a pretty substantial increase in all the bonuses. His Defense alone had gone up 20%.

How had that happened? Did the Connection think his fight with the Dullahan had been that high of a quality? Even with the change in the armor and Go Beyond, there was a good chance Loch still would have died, so the kill wouldn’t have been considered a quality kill by the Connection yet. So why had he gotten the boost in armor? Another question for Cerie.

YOU HAVE EARNED THE BREAKER OF WAR ACHIEVEMENT.

YOU HAVE UNLOCKED THE TRUE STRENGTH OF THE WARBREAKER CLASS. USING IT BOTH FOR THE DEFENSE OF YOUR HOME AND PEOPLE AND AS AN OFFENSIVE JUGGERNAUT. YOU HAVE EARNED +3% TO ATTACK AND +3% TO DEFENSE. YOUR AURA ABILITIES GAIN A BONUS OF +5%. BREAKER’S BANNER EARNS +2% TO ALL BUFFS AND DEBUFFS.

Loch had to reread the achievement. It was too much. The gains made in the single achievement crushed any of the prior ones he’d received. This one was overpowered and it even strengthened his newest Ability.

YOU HAVE EARNED THE WAR LEADER RANK 1 ACHIEVEMENT.

YOU HAVE LED YOUR PEOPLE TO VICTORY IN THEIR FIRST BATTLE. YOU HAVE EARNED +1% TO INTELLIGENCE AND +1% TO WISDOM.

He didn’t feel like he’d earned that one. Darren had been the actual leader of the battle, with Loch just being the muscle. He’d have to check with Darren to see if he’d gotten a similar Achievement.

YOU HAVE EARNED THE CLAN’S STRENGTH ACHIEVEMENT.

YOU HAVE SHOWN YOUR CLAN THAT YOU WILL DEFEND THEM WITH ALL YOUR MIGHT EVEN AGAINST STRONGER FOES. YOU HAVE EARNED +1 STRENGTH AND +1 INTELLIGENCE.

YOU HAVE EARNED THE DEFIANT CLANCHIEF ACHIEVEMENT.

YOU WERE BROUGHT TO NEAR DEATH BUT WOULD NOT ALLOW YOUR CLAN TO BE DESTROYED OR YOUR PEOPLE KILLED, FIGHTING BACK AND GRABBING VICTORY. YOU HAVE EARNED +1 TO STRENGTH AND +1 TO ENDURANCE.

Loch shook his head. The Achievements were crazy. Why was he getting so many? Cerie had said that Clan Leaders were the most powerful in the Clan and that most were figureheads, not ruling the Clan in its day to day business but using their power to intimidate threats or fighting off attackers. Loch had wondered how a Clan Leader could get so much more powerful than the rest of the Clan. He was now seeing how. He doubted the defenders had gotten so many Achievements. Thanks to all of them, he was going to be very overpowered for his Level. And he had already had more attributes for his Level, now it was just crazy.

Not that he was going to complain. All that extra power just meant he’d be better at protecting his girls.

He held his hand out to Harper. Even with all the people around, she quickly rushed to embrace him, holding him tight as his arm wrapped around her. He leaned down, kissing the top of her head.

“I’m glad you’re okay,” she said.

“Ditto,” he replied.

She groaned, rolling her eyes. Loch chuckled.

He looked over the battle. There were a lot of bodies. Darren had walked over to the Dullahan, looking at the armor.

“That’s probably some decent armor,” he said, glancing at Loch.

“Take it, we’ll examine the stats and see who it’s best for.”

Darren looked around, calling to a couple of the people working their way through the dead bodies. There was a collection of armor scraps and swords being assembled by the gap in the wall. Two people came over to the guard captain, grimacing as they saw what he was pointing at. Loch just shook his head. Let Darren pass it on, he’d earned that right. He looked pretty dirty, covered in blood, exhausted. He hadn’t just been standing on the roof overseeing the entire battle. Darren had gotten into the fighting.

“We’ve got some people patrolling the woods,” Darren said. “Not that many, sadly. Most of the defenders are exhausted, wounded or both.”

Loch nodded. He didn’t think there would be any more attacks but it was better to be safe. Darren moved on as Loch and Harper started walking. Brian and Jenny started to follow, along with the new guy Drew. Brian and Jenny both looked in rough shape. Brian especially. Maybe he could use the Dullahan’s axe.

“You guys good?”

“Yeah,” Jenny said, looking around.

Brian just grunted.

Loch clapped the big man on the shoulder. Brian winced, quickly covering it up. Was Loch really that much stronger now?

“Let’s go find Piper,” He said to Harper.

“What happened to your armor,” she asked, rapping on the chestplate.

“Does it look good?”

“Yeah, but why’s it look like it’s ancient? Shouldn’t it be all bright and shiny and new?”

“No idea.”

“Excuse me sir.. Mister Brady..”

Loch turned to see Drew walking behind them.

“I’m not sure what to call you. Some of the folks were calling you Lord,” he said the last part with confusion.

“Loch is fine.”

“Yeah, thanks. Well I have about thirty people back at those churches. With all this,” he waved his hands at the bodies. “I can understand if you don’t want to take us on…,” he trailed off.

“I’m sorry,” Loch said, releasing Piper and walking back to Drew. “That should have been the first thing. Of course your people can join us. We don’t have much..”

“You have shelter and defenses,” Drew said, walking just behind Loch as they passed through the gap in the wall. “Even back in Strafford, we were living in tents.”

Loch looked around. It was even worse in the schoolyard. There were so many bodies. Most gaunts but he saw one or two of his people that hadn’t been moved yet. It was crowded with people moving around in the night, carrying bodies and equipment. There were a lot of lights by the triage tents, people moving in and out of the school carrying supplies, helping the more lightly wounded back into the school and their beds. There weren’t enough healers and some people would stay wounded until their Adapted natural regeneration healed them.

He hated that they were suffering but the Clan had won.

They had been outnumbered and still they had won.

It had come at a cost. But they had still won.

“We need to find Kristin or Ed,” Loch said, leading Harper and Drew up toward the school. “They’ll be able to get your people settled. We may not have rooms for them but they won’t be sleeping outside.”

Not that anyone would with all the bodies. And the smell. The scent of blood, and other bodily fluids, filled the air, carried by the ever present wind. It was horrible and wouldn’t be going away anytime soon. Loch didn’t want to know how badly the blood would stain the ground. It would be a constant reminder of the battle for a long time.

“I do have one question,” Drew said.

“What’s that?”

“Where did you get that armor and how can I get a set?”

Loch’s Ending Status

NAME: Lochlan Brady

RACE: Human Rank E

CLASS: Warbreaker

Patron: Thor, The Storm

LEVEL: 25

STRENGTH: 48

Base: 44

Achievements: 10%

Equipment: 0%

ENDURANCE: 47

Base: 43

Achievements: 10%

Equipment: 0%

DEXTERITY: 35

Base: 32

Achievements: 10%

Equipment: 0%

WILLPOWER: 47

Base: 43

Achievements: 11%

Equipment: 0%

INTELLIGENCE: 46

Base: 42

Achievements: 11%

Equipment: 0%

PERCEPTION: 33

Base: 30

Achievements: 10%

Equipment: 0%

UNASSIGNED POINTS: 0

HEALTH: 470

Base: 470

Achievements: 0%

Equipment: 0%

STAMINA: 470

Base: 470

Achievements: 0%

Equipment: 0%

SPIRIT RESERVES: 4,789

Base: 4,650

Achievements: +3%

Equipment: 0%

ATTACK: 25%

Base: 0

Achievements: +18%

Equipment: +7%

DEFENSE: 38%

Base: 0

Achievements: +18%

Equipment: +20%

ACHIEVEMENTS:

A GROWING CLAN RANK I

BANE OF RAPTORS RANK I

BEAR’S BANE RANK I

BREAKER OF WAR RANK I

CHIPMUNK KILLER RANK I

CLAN’S STRENGTH

DEFIANT CLANCHIEF

DEMON DESTROYER RANK I

DUNGEONEER RANK I

ELITE KILLER RANK I

FIGHT FOR THE RESOURCES RANK I

FIRST ACHIEVEMENT EARNER

FIRST CHALLENGER

FIRST CLASSER

FIRST DUNGEONEER

FIRST TO FIVE

FIRST TO TEN

FIRST TO TWENTY-FIVE

GAUNTS BANE RANK 2

GIANTS BANE RANK 1

HIGHER LEVEL RANK 1

HIGHER LEVEL RANK 2

HIGHER LEVEL RANK 4

HOB KILLER RANK I

LEVEL MILESTONE RANK 1

LEVEL MILESTONE RANK 2

LEVEL MILESTONE RANK 3

ONE STRIKE

PATRON’S FIRST

RAT SLAYER RANK 1

REPEATED IGNORE RANK 1

STRIKING HIGHER

THE FIRST BANE

TROGLODYTE KILLER RANK I

UNPREPARED DUNGEONEER

WAR LEADER RANK I

SKILLS & ABILITIES:

EVALUATE RANK TWO (ACTIVE SKILL)

DEFIANT RAGE RANK TWO (ACTIVE ABILITY)

HEAT RESISTANCE RANK ONE (PASSIVE ABILITY)

MENTAL RESISTANCE RANK ONE (PASSIVE ABILITY)

POISON RESISTANCE RANK ONE (PASSIVE SKILL)

BOONS:

THUNDERCLAP RANK TWO (ACTIVE ABILITY)

CLASS:

AURA OF ATTACK RANK TWO (ACTIVE ABILITY)

BREAKER’S BANNER RANK ONE (ACTIVE ABILITY)

LIGHTNING BULWARK RANK TWO (ACTIVE ABILITY)

OFFENSIVE/DEFENSIVE WEAPONRY (PASSIVE ABILITY)

PRECISION STRIKE RANK TWO (ACTIVE ABILITY)

STANCE RANK TWO (ACTIVE ABILITY)

RACIAL:

ADAPTABLE (PASSIVE SKILL)

DISEASE RESISTANCE (PASSIVE SKILL)

GO BEYOND RANK TWO (ACTIVE ABILITY)

TRAITS:

UNFETTERED

EQUIPMENT:

ONYX: LEVEL 10 SOUL WEAPON

CLEAVE RANK TWO (ACTIVE ABILITY)

LIGHTNING STRIKE RANK ONE (ACTIVE ABILITY)

SHIELD BASH RANK ONE (ACTIVE ABILITY)

SMASH RANK ONE (ACTIVE ABILITY)

WIDE CLEAVE RANK ONE (ACTIVE ABILITY)

CHALLENGER’S MAIL ARMOR SET 5 OF 5

CHALLENGER’S BOOTS

CHALLENGER’S BRACERS

CHALLENGER’S CHEST

CHALLENGER’S GLOVES

CHALLENGER’S LEGGINGS

ELEMENTAL SURGE

WINDSTEP

CLAN BRADY

CLAN RANK: CLANCHIEF

CLANHOLD: NORTHWOOD