The Coin's Edge

[Wigglesquirm]

Music: http://youtu.be/BMMLU_GAzcs

The creaking leather whip was black from the touch of damp rain water soaked to its core. On one end a gloved hand pulled, on the other
a bare hand pathetically scratched in an attempt to undo a fate already decided. Nikias stood holding the whip, the muscles in his arm throbbing
and with each passing second coursing with new blood. His new gift. His foot was firmly on the back of a woman dressed in her gold trimmed attire.
In one hand she clutched a ceremonial coin, the other still clawed at the whip around her neck. Nikias wondered how long she would struggle before
succumbing. Perhaps she would struggle long enough to drown in the puddle that formed beneath her from the rain. Suddenly a surge of power shot
through his arm and his muscles bulged. She seemed close to death now, but before she could let out her last breath her neck let out a crack.
From this moment, he was a priest. The coin dropped from her hand and into the muddy puddle, a symbol of Tymora. He let the whip loosen itself
from her limp throat and gazed over her cold body with green eyes as he coiled it slowly. Slender and weak, hardly a fit challenge in a physical battle.
You couldn't tell by looking at her now, but moments before she was throwing the unholy blessings of her goddess at him in full force. For certain
the battle had been in her favour, and yet here she lay. His luck or her misfortune?

It was all the proof he needed.

A hand fell on Nikias' shoulder and a silhoutte loomed behind him obscured by heavy rain.

"I'm surprised, I thought you were going to die." said the figure.

"This was the task you set and you didn't think I could do it?" replied Nikias, frowning.

"It isn't mine to set. It was you who needed to prove yourself to our Lady."

"What now?"

"Get some rest, you'll need it. I noticed the link grow stronger. You didn't think you truely did it all by yourself, did you? You have a piece now, of power."

Nikias slowly ran his tongue across the sharp of his teeth. The hand left his shoulder, and Nikias soon realised his mentor had been right. He was feeling tired now.
He continued staring down at the body as his mentor's footsteps trailed away. He noticed a small bloodstain appearing under her left shoulder blade. Nikias took off
his gloves and stuffed them into his pocket. Kneeling, he tore through the fabric to reveal a small cut. He traced his finger over the blood, it was just like his.
With a shakey hand he pried open the wound and with little hesitation or reason he sank his finger into it. He pushed through muscle, then to bone. His whole hand followed.
Pushing, forcing his way through tearing flesh and cracking bone. He felt his hand slide under her heart and he kept pushing still. His other hand soon followed, and both
led him shoulder deep until he forced his head within, then his torso. He felt himself break through to the other side and opened his eyes to a dark room. He could hear clacking
around him like stones falling atop one another. A tunnel of red light opened in the distance and he could feel a gaze from within it and a wicked grin. Studying the room he could
see now. Dice everywhere, illuminated in the red light, they were at waist height. He struggled toward the tunnel leaving a bloodied trail on the dice as he passed. Blood seemed to
pour from the collar of his tabbard, flowing down over the symbol of twisted black antlers.

Music: http://youtu.be/r53Rbzz5N48

Bad things happen to all, and only by praying to Lady Doom may we hope to be spared the worst of it. What was the price of a few for the saving of many?
How could he teach more, save more? Would he live up to what his mentor had expected? Nikias wondered what his mentor and goddess would think of him now.
He wondered what his friends and lover thought of him. There was still work to be done and time would tell.

He reached out to touch the light.

Nikias blinked his eyes open as light crept through the window. He could feel his lover's hair on his neck and head on his chest. Her scent, she smelled like whiskey and the smoke
of the Nymph. Her breathing was shallow, he could feel her breath. He lay still to enjoy the moment.

[Wigglesquirm]

Music:http://youtu.be/PqLBLqT6I7k

Nikias sat in a dimly lit inn room with all the supplies he needed. A small glass of tsuika sitting on the old wooden desk in front of him. Next to his drink was a small dark
wooden box, slightly bigger than the palm of a hand. In the center of the desk were three candles standing in a line with writhing flames.
Nikias reached for the box and pulled it closer to the edge of the desk. He opened the box to reveal a deck of cards. He scooped them into his hand and set the box aside.
They were clean with straight edges and intricate designs, a fresh deck. He shuffled the cards slowly and leaned back into his groaning chair with his eyes closed.
The pink of light dancing against his closed eyes and shifting cards finding their places, all he could see and hear. The taste of brandy lingering on his tongue.
Meditation pulled him deeper down within himself. Nikias found himself fading into his memories and shifting through them. Shallow cuts of vision and mouthed words.

"...That isn't the way, not with such haste. Some touch with a corrupting finger, planting a seed within their target. They shed the light where they want it to be and make them grow.
Growing and growing until they bare the fruits needed. Then they take the fruit, and leave the tree to rot. Some give them all that they want. Let their greed grow as their fortunes do.
All the while they never see the scavengers waiting. When they finally crumble they are picked at and ripped at and torn apart leaving but the imprint of bones. Some prefer to trap them.
Taking what they need or love most, hanging it atop a flame. Squeezing and squeezing until they can resist the inevitable trap no longer. Make them plead for deals, only so they can break them
in front of them before taking it all. Some are as blunt as to kick in the front door and take what they want.

None of these are bad ways of putting together a plan or carrying it out, Nikias. No, some are quite effective. This isn't our way however. We aren't here to inflict pain. We aren't here to grow our own wealth.
Even if some in our very clergy would have you believe so. The best way is to plan around their plan. Learn what it is and never let them know you're watching. Never let them see your shadow.
Be as the twisting black antlers. Grow and put yourself in all directions. Allow their voices to be sent down to your ears. When their plan is clear to you and you can see all, just pick which
card to pull."

Music:http://youtu.be/Hb5LwzVQnUM

The voice of his mentor faded away as he opened his eyes and gazed upon the house of cards he'd made in his meditation. The light of the flames behind it sending out shadows in all directions.
It was a strange arrangement of cards. Less like a house, more a jagged mountainous landscape. He couldn't see them all yet. He could see only shadowed faces. Though he could give them names.
Only three were clear enough so far. The Black and Blade. The Gold Giver. The Lips. He would need to see who was stacked atop who, until he could see who was at the very top.
He reached for a card and hesitated pulling his hand back.

"...That isn't the way, not with such haste."

He closed his eyes once more. When they opened the cards were back in the box and he'd blown out the candles. There was still work to do. When the time came, all the work would be summed up into
the pull of a card. Then the house would come crashing down in ways not even he could predict.

Just as he wanted.