[closed] RACK YOUR BRAIN

[lumelume]

WHO: Bastien, Edgard, Mado, Nikos
WHAT: a seminar on torture devices, given by people who know nothing
WHEN: early Cloudreach
WHERE: the countryside around Hasmal
NOTES: we're shaving Bastien's mustache. also cw for incompetent torture I guess

This had been a perfectly standard scouting mission, a small party sent some days north of Kirkwall to investigate alleged Venatori activity in the region. What they find is just that, but not in the way they might have imagined: it's a fallen caravan, the colors and heraldry surrounding the wagons identifiable as Tevinter if not Venatori, the occupants and their horses long gone.

Upon further inspection, it seems that there was a small contingent of Venatori on their way to a salon at the home of Ailbert Chins-Ranton, a wealthy Marcher who has been, up till now, otherwise unremarkable. Amidst their belongings is a letter addressed from Messere Chins-Ranton to a Hortensia Bambalio and her husband, Marcus, inviting them to attend a salon where they can showcase their 'marvelous discoveries'.
The marvelous discoveries in question are a case full of what appears to be torture paraphernalia, devised by (if the nameplate is any indication) one Titus Pasilias, an artificer local to Vyrantium, who was commissioned for this purpose and, as it would seem in the letter, is quite enthusiastic about demonstrating his creations on an unfortunate slave named Manius.

These four were to attend a salon at Chins-Ranton's country manor this very day, and the party has just enough time to rifle through the caravan's supplies to determine who among them will be whom.

Comments

[cozen]

[ He'll allow it. He'll squeeze it, even, while making a noise somewhere between a whimper and a stop at Nikos' I think that was a threat.

Then he closes his eyes and holds his animal-fat-smeared face very still. His trust in Edgard's competence with a razor doesn't stretch quite far enough for Bastien to try talking in the meantime. ]

[muckspout]

Not a threat, [He objects. Edgard throws a look at Nikos. He needs to keep an eye on that one.]

Don't worry, Bastien. You can keep your eyes closed, but I need you to lift your head up a little. Good.

[With one hand on Bastien's jaw, it strikes Edgard how few swipes of the blade it takes to rid Bastien of the mustache. Something so powerful vanquished so easily.]

There. It's done. [Edgard wipes the animal fat away with his sleeve and then quickly squats to collect the remains of the stache for presumably a burial. He pats Bastien lightly on the shoulder.] You look great. You can open your eyes now.