[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

[lumelume]

No need to get blood all over the lovely hardwood!

[Lady Hortensia's esteemed husband has been standing at her side, enjoying the show (and, of course, watching the crowd). He beams as he steps forward, withdrawing another apparatus from the case.]

My dear, I have always wondered about this one!

[cozen]

Ah. The Wishbone—for how it makes one wish for death.

[ Bastien takes the device, pauses to give his head a practiced little shake to get his wig out of his eye, and holds it up in display. ]

While your guest is getting to know the bulb, you may permit them to lay their heads here, within the bars.

[ Also passed to Nikos—though Bastien does hold a hand out to offer to take the bulb of pain back, if it isn't going into Edgard's mouth. ]

i'll put myself in jail for this joke don't worry

[muckspout]

[Edgard grimaces grotesquely in horror with his hands on his face at Nikos' offer and watches as the bulb passes back to Bastien. He falls backward with a thunk when the wishbone is shook.]

NO! [He cries.] New and stranger tortures? [He crouches on his knees.] I, a mere slave, never heard of a Wishbone! What's the story?