Torture is a necessary thing for all nations to survive. Torture, meaning the means of gaining information, retribution, or to set an example by the means of physical or mental abuse. Torture is a broad topic, and a broad art in it's own right, and is limited only to the creativeness and sadistic imaginings of the assaulter.

However, I certainly debate the morality of torture at the discretion of organizations whose primary causes orbit about the divine and holy. How is it that torture; a most feared tool of evil, is being commonly applied by the hands of men and women sworn to abolish that evil? How are they better than say, Lolthites, when they imprison their enemies on sight and torture them at their own discretion just as Lolthites do?

As I see it, torture to a certain extent is a crime without punishment, because there is no authority powerful or bold enough to stand against these blatant abuses of power from the Clergy, Inquisitors, and other people of repute. It is a moral crime. A tragedy, and a disgrace upon the civilised peoples of the world.

However, I am a reasonable man, and see the need for this dark trade of man and his allies. This text is to explain how one should morally use that power, so that he does not lose the faith of the people. One needs a legitimate reason; a serious cause, and urgent need for torture; and making a man talk is an art to be undertaken with a scalpel, not a club.

Concerning reasons to use it.

One would use torture for several reasons. We will first address the seeking of information.

Often when torture is applied, the torturers are seeking a confession or knowledge that they believe the victim is in possession of. When violent methods are applied, it is perhaps the least effective method of gaining knowledge. The reason being is that after a certain point, the victim will feel the urge to admit to nearly anything, and say everything just to end the pain. My implication being that the information gained is largely false, or exaggerated.

Second, we will address retribution, or punishment.

Here is where we will bring in an entirely new mentality. What crime you commit, this is returned to you. If, for example, the criminal steals a sword worth 1000 bronze pieces. Then the criminal is fined that amount, or if they cannot pay, is forced into manual labor worth the equivalent. Rather than simply torture them, you make use of them.

In special cases, such as a traitor to the state, information is necessary for the rooting of a conspiracy theory. In this case, one must understand that this victim must die, no matter the outcome of his torture. If a criminal deserving of torture is let free, he will become even more dangerous to the torturer. A man who is crippled cannot strike again. But a man who is injured will recover to wreak his vengeance.

A different means of torture might be needed. I have heard of a method where a slight electrical charge from an attending wizard may be transmitted over the victim's body. Thus causing him great discomfort. After an hour or two of constant pain, his mental barriers will crack, and he will relent.

Another method is to knock the victim out, and allow them to awake, their limbs and head all secured to a table by metal braces; especially the head, so that it might not move at all. Here a small faucet; perhaps a narrow hole in a funnel, should be hung above the victim's forehead, and filled with water. The steady dripping of cold water upon the forehead, mixed with the fact that the victim is hungry, and thirsty, and cannot sleep due to the constant and infuriating drip on their skull will slowly drive them mad. It is at this juncture, once a number of days has passed, that you bluff. You offer to spare their families, their lives, offer them food for information etc. This method of torture doesn't kill, and leaves the victim intact for use as a negotiating chip.

Let it be known that I do not condone torture. Nay, I resent it and hate it. This is a method that I believe more humane and sane then those that the drowic races use, and far more effective and efficient. Remember that public displays of punishment which the people resent, as in whipping, are likely to gain you no friends. Torture should only be administered to the most valuable of prisoners, to gain the most vital information. Never should a clergyman involve themselves in this dirty work lest they taint their hands, and sow the seeds of fear and distrust in the church. Let the soldiery bloody their hands; that's what's expected of them. That is their job, and let us not mix their purpose.

*The text is signed with an elegant CI, leaving those who read it to guess as to the author*

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Cieno