The Torturer
The day wears on…
As dusk approaches, we pass through an ancient, derelict fortress, littered with desiccated corpses. It seems that some vicious battle once raged here — one with few survivors. But as we walk the high battlements…
The ashen bodies lurch suddenly to their feet. Seizing hold of us, the heedless carcasses bind us with chains. We cry and struggle, but it is little use. We are dragged into the fortress’ depths.
There, in a fetid cell deep beneath the ground, a man in ragged hood waits beside a table of terrible instruments. As his undead minions strap us to the table, the torturer hisses with pleasure. “Good evening. I am afraid that we have learned of a rat within our midst. Someone has sold out our position to the enemy — and we have reason to believe that it is one of you.”
As the torturer sharpens his knives, we understand. It is not the truth that he seeks, but a confession. It seems that the only way out of this nightmare is for one of us to take the blame. But who will our scapegoat be?
The Challenge
The spirit of the Torturer demands a confession for a crime we did not commit. One of us must take responsibility, or we will all be doomed to the Torturer’s malice.
Travellers may not discuss. Instead, the whole party closes their eyes.
Together, travellers count down from three. On the count of zero — while still keeping their eyes closed — all travellers point to another traveller whom they wish to accuse of the crime. Travellers may also point to themselves.
As all travellers continue to point, the Reader alone opens their eyes and counts the vote. The Reader’s own vote is included in this count; they cannot change it once they see the rest of the vote.
When the Reader has finished counting, all travellers lower their hands so as to conceal who voted for whom.
All travellers open their eyes.
Without revealing who voted for whom, the Reader tells the party the result of the vote.
HELP FROM AN ITEM
If any traveller carries a ROPE, their vote counts for two.
Success. If one traveller receives more votes than the rest, the Challenge is passed.
Failure. If the vote is split, the Challenge is failed.
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————If the Challenge was passed, the traveller who received the most votes becomes a Martyr for the party. If the Martyr owns any Blessings, they must discard them. Meanwhile, the traveller who received the fewest votes receives the Blessing of the Torturer. Ties are decided by the Reader.
If the Challenge was failed, the party has held out against the Torturer’s questioning — and suffers his fury. The party gains the Curse of the Torturer. Place the Torturer’s card in an area on the table reserved for Curses, so all the party can see it. If this is the party’s third Curse, click here.
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————The torturer laughs, his voice choked and vile. “But do you not see the terrible truth? You are all guilty…”
Horrified, we see the glint of a monstrous maw beneath the hood — teeth, serrated like knives. Then, in flash of dark fire, we are standing once more upon the fortress’ battlements.
The corpses are gone; we are alone.