Torture

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The Tickler, an expert torturer. By TheMico

Torture is the act of deliberately inflicting physical or psychological pain on a person in order to fulfill some desire of the torturer or compel some action from the victim. [1] It is also referred to as “tickling” in Westeros

About

The dungeon of the Red Keep’s lowest level is used for torture. It is supposedly safer to go through the fourth level of the dungeons in darkness, because there are things one would not wish to see.[2]

The Dreadfort is ill-omened, for it is said that the Boltons still keep torture chambers and a special room where they hang the flayed skins of their enemies, including several Kings in the North from House Stark.[3]

There are dungeons in the cellars of the Wolf's Den, including oubliettes, torture chambers, and rat-filled pits.[4]

The Lord Confessor was a position of in the royal court in the Seven Kingdoms under the rule of House Targaryen. The Lord Confessor served as the royal torturer and was overseen by the King's Justice.[5] There hasn't been a Lord Confessor since the reign of King Daeron II Targaryen.[5]

Maester Yandel reported that in Gogossos’s dungeons, torturers devised new torments.[6]

The Great Masters would use the pit in the Great Pyramid as a prison. There were torture chambers there where slaves were scourged and skinned and burned with red-hot irons.

Known torturers

Some characters tortured

Recent Events

A Clash of Kings

The Tickler is one of Gregor Clegane's men-at-arms, the group that captures Arya Stark, Gendry and Hot Pie in the Riverlands. The Tickler tortures the smallfolk of the Riverlands on the orders of Gregor, trying to gain information on the whereabouts of Lord Beric Dondarrion and any food and valuables they might know the locations of.[16] For this, Arya adds him to her list.[16]

A Storm of Swords

Lord Roose Bolton delivers a piece of Theon's skin to King Robb Stark and his mother, Catelyn Tully, shortly before the Red Wedding. Theon is reportedly being flayed alive by Ramsay Snow, the Bastard of Bolton, at the Dreadfort.[9]

At the Inn at the crossroads Sandor Clegane warns the innkeeper that the Mountain's men plan to torture him to find out where he keeps his gold.[17]

A Feast for Crows

Qyburn joins the court at King's Landing. Cersei Lannister has Qyburn torture the Blue Bard in the black cells, to convince him to give evidence against Queen Margaery Tyrell.[18] The torture so breaks his mind that even after the Blue Bard is delivered to the High Sparrow and whipped, he persists in the story that Cersei and Qyburn had taught him.[19]

During his torture, the Blue Bard is forced to list those he claims are Queen Margaery's secret lovers. Among them is Ser Osney Kettleblack who, under Cersei's instructions, goes to the High Sparrow to confess.[18] The High Sparrow has Osney tortured to verify his confession. Under that duress, Osney tells a different story, which implicates Cersei in the death of the previous High Septon and in having sexual relations with Osney.[19]

A Dance with Dragons

Lord Regent Kevan Lannister visits Cersei in her cell, and tells her that Qyburn is still in charge of the dungeons where most of the accused lovers of Margaery Tyrell are held. Cersei is pleased to hear this, as Qyburn can do wonders and horrors with his torture.

In Meereen Daenerys orders an investigation, permitting Skahaz mo Kandaq to torture a wineseller when she discovers that three freedmen were among the slain by the Harpy's Sons .[20]

Old Bill Bone tells Frog that Pretty Meris can stretch out a man’s dying for a moon’s turn. Books tells Frog a rumor that Daenerys Targaryen has had envoys torched.[21]

According to Ser Justin Massey, on Dragonstone Ser Clayton Suggs would gamble with the torturers and lend them a hand in the questioning of prisoners, especially if the prisoner were a young woman.[22]

Penny tells Tyrion Lannister that her brother Oppo decided they should leave King's Landing the night of the Purple Wedding before someone wondered if they'd had some part in the king's death and decided to torture them to find out.[23]

Outside Meereen Tyrion witnesses a group of Tolosi slingers torture and kill three slaves.[24]

Due to the torture he endured at Ramsay's hands, Theon Greyjoy's appearance has dramatically changed. He looks like he has aged forty years and several of his teeth have been knocked out; many more are loose meaning Theon cannot eat without suffering agony. Theon has lost three stone in weight, his skin has turned pasty, and his hair is white and brittle. He can no longer use a bow due to the loss of some fingers and he hobbles like an old man due to the loss of several toes.[25] Theon is mentally and physically broken by Ramsay Snow and lives in terror of him. [25] His sister Asha Greyjoy, who is a captive with Stannis's army, barely recognizes her brother Theon.[22]

Quotes

No one ever survived the Tickler’s questioning; No man. No woman. No child.[16]

Arya’s thoughts

She remembered the village by the God's Eye, and the way the villagers shrieked and screamed and whimpered whenever the Tickler started asking questions.[26]

Arya’s thoughts

Give them to the Shavepate. Skahaz, keep each apart from the others and put them to the question.[27]

Daenerys Targaryen

References and Notes