[Wids]

As some of your characters know from in-character chatter, Tristella has planned to author "Tristella's Tortures," a series of books in which Tristella uses her knowledge, expertise and eloquence to teach others about the various ancient methods of subjecting other people to pain, fear and misery. As she has related several times, the idea of penning the series came when she first visited Sweet Petal's torture chamber, skimmed over its bookshelves and realized, "I can do better."

But the problem here is that I'm stumped over which step to take next. Right now, the books are nothing but blank books with titled covers. So the first step has been taken, but that second step's being a real pickle.

As it is with any book series, the first book is very important for both the author and the readers; it serves to introduce the readers to the series while setting the tone and framework for the entire series. Do a lackluster job with Book 1 and the readers won't come back for Books 2 and beyond. Do a stellar job with Book 1 and Books 2 and beyond will practically write themselves. So considering that each book is, in essence, Tristella and me writing an essay--however short or long--about a certain type of torture technique and all its variations, I'd really like to make that first book count.

But even villains (and their players) can have standards. There are some torture devices in human history that are so invasive and "squicky" that even I won't touch them. So don't expect any books about any exceptionally nasty doodads like the Pear of Anguish or the Judas Cradle. Why not? Just send your kids to another room and hit Google. You'll get the idea.

So, with all that jazz aside, which of these methods and/or devices should be turned into a colorful and informative little book first?

Striking, Caning and Flagellation - Simple but effective, the art of hitting other people where it hurts has been around since the dawn of civilization. Even a common oaf can do it, though a master of rods, paddles and lashes can do vastly more.

Pillories and Cages - Sometimes, the best pain for the job is not physical, but psychological. And the psychological pain which an exposed, helpless and humiliated victim may suffer before a mob of his or her own peers can be terrible indeed.

Presses - From mere weights piled on a victim's chest to thumbscrews, torture boots and iron crowns, these methods and devices involve the slow crushing of either a part of the body or the entire body as a whole.

Spikes - This book covers devices which use spikes and barbs--often many small ones--to inflict pain and, in some cases, disfigurement. From torture chairs to knee splitters to the notorious Iron Maiden, such uses of spikes are myriad.

Burning and Branding - Some people find fire so terrifying that they'll confess to anything at the mere threat of its caress. For those who resist, branding offers a very painful and enduring reminder of one's crimes, while roasting the victim--partly or wholly--can be as swift or as slow as the torturer wishes.

Water Tortures - Typically playing on the victim's reflexive panic to the threat of drowning, water tortures--including the various forms of dripping, dunking and waterboarding--leave no physical marks yet can inflict lasting emotional scars.

Bastinado and Other Foot Tortures - The feet rank high among the body's most sensitive parts, and they offer many options to the torturer who wishes to inflict overwhelming torment while leaving few--if any--telltale marks. That some torture chairs have included stiff brushes for tickling the soles of the feet is testament to how useful this part of the body can be.

Suspension - The body was not designed to hang or bend in certain ways, and these methods prey on such limits. These methods--which may sometimes be combined with other torture techniques--include strappado, squassation, picquet and inverted hanging.

The Rack - The most infamous torture device that ever was, the Rack comes in almost as many forms as its victims. Though almost never fatal, the Rack's use can easily cause great agony, dislocation, permanent crippling and even dismemberment.

(Your suggestions go here.) - Have I overlooked something that you might like to see included in the Tristella's Tortures series? Let me know!

There should be some reasonable considerations with any suggestions, of course. For example, denailing (the method of forcefully separating fingernails or toenails from their nailbeds and even tearing them free) is a simple technique capable of inflicting considerable pain, and a skilled torturer can do it without inflicting permanent damage or telltale marks (after the nails have had time to grow back, anyway). But is there really enough substance to denailing to fill an entire book? In light of that consideration, denailing would probably be a poor choice for a book in the series.

I think that just about wraps it up. Now's your chance to put those poll clickies to good use and help me get over this pesky writer's block. Some of your characters are waiting for Tristella to start rolling out her new series, so this is one surefire way for them to get their copies in a timely manner. They might even be able to go to the front of the line whenever Tristella's first book signing comes around. ;)

So vote for your choice and explain why your choice should go first. I'll be tallying the votes in about a week and going from there, so thanks in advance.