Chinese Cities
06-06-2007, 02:06
Hall of Justice, Beijing
Waves of nauseating, knee-bending pain washed over the broken body of the former army officer as he was dredged from the inky darkness of unconsciousness. Bleary eyes stained with sweat opened to the harsh glare of interrogation lights as the flood of memories began filtering back into his fogged brain.
“You will tell me everything you know.”
The man looked up into the expressionless face of his captor. Diminutive in stature, the minister nonetheless carried about him an aura of supreme authority. As master of the imperial palace, Wang Lubao possessed command of the thousands of servants comprising His Majesty’s household. In addition, he controlled what information reach Emperor Kangfu, and thus held his superior’s total confidence.
“If you choose to continue with your insolence, I will have no choice but to punish you further.”
“Arrogance is about all I have left.”
Lubao shuffled forward. The minister’s lame leg lent him an awkward rolling gait whenever he walked, a fact for which he compensated with an infamous streak of cruelty.
“The charge of high treason has been leveled against you. This most serious offense carries a sentence of death by decapitation,” Lubao declared. “I could easily order your immediate execution, but I need something more from you. I want to know who the others are.”
“I will do nothing you desire.”
“You have already done more than you realize.”
That was true, and once more the prisoner rued his weakness. Lubao’s torture since his arrest over a week ago had been excruciating. He had been smeared with oil, and his body held over flames until the skin on his back blistered. His wrists were placed in irons, and he had been hung from the ceiling beams for hours at a time until the joints in his arms separated. Jailers had beaten him until he passed out, then branded their captive’s chest with red-hot irons to revive him and the process repeated. He had confessed his treachery under the intense pressure.
“I am innocent of any crime. There is no proof that I-”
“Silence! You will not mock imperial authority.”
Lubao motioned, and two guards squeezed through the doorway and into the small cell. The man was unchained and dragged to the tower’s anteroom, which was bare except for a long plank table at the chamber’s center. The wardens placed him facedown on the rough wooden surface, then fastened his arms and legs securely to rings at the four corners.
The minister produced a double-tailed whip from underneath his robes. “You refuse to reveal the secrets of your disgusting group? Very well. You shall suffer until I receive my information.”
The ends of the whip clinked against each other, and the prisoner saw that they were tipped with iron. Lubao drew back his arm, and lashed out on the man’s bare back. Pain exploded through his body like vivid fire and he shrieked in agony.
“Tell me what you know.”
The man gathered up his last bits of strength and raised his head. “Damn you to hell.”
He could hear Lubao roar with rage. The blows rained down on the captive’s back until pain overcame his senses and unconsciousness claimed him once more.
-----
Open Communiqué
Ministry of Foreign Relations
Greetings to the international community,
The Empire of Chinese Cities has been under the benevolent rule of the emperors of the Huang dynasty for centuries. Our people, under their careful and wise guidance, have reaped the benefits of an orderly and balanced society. Yet now, all we have toiled for has come under threat. It has recently been discovered that a dangerous underground organization, known to their followers as the ‘Libertarians,’ have begun operations in our peaceful nation. These radicals send out roots of evil, seeking to corrupt the simple minds of the masses to overthrow His Majesty. It is this dire menace that has forced the Empire to turn away from its previous isolationism and to appeal for aid from the international community.
We seek to bring these traitors to justice, and any aid you may spare will be taken with everlasting gratitude.
Quan Mu
Minister of Foreign Relations
Spokesperson of His Majesty the Emperor
-----
[OOC: I’m looking for a few nations to support the Libertarians and about the same number to support the current regime. Notice I left the identity of the prisoner very open-ended. The Libertarians seek an end to authoritarian rule, but beyond that you can make it anything you want. Ideally, this will culminate in some sort of revolution in my country. Whether it will succeed is still up in the air at this point. Serious RPers only please.]
Waves of nauseating, knee-bending pain washed over the broken body of the former army officer as he was dredged from the inky darkness of unconsciousness. Bleary eyes stained with sweat opened to the harsh glare of interrogation lights as the flood of memories began filtering back into his fogged brain.
“You will tell me everything you know.”
The man looked up into the expressionless face of his captor. Diminutive in stature, the minister nonetheless carried about him an aura of supreme authority. As master of the imperial palace, Wang Lubao possessed command of the thousands of servants comprising His Majesty’s household. In addition, he controlled what information reach Emperor Kangfu, and thus held his superior’s total confidence.
“If you choose to continue with your insolence, I will have no choice but to punish you further.”
“Arrogance is about all I have left.”
Lubao shuffled forward. The minister’s lame leg lent him an awkward rolling gait whenever he walked, a fact for which he compensated with an infamous streak of cruelty.
“The charge of high treason has been leveled against you. This most serious offense carries a sentence of death by decapitation,” Lubao declared. “I could easily order your immediate execution, but I need something more from you. I want to know who the others are.”
“I will do nothing you desire.”
“You have already done more than you realize.”
That was true, and once more the prisoner rued his weakness. Lubao’s torture since his arrest over a week ago had been excruciating. He had been smeared with oil, and his body held over flames until the skin on his back blistered. His wrists were placed in irons, and he had been hung from the ceiling beams for hours at a time until the joints in his arms separated. Jailers had beaten him until he passed out, then branded their captive’s chest with red-hot irons to revive him and the process repeated. He had confessed his treachery under the intense pressure.
“I am innocent of any crime. There is no proof that I-”
“Silence! You will not mock imperial authority.”
Lubao motioned, and two guards squeezed through the doorway and into the small cell. The man was unchained and dragged to the tower’s anteroom, which was bare except for a long plank table at the chamber’s center. The wardens placed him facedown on the rough wooden surface, then fastened his arms and legs securely to rings at the four corners.
The minister produced a double-tailed whip from underneath his robes. “You refuse to reveal the secrets of your disgusting group? Very well. You shall suffer until I receive my information.”
The ends of the whip clinked against each other, and the prisoner saw that they were tipped with iron. Lubao drew back his arm, and lashed out on the man’s bare back. Pain exploded through his body like vivid fire and he shrieked in agony.
“Tell me what you know.”
The man gathered up his last bits of strength and raised his head. “Damn you to hell.”
He could hear Lubao roar with rage. The blows rained down on the captive’s back until pain overcame his senses and unconsciousness claimed him once more.
-----
Open Communiqué
Ministry of Foreign Relations
Greetings to the international community,
The Empire of Chinese Cities has been under the benevolent rule of the emperors of the Huang dynasty for centuries. Our people, under their careful and wise guidance, have reaped the benefits of an orderly and balanced society. Yet now, all we have toiled for has come under threat. It has recently been discovered that a dangerous underground organization, known to their followers as the ‘Libertarians,’ have begun operations in our peaceful nation. These radicals send out roots of evil, seeking to corrupt the simple minds of the masses to overthrow His Majesty. It is this dire menace that has forced the Empire to turn away from its previous isolationism and to appeal for aid from the international community.
We seek to bring these traitors to justice, and any aid you may spare will be taken with everlasting gratitude.
Quan Mu
Minister of Foreign Relations
Spokesperson of His Majesty the Emperor
-----
[OOC: I’m looking for a few nations to support the Libertarians and about the same number to support the current regime. Notice I left the identity of the prisoner very open-ended. The Libertarians seek an end to authoritarian rule, but beyond that you can make it anything you want. Ideally, this will culminate in some sort of revolution in my country. Whether it will succeed is still up in the air at this point. Serious RPers only please.]