Grotesques

In the City of Ten Thousand Daggers, the word "Grotesque" is used as a noun to describe a particular type of narrative, be it a story, play, song, joke, or poem. Although there are no definitive requirements that qualify something to be labelled as a Grotesque, the common denominator is shock value. A Grotesque is scandalous, disturbing, or off-putting in such a way that merely repeating or performing the story in the wrong company puts one at risk of being accused of incivility, or in certain groups even ostracized. In more recent times, the term has been transferred to the visual arts, with sculptures, paintings, and even architecture showing shocking or horrific scenes being described as Grotesques.
Given that shock value is the defining characteristic of a Grotesque, it shouldn't be surprising that the subject matter of these stories tends to focus on horrific suffering and harm, graphic sex and violence, and inappropriately harsh (if sometimes true) or sacrilegious criticisms of important people and institutions. According to handed-down wisdom, a story about the local imperial magistrate killing a deer, feeding it to his children and then having sex with his mistress is just a story; A story about the local imperial magistrate killing his children, feeding them to his mistress, and then having sex with a deer is a Grotesque.
Whether Grotesques are considered vile and abhorrent or tantalizingly scandalous is a matter of fashion that changes frequently and varies from audience. Frequently, the subject matter or target of the story determines whether a particular audience will find the Grotesque to be hilarious or grounds for assault. As a general rule, it's a bad idea to share a Grotesque unless you're absolutely sure your audience will appreciate the tale.