Torture of Banisz
by hughpierre
Summary
Described as dumb and arrogant by his enemies; and charismatic and open-handed by his supporters, Banisz left an indeminable legacy on his people. The most noteworthy being his death.
Two or three hundred years ago, a legendary Tetlachihuiani known as the first Black Ghost created, perhaps, the most famous focus stone ever: the Star Stone. A transmutative catalysis capable of resuscitating life into the recently departed. The star stone served for centuries as a tool for healing by the Ghost's family, who tended to those able to hike though their mountains to find them.
In a sudden reversal of medicinal use; the later Black Ghost of Banisz's time developed a technique, specifically for Banisz, where the victim is stabbed to death, revived; disemboweled, revived; flayed, revived; sliced, revived; and again and again; the process was repeated with ever more gruesome means. He was only allowed to finally die after his one and only infant son was killed by a rival warlord during his captivity.
Historical Basis
Banisz was the only child of a rich and noble family of the Mist. Who knocked back several rival claimants to territorial supremacy, invaded the Triple Alignment, kicked out the Tinged from Mist, beat back the Sang's counter invasion and was captured, by the then, Black Ghost.
Highs
As a captain at 15, he won a battle against three experienced warlords that started in a forest and ended in their camp, without resorting to kill anyone. Three years later, Banisz took command of his families forces and allied with the Brine Witches when they invaded and redirected them towards the Sang, personally leading the elite Kiri riders across the waters. When the Battle for Sangsalgu turned against the witches, he timed a clever maneuver to evict the remainder from his territory. From here, it could be questioned if this was wise because he then had to fight off the angry Sang warriors thirsty for revenge, on his own. Part of Sangsalgu's strategy involved coordinating with Banisz's enemies hiding in the eastern mountain boundaries. Even though Banisz's men had to face two fronts, they still managed to fight Sangsalgu to their previous borders. His waves of successes led him to decide to wipe out the holdouts for once and all.Lows
However, it is recorded that during a scouting mission, Banisz was captured and subsequently tortured to dead. Without his planning or his resolve; his family's dynasty collapsed. Exactly why the Tetlachihuiani (whose name is unknown to us) would do this, is unclear. It has been put forward that this Black Ghost was simply sadistic. A former personal guard had said he recognized the Ghost as a mistreated captive from prior conflicts and later sought vengeance. Due to the apparent intimate nature of Banisz's torture execution, perhaps there was a personal motivation.Spread
Banisz was kept under the personal care of the Ghost for weeks after his capture. Then, to ensure the spread of his fate to any would-be-invader, had Banisz strung from some contraption by his wrist, off a cliff edge overlooking the path of a patrol he knew would be passing, and the Star Stone shinning above him like a halo. His screams of agony, as reported by the patrols, echoed through the rivers and ravines all the way to the main camp who did not yet know of the source.
With the advent of defeat, Banisz supporters attempted to keep his memory alive by painting his life story on pottery and embroidering tapestries. Where feasible, they used humble colours for the early years, shifting to brighter choices in his crowning glories, then dark and dull to depict his grim end. Many friends of Banisz, military and civilian, promoted these actions to discredit and discourage future pilgrimages to the Ghost's healing arts.
This does not seem to have worked too well. Though less people have made the trek in subsequent years, it had always been difficult to visit the Black Ghosts on account of the terrain. So to say spreading the tale led to negative repercussions is an exaggeration. In fact, doing so seems to have led to Banisz being remembered for the one thing he would not want to be remembered for.
Cultural Reception
Even to those who had never heard his name, to 'Banisgiz' someone has come to mean a warning that future bitter enemies would lob at each other.
In Literature
The disturbing imagery and story of Banisz's many deaths led to the crafting of a new word: Banisgiz. Throughout the entire valley, it came to be used as a byword for inescapable torment. An outcome that the Black Ghost is purported to have promised to Banisz before the torment began.
Your end will come through such torment that your name shall become but a byword for unimaginable pain to future generations
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