As Pascal was escorted by the guard to view the dungeon, he was hit with another wave of unfamiliar paranoia. He looked around at the winding corridor, the decorations becoming fewer and fewer until, finally, there was nothing but black walls and a spiral staircase at the end. As the pair approached the stairs the guard put Pascal in front of him and told him to walk. Pascal didn't argue as the guard had a hand on his sword and didn't seem to fear using it.

Pascal proceeded down the stairs and kept feeling wave after wave of paranoia wash over his mind. As he reached the bottom, he stepped forward and allowed the guard to stand next to him. Pascal thought of asking a question, but it was soon interrupted by the guard nudging him forward. Pascal again moved on and soon arrived at a locked iron door. The guard knocked and when the iron slide opened, he spoke with the Dungeon Master.

"Bringing another prisoner down Tarloc? He seems too clean to be a regular criminal. What is he?"

"He's not a prisoner Aramen. His Lordship wanted me to show him the dungeon before I took him to his hovel. Something about this may be his new home should he act without The Lords approval."

"Bring him in Tarloc. I'll give him the grand tour. It will scare some sense into him." Aramen let out an eerie cackle and slowly opened the door.

Pascal walked in with Tarloc's nudging, and followed the Dungeon Master. As Tarloc attempted to follow, Aramen stopped him.

"Tarloc, you know you aren't allowed to see the Dungeon. You're a member of the Upper Guard."

"Aramen, just once, let me see it. I won't let anyone know you let me."

"Tarloc! Ask me one more time and I'll have you moved to nothing more than a Prisoner in this dungeon. You'll get a good look then!"

"Fine. I'll leave you to give your 'Grand Tour' as you call it. Return Pascal to me in one piece outside that door, if you please."

At that, Aramen took Pascal into a side door and around a small walkway. The scent of flowers and springtime hit him and he began to wonder what was going on. As the pair rounded the corner, Pascal saw why it smelled as it did. This room was filled with flower pots and flowers of all sorts. When Aramen noticed Pascal's look of confusion, he spoke about it.

"This is the main room of the Dungeon you see. I have only twelve prisoners, and many of them are set to be executed by the gates. The remaining few are to be released in a couple of weeks. The torture is quick, and I do not enjoy much of it, which is why I have several people to do it for me."

"But what does that have to do with the flowers sir?"

"Don't call me sir. Its simply Aramen or Dungeon Master. The flowers are because the smell of burning flesh and rot can be unbearable. And I am also the castle botanist. So, many of the Lord's arrangements are picked and assorted here," Pascal began to say something but was stopped. "It may seem strange for me to be a torture master and flower grower, but I enjoy it."

"It is a strange combination, but I have learned the best people tend to have something strange about them. Is this the 'Grand Tour'? Or is there more to it?"

"There is more. This is why it's called such though. Had we gone through the entrance straight from the metal door, you'd have been in the prison chambers and through the door over here gets us to the torture room."

At that, the pair continued to the torture room. Pascal heard a scream as the oaken door creaked open. Aramen simply grinned and kept going forward.

The room was lit by three torches and a large central fire. In a corner was a chair that seemed normal, except when Pascal got near it, he noticed it was covered in three rows of inch long needles on the bottom and two rows on the back. Along the wall was a pair of shackles and a brazier with a hot iron brand in it. Next to the shackles was a giant wheel with leather straps on it. In the next corner was a table with four more straps and a prisoner on it.

"Next time you steal, the penalty will be higher! Do you understand," demanded an apprentice.

"Y-Yes! Please Make it stop!" Shouted the prisoner.

"He stole from a castle merchant and was caught. The penalty was he lost two fingers and two toes. He will be released in a few days," said Aramen as Pascal seemed to wonder the cause of the torture.

Along the joining wall was the rack. By far, the scariest stories dungeon survivors told where about the rack. A prisoner was being shackled to it by yet another apprentice and, as the man was bound, another prisoner began turning the crank.

"Brothers. Both caught robbing a trade caravan leaving the Castle. They are to die, because the Lord had placed a gift for a noblewoman in it as a way of showing interest in her. It was badly damaged and could not be sent. They are set to die on a Tuesday of His Lordship's choosing. In the mean time, they are forced to torture one another."

"That seems like the greatest torture of all."

"Indeed it is. Almost makes me not want to kill them. Almost."

As the brother on the rack began to scream, his sibling winced and tried to stop. At this, Aramen quickly hit him with a whip he seemed to have magically obtained. His target cried out and continued stretching his brother out.

In the next corner sat a shackle with an arm dangling in it. It was cut at the elbow and was still dripping blood. Its owner was screaming next to the central fire as his torturer pulled his arm out of the fire. Pascal didn't want to ask why, and continued walking with Aramen. The wall after this had a pair of ropes hanging a man upside down and the rope swung against a blade which slowly cut it.

"When the rope breaks, he hits his head. If he's knocked out, he is done for the day. If not, he's put on the chair by the entrance. This is the price for sneaking into the castle."

In the middle of this wall was another door, but just past it was a low bench and a pile of large stones. Pascal knew what this form of torture was used for: witches. It used to be done by the gates, but was moved in here after every witch chose to lie in front of family and friends and was set free. The blood on the top rocks showed it to be a deadly form of torture.

The pair walked through the door and quickly made it through the prison cell-filled corridor. At the end, they reached the large iron door and stopped. Aramen looked at Pascal and began to speak.

"If you wind up in this dungeon, I will get you out quick. You might end up as an apprentice to me. And if you need anything, send a letter to me."

"Thank you Aramen. Now, May I leave with this knowledge and horrid sights in my mind?"

"Yes. Farewell Pascal."

At that, Aramen opened the door and let Pascal out to Tarloc.