Not Quite Torture?

Is anyone aware of any sort of interrogation techniques that can be classified as brutal but not torture? I'm trying to write a situation in which the protagonists are part of a revolution against the government that controls their kingdom and have almost won the battle. One of their comrades (who is vital to saving their world) has been kidnapped and taken to an undisclosed location by the land's ruler and a small cadre of loyalists, where they will be killed. The revolutionaries are trying to get this location from the former ruling council who have surrendered but are refusing to cooperate. I'm trying to avoid having them use outright torture to extract this information for two reasons:

• Reason 1: Despite the circumstances, the council and government are not evil or even corrupt; they're stubborn Knight Templars who believe that they are trying to save the world in their own way. The revolution is to stop them from botching the job and killing everyone. While the core protagonists are furious with them, a lot of people in the revolution admire these people so it wouldn't make sense for them to be tortured.

• Reason 2: Inflicting brutality upon them makes the revolution itself look bad, and since they had gained the support of the populace through rhetoric about changing the system and generally being better people than the old rulers, it would cause bad publicity.

So anyway, I'd just appreciate a few pointers on interrogation techniques that don't involve physical harm.

edited 31st Dec '16 2:03:31 PM by Swordofknowledge

Even psychological harm is considered torture. The primary alternative (which the FBI uses) is to develop a positive working relationship with the prisoner, and gradually get them to reveal more information over time. That, however, obviously, takes time. If you are pushed for time, the only other thing you can do is bribery. Make them an offer they can't refuse.

Also a threat. The revolutionaries can threaten to harm someone or something to get the council to collaborate. (It is not even necessary that they are actually willing to carry out the threat, only that the council thinks they are).

The infliction of physical or mental harm to force cooperation is kind of the definition of torture.

I'd agree with De Marquis that bribery would be the closest to what you want, but if they are as Knight Templary as you suggest that probably won't work. Threats are getting a bit close to psychological torture and unless you want to go full The Revolution Will Not Be Civilized, the former council would get lots of ammunition to demonize you.

Intercepting orders or letters might be better, or searching their stuff, but once again, time.

edited 2nd Jan '17 1:21:10 AM by Slysheen