why would the guards looking for "the brotherhood" torture people to death?

[The Mighty 6 platoon]

no it isn't.... at all

Err yes it is. The guards are all laughing and joking while torturing people, and aren't really that interested in the answers to the questions. They are taking pleasure from inflicting pain on others, that's sadism.

[magictrick]

No, it's clear in the tv show that the guards are sadists doing it for their own enjoyment.

How much more do you need? A dictionary definition of sadism to pop up?

It would appear the definition is needed

[The Mighty 6 platoon]

It would appear the definition is needed

Indeed. Clearly the makers of Game of Thrones drastically overestimated the intelligence of a certain section of the audience.

[Skydiver]

They're bad guys, it's what they do.

they're bored and have an overabundance of prisoners so why not torture them and see what happens?

[g.o.d]

they're bored, sadist. It's simple. It's also in books, for example vargo Hoat

[slimjim]

Err yes it is. The guards are all laughing and joking while torturing people, and aren't really that interested in the answers to the questions. They are taking pleasure from inflicting pain on others, that's sadism.

I never got the impression they weren't interested in the answer