Reimian Empire

So, he immediately incorporated the NPCs into the challenges, aligning them with the trials and other life difficulties.

I don't think so. If he (definitely) isn't tailoring the trials to the players, then why would he tailor them to the NPCs?
Therefore, the trials should be designed so that completing them is reasonably independent of the NPCs.
Overall, I like the way you're thinking, Ney. When I first read the description of the room, I basically decided that there were some checks, and passing them would allow you to stay alive. Like, the knife will actually "ephemerally" cut out the eyes, and you can insert some magical copies, not the eyes themselves, into the skull. The chair might also be the same, but it just looks menacing, and in reality, soda flows through a tube. But ugh, after each subsequent re-reading, I became convinced that no, it's unlikely. Well, at best, you can hope that this is just another illusion (this time, palace-like). In principle, the magic on the doors fits into this scheme, but the adventures of Father Cynius after death do not. In short, I don't know, it all looks bad.
Regarding Tristan's palms, well, you can take a risk and use them right away, without cutting anything out. But you still need to be prepared to heal him