I recently had an idea that I thought was interesting, and I swear I thought it up before I knew anything about Warhammer 40k. The problem with this idea is that I'm not real great at thinking outside the box, not without ideas anyway.
The concept was a medieval/medieval fantasy society that abounds with magical artifacts, except that the artifacts are bits of technology being used in ways the creators never intended or expected, like one of these being used as a torture device.
If you've read Roadside Picnic, it's the same idea, except you are looking at it from the aliens perspective and saying something like: "They are using a flashlight as a power source? They are mystified by barrels?"
So, any ideas? What sort of uses would medieval people find for the magical items that still functioning modern/near future tech would be to them?
1. Weapon suggestions are better if it's something modern folks wouldn't expect to be used as a weapon.
2. No firearms suggestions unless it's use is so far from a weapon that the two would never be associated together.
3. The further from the intended use the better.
4. Assume fuel, ammunition and power are unlimited, unless it is plentiful enough that the object doesn't become useless after five minutes use.
Automated card sorter used as an oracle?
Pathfinder RPG Core Book, discovered by characters, is thought to be an artifact of strange knowledge.