[@GarlandDaHero],[@Suku],[@Guess Who],[@Enkryption],[@Burst],[@AdmrlStalfos19],[@Skyrte],[@Sunbather],[@Shizuochan],[@Hyyde322], as well as all future characters in the rp. [hr] [hider=The Dragon's Interrogation] [color=7B68EE][i][b]"Child of the Sky..."[/b][/i][/color] A voice rang out, calling from within the widespread arms of sleep. Soon, a dream formed in the minds of those who's destinies lie intertwined with one another, as a vision of the sky formed in their minds...or, rather, of themselves falling infinitely in that sky, limp and helpless as the winds tore at their backs, and roared in their minds. Soon, the bright morning sun that shone in the dreams set, creating a gorgeous crimson that painted the entire sky its shade of red. Now, floating before them was a being that could only be described as a [url=https://i.imgur.com/ENlL4E9.png]Bound Dragon[/url] floated before them, its arms tied together and forced to clasp against its chest, while its mouth and eyes were sealed. The presence of this being seemed...otherworldly, as if even in this sky of impossibilities, this being especially did not belong. [center][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpieDwSpdMg]♫♪[/url][/center] [color=7B68EE][b][i]"I am the Dawn, and Dusk of creation. I have come to you as you near the brink. Death stalks, and soon it shall reap. Your life comes to a close...yet the Sky has need of you yet. Here, you shall not fall. Here, you shall rise. As one who decides the fate of this bloodstained world, your fate lies beyond these prison walls. Answer me, Child."[/i][/b][/color] the dragon growled, not once moving its mouth. It was as if it spoke directly into your mind. If you focused, you would see that surrounding you were other, faint figures falling down at the same pace. Details were foggy, but a sense of...connection could be felt within the dreamers. [color=7B68EE][b][i]"Those who's fates you will entwine with your own...what will you do when the time comes to untie them? When bonds become only a hindrance to your aspirations?"[/i][/b][/color] As if compelled by the gravitas and divinity of the gargantuan dragon, honesty was the only thing that COULD flow from the Dreamers' thoughts. As if lying were impossible in the presence of this being. Again, it spoke after hearing your answers. [color=7B68EE][b][i]"This world has need of strength...dare you to carry that burden on your shoulders, when you yourself have failed before you have even begun?"[/i][/b][/color] Another question, the dragon's eyeless gaze seeming to burn your soul merely by observing. Now...it wasn't clear if this was a dream or reality. Another growl, and a final question asked. [color=7B68EE][b][i]"What is it that drives your Conviction, Singularity? How do you so fearlessly embark towards the end, knowing the destruction that may await you?"[/i][/b][/color] With his final question answered, the dragon beat his wings once, and the sensation of falling stopped completely, as if you and the other figures bathed in ethereal light had been completely stopped. Time seemed to stand still for a minute. Then two. Then three, four, five, and finally, after six, the deafening silence of a windless sky gave way to crumbling landscapes falling, memories of home, possessions, entire islands sent falling down past you. [color=7B68EE][b][i]"Such fragility...yet you shall outlast even the most durable. Such weakness, yet you shall overthrow the undefeated. I will not deny the possibilities that lie within you. Awaken, Children of the Sky. Your hour is at hand."[/i][/b][/color] As if you could no longer see, the world began growing dark, and, in a single, cacophony, the dragon's roar filled the empty dreamscape, the binds seeming to loosen for a moment as light filled the dream. Swallowing it whole, that light enveloped you as well, as well as the figures surrounding. Then, reality returned, as if a daydream had overtaken everyone. Or, a real dream, for those in Solitary Confinement. [/hider] [hr] [center]-Current Prisoner Status- Solitary Confinement: [b]Sasha Branwen[/b] (Indefinite Confinement. Warden's Note: Aristocrat mage. Bound in magic sealing shackles, lightly guarded. Not high importance. Favor from Montblanc.), [b]Lassie Belladonna Swings[/b] (2 Months Confinement), [b]Satirra Izyntanth[/b] (Indefinite Confinement), [b]Homura[/b] (1 Month Confinement), [b]Cayde Selmy[/b] (Lifetime Confinement; Dorian's orders: Keep completely isolated, no human contact allowed. Warden Note: Patch hole between Selmy and adjacent cell.) Research/Testing: [b]Dark Primal Beast of Galbaldia[/b] (Skathi. Warden's Note: Comatose. Skin impenetrable to injections, incisions, and electrocutions. Gauntlets found to be irremovable. Sielma's "Friend" hasn't managed to wake her either. To be disposed of tomorrow.), [b]Marshall Chambers[/b] (Head to be kept in jar of Formaldehyde. Warden's Note: Sielma's pet project. Other body parts stored in Officer chambers to keep from reforming.) Normal Confinement: [b]Kagami [/b](Warden Note: Mouthy brat, has some connection to the fall of Rigartas Isle. Half Rations until attitude changes.), [b]Arno Arrotyr[/b] (Warden Note: Official statement is drag racing, but his engineering prowess is impeccable. "Convince" at a later date to design schematics for warships. Bayde has expressed interest in hiring.), [b]"Headhunter" Gilvan[/b] (Warden Note: Former slave, fantastic athletic abilities. Ban wants him as a slave for Arena events.) [hr] [h3]Solitary Confinement[/h3][/center] [@GarlandDaHero],[@Guess Who],[@AdmrlStalfos19],[@Sunbather],[@Hyyde322] How oppressive these walls were, compared to all the others. Even amongst prisoners, these were the most violent, or outright sent here for the most heinous of acts. Of course, all falsehoods, as the Zweite never cared much for justice. Only punishment, and reaping their own rewards. Here lies many, who had been here for varying lengths of time, with the aristocrat's daughter being the most recent one, only brought in just the other day and bound at the ankle, unable to cast magic with the Ether-lock placed upon her. The copper Dhirom, Short-Horned Draph, and woman who insisted on staying masked were all sent for fighting, whether it be against other inmates, guards, or others, they have for the most part been sentenced to an indefinite stay. Lying here for much longer, however, was none other than the nephew of Crimson Dorian, who was accused of botched assassination. Having had no contact in what seemed like three years now, his only saving grace to his sanity had been the small hole in his wall that let him hear his fellow inmate Satirra. There was no hope of escape from such a place...no such thing as someone who could escape from Ziggurat in the first place, but usually those in Normal Confinement at least had that 1% chance. Here, that 1% was crushed beyond recognition, leaving those whom were told to never see light again to rot. But, something was different about today. Today was the only day, once per month, when a new airship would arrive carrying munitions, supplies, guard changes, and, of all things, today was when Sielma, one of the 13 herself was slated to be leaving with a large number of the stationed guards. Some sort of military expedition, one could assume. Today was a once in a lifetime chance...one that would require all of them to work together. Without weapons or magic, the only strength they would have was that small hole in the wall that allowed for coordination to happen. A plan to form, and for chains to break. [color=fff79a][b]"...Anybody wanna sing a song while the guard shift changes?"[/b][/color] A fellow solitary confinement inmate said, a burly [url=https://i.imgur.com/7pJEKcr.jpg]Draph Male[/url] that had done his best to try and improve the mood in such dour conditions. To...no real avail, really. [color=fff79a][b]"...You all alright? Sounded like you all zoned out."[/b][/color] he said, before the obvious became apparent...he was OUTSIDE his cell. [hr] [center][h3]Research/Testing[/h3][/center] [@Suku],[@Enkryption] [color=696969][b][i]"...Skathi..."[/i][/b][/color] a faint, yet familiar deep voice called out in the depths of the imprisoned Erune's mind. She would become aware of her surroundings, chained to a wall at both her ankles and wrists, though it seemed these were less to restrain, and more to simply hold her upright. No doubt her body would ache after spending years like this in sleep...but escaping those shackles would prove no problem, save for the figure standing before her. Rather than a guard, a small harvin with violet hair tied back in a small bun seemed hard at work observing a head in a jar, while a much taller [url=https://i.imgur.com/uZxVhi7.jpg]human woman[/url] stood right next to her, her mere presence sending chills down her spine. Something was...different about this one. Gingerly tapping the harvin on the shoulder, she smiled warmly. [color=E0FFFF][b]Sielma, we have to go dear. We can pick Marshall's brain next month, too."[/b][/color] she said, extending her hand, which the harvin accepted without hesitation. [color=8882be][b]"...Okay...Morgianna."[/b][/color] she said glumly, being lead by the hand as if she was a child. Stopping in the doorway, she waved at the head in the jar. [color=8882be][b]"...Bye-Bye Mr. Chambers."[/b][/color] she added as they left, not once letting go of the knife that she held clutched in her other hand, a violet dagger drenched in splatters of red. [color=696969][b][i]"...Skathi...the...isle...need..."[/i][/b][/color] the voice in her mind grew more faint, before fading out entirely, her familiar Patron having awoken her from her sleep...but clearly different from the Dragon she had seen in her sleep. Awake enough that she would see a guard dead on the floor, caked in his own blood, with an obvious wound right through his heart. Along the walls were other people, chained up much like she was, many of whom were emaciated and pale, having numerous wounds healed, or open along their bodies, as well as stitches over various vital areas. Some were simply left decomposing on the walls. In Marshall's mind, he would feel a presence speak to him. [color=fff200][b]"...One who's heart reeks of Envy...oh, if only you had your arms to strangle that girl. Though, that woman...something is off with her. You cannot die, but do avoid causing yourself additional trouble like this. Time for you to get up, my Avatar."[/b][/color] the Lady within his mind spoke, in her usual condescending tone. Despite being a deity of supposed virtue, she certainly prodded Marshall with unreasonable demands, ones she knew were impossible JUST to make eternal suffering more insufferable. Regardless, the faintest twitch resounded in his mind...it seemed someone had dropped his right arm, just close enough for it to be within his mental range of control. If he could get off the table and out of the jar, perhaps he could connect to it. [hr] [center][h3]Ordinary Confinement[/h3][/center] [@Shizuochan],[@Burst],[@Skyrte] The same day was happening as it always did for those in the "normal" prison cells at Ziggurat, namely a day of hard labor, minimal meals, trying to not get into a brawl to avoid solitary confinement, the usual. And, as usual, behind the guard's backs those confined to their cells were plotting for TODAY to be THE DAY that they all spring loose. In particular, the knowledge that two potential helmsman resided in the same cell gave Arno and Kagami quite a bit of clout in the plannings. Another key factor of this relied in the natural athleticism and hidden ability of Gilvan. While every inmate was operating with an Ether-lock shackle on that normally would surpress their ability to manipulate ether entirely, gradually kicking his own ankle-shackle over time has caused it to no longer function, a fact that they've kept secret from the guards. Now, the biggest key to their plan lied hidden inside his cell, the thing that could break down anything if used with his ability... A circular rock. Once the guard began moving to leave, a slender hand gave the signal for Gilvan to "go for it", belonging to the organizer of the breakout, a shrewd [url=https://i.imgur.com/G3Jxezh.png]erune woman[/url] that, having managed to pilfer from the kitchens unseen, controlled the flow of food, and naturally handsomely bribed those who weren't interested with the only thing of value that could fill their stomachs. Some said that she was a merchant before coming here, and some a thief, but right now, she was the organizer of what would be the first successful prison break in Ziggurat's history.