Living Trap

The Mana Prison is not so much a creature, but more of a construct. At best it can be described as a very powerful magical flying frog. It is one of many different types of homunculi that are created by the dark order of sorcerers called the Alizarin Sons. The method and ingredients in constructing/summoning this creature are closely guarded by the Sons, but it's dangerous purpose is widely feared. The inverse bowl shaped Mana Prison attacks a wizard by swooping in from above, and enveloping the entire head of the victim. As soon as it is settled on the now cocked back head, the mind of the victim is instantly thrown into a torpor filled with dreams of consuming bliss. The Prison serves many purposes to it's master, firstly as it feeds on the latent magical energy of it's victim, it's waste becomes siphoned mana directly into the body of it's creator. Secondly, the Prison acts as a magical remote control, where the dreaming mage acts as a powerful minion of the Alizarin Son. Fortunately for us, it is very obvious when a wizard is under the control of a Mana Prison (as you can see), and he cannot be used in any discreet manner, as his spell casting and movement is jerky and awkward at best. Part of the real horror of the homunculus is that, though it is under command from it's creator, it is heavily influenced by the strong passions and desires of it's prey. So an infected wizard will often destroy or kill everything and everyone he loves. If he has the misfortune of surviving his possession, he will 'awake' to a nightmare reality of his own creation.

The Mana Prison is used commonly in folklore to rebuke children in age old wives tales, and parables.

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The creature is for all intensive purposes a magical machine, so I designed it to have a sort of detached, mechanical expression.