Setting
You find yourself at the edge of a river, to the side is a well worn bridge to carry you across.
The Riverbank
You find yourself at the edge of a river, to the side is a well worn bridge to carry you across.
Minimap
northwest |
north |
northeast |
west |
You are here. |
east |
southwest |
south |
southeast |
The Riverbank is a part of 
River Rapids.
1 Places in The Riverbank:
72 Characters Here
Damian Farway [77] Careful, I actually -do- bite...but only if you want me to........no Im not a vampire......no not a werewolf either....I'm not a zombie either! Sheesh...I was just hitting on you.
Siana [76] Back to point one.
Accius [50] Could you be the Devil, could you be an angel?
Simone Guavella [33] A down on his luck artist with an abundance of talent.
Bella [29]
Tristian Blaine [24]
Deac Aurelius (canon) [24] Perhaps I can find what i am looking for. But in the mean time. I will have to make a new life
Raga-Acrus [23] A monster hunter know for her great skill and standoffish personality. Greatly despises jaggi, especially the Great Jaggi, mainly because her little sister was killed by one.
Damian Watts [18] An eccentric man, head of the research division of OAECE [quote]That's Doctor Watts, to you.[/quote]
The Platinum Vanguard [18] All shall witness the glory of Anthis.
Start Character Here »
When Jules had taken her to Hell, Ilyana had found some strange solace in sitting by the banks of the river of fire, watching the screaming souls within, the agony something that she found completely intriguing. Now, trapped in the hell in her own mind, she sat beside the riverbank just outside of Wing City, her legs tucked up beneath her. Normal people would have seen just a simple riverbank, the questionably polluted water flowing by at a fairly rapid rate. To Ilyana, however, it was almost exactly like the river of fire in Hell… Within the currents, she could see the faces of the damned. While normal people would hear the calls of riverbirds, Ilyana heard only the screams of agony, of torment.
It was still winter, and while Ilyana had planted herself firmly in a melting bank of snow, she didn’t notice the cold or the damp that had seeped through the jeans she wore. Granted, it was warm enough for the snow to melt, the river to run freely, but there was a bite in the air that warranted a normal person more cover than the black tank top Ilyana wore. She should be freezing… but in her reality, it was hot as… well… Hell.
In her hands, she clutched her camera and occasionally, she would attempt to capture pictures of what she saw, frowning down at the viewfinder when the shot that she’d taken of a particularly tortured soul showed only a partially submerged candy-wrapper being swept downstream in the strong current. She continued her attempts, however, certain that one would show her reality… so that she could prove to others that she wasn’t insane…
Never one for self-pity, Ilyana was giving in. Maybe she was insane. Maybe she was just another one of those tortured souls. Maybe she should throw herself into the river of fire… to join them… to scream in agony for the rest of eternity. But why didn’t the camera show it?
It was still winter, and while Ilyana had planted herself firmly in a melting bank of snow, she didn’t notice the cold or the damp that had seeped through the jeans she wore. Granted, it was warm enough for the snow to melt, the river to run freely, but there was a bite in the air that warranted a normal person more cover than the black tank top Ilyana wore. She should be freezing… but in her reality, it was hot as… well… Hell.
In her hands, she clutched her camera and occasionally, she would attempt to capture pictures of what she saw, frowning down at the viewfinder when the shot that she’d taken of a particularly tortured soul showed only a partially submerged candy-wrapper being swept downstream in the strong current. She continued her attempts, however, certain that one would show her reality… so that she could prove to others that she wasn’t insane…
Never one for self-pity, Ilyana was giving in. Maybe she was insane. Maybe she was just another one of those tortured souls. Maybe she should throw herself into the river of fire… to join them… to scream in agony for the rest of eternity. But why didn’t the camera show it?
A light would break across Ilyana's head from behind, casting a long shadow in front of her. It was from a light more pure and white than she had likely seen in weeks. Upon turning around, she might see the form of Jules, but never as she had seen him. Brilliant, beautiful, serene. His three eyes still remained, but they burned a fiery sapphire color, and he seemed to be draped in a cloak of mist.
"Adapting, are we?" he asked, his voice distant and echoing. "You really are quite resilient, Ilyana. Despite my unabiding hatred for you, I can respect that."
"Adapting, are we?" he asked, his voice distant and echoing. "You really are quite resilient, Ilyana. Despite my unabiding hatred for you, I can respect that."
Ilyana glanced behind herself at the light, wondering if perhaps a cop had come to make her leave… but it wasn’t a cop. “Not Gregory,” she whispered to herself, before turning back to watch the river again, the camera gripped in her fingers. “Is he really there?” she asked herself in a mutter. “Or is just one more trick?”
She turned her head once more to look back at him, squinting into the light. “He is different,” she continued muttering. “Is not him.” But still, out of curiosity, she raised her camera to him and clicked the shutter release before looking down into the viewfinder, expecting to see something completely different. Everything was completely different from what she saw. Everything. Even her own reflection.
She turned her head once more to look back at him, squinting into the light. “He is different,” she continued muttering. “Is not him.” But still, out of curiosity, she raised her camera to him and clicked the shutter release before looking down into the viewfinder, expecting to see something completely different. Everything was completely different from what she saw. Everything. Even her own reflection.
"Okay..." Jules muttered, his eyes narrowing. "Wake up time."
With long strides, Jules marched forwards toward Ilyana, and bent down to grab her by the throat as she gawked at her camera. He would hoist her in to the air, and as he did so, Ilyana's world would bend and warp back to normal as fast as a bursting bubble.
Now Jules' appearance would be the distinct opposite, a black, inky mass of hatred and smoke, all three of his yellow eyes burning on a grey face.
"Stop calling me 'Not Gregory'..." Jules said, crudely mimicking Ilyana's accent. "My name...is fucking Jules." he hissed, despite his lack of a mouth. He hated his name, it was so white-bread and impotent sounding. Not that this was the reason he had lied about it in the first place, but he had no reason to be cautious any more. And it was better than being called...no. He wasn't even going to think about it.
With long strides, Jules marched forwards toward Ilyana, and bent down to grab her by the throat as she gawked at her camera. He would hoist her in to the air, and as he did so, Ilyana's world would bend and warp back to normal as fast as a bursting bubble.
Now Jules' appearance would be the distinct opposite, a black, inky mass of hatred and smoke, all three of his yellow eyes burning on a grey face.
"Stop calling me 'Not Gregory'..." Jules said, crudely mimicking Ilyana's accent. "My name...is fucking Jules." he hissed, despite his lack of a mouth. He hated his name, it was so white-bread and impotent sounding. Not that this was the reason he had lied about it in the first place, but he had no reason to be cautious any more. And it was better than being called...no. He wasn't even going to think about it.
Wide eyes stared at Jules as he lifted her into the air by the throat. She did nothing immediately to fight him other than both hands lifting to his wrist, the camera tumbling from her fingers as soon as he reached for her. She didn’t claw for him to release her yet, she simply held on with fingers that were blue with the cold.
As reality popped back into Ilyana’s world, she stiffened, a sharp gasp caught in her throat as her eyes rolled wildly to her surroundings. The cold air replacing the heat she’d been living in for so long was the biggest shock of all. It might be possible that Ilyana’s mind snapped a bit more at the sudden reintroduction to reality. She turned her eyes back on Jules, the fingers of one hand moving to attempt to squeeze themselves between his hand and her windpipe. “You… never… told me…” she started, but stopped, the corners of her lips rising into a small grin as she studied his face.
As reality popped back into Ilyana’s world, she stiffened, a sharp gasp caught in her throat as her eyes rolled wildly to her surroundings. The cold air replacing the heat she’d been living in for so long was the biggest shock of all. It might be possible that Ilyana’s mind snapped a bit more at the sudden reintroduction to reality. She turned her eyes back on Jules, the fingers of one hand moving to attempt to squeeze themselves between his hand and her windpipe. “You… never… told me…” she started, but stopped, the corners of her lips rising into a small grin as she studied his face.
"Of course I didn't. But why blame myself for that when I have you?" Jules growled. He release Ilyana's throat, but she would remain where she was in the air, held aloft by Jules' eldritch powers. He continued to breathe slowly through his nose, even as his words continued to spring forth from where his mouth should have been.
"I didn't subject you to living hell just to see you go brain-dead again. It's time for a something new. But first, we have business to discuss." Jules said. He turned around and cast his hand at the ground. A patch of grass in front of him writhed and ruptured, the muddy dark earth beneath it molding and shaping itself into the shape of Ilyana's other demonic malefactor; Ipecac.
"This...thing..." Jules said, his nose wrinkling in disgust as he turned around again, "...I despise its existence. You will no longer associate with it, and I will not unleash new horrors upon you." Jules said, feeling that this was a bargain no one would pass up.
"I didn't subject you to living hell just to see you go brain-dead again. It's time for a something new. But first, we have business to discuss." Jules said. He turned around and cast his hand at the ground. A patch of grass in front of him writhed and ruptured, the muddy dark earth beneath it molding and shaping itself into the shape of Ilyana's other demonic malefactor; Ipecac.
"This...thing..." Jules said, his nose wrinkling in disgust as he turned around again, "...I despise its existence. You will no longer associate with it, and I will not unleash new horrors upon you." Jules said, feeling that this was a bargain no one would pass up.
As he released her throat, Ilyana released her grip on him, her arms instead shifting out to her sides in an attempt to balance herself, despite the fact that she was still in the air. She looked to the ground and then back at Jules, confusion in her eyes as he spoke.
As Jules created the shape of Ipecac out of the earth, Ilyana frowned. She’d left Ipecac weeks ago, disappearing from the shack in the Abandoned Slums, taking with her only her camera and the clothes on her back. She’d been tempted to have herself committed, and had actually broken away from Ipecac in preparation to do just that, but she’d been too frightened to do so. Instead, she’d merely wandered, sticking to the outskirts of town.
“Ipecac,” she whispered, one of the hands reaching out to touch the earth-shape. “He needs me.” She looked up at Jules questioningly. “I have not seen in weeks.”
As Jules created the shape of Ipecac out of the earth, Ilyana frowned. She’d left Ipecac weeks ago, disappearing from the shack in the Abandoned Slums, taking with her only her camera and the clothes on her back. She’d been tempted to have herself committed, and had actually broken away from Ipecac in preparation to do just that, but she’d been too frightened to do so. Instead, she’d merely wandered, sticking to the outskirts of town.
“Ipecac,” she whispered, one of the hands reaching out to touch the earth-shape. “He needs me.” She looked up at Jules questioningly. “I have not seen in weeks.”
"No, he doesn't need you, what the hell are you talking about?!" Jules roared, gesturing at the statue fiercely. He clenched his fist and the entire thing burst into chunks of fetid earth. "He's a stinking, poor excuse for a demon, and he doesn't deserve anything from you. But if you're going to stay all attached at the hip, I'll be happy to go annihilate him." Jules growled, his three eyes flaring up.
The last thing he needed was for that worm to become an object of safety for this girl, and for her to go snuggling up to him like some kind of daughter. Especially since Jules didn't put it past the wretch to just give up on the facade and eat her on a whim. Ilyana was one of Jules' best pieces of art; he wasn't about to have her be a snack.
The last thing he needed was for that worm to become an object of safety for this girl, and for her to go snuggling up to him like some kind of daughter. Especially since Jules didn't put it past the wretch to just give up on the facade and eat her on a whim. Ilyana was one of Jules' best pieces of art; he wasn't about to have her be a snack.
Ilyana flinched as the earthen image of Ipecac exploded, cringing as pieces of it pelted against her bare arms. Jules’ threat to annihilate Ipecac, however, brought her eyes to him immediately. “You do not kill Ipecac,” she said firmly, her eyes narrowing. “You do not kill him.” It was almost a stern order, a demand. Despite being held in the air, Ilyana straightened herself as if she was standing, looking at Jules seriously.
“What you want me to do?” she asked, the corner of her lips twitching in defeat. “No longer see Ipecac? It will anger him. He will eat me.” She pressed her lips together tightly. “Always, always the threat he will eat me.” Her arms snaked around her body, frozen hands rubbing along frozen arms, trying to create some warmth. “He is as close to a friend as I have. Ipecac and Not Gre—“ she stopped herself, swallowing, before correcting: “Ipecac and fucking Jules…”
“What you want me to do?” she asked, the corner of her lips twitching in defeat. “No longer see Ipecac? It will anger him. He will eat me.” She pressed her lips together tightly. “Always, always the threat he will eat me.” Her arms snaked around her body, frozen hands rubbing along frozen arms, trying to create some warmth. “He is as close to a friend as I have. Ipecac and Not Gre—“ she stopped herself, swallowing, before correcting: “Ipecac and fucking Jules…”
"Fucking Jules. Oh. Yes. Adorable." Jules said. He stretched his hand towards her, and flicked his wrist upwards. The power holding Ilyana aloft would then rocket her in to the air, almost ten feet up, only to give out and have her plummet back towards the damp river bank. He would turn around and face away before she landed, rubbing his grey, clammy chin.
"Tell you what, Ilyana. It's obvious you have a thing for this worm, so let's make a deal. I won't kill him, but you don't go near him. If he so much as gets within ten feet of you, he'll explode, just like I showed you. And it will be your fault."
"Tell you what, Ilyana. It's obvious you have a thing for this worm, so let's make a deal. I won't kill him, but you don't go near him. If he so much as gets within ten feet of you, he'll explode, just like I showed you. And it will be your fault."
At the sudden rise into the air, Ilyana’s arms flailed around her as if looking for something to hold on to. Her eyes widened, and she barely had time to get out a single syllable before gravity took hold. “Pl—“
She hit the ground hard with a loud empty thud, the melting snow and wet earth squelching beneath her as all of her air was driven from her body. She’d cringed, closing her eyes and holding her hands out to break her fall, but to no avail. She landed jarringly, her eyes squeezed shut, her teeth rattling together, pain blossoming through her body.
It took a few heartbeats before she was able to suck in a full lungful of air, a few heartbeats during which she simply lay in silence as he spoke. Her eyes remained closed as she took stock of her body, piece by piece, trying to determine if anything had been broken. It didn’t seem so until she tried to move her left hand. Lying in the mud, her left hand caught between her body and the thawing ground, she finally opened her eyes and looked at Jules’ back. “I won’t go near him,” she said quietly, defeated. Slowly, she struggled into a seated position, her left hand filthy and cradled to her muddy chest. Her right hand landed on a short stick, about two inches in diameter, about eight inches long. Her fingers curled around it tightly and she concealed it beneath her thigh while Jules still had his back to her. “Why do you hurt me?”
She hit the ground hard with a loud empty thud, the melting snow and wet earth squelching beneath her as all of her air was driven from her body. She’d cringed, closing her eyes and holding her hands out to break her fall, but to no avail. She landed jarringly, her eyes squeezed shut, her teeth rattling together, pain blossoming through her body.
It took a few heartbeats before she was able to suck in a full lungful of air, a few heartbeats during which she simply lay in silence as he spoke. Her eyes remained closed as she took stock of her body, piece by piece, trying to determine if anything had been broken. It didn’t seem so until she tried to move her left hand. Lying in the mud, her left hand caught between her body and the thawing ground, she finally opened her eyes and looked at Jules’ back. “I won’t go near him,” she said quietly, defeated. Slowly, she struggled into a seated position, her left hand filthy and cradled to her muddy chest. Her right hand landed on a short stick, about two inches in diameter, about eight inches long. Her fingers curled around it tightly and she concealed it beneath her thigh while Jules still had his back to her. “Why do you hurt me?”
"Because you pissed me off." Jules said turning around with a raised eyebrow. He let a few moments go by. "...Were you expecting a different answer?" he said, a subtle look of glee on his malformed face. He took a few steps forward with his hand outstretched to grasp her forehead tightly.
As he did so, a series of chants began to ripple through the air, and the world around them seemed to bend inwards on itself. An itching burning would begin to manifest on her forehead, and the smell of singed flesh might waft through the crisp air. Pulling his hand back, Jules would leave a simple looking burn mark in the shape of an eye. It lingered and glowed for a moment, before disappearing completely.
As he did so, a series of chants began to ripple through the air, and the world around them seemed to bend inwards on itself. An itching burning would begin to manifest on her forehead, and the smell of singed flesh might waft through the crisp air. Pulling his hand back, Jules would leave a simple looking burn mark in the shape of an eye. It lingered and glowed for a moment, before disappearing completely.
As Jules approached her with his hand outstretched, Ilyana inadvertently cringed back, her right hand leaving the stick beneath her thigh to steady herself in the squelchy ground. Immediately, she wished she still had the stick… but then wondered what she would do with it. Would she really use it to defend herself from him? What good was a stick against someone who could do what Jules could do? She squeezed her eyes shut as he grasped her forehead but then opened them as the air seemed to speak, to chant. Once again, the world was different, bowed, bent, odd.
As her forehead began to itch and burn, Ilyana tried to pull away, trying to turn her head and finding herself unable. Upon being released, however, Ilyana’s hand rose instantly to her forehead, her fingertips leaving behind a smear of earth as they tried to feel what had been done. Choosing to respond to the question he’d asked before grabbing her forehead before asking about what he’d done, Ilyana focused her gaze on him. “If I do not piss you off, you will not hurt me?” she asked, an eyebrow raised doubtfully. “What did you do?” Her fingertips, cold against her forehead, could not find anything where the burning feeling had been.
As her forehead began to itch and burn, Ilyana tried to pull away, trying to turn her head and finding herself unable. Upon being released, however, Ilyana’s hand rose instantly to her forehead, her fingertips leaving behind a smear of earth as they tried to feel what had been done. Choosing to respond to the question he’d asked before grabbing her forehead before asking about what he’d done, Ilyana focused her gaze on him. “If I do not piss you off, you will not hurt me?” she asked, an eyebrow raised doubtfully. “What did you do?” Her fingertips, cold against her forehead, could not find anything where the burning feeling had been.
"I'll consider it. A fair warning though, a lot of things piss me off." Jules said, his elevated jaw bones the only sign that he might otherwise be grinning darkly.
"What I did..." Jules said, dusting off his hands, wisps of smoke bursting from them as he did so, "...was insure that, if you decided to go back on your word and go see Ipecac anyway, you would kill him." Jules said. He tapped the same spot on his forehead where he had marked Ilyana. "If you get within ten feet of him, that eye I burned on your forehead will open up, and no matter where that slime runs and hides, the raw death that will come out of it will find him and obliterate him." Jules said, talking more to himself than anyone else.
"Just imagine, a hot white ray of pure death blasting out of your forehead...you're like a superhero Ilyana!" Jules said, spreading his arms out wide. "Who knows? Maybe you'll learn how to harness it, and you'll be able to kill people on a whim! I bet that would make for some great photos..." Jules cackled, his tone more than a little condescending.
"What I did..." Jules said, dusting off his hands, wisps of smoke bursting from them as he did so, "...was insure that, if you decided to go back on your word and go see Ipecac anyway, you would kill him." Jules said. He tapped the same spot on his forehead where he had marked Ilyana. "If you get within ten feet of him, that eye I burned on your forehead will open up, and no matter where that slime runs and hides, the raw death that will come out of it will find him and obliterate him." Jules said, talking more to himself than anyone else.
"Just imagine, a hot white ray of pure death blasting out of your forehead...you're like a superhero Ilyana!" Jules said, spreading his arms out wide. "Who knows? Maybe you'll learn how to harness it, and you'll be able to kill people on a whim! I bet that would make for some great photos..." Jules cackled, his tone more than a little condescending.
“So I notice,” Ilyana mumbled at Jules’ comment that a lot of things angered him. Her fingers continued probing at her forehead through Jules’ explanation of what he had done… until he mentioned that it would kill Ipecac. Her hand flattened against her forehead, as if to cover it completely, her eyes wide. “No,” she whispered, shaking her head. “No, no, no!” She rubbed at her forehead with her palm, as if she could rub it off, but all that came off were flakes of mud from her hand. “I do not want this!”
She kept the hand over her forehead as she looked up at Jules. “Why do you do this? Why do you do all of this?” She wondered, for a moment, if she could harness the death ray and turn it on him. She wondered if she would if she could.
She kept the hand over her forehead as she looked up at Jules. “Why do you do this? Why do you do all of this?” She wondered, for a moment, if she could harness the death ray and turn it on him. She wondered if she would if she could.
Jules gave her an askance sneer, his eyebrows raised in mild disdain. "That's a pretty broad question. Depending on what you're asking, I may have to hurt you again, so think carefully about it."
Her left hand still cradled to her chest, her right hand flat against her forehead, Ilyana pulled her lower lip between her teeth as she considered the question she was really asking. A multitude of questions tumbled through her mind, and she discarded most of them. Finally, after being silent for a handful of heartbeats, Ilyana tried once more, bracing herself should Jules decide to take offense to her inquiry.
“You have said earlier,” she started, trying to minimize her accent as best as she could, knowing that it irritated him, but while her accent was minimized, her words were still put together strangely. “You did not make for me in Hell to make for me to be dead in the brain… You have said is time for something new. Why are you do this to me? You have said you hate me. Why you continue this?”
“You have said earlier,” she started, trying to minimize her accent as best as she could, knowing that it irritated him, but while her accent was minimized, her words were still put together strangely. “You did not make for me in Hell to make for me to be dead in the brain… You have said is time for something new. Why are you do this to me? You have said you hate me. Why you continue this?”
"There is a simple answer and a complex answer to that, and I don't feel like being longwinded at the moment." Jules said, staying where he was and folding his arms behind his back. "The fact of the matter is, I am a sick, twisted, messed up and absolutely evil person, and I get a serious kick out of abusing you emotionally and physically. I'm a bully, Ilyana, and you happen to be my favorite mark."
In a sharp hiss of smoke, he evaporated from where he was standing and reformed, crouching right behind her. "Look at you, shivering and broken. Emotionally bankrupt from the start, and nowhere to go but down. And yes Ilyana, I hate you, but think of it this way." he said, resting his arms on her shoulders and holding his grey, decrepit hands in front of her face.
"See, people think hate is the opposite of love, but I don't think so. They don't really differ much at all really. They both inspire deep emotions in people, they both require attention to details, and they both require a serious amount of passion. I hate you so very much Ilyana, but at least, out of everyone else in the world, I'm at least someone who gives a shit about your existence."
In a sharp hiss of smoke, he evaporated from where he was standing and reformed, crouching right behind her. "Look at you, shivering and broken. Emotionally bankrupt from the start, and nowhere to go but down. And yes Ilyana, I hate you, but think of it this way." he said, resting his arms on her shoulders and holding his grey, decrepit hands in front of her face.
"See, people think hate is the opposite of love, but I don't think so. They don't really differ much at all really. They both inspire deep emotions in people, they both require attention to details, and they both require a serious amount of passion. I hate you so very much Ilyana, but at least, out of everyone else in the world, I'm at least someone who gives a shit about your existence."
She listened to his explanation, her brows furrowed in concentration. As his arms rested on her shoulders, his hands in front of her face, she closed her eyes, moving her hand from her forehead and wrapping it around her left wrist, still cradled to her chest. She nearly found herself leaning back against him, but fought it, her back ramrod straight.
“I shiver because it is cold,” she said quietly. “I am not afraid of you.”
It was all she could think to say. His final sentence was almost like a punch to the gut. The words were most likely meant to hurt her, and they did. Her shoulders sagged slightly, her head lowering. It wasn’t until he’d said the words that she realized their truth. Other than Jules, all she had in this world was Ipecac, and now… now she didn’t even have that. The fingers of her right hand pressed firmly into her injured left wrist, sending a fresh burst of pain through herself, forcing herself to focus.
“Do you dream of me, Jules?” She remembered the last time she asked the question he’d hurt her. She did not expect this attempt to gain an answer to be any different.
“I shiver because it is cold,” she said quietly. “I am not afraid of you.”
It was all she could think to say. His final sentence was almost like a punch to the gut. The words were most likely meant to hurt her, and they did. Her shoulders sagged slightly, her head lowering. It wasn’t until he’d said the words that she realized their truth. Other than Jules, all she had in this world was Ipecac, and now… now she didn’t even have that. The fingers of her right hand pressed firmly into her injured left wrist, sending a fresh burst of pain through herself, forcing herself to focus.
“Do you dream of me, Jules?” She remembered the last time she asked the question he’d hurt her. She did not expect this attempt to gain an answer to be any different.
"I don't sleep, Ilyana. I haven't in over six years." Jules said hissed, his tone extremely impatient. God this woman was thick. "That's enough story time for now. Be sure to go get your wrist fixed; i'd like to break it again some time." Jules said with a distinct note of dark glee in his voice. He was excited to see how this new game would play out.
Without any more unnecessary words, his body dissipated upon the next breeze, his form nothing more than a black puff of smoke on the wind...
Without any more unnecessary words, his body dissipated upon the next breeze, his form nothing more than a black puff of smoke on the wind...