I realized some people have just started reading my blog what with this new research project and all. I'm going to be making a lot of references to characters and plot points you probably know nothing about. Instead of going back and reading all my old entries, I'm going to do this ONE post that should get you up to speed.

Riff

Riff is a modern fantasy with angels, demons, and a musical riff that triggers the apocalypse. There are five intertwining storylines. The story begins in Baltimore and London, and then expands to include Heaven, Hell, and inside a teenage boy's head.

Synopsis

There is a riff that humans are never meant to play. If they play it wrong, their soul turns to dust. If they play it right, their soul becomes the envy of every angel in Heaven and demon in Hell. When 13-year-old music prodigy Janek uncovers the riff and plays it right, every angel and demon enter his head to battle for his soul. Meanwhile, no one is watching Earth. Humans are ignored--no more temptation, no more conscience. Everyone is just...human. For lustfully falling for his ward, a guardian angel gets sent to Hell where he meets Matthew Lace, a bodyguard chasing the demon that has kidnapped Sara-Jayne, a rich Baltimore brat. Meanwhile, Detective Truick finds a dead angel on Canary Wharf Tower and starts an investigation that leads him to Heaven, Janek's mind, and an Earth quite literally going to Hell.

Characters Disclaimer: These drawings are not part of the final product: I just draw to amuse myself.

Detective Truick 45 years old, divorcee, short on cash, lives in Caledonia Road, London. He believes in doing what's right. Justice. Though, this justice comes more out of duty to the law, not so much out of religion, which he struggles with. However, a little trip to Heaven might change some things. Related characters: collegue DI Johns and fallen angel Elroy Janek 13 years old, Polish, music prodigy, studying at Peabody Institute in Baltimore. He has a one track mind, and he is completely focused on becoming the greatest musician in the world. He believes that the riff is the ticket to do this. Related characters: his goth friend Seth and Seth's friend Essie Matthew Lace mid-twenties, demon hunter, Senator's bodyguard, eventually Sara-Jayne's bodyguard, gay, lives in Baltimore. He wants to kill angels and demons because he's become a bit of a human-supremacist after demons killed his brother. Related characters: brother Andrew, Senator Sara-Jayne Preston 16 years old, rich, spoiled, preppy, lives in Baltimore. She was a point of view character, but I'm changing that. Promisus kidnaps her into Hell. Her bodyguard, Matthew, has to chase after them. Related characters: parents Claude and Trudy, boyfriend Tony Wintry Charles early twenties, poor, wants to travel, Christian, dying. After she finds out she has cancer, she meets Leonard, her guardian angel. When he's sucked to Hell, she follows him. Related characters: Leonard Leonard Wintry's guardian angel He's not a point of view character, but he becomes important. He decides to disobey God in order to be with Wintry, which costs him his soul. He's obsessed with love but lacks fidelity. Related characters: Wintry, Matthew Promisus Human, angel, or demon? Terrified that Hell will destory Heaven, Promisus, a choir angel, switches sides. He writes the riff to help Hell along, and then goes incognito as the Senator and kidnaps Sara-Jayne's soul. I've just decided to make him a point of view character.