At her current level of power, Iris didn't have the magical energies necessary for a Scrying spell that would help her locate others. The powers that were within her power - Locate Object being the most notable - didn't seem to have the range that would be necessary. In short... she couldn't scry her goal to warp there, and given the personalities of those who held tokens here, she wouldn't be able to acquire them without going against her very beliefs.
With a sigh, she held out her staff, then slammed the force of her will into the aura surrounding this place.
The wards, at least for the moment, held. To put things simply, Iris didn't like failure. She was a goddess of hope, and to call it quits was something she didn't appreciate. On the other hand, at the moment, she was not omnipotent. She couldn't do everything she wanted to, and that meant she had little choice but to accept that some things were yet beyond her. Even the gods had their limits, but that didn't mean she had to like them.
As unfortunate as it was, she would have to change her own view on the matter... and, more likely than not, support their souls as they traveled for judgment. The promise of the afterlife was another kind of hope, after all - not always the one people wanted, but then, few people received everything they desired.
A second time, she focused on breaking through the barrier of the realm.
A second time, she was repelled. Iris' eye twitched slightly as - just a little - she could feel her irritation growing. This land and its inhabitants wanted to stop her from helping others, and then stop her - as a goddess of travel - from leaving? They wanted to trap her in their darkness?
No.
"I am no mere mortal for you to trap in your webs. I am the First Light, the Eternal Dawn. I have shone for eons longer than you have even existed, and I will not be stopped by your feeble walls. You. Will. YIELD." As she spoke, divine power flowed out from within her and into Mihrel, her staff. A moment later, she slammed it into the ground before her, cratering it as she activated one of her staff's powers for the third time.
The wards around this realm were strong... but they were not invincible. As she tore through them with pure force of will, she stared at the realm for just a moment, memorizing its sights. She'd not forget this place anytime soon... and might well return when she had her full measure of power back.
At first, you thought your current incarnation simply lacked the strength to break through the wards, but when you tried a second time, it was clear that something was actively trying to prevent you from leaving. But you weren't just any ordinary mage - you were the Goddess of the Morning, and such light cannot restrained for long. As you return to the Material Plane, for a moment, you see something gazing at you: a being of patchwork with eyes that seem to swallow the light.
You're back in the fortune-teller's tent at the festival, strange harrow deck still lying on the table in front of you. Oddly, even though you spent almost an entire day in that other realm, the position of the sun outside indicates you've only been gone two or three hours. While you're late for your meeting with the Pathfinders, if you head straight to the Lodge, it won't be an unreasonable amount of time.
As much fun as it would have been to simply toss the deck into another extradimensional storage and be done with it, Iris didn't own the deck... and its recognized owner appeared to be alive. On her way back to the lodge, she paused by a guard and briefly described what had happened (apparent magical warping by a weird Harrow deck), and both suggested they lock down the area (and avoid getting too close, dangit) and offered to meet up with them and explain things in more detail after her appointment at the Lodge. Sorathel ought to have kept things under control, though she would apologize for being late. She never regretted trying to help people, but it was always better to be polite.
Once you've given the guard enough information to indicate both your seriousness and the severity of the problem, he went to go locate a higher-up. Powerful magic was beyond his pay grade, after all, and it sounded like a job for a mage. Before leaving, though, he assured you that it would be taken care of. Making your way back to the Lodge, you find Sorathel explaining (again) about your tendency to come and go rather spontaneously. Always for a good reason though. You're sure to be here shortly - and here you are!
"Thank you for explaining things while I was gone, Sorathel." Iris said, smiling at her most loyal companion. "Is there anything that still needs to be taken of?"
The Pathfinders shook their heads. "No, Miss Iris. Our preparations have been completed, and a chamber has been set aside in the Vault for the 'Darkling Lantern.' We are ready to leave at your convenience."
"Excellent." Iris said, smiling at them. "I apologize for my tardiness, by the way. I was attempting to... resolve... a matter appearing to involve an odd harrow deck out in the festival. Unfortunately, I was not successful. An odd demiplane was involved, and at least two people are still missing. You may wish to offer the support of the Society to the guards and safely quarantine the item - I suspect it's a bit beyond them." If you couldn't handle something yourself, allowing a team of professionals to deal with it was a good alternative. And, for that matter, having something here at home to do would probably make the members of the lodge feel a bit better. They were little more than escorts for the lantern, after all, so resolving something themselves would probably be good for morale.
Sorathel held the bag with the lantern out to Iris, and she calmly took it. "Let's be on our way, then. I may need to answer a few questions with the guards before I leave, but that shouldn't take too long."
A nod. "I see. Well, as you know, the Society's always willing to assist when unusual items are involved. I'll send a few agents down to the festival to check it out. Thanks for the tip."
The Society is grateful for the artifact and assures you that you've elected to leave it in the most capable hands. The Grand Lodge of Absalom is home to more than a few dangerous items, and the staff have ample experience safeguarding them. In return for your donation, they give you a special Wayfinder. In addition to the standard light-emitting properties, it grants you access to the Grand Lodge's extensive records-room and also guarantees that other Pathfinders will take seriously anything that you have to say.
The latest crop of Starstone applicants isn't much to be impressed with, unfortunately. Truth be told, ever since Cayden Cailean stumbled his way to godhood, a host of others have attempted to emulate him - often with ... unfortunate consequences.
According to local gossip, though, you've actually arrived at a fortuitous time, as two rather infamous individuals will likely be attempting the challenge very soon. The first is a creature known as Akon the Undying. Nobody knows who he originally was, but a combination of atrocious luck and incredible stubbornness have gradually led to his current status: a horrible amalgamation of undead, construct, and fleshwarping. The local oddsmakers are accepting wagers on whether or not he'll succeed but also if the Test will actually manage to kill him.
The second individual of note isn't even planning to take the challenge at all - in fact, he could care less about godhood. Malakesh the Globe-Trotter is a gnome from Tian Xia who decided to combat his rising boredom by circumnavigating the globe via the most direct route possible. His journey thus far has spanned thousands of miles, in which he's climbed mountains, invaded numerous monster lairs, and marched straight through at least one villager's bedroom at a rather inconvenient moment. According to an enterprising scholar who conducted a mobile interview, Malakesh hadn't realized that his path would take him straight through the middle of Starstone Cathedral, but he also didn't care. "I swam across an ocean to reach this leg of my journey. What's all the fuss about some rock in a building?"
"You're not familiar with it?" Iris asked, looking at the gnome. "The Starstone has the power to confer godhood - and before you ask, yes, it has repeatedly and demonstrably done so in the path. I think the average is somewhere around one success every thousand years or so." After a thoughtful moment, "Most die in the attempt, of course. I'm not going to stop you if you want to try going inside - you might even have better luck if you just want to exit on the other side instead of reaching the stone - but you should accept the risk before trying it." She didn't like interfering with people's free will. Rather, if they knowingly made the choice to pursue their dreams, she was more inclined to support them.
It's not difficult to find Malakesh a few miles outside the city, and with your speed, you have no problem matching pace with him as he marches purposefully along. At the rate he's going, he'll reach the cathedral sometime sometime around late afternoon/early evening.
"Oh, I've definitely heard of it. Created the drunk guy, the secrets guy, the mask guy, and the warrior lady, right? Why give a fig about 'em, I say! Sure, a god'll grant magic to anyone who prays to 'em, but what do they really care about us little folk? Too busy hanging out in their divine realms having parties and whatnot to come down and have a conversation with us mere mortals - or otherwise show that they care. So I decided quite some time ago that they don't deserve my attention, either. Besides, if they're gonna smite me, it's not like I can do anything to stop it, anyway, so I'm just gonna keep on doing my thing, whether they like it or not." He falls silent for a few seconds before giving you an apologetic shrug. "That was kinda rude of me, wasn't it? Here you are, tryin' to be thoughtful and warn me, and I'm just ranting in your face. Sorry about that; let's try this again. Hi, I'm Malakesh. Thanks for the friendly advice!"
This entire time, he hasn't stopped walking.
"Iris." the incarnate goddess answered with a faint smile. "And you might be surprised how talkative the gods can be. Many clerics and priests commune with their patron on a regular basis - and just about anyone can ask to do the same. Most churches don't particularly like frivolous questions, but at the same time, they might commune for free if the topic is relevant enough. Take Abadar, for example - the Lord of Wealth actively manages the biggest bank of all the planes, and it's not uncommon for his priests to seek guidance for major transactions. Of course, it's true that many of gods' actions aren't as... ah... obvious as a conversation. Honestly, it's probably for the best - imagine how loud life would be if every deity commented every time something in their purview happened in your life."
"I understand what you're saying, but that's not what I meant. Sure, I could hire a priest to petition a deity for advice - and then receive some sort of cryptic message that may or may not be accurate. But why can't we just talk to them? There's no relationship, you know? Sure, constant voices from the clouds would be a bit much, but why doesn't anyone ever just - I don't know - pop down here for a minute to say 'hi' to a worshiper who's going through a particularly difficult time?"
"What makes you think they don't?" Iris answered quizzically. "You think Cayden Cailean never discreetly stops by a bar to have a drink with someone and cheer them up? That Torag never comments on something a craftsman has made when they most need praise for what they've done? Everyone has a limit, though, even the gods." Iris raised one hand and pointed to the sky. "Some of the gods have churches on a billion worlds or more, with a million followers on each of them. There are always members who have trouble with their faith, so many that a hundred avatars visiting non-stop would still appear to no more than the tiniest fraction of those hoping for a visit. Even aside from that, every prayer is answered."
"Sometimes that answer is 'no' or 'figure it out yourself', though. Too many divine visits have a way of undermining free will and encouraging a dependence that people really shouldn't have. If a god is always there to pick someone up, they might never realize how strong they were to begin with, and that they're already capable of more than they realized... and if one god visits a lot, how long will it be until others start clamoring for more visits, demanding that their god behave they way they want so they can get the same benefits?"
"You may not always understand the reason for a god's choices, but there are reasons for them."
Malakesh seemd somewhat mollified by your words. "I just wish those reasons were more relatable. I mean, I'm never going to be responsible for millions of people, so how can I even begin to understand what it's like? And if that's the kind of scale the gods are operating at, how can they understand what mere mortals are like? I mean, my daughter used to have an 'ant farm' and did a fine job of taking care of it, but that doesn't mean she understood what each individual ant needed. She cared about them deeply, but there was always a bit of detachment - even if she wasn't consciously aware of it - simply because she was operating on a grander scale than the ants could even hope to comprehend."
"Don't forget that some of them were mortal, and understand very well what it was like. Others weren't, and as you say, there's a certain detachment. Take Gozreh, for example - nature does as it wills. Similarly, the Lady of Graves judges all souls in time, fairly and without bias. The gods are not uniform - some are far closer to mortals than others. Personally, my experience has always been that the most local deities are the easiest to understand and the most likely to respond. Gods of a small region, for example, rather than all the realms."
"Think of it as, oh, a little like working in a big, multi-national company. Local deities are a lot like branch managers - they're often there to answer questions, give signs, and be present. The greatest deities have proportionately greater responsibilities, like a company president. Their choices can affect their church and the spread of their faith on a million worlds at a time, helping or harming countless people in the process. Instead of managing one ant farm, imagine your daughter managing an entire world of ant colonies."
Then, thoughtfully, "Of course, most gods are ultimately rather straightforward in their views. They seek to support their portfolios, which in many ways they are physical incarnations of. Torag is not just the father of the dwarves - he is the stroke of the hammer, the flash of inspiration, the forge that heats the metal. Gods provide teachings through their holy texts, have followers that guide others in faith, and occasionally send messengers for particularly important matters. On rare occasions, they do appear in person to make a statement, like when Sarenrae smote the city of Gormuz in retribution for the destruction of her herald, Kohal."
"At a certain point, it's true that you can't understand them. That is where trust and faith come in - your decision to follow or not, to accept the views they teach or reject them as unworthy of your time, to believe that they're looking at the big picture and acting to support it in a way you like, even if you don't understand it. The gods are mighty, true, but even the least mortal has the right of free will. Devotion cannot be forced, no matter the faith. Every mortal, down to the lowest of the low, has that freedom of choice - and must ultimately accept the consequences of their choices, for good or ill."
"It's just hard when I can't see why they do things, you know? I mean, I understand that mortals have free will, and that the gods aren't all-knowing, but if I knew that something bad was happening, I'd stop it if I could. Like, what if someone's life is ruined through no fault of their own? Why wouldn't a good deity prevent that from happening?" As he speaks, Malakesh's eyes reveal this is more than a simple theological discussion. He seems personally invested in this conversation.
A billion mortals, a billion questions - and yet so many of them were the same.
"For every effect, there is a cause." Iris answered gently. "The past leads up to the present. Every detail - what clothes to buy or wear, what food to eat, where to go, who to talk to - becomes the story of someone's life. If a wife stays with an abusive husband, knowing she'll get hit, the blame for the strike doesn't fall on her... but it's not as if she had no say in the matter. In many cases, misfortune comes from lack of information or an unwillingness to act - and yes, even in the best of people. It is never as simple as bad things happening for no reason, and reducing reality for a philosophical argument is dangerous at best. For that matter, even the most benevolent deities do not have unlimited freedom to intervene. There are no winners in a war between gods - only suffering."
"Nevertheless, there is hope. Always. It may not take the form people wish, but there is a line where enough is enough and no more wrongs can happen. Life may not be fair, but Pharasma's judgment is - as long as you hold to your beliefs, things have a way of working out in the end."
Malakesh is quiet for quite some time. "Is it possible to regain hope once it has been lost?"
"Of course." Iris said with a welcoming smile. "Darkness cannot overwhelm light - the smallest candle can keep the deepest night at bay. Even if you think hope has been lost, it remains, waiting for you to hold on to it once more. It does not matter who you are, or what you've done. Hope is eternal."
Malakesh smiles faintly. "That reminds me of something my daughter used to say: 'When all seems lost in the War of Light, look to your heart, for hope burns bright.'"
"She sounds like someone I would have enjoyed meeting." Iris responded, feeling a happy, warm sort of feeling bubble up from within. That happened rather often when she heard about mortals who were on the right path. After a few moments, she rubbed her chin. "Would you like to talk to her right now?" the goddess inquired. "If I put a little effort into it, I think I can manage a Sending spell. It's only good for 25 words or so each way, but as long as she exists in any form, my power can reach her." What did she have power for if not helping people?
Malakesh gives you a sad smile as he continues his walk. "I'd take you up on it, but I'm afraid she's beyond anyone's reach."
"Like that's enough to stop me." Iris answered, snorting slightly. "Little known fact - dead people can be reached by that spell. As long as they're a distinct person, it functions. Living, undead, souls, outsiders... doesn't matter if you can tell me enough to make me familiar with them. And if people are going to be contacted, Pharasma ensures they remain in a state where they can be."
Malakesh's expression brightens slightly. "Really? I thought she was gone forever. I'd like very much to tell her goodbye."
Iris nodded and focused her power. As she began to gather it, she opened one eye and looked at Malakesh. "There are a... great many departed I could reach. Tell me about your daughter - as much as you can. The more familiar I am with her, the easier it will be to find her and relay a message. What she liked, the places she visited, the things she did around your house... anything and everything you can think of."
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Malakesh spends quite some time telling you everything he can think of that pertains to his daughter: her appearance, her personality, her likes and dislikes, her little idiosyncrasies, etc. By the time he's finished, you're reasonably confident that you'll be able to reach her with a sending spell. You also note, oddly enough, that portions of the description seem somewhat familiar.
"Hey there, Little Bright Spot, it's Dad. I love you so much, and not a day goes by that I don't see something that reminds"
Twenty-five words exactly - the limit of the spell. Carefully, Iris relayed the words as exactly as possible - trying to match the tone and inflection as she waited for any reply that might be forthcoming.
You feel that your message is received, but no response comes. After a few seconds, an inky black rift tears open in the air in front of you. Malakesh jumps back in shock and horror as a tall glowing-eyed shadow glides out.
As the horror popped out - something serving the powers that sought souls, perhaps? - Iris simply lifted her staff and pointed at it. "Begone." she said flatly, triggering one of her staff's many powers to Dismiss the figure back where it had come from.
The shadow appears entirely unaffected by your dismissal. "If it was that easy to send me back, it would have been done millennia ago," it chuckles in an elegant, masculine voice. "Now, why are you trying to contact Akarui?"
"And why are you to question me?" Iris answered coolly. She didn't like shadows very much to begin with, and thought even less of attempts to demand she do what they wanted or answer their questions. "Perhaps you've forgotten, but eavesdropping on a message meant for someone else is really rather rude."
"I'm afraid I couldn't not hear your message, my dear. Especially when said message's signature is as unique as yours. You've been doing a fair bit of traveling recently, haven't you?" The shadow's air of superiority (and fact that he ignored your own question) isn't lost on you.
"That's twice." Iris told the shadow, and a bit of magic glimmered on the end of her staff. "I am patient enough to let you push me thrice, but not four times, so consider your future words carefully. Where I choose to go and who I choose to speak with are my own concern. If you have something of substance to say, out with it. Otherwise, stop wasting my time."
Anyone who knew her even a little bit would know she had little tolerance for shadows. Those who appeared in such a form anyway were more-or-less assumed to be provoking her. As a goddess of good, she wasn't going to fly off the handle and blindly attack people just because of that... but nor would she allow herself to be pushed around by a mere outsider, confident from a few thousand years of existence.
"Strong words for a mere mortal. Know this: Chance has brought you across my path a few times thus far, but your light-bringing and darkness-defeating only strengthens me. I'm not unduly bothered by your presence, therefore - my agenda is far-reaching and intricate. Now, as requested, the point of this visit: my patience is limited, so further troublemaking will be dealt with accordingly. Akarui's story ended long ago; leave it in the past. One such as you has no need to involve yourself in the affairs of a champion of the Light. Stick to aiding humble villagers, and I will have no quarrel with you. Do we understand each other?"
"I think we do." Iris answered coolly. She did not simply tolerate darker entities demanding that she not help others. She was the dawn itself, and on a very literal level, she was the hope of creatures great and small. ...Unfortunately, she was currently lacking in much of her full power, although it was a good sign this creature - whatever it actually was - didn't realize her true identity. The fact that her banishment hadn't worked was cause to reconsider just smiting it.
(Alas, her staff hadn't yet regained the power to let her walk the realms - it'd take a bit more time for that. Nevertheless, the fact that this shadow didn't want her to involve herself with this Akarui girl was making her want to. Side-point: It was getting miffed over what was basically just a farewell to a departed spirit? Touchy, much? Perhaps the girl's story was not yet done... but the issue was particularly pointed to her.
Iris' home in the celestial realms had been connected to the Hall of the Slumbering Kings in Nirvana, home of great rulers and heroes waiting for the time to awaken and return to help their homes. The Champions of the Light were people she was particularly fond of, regardless of their individual ideals and personalities.)
With a sarcastically cordial bow, the shadow fades away.
Iris waited a few moments to ensure it was gone, then looked back over to the mortal man. "Your daughter must have had a very interesting life." she observed. "I really don't like whoever that was, though... and I think I'm going to address what it's doing at some point." Then, thoughtfully, "So, are you planning to continue your journey?" she'd brought the light by talking with him and pointing out his path. Where he went from here was up to him - Iris had always been more about giving choices and opportunities than continuing to support them once a particular issue had been resolved. The dawn always came - but it always left, too. Such was the way of things.
Malakesh nodded. "You could say that.... There was some kinda religious war a while back. It didn't really affect anyone here, but my daughter had a leadership role. Then, one day, I got a sending that she'd fallen in battle. After verifying, I just started walking. Waiting for a response after you sent that message was the first time I've stopped. Maybe I'll just sit a while, I don't know."
"Answers come to those who seek them." Iris noted. "You can always walk, but until you find a path, you won't get anywhere. If you're still dissatisfied, I suggest walking the planes and finding your daughter once more. With the right divinations, it's not as hard as you might think to find someone."
"I'll think on it. I've been directionless for a long time, so I'm afraid I don't even know where to start. I feel ... different now, though. Don't know if it's a good thing or not; I haven't felt much of anything for so long, that I'm not even sure how to describe it." He thinks for a minute. "Like there was a fog in my soul, but it's not as thick now. Does that make sense?"