Your first strike barely slips past the soul eater's defenses, but you're able to use that knowledge to hit it again. It retaliates with a pair of rapid slashes.
Iris ducked to the right of the first blow, then parried the second by snapping her staff into a vertical position and catching the claws with it. After pushing back slightly to break the lock, Iris focused for just a moment, channeling a little more power into her weapon.
for
That... had not gone as well as she'd hoped, and the creature had had little difficulty warding away most of the blows. It really was a slippery fellow (metaphorically speaking), wasn't it...?
Only your second strike managed to connect this time. The creature's speed made it difficult to hit.
The good news is that it clearly wasn't used to dealing with someone as quick as you.
Iris' staff was mostly a blur by this point as she fended off the creature's blows and searched for an opening she could exploit. Even as she did so, the goddess focused on her internal energies - there was no telling how long its inability to strike her would last, and she fully intended to take advantage of it. Without hesitating, she jabbed her weapon forward as electricity surrounded it, then whipped the other end around in an attempt to smash through what passed for its head.
for
for
Your second blow causes the creature to fall apart into a shadowy pile of ash.
Rather than collecting the ash, Iris scattered it with a few brisk movements from her staff. It might have been useful, yes, but it was still the remains of a truly, genuinely evil creature - and not something she'd willingly consume, or knowingly give to others. Things like that could have... strange... reactions.
With that done, she carefully scanned the area, wondering whether or not any more of the creatures had been called.
No more of the creatures are in sight. The civilians in the area fled when the thing started attacking you, so you're currently alone - except for Chimi, of course. Her wisps are pulsing rapidly, and she seems to be lost in thought. After several moments, she finally speaks up. "Um... It's not in my notes, but I distinctly encountering that thing before. Or something like it, at least. They're not sent after just anybody, so whoever summoned it must think you're a big threat."
Iris considered this for a few moments. A few of the replies she could have given would have crossed over into outright arrogance, so she simply shrugged instead. "Well, I doubt that will be the last of them." she said, drawing out a wand and tapping it to her side.
The one was quite sufficient to solve the main lingering effects, and she used another wand a moment later to get rid of the injuries as well.
Afterwards, however, she glanced back at Chimi. "And how did your encounter with it go?" she asked, curious about how the girl had escaped (if indeed it had been after her).
Chimi shrugs. "I didn't even realize I'd encountered one of those creatures before until that one attacked you. It triggered a memory fragment from several lifetimes ago - a violent one, if what I felt is any indication. I either fought the thing off or escaped. Or maybe it killed me. Soul Eaters trap their victim's soul, so maybe that's why I feel so ... incomplete. It was definitely after me, though. My feeling at the time was of ... expectation and resignation - not surprise."
Iris nodded thoughtfully. "Well, it clearly couldn't have fully caught you." she noted. Though, it also depended on how FAST a given individual reincarnated - their soul might move too quickly to be caught. "Although I must say, I truly detest creatures that dare to attack souls." Her grip on her staff tightened a bit - one of the only visible signs of anger she usually showed. "A curse on whatever denizen of Abaddon spawned such a wretched thing." Admittedly, their ability to truly consume a soul was limited - but there were reasons most gods didn't directly affect a soul after its mortal body had died, and why they had to work through mortal intermediaries instead.
With that, she pointed her staff towards the nearest area that seemed to have a barrier, bombarding it with Daylight to see if anything happened. She really did need to get to the library at some point...
There's a barely-perceptible flicker at the periphery of your spell, but nothing else happens. While you're able to use daylight to reveal affected areas, the magic is too powerful to dispel that way.
Iris narrowed her eyes slightly, lowering her staff and then sighing slightly. "Looks like we won't be getting through for now." she observed.
Shortly after twilight on the second day after the attack, a shadowy figure knocks on your door and hands you a note. He then vanishes.
-------------------------------------------------------
"To your worthy self,
As the duly appointed representative of the Shadow Court and master of the city, I am pleased to invite you for a brief exchange of views and correction of misconceptions concerning recent events. If required, I shall expound on the consequences of the Queen's Edict.
Please attend me at my city residence at the house of Winter's Kiss at your earliest convenience and without fail.
Yrs Sincerely,
His Twilight Lordship,
Ambassador Thelamandrine"
"Well, that's rude. They've never heard of replies, have they?" Iris mused, frowning slightly. At least he'd said 'please'. On the other hand, as a goddess, she... had a certain degree of disapproval for anyone who dared try to command her. (It was important to uphold that part of their image, after all.)
Still, nothing would be resolved if she waited around forever, and she calmly put the finishing touches on her staff's newest enchantment before striding outside, offering Chimi the chance to come if the girl was around. Following that... "I require a servant of the Ambassador - immediately." she said to the open air as she stepped outside. A test, of sorts, to see how well they'd react.
The night air was still and silent. Aside from a few passing civilians who glance at the strange woman calling to nobody in particular, you and Chimi are alone.
"How terribly useless." Iris noted. "Trying to invade a city but unable to follow up on their own actions. Do you know where this... Winter's Kiss is, Chimi?"
Chimi shakes her head. "I'm afraid I've never heard of that location before."
Iris nodded, not especially surprised. She couldn't expect Chimi to know every single location in the city, after all - that would have been silly. On the other hand, as a goddess of travel, she could generally find her way to places she wanted to be. (Or, to put it another way, she was too stubborn to give up too easily.)
Shadow Fey (like most fey creatures) are fond of animals and often use them as servants or pets.
Ah, the randomness of her memory. An interesting detail, although she wasn't terribly interested in something like conjuring up rats. She needed something else to catch their attention, and a song soon came out from her lips as she idly strode along. With a good enough performance, she might just be able to convince them to come out and listen...
It's not long before a fey in a black tabard appears and speaks condescendingly to you in Elven. <"As per Queen's Edict #14, unlicensed public performances are forbidden. Where is your permit?">
Oh, she was going to burn their plans to the ground.
(Iris was no goddess of chaos, but she DID have a few elements of the revolutionary in her, particularly when it came to governments that had literal or metaphorical darkness in their rule. These fey had both, and an attempt by mortals to regulate her singing? She'd literally overthrown empires for that kind of insult. Not personally, of course - that was what chosen champions were for - but it had happened.)
<"I bear an invitation from the so-called 'Ambassador' Thelamandrine, to visit him at Winter's Kiss.". she said levelly, ready to fling out a spear of light if the fey got rough. <"Imagine my surprise when I found out that not only did he fail to provide an escort, but his messenger didn't even stick around to accept a reply. I assumed he'd already renounced his claims to the city, since no legitimate government would make a request and then make it impossible for other people to follow up. Thus, none of the so-called Queen's Edicts could possibly apply to me. If that was in error-"> she stared straight into the fey's eyes, <"Perhaps you should see to correcting your ambassador's mistake and escorting me to him at once, lest the illegitimacy of his claims be compounded. It's either that or the message is a fake, in which case he could only be seen as horribly inept for allowing it to be passed at all, and I'm sure he wouldn't want any of you to suggest that might be true..."
The fey looked down his nose at you (an impressive feat considering you were slightly taller than him) and sniffed haughtily. <"Ambassador Thelamandrine has lived in this city for over one hundred years. If you lack the ability to accomplish such a simple task as walking to his residence, perhaps the invitation was delivered in error. The Hidden Ambassador does not conduct business with those unworthy of his time."> He pulled a lengthy list from his pocket and examined it carefully, completely ignoring you while he did so. After almost a minute, he jotted a note and then looked at you once more. <"The fine for an unlawful performance is 200gp, but as this is your first offense, you will be shown clemency. Do not let it happen again.">
<"Hm. Pleading ignorance, then, about the magics making it difficult for people to get around? One would think the messenger would have at least provided a map, then.>" Iris observed. <"Well, every lie shall be illuminated in time. Let's go, Chimi."> she gestured with her staff, calling up a sphere of Daylight to light their path as they headed off.
You see the fey making a note on his list before he vanishes into the shadows.
Your sleep is filled with dreams of hidden figures watching as you endlessly wander a shadowy maze.
Iris woke early, as she usually did, greeting the dawn outside. After spending some more time enhancing her staff (and recharging its power, the night before), she set out in search of a temple capable of performing a Sending spell. If nothing else, she could simply tell the Ambassador to have an escort sent over...
Chimi comes back thirty minutes later. "I was given two pieces of information. First, 'fey undead guard the ancient stones.' No idea what that's referring to. Second, 'the one that is hidden resides in the House of Red Hats.' I checked my journal, and it turns out there used to be a spice merchant named Enneas Thel who lived in the Bis District. All of his staff wore red fezzes. He went bankrupt about 120 years ago, sold his property, and moved away. That's the last anyone's heard of him."
"Undead I can handle." Iris noted. "Let's see about finding this merchant's house, then - you know the way to the Bis District?" she probably did, at least, and if they could get there in a timely manner... well, Iris had always been fond of illuminating what was hidden.
When you eventually find it, the house seems perfectly ordinary although no one enters and no one leaves by the front door. The walls are of thick gray slate, the door painted a fresh white with an elegant silver knocker in the shape of a wolf's head. The shutters are dove gray and tightly shut. A small inset window in the front door is tightly shut. You hear barking from within.
A shadow fey much like the ones you encountered in the temple opens the door and looks the two of you over in well-hidden surprise. "Good day to you. I am Canderminne Tallowglass, footman to His Excellency, the Ambassador-in-Extraordinary of the Shadow Realm. There are no appointments scheduled for today, so may I ask the reason for your visit?"
Oh, lovely.
Iris held up the invitation she'd received and raised an eyebrow, making sure the text on it was clearly readable. "It's rather hard to make an appointment when the messenger leaves without taking a response." she noted. "Or has someone been impersonating your Ambassador?"
Canderminne scans the invitation in surprise. "Ah, I see. That is a different case entirely. Please, come in. Bring your servant too, if you so desire. What is your name and rank, so I can properly announce you to His Excellency?"
"I am Iris, the First Light." she said, following him inside. That was one of the older epithets she'd been given by a church obedient to her, signifying her status as the earliest, brightest light of their faith. It was metaphorical, too, as a reference to how she'd been born... and more relevantly, she considered it an adequate title under these circumstances.
(Some people might have wondered if emphasizing her illuminating nature was a good idea where these Shadow Fey were concerned... but anyone who expected otherwise didn't know her very well. Her response, when confronted by darkness, was to light it up - to do otherwise was against the very core of who and what she was. A lot of people cheered the power of the gods without realizing how bound to certain courses of action they were. Iris could no more resist the urge to illuminate things than rain could resist the urge to fall.)
The footman leads you down a dark, carpeted hall to the audience chamber, a room only dimly lit with a few candles. A white owl sits on a perch at the end of a long dining table; a single chair stands in the room, and the occupant is a fey of some kind with black hair, a thin nose, and pointed ears almost long enough for a goblin. His clothes are pure black and heavily embroidered in more black; his leggings are pure white and embellished with hexagonal designs. He holds an ivory wand and seems to be speaking in a corrupted version of Elven.
The footman announces, <"Visitors, your Excellency. This is Iris, the First Light."> He deliberately omits Chimi. The shadow fey noble ignores you long enough to be rude, then turns and says, <"Why do you trouble me? Oh yes, I may have invited you, but I did not expect you to take me up on the offer. Much less, to bring a servant.">
He hadn't? How very... interesting. And shortsighted. "Well, if you'd prefer that I leave, I'll certainly do so." she answered sedately. "I have no desire to demand the hospitality of a host who does not wish for my presence." She would, of course, take great pleasure in spreading the word that the fey made offers they would not uphold, and as such could clearly not be trusted on matters relating to governing the city... but it really would be best if they all agreed to talk like reasonable beings.
The ambassador gave a brief shake of his head. <"Nontheless, I did invite you, so there is hospitality due to you. Stand and listen well. My manservant will bring us goblets and a stoup of wine."> He makes a small gesture, and Canderminne (who's been politely not watching from his place at the door) makes a quick exit. <"You are a hero in this land, you know. All my spies tell me so. And thus, your open and heartfelt support for the queen's just and proper rule will make things easier for all. I require your immediate word of honor that you will not attempt further armed insurrection against the just and proper rulers of the city.
<"And to be clear, I mean the queen. If you have any other thoughts, discard them. Unless you change her mind, she can and will rule as soon as the viceroy - that is Statthalter Konratt Eigenstil - arrives. Statthalter Eigenstil is ... unlike most of us. You might not like him.">
By this time, Canderminne has returned with hot tea, poured some for you and the ambassador (but not Chimi), and made a respectful and quiet exit.
<"I've no problem supporting a legitimate government."> Iris noted in the language he was speaking - which was quite true. It was the ones abusing their people that she tended to help overthrow. <"However, I haven't actually seen anything that proves your claim to the city is legitimate. Given the many thousands of lives a change in rule would affect, I hope you'll understand if I don't acknowledge any newcomer's authority simply because they claim the right to be in charge. If your claim is as legitimate as you say - and I am taking no position on that yet - then perhaps you could correct the misconception I'm sure many people have by presenting evidence of said claim." she very deliberately used some of the language from his letter. "Do you happen to have anything that proves your claim beyond a reasonable doubt?"
The ambassador smiles. <"Ah, so you CAN speak like a civilized person. How delightful. The language of the common peons becomes tiring to listen to after too long, don't you think?">
From his desk, he retrieves a parchment and shows it to you. <"This city was founded upon the land of the Shadow Fey. When it was first established twenty-five millennia ago, a title for the land was granted to the builders of the city and later transferred to House Stross. When House Stross was overthrown during the rise of the so-called Runelords, the land reverted to those granting the fiefdom, namely the Lambent House of Her Celestial and Royal Majesty, Sarastra Aestruum, Queen of Night and Magic, Duchess of the Heavens, Countess of Thorn, Mistress of Air and Darkness, Lady of the Summer Palace and Bride of Shadows, as well as her husband and the father of the royal line, His Lunar and Royal Majesty, Ludomir Imbrium the XVI, the Moonlit King of the Shadow Fey, Lord of the Shadow Realms, Lord Protector of the Black Elves, Duke of the Elvish Ironcrags, Baron of Bratislor, Earl of Kaer Maga, Master of the Winter Palace, and Count-Palatine of Salzbach.
<"Their Royal Majesties have been otherwise occupied for some time, so their claim has lain unacknowledged as of late. Recent events, though, have brought these lands back to the forefront of their attention, and they have decided to reclaim what is rightfully theirs.">
Iris' mouth twitched in a thin smile. <"It does."> she said, agreeing with his first statement - although probably not in the way he'd think. Her native and preferred language was Celestial, the tongue of the higher realms, when she wasn't simply deciding to be understood. (This was similar to angels' Truespeech, but on a higher order. Language... wasn't really a barrier to true deities. When they wanted to understand others, they understood. When they wanted others to understand them, the others understood. It simply was.)
<"Still, possession is often considered to be the major component of the law."> Iris observed. <"I'm sure that at least some people would consider the abandonment of these lands by Queen Aestruum and King Imbrium for so long to be a de facto forfeiture of the title, particularly when multiple competing claims would have gone unopposed and unanswered. Of course, the people of this city might choose to recognize the claim regardless and put it back in force, but I'm glad to hear they've decided to reclaim the city."> she smiled rather more brightly. <"I'd like to hear about how well that's going.">
<"It could be going smoother, but it hardly matters. In a month's time, the Statthalter will arrive, and all this bothersome mess will be over. It would be helpful if you would assist us, of course. If you work to keep the cityfolk in line, I can make you the Mortal Magister to the Shadow Court. It's a great honor, but your efforts to prevent needless bloodshed would warrant it.">
A 'Statthalter' is traditionally an extremely-powerful fey Lich, Vampire, or Warlock with the patronage of a Demon Lord.
Iris twitched slightly at the offer. He really had no idea of the magnitude of the insult he was offering - but she was a forgiving goddess, and in fairness, she hadn't exactly gone around explaining herself just yet.
Also, mortal magister.
Bwaaaaaaaahahahahahahahahaha.
<"And how would their majesties actually rule this city?"> she inquired, trying to get him to reveal what information she could. (Truthfully, she already had a very good idea of what their rule would be like - bad. Attacking churches, trying to stop singing, obsession with darkness... they were against her domains in so very many ways. At the moment, she was simply trying to get a better sense of just how bad it would be.)
<"To be perfectly honest, this city is a gift to Statthalter Eigenstil. What he wishes to do with it is his business. Giving it to him was the king's idea, after all, and he can be somewhat ... cryptic ... at times. He goes through moods and seasons, the king. Beyond your understanding, of course. You're from the daylight lands, after all. How the queen feels about this is anyone's guess, but that's not really your concern. Excuse me. I descend into gossip.">
<"I see."> Iris observed. <"Well, thank you for your time, Ambassador. I'm glad we had a chance to talk and... clarify a few misunderstandings. I shall consider your offer, and let you know if I decide to take you up on it. Is there anything else you wish to communicate at this time?">