Iris smiled. "Sometimes, all it takes is a little light to burn off the fog." she answered. "Even if you don't have a destination, you can have a journey - day by day, step by step, trying to improve a little at a time. I'm glad you've found a change - and if you want to search for more, well, one of the biggest cities in the world is just ahead. One thing it's not lacking in is things to explore." After a moment, she tilted her head a bit. "If you'd prefer to listen for a bit instead of talk, though, I think I'm going to go ahead and put on a performance near the Starstone Cathedral this afternoon. You're more than welcome to attend."
Malakesh smiles. "I think I'd like that. Perhaps I'll continue my journey, then - at least for a bit longer. Apparently I'm a bit famous, and I'd hate to disappoint anyone."
Iris gave him one more smile before turning to head back to the city. Even at her casual pace, she was faster than the huge majority of mortals - and nevermind how fast she could dart (even without teleporting) when she wanted to. As a goddess of travel, getting to destinations was rarely a problem. Of course, this wasn't a race. Not really. Rather, getting to the city faster gave her more time to set up...
With the crowd of onlookers awaiting the arrival of Malakesh, you practically have a captive audience. And your music, as always, is extremely well-received. Curiously, at the front of the crowd is an armor-clad female Gnome, who gives you a wink and a playful grin. Nobody else seems to even notice her presence.
Iris just smiled at the gnome, waving a little as she continued her performance. She knew a truly absurd number of songs - it was the sort of thing that happened when you'd had churches across the Material plane, tens of millions of inhabited worlds with dozens or hundreds of songs each. Most mortals had difficulty understanding the scale that some gods operated at... usually, it went 'one, two, a lot' as they shuffled the enormity of a concept away and focused on a more immediate matter. (Although, in fairness, many of those worlds had races quite different from those on this world - she literally couldn't make some of the sounds with the body she'd chosen. Not without some extensive magical tweaks, anyway.)
That said, she was using a language understood here for a reason - her music was meant to be understood and enjoyed by any who cared to come by.
The topic of 'chasing your dreams' was always appreciated - especially here, in close proximity to Starstone Cathedral. And, as it turns out, you have the most impeccable timing, as right at the climax of your song, Malakesh makes his appearance. Marching determinedly forward, he walks straight across the chasm surrounding the entrance to the Trial without breaking stride. As he closes the distance to the tower, it becomes clear that his path will take him about two feet to the left of the entrance: a simple wooden door. The crowd falls silent in anticipation as they wait to see what he'll do.
In your earlier conversation, you know that the gnome has no interest in godhood - or even in the Trial itself. But you also know that his journey is a great inspiration for many of the onlookers. Perhaps that's why he glances back and catches your eye for a brief moment before walking ... straight up the side of the tower. After all, he hasn't deviated from his route since he began his walk, but entering the tower would start his Trial. The crowd of spectators cheer, as even the possibility of godhood proves no temptation compared to whatever his goal is.
Suddenly, when Malakesh is approximately forty feet off the ground, he vanishes. All that's left is a voice in your mind. "walk the planes to find her once more" It appears everyone watching received the same telepathic message. The gnome you noticed earlier is the only one who seems unbothered.
Iris smiled slightly as Malakesh vanished - seeing somebody embark on a new journey in pursuit of their goals always brought a warm feeling to her heart. Not every journey ended well - but you'd never get anywhere if you never started moving. Besides, the fulfillment of quests was outside of her purview. "The show will resume in a little bit if you'd like to stick around." she called to the crowd. "In the meantime, if anyone has questions, you're welcome to come up and chat now." she looked at the gnome as she spoke - though she wasn't going to demand they come forward if they didn't want to.
The gnome waves at you as she effortlessly crosses the chasm and disappears into the tower. Nobody else notices this. You, meanwhile, are fielding questions and accepting compliments from several members of your audience. There's a few children who want to learn how to sing like you, an embarrassed-looking guard who's inquiring if you have a vending permit , and a rustic-looking man who introduces himself as Elyin Ursage and inquires about your performance fees. He's getting married, you see, and while he doesn't have much money, he'd love to surprise his wife-to-be with a song from "the best singer I ever done heard in all me life, miss."
"When is your wedding?" Iris inquired. "I rarely stay in one place for too long - but if nothing else, I think I could get someone from Shelyn's place to do it." After a moment, "My own fees are whatever you like to pay - in accordance with local regulations, of course. I sing mostly for fun, not for a living."
"Tomorrow morning, at dawn," Elyin responds with some embarrassment. "I was headin' back home after pickin' up the rings. We paid a wizzerd to enchant 'em so they'll never rust," he added proudly.
"An excellent time for a new beginning." Iris said, smiling widely at the man. "I think I'll still be in town - where will the wedding be taking place?"
"Bellis, ma'am. It's a few hours east of here."
Iris nodded and settled down to wait for a bit, just in case anyone else was going to come over with a question. And if not, well, she had a few questions of her own...
There's a fair bit of gossip (as is common in large cities), and you're able to pick out a few rumors of possible interest. For starters, the wizard Irtep appears to have gone missing right as he was on the cusp of some great magical breakthrough. Of course, as his arcane skill was only surpassed by his fondness for gambling, it's possible he's simply fleeing his creditors. In other news, the Pathfinder Society has - for the first time - allowed nonmembers to attempt the Gauntlet. This infamous challenge promises great fame to all who complete it. Finally, a messenger brings you a note from a 'Asheron Coyl' inviting you to his home in the Ivy District to discuss a "mutually profitable business arrangement."
Being promised profit held essentially no appeal for Iris, other than gathering funds for the things she actually wanted to accomplish. Money was nothing more than a means to an end, and not something to be desired for itself. On the other hand, she was a little intrigued by this Gauntlet. Not for personal glory - although spreading her name before she revealed her identity wasn't a bad idea - but because she was interested in seeing the people striving towards a brighter future for themselves. Supporting one of them might be a worthwhile use of her time - after the wedding she'd promised to help, of course. When was this Gauntlet, anyway?
Asheron Coyl is a wealthy local supporter of the arts who lives in the Ivy District of Absalom. Aside from his local interests, he's a generous sponsor of expeditions to ruins and dangerous places in the wilds.
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The Gauntlet is an old siege castle in the hills north of the city that is used to test experienced members of the Pathfinder Society. What's inside is not known to the general public, but rumors abound of powerful illusions, deadly traps, clever puzzles, and bound guardians. Anybody can attempt the Gauntlet at any time, but once it's begun, hopefuls are trapped inside until they either succeed, give up, or perish.
A sponsor of the arts, was it? Curious - although many people sponsored it for many reasons, and not all of the arts were good. Alas, some people used it as a disguise for other matters. With that, she headed back to relax for the afternoon, preparing for the wedding - and then for visiting the Gauntlet after that event. Both of them would likely be interesting, at least - and she was curious to see how the Gauntlet often went.
It's not difficult to find the wedding location, as simple leaflets are plastered to trees everywhere within a half-mile radius of the location. Bellis is a simple frontier town nestled between the quiet shade of the Verduran Forest and the western banks of the slow-moving Sellen River. Flower gardens color every homestead, painting a vibrant scene under the summer sun. Common folk go about their business, tilling the land, tying off keelboats, and hobnobbing over cups of mead. In the distance, a dog barks, children laugh, and the bees hum while gathering pollen.
Festivities before the wedding ceremony stretch past a large open-air tent and down to the sun-drenched, tree-lined banks of Stillwater Creek. Music and laughter fill the air here, with partygoers calling out for attendees to join their games and merrymaking.
- fishing on Lover's Bridge (several children are trying unsuccessfully to catch trout)
- food, drink, and a box social (seven pretty bridesmaids are auctioning off homemade cakes to raise money for a dowry)
- meet the happy couple
- music and dancing around a maypole
- horseshoe tournament (run by a half-orc in full war paint; currently no participants)
- relax in the rose garden
Looking around the area, Iris smiled slightly as she watched the children try to fish. Sorathel was with her, garbed in more relaxed clothing than usual. She could call forth battle gear if need be, but nothing had suggested that was necessary here. Still, it would be rather rude to show up and not even introduce herself. With that, Iris moved over, her companion following politely behind.
"Good morning." Iris said, smiling at both bride and groom. "I'm Iris, and I was asked to provide a bit of singing for entertainment later." That was mostly for the benefit of the bride. "Are there any particular songs you'd like to hear?" If she didn't know them - and honestly, she didn't know many of Golarion's modern songs - she might need a little practice first. She was many things, but perfect - despite divinity - was not one of them.
A well-worn path strewn with flower petals leads between plain wooden benches to a decorative gazebo. More flowers adorn the structure itself, and a line of well-wishers extends to a seated couple dressed in simple finery beneath its roof. Elyin shakes your hand gratefully when you arrive. "Thank you so much for coming!" He turns to the woman beside him. "Dear, this is Miss Iris, the singer I told you about." The woman smiles at you. "It's wonderful to meet you. I'm Kailah Winmede - although only for a little longer." She gives Elyin an adoring look. "Can you maybe sing something about new beginnings?"
Iris smiled. "Yes." she answered simply. Rather, that was her specialty - and she felt no need to elaborate on what was ultimately a very simple and straightforward answer. On a fundamental level, she was new beginnings, along with everything that implied. She glanced back at Sorathel a moment later and tracked her guardian's gaze, then smiled slightly. "For now, I think we'll take a stroll around the rose garden - it's quite lovely. Just have someone tell me where and when to sing."
A wide path leads to a maze of thick, ten-foot-tall hedges with songbirds nesting within them. A few wedding guests stand at the entrance, with one or two occasionally venturing into the maze to explore the flower gardens and statuary inside. Inside, you find that the 'maze' is more of a labyrinth, with several colorful glass sculptures set up near benches in a few different locations. When sunlight hits the glass at the proper angle, it creates a beautiful kaleidoscopic display of colors.
"...I like this place. <3"
Humming cheerfully, Iris started to wander through the labyrinth, with Sorathel following patiently behind. Light, flowers, songbirds, and rainbows? It wasn't home, but it was about as close as somewhere on the material plane could get. With that, she began to idly make her way through the edges, content to wander them until it was time to perform.
A commotion catches your ear. Around a corner, you see a pretty redheaded gnome sitting on one of the viewing benches. She's being awkwardly courted by an unnaturally pale gnome who appears bleached of all color. As his words become more and more dramatic and loquacious, the target of his affection is scooting farther and farther away with an appalled expression. Seeing you, she mouths, "Help me"
Smiling gently - to reassure the redhead - Iris moved over. However the situation might have looked from the outside, such things were rarely funny until afterwards, and it simply wasn't in her nature to laugh at people who wanted help. Quite the opposite.
"Pardon me. I don't think we've been introduced." she said, leaning into the bleached gnome's field of view. Sorathel was standing a little ways back, vigilant as usual.
The bleachling jumps in surprise, than rushes away with a scowl and flushed cheeks. The woman sighs in relief. "Thank the sun! I knew letting Tenzekil buy my cake was a terrible idea."
"You're welcome." Iris answered mildly as the woman spoke her thanks. (...What? Most people thought of Sarenrae, but more than one deity had stars in their portfolio.) "Do you think he's going to be a lot of trouble, or did you just need an interruption there?" she inquired, looking at the direction the bleached gnome had gone.
"He'll probably be too embarrassed to show his face for a while, if I know Tenzekil. He's had his eye on me for years, but, frankly, he's not my type. Plus, ever since he lost the honey-harvesting competition, he's become even more annoying than usual."
"Perhaps it would be better to... refocus his attention, then." Iris suggested lightly. "People can be at their darkest when pursuing one thing and feeling like they can't get it, but if his mind can go somewhere more productive, I think he'll be much less likely to bother you again." It was rarely as simple as saying one side was good and the other was bad - especially in social situations. She cared for all mortals, and in general, she liked trying to arrange situations where everyone was better off in the end.
"Oh, we've all tried, believe me. He gets a bit ... singleminded, I'm afraid."
"Is that so." Iris mused. "In my experience, fellows like that have a bit of a flair for the dramatic. They need something to truly shift their interests. Then, and only then, are they likely to change. Such is ever the way with passions - few people can easily give up on what they've put their heart into."
She sighs. "Most of us think the Bleaching cracked his mind a little. He's so dour now." She's interrupted by the toll of a bell. "Oh! That means the ceremony's about to start. Hurry, or we'll be late!"
Iris noddedand gestured to Sorathel, then moved to follow the gnome. She could rush back all on her own, of course, but there was really no need for that. Besides, it was a little rude to just abandon others like that, especially when they were trying to hurry.
(She would, however, note the right direction if need be.)
Once you've arrived and all the guests have assembled, a sudden swell of music announces the bride and groom's approach. Kailah and Elyin emerge from their home, with bridesmaids and musicians following behind. Once the procession reaches the gazebo, Elyin nods toward you.
As they nodded, Iris allowed her voice to rise up in song. There were many songs one could sing for a wedding, but all things considered... this particular wedding felt like a time for a song reminding that riches and deeds paled in comparison to true happiness.
(Singing two parts was a little more challenging... but Iris was quite confident her voice was up to it. She wasn't actually a goddess of song, but she was close.)
Your song is very well-received - especially by the local insect life, as a few bees begin circling you as your performance continues. You notice the number of bees gradually increasing, though, and you soon hear a low booming buzz as thousands of bees erupt from the treeline behind you. The roiling mass of insects heads straight into the gathered crowd, eliciting screams of terror.
As the swarm darted towards the crowd, Iris ordered Sorathel to protect the people - then ran at full speed towards the swarm, clutching Mihrel, her staff, in a tight grip. Most weapons weren't too good against swarms... but her beloved partner had been enchanted to overcome that quite some time ago. She wasn't done restoring its power, but golems and swarms alike had no special protection against its blows. Alas, going into the crowd meant she couldn't simply bomb it with light, so weapon blows it would be.
for
You begin swatting bees out of the air, and the swarm instantly focuses its attention on you. They seem much more intelligent than you'd expect - almost a hive mind sort of situation.
Iris had little difficulty resisting most poisons. This may have been because she didn't think such things should affect her - and a deity's willpower was not to be underestimated. What was simply absurdity for mortals often became reality for the divine, as the world itself twisted and bent to their view.
With that, however, she was fully in range - and charged her staff before whipping it through the swarm at full speed.
for
for
for
You eliminate a large number of insects, but a cloud of them remains. They continue to swarm around you.
As you continue to battle the bugs, an angry voice bursts forth from all around the gazebo. "Fools! You shall rue the day you shunned my pallid condition and laughed at my losses! Know your doom has come! When Queen Rhoswen arrives, all will perish - you will choke upon her mist, die by her thorns, and fall before her armies! May you forever suffer the curses of the Fellnight fey! Tenzekil shall have his revenge on you all!"
A wall of thorns erupts around your position, boxing you in with the bride and groom. Then a trio of spriggans phase through the wall and quickly swell to 10ft tall while drawing thorny weapons.
"Sorathel, be a dear and guard them." Iris said, and her companion shot off to interpose herself between the mortals and the fey. ....Aaaaaah, the fey. Although this appeared to be a different night-aligned folk than those she'd met before? <"Once you insult me, Tenzekil, by saying I shun the conditions of others. Twice you insult me, Tenzekil, by claiming I laugh at the losses of others."> she said in Sylvan. Her staff blurred around her body as she struck through the swarm.
for
for
for
for
As she brought her staff to rest on the ground with a heavy thump, <"And thrice you insult me, Tenzekil, by attacking those who asked for my help while I am present. Know your place. I am the Lady of Spring, recent guest in the court of the Queen of Night and Magic. Face me, gnome, and answer for your insults.">
You disperse the remainder of the bees as Sorathel moves to defend the others. Your challenge, however, goes unanswered.
The spriggans fire a volley of razor-sharp thorns at Sorathel, Elyin, and Kailah.
As she stood in front of the civilians, Sorathel swept her shield through the air and deflected the volley of thorns. She darted forward a moment later, bringing her blade around to strike at the closest Spriggan.
for
For her part, Iris just gripped her staff tightly, then shot forward fast enough to leave a multi-hued trail behind her as she launched herself at the same Spriggan that Sorathel had struck, aiming to work together to bring it down that much faster.
for
<"You made your choices. Now accept the consequences.">
You and Sorathel are both skilled warriors, so it doesn't take long to defeat the spriggans. The walls of thorns that encircles your group may take a bit more effort to deal with, however.
That... was quite true. Iris would probably be fine if she simply pushed through on her own, but the mortals here were a bigger concern...
After considering her methods, Iris just shrugged, then pointed her staff towards a section of the wall of thorns. At her current abilities, she couldn't simply dispel the wall... but she didn't need to if she made a path around it. As a goddess of travel, she took personal offense at people trying to trap her where she didn't want to be. Honestly, she could just wait it out... but it was the principle of the thing.
The ground opens up below the wall, creating a tunnel wide enough for the four of you to pass through.