You're able to plant some seeds, but unfortunately, there isn't sufficient time before your ship leaves to completely finish the church-planting process. Once you cast off, it's a week's journey to the trade metropolis of Katapesh. Well before you arrive at the docks, you can make out the Dockside Giant keeping watch over the surrounding area. Yes, you've definitely reached your destination.
Although Katapesh is slightly less-populated than Absalom, it seems much busier. Within moments of disembarking, you're surrounded by the hustle and bustle of a thriving trade city's organized chaos. Already, you're seeing signs and advertisements for Annexa Palanthea's Fishy Menagerie, Jexler & Young Salvage Company and Deep Sea Exploration and Retrieval, Trillia's Bathhouse, and Jerikal's Ales - and you haven't even left the Docks yet!
Besides the many (more touristy) attractions of the Docks, there are many other places that might be of interest to you. Lower City holds the grand bazaar - said to be the largest in the entire world. The nearest Pathfinder Society headquarters is in Twilight Gate. Dog Town is the poor section of the city. Home of gnolls, transient workers, and those down on their luck, it's a place where your message of hope is likely to be well-received. If you're looking to mingle with the upper-class, Dawn Gate is the obvious choice. Finally, if you'd rather see something familiar, the Inner City district is the oldest in Katapesh.
Hmm... well, perhaps it would be fun to start spreading her message. "Pardon me - I'm looking for people in need of aid..." she said as she began approaching people. She was fairly confident it wouldn't take too long.
In a city the size of Katapesh, it isn't difficult to find those in need of aid - especially if you go to the Dog Town district. Due to their monstrous appearance, the large population of gnolls who reside there are typically seen as second-class citizens.
Gnolls were interesting to work with - but far from the most exotic creatures Iris had gotten prayer from. She firmly believed everyone deserved a chance or three to turn from their ways and do the right thing. Admittedly, she might smite them if they didn't change, but by that point they'd made their choice clear and were obliged to accept responsibility for it. That was the point the philosophers often missed - with power came responsibility, and the ability to freely choose was one of the greatest powers of all. However, that didn't mean choices were free of consequences. The dawn could be soft or harsh. For now, however, she was strongly inclined towards softness...
Most people didn't realize it by looking at her, but Iris was a rather determined sort of goddess. Most were when it came to their portfolios, true, but some were more so than others. In her case, a lot of it came from determinedly going where she wanted to do what she wanted, and bit by bit, she began to spread her name through the people. In a land like this, they'd probably be quite receptive to the love of the sun...
The people of Katapesh are definitely inclined toward sun deities, so your message is quick to attract notice. There's some initial resistance - especially from the gnolls - but once they realize that you're not preaching the word of the Dawnflower, the people are much more receptive. Before too long, you've gained a few dozen followers. Their faith is weak, but you know that it will grow with time.
Iris' faith had always been a curious one. Unlike some churches, many of her followers didn't persist with her for their whole lives, but instead stayed to find themselves before moving on to another position. Iris had never considered this a problem - dawn brought forth day, and did not keep its light on a person forever.
"The key is this." she explained during one of her sermons. "There is always time to change things. As the dawn comes each day, so too do your opportunities to change and improve. People often wonder what they could have done differently in the past, but few consider what they can do now to change the future. It does not matter who you are or what you have done until this point - what matters is what you choose to do going forward. Some among you have already received my blessings, so you know that I speak true when I say your faith will be rewarded. And even if you do not follow me, take comfort in knowing that the dawn will always come again, and you are welcome with us ever and always."
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Your messages are popular, and you soon have a dedicated following of almost fifty souls. This fledgling church isn't quite self-sufficient yet, but with a little more work, you'll soon have a solid foothold here in Katapesh.
The dawn came - and the dawn moved on. Iris had never been the sort to stand around preaching all day, and after setting things well enough in motion for now, she headed into the city to explore... and to learn what could be learned.
As in any major city, there's a fair bit of news to be had. Famed collector of oddities Ternel Passad is in the middle of a spat with the local Pathfinder Lodge. It seems that he had planned to sell them a "scroll of historical significance," but the Pathfinder representatives managed to offend him. According to notices posted all over the city, "the scroll is hidden among my many holdings; you'll have to locate it and survive my defenses to obtain your little prize. And you won't be alone: I've sent word to the world that this challenge has been put forth. The first to find it gets to keep it!"
In other news, a group of experienced adventurers has recently gone missing while exploring a newly-unearthed tomb. Lastly, Ofarah Ohatepe, Thuvian dignitary and seller of the famed sun orchid elixer is holding a birthday banquet at the end of the week. It's invitation-only, but you could doubtless find a way onto the guest list if you were so inclined.
Hmm... the adventurers could probably use some help. The scroll would be found by someone sooner or later, and if it was interesting, word would spread. Iris had little care for vaunted elixirs - it wasn't really relevant to her, and she'd already been at a fancy court recently. On the other hand, normal people who might have needed help in the dark? Yeah, that appealed to her interests.
According to what you've heard, a trade caravan stumbled across the entrance of an ancient tomb, recently unearthed by the desert's shifting sands. This location was quickly sold to a group of treasure hunters of some repute. They set off just over a week ago and had stayed in touch with their town contact via magic. Shortly after entering the tomb itself, all contact ceased and hasn't been resumed.
Well, if she was going to find this group... she'd probably need to get in contact with their friend in town, hm? With that, she began poking around to see if she could figure out who that was.
The group's contact is an alchemist named Norden Balentiir. He runs a shop in the Lower City and has a reputation for having an alchemical concoction available for any situation - likely why the missing adventurers like him so much.
Ah, the creators - Iris rather liked them, especially when their wares helped other people. Picking up the pact, she headed towards the lower city. It wasn't likely to be too hard to find, and the sooner she spoke with him, the sooner she could look in on these missing treasure hunters.
It's no surprise to find that Norden is a gnome. The race had a natural affinity toward experimentation, and (when successful) that tended to lead to a vast amount of knowledge about weird niche products that were completely useless ... until they were exactly what was needed.
"Hello!" Iris said cheerfully as she entered the shop. "I'm concerned about your explorers, and I'd like to go check on them." Such forthrightness tended to surprise mortals, though. Not that she was the sort to let this deter her. "And before you ask, I don't really care about any treasures in the tomb. I'm quite satisfied with my staff."