Iris Message

Iris messages are video type messages that can be used to communicate with others using a rainbow. The service is managed by Iris, goddess of the rainbow.



Iris Messaging
To send a message, one must first find or create a rainbow and then throw a golden drachma or anything with a good price into it, saying or thinking very deeply:

"Oh Iris, goddess of the Rainbow, accept my offering."

In The Son of Neptune, when they meet Iris, she tells them that the cloud nymph Fleecy will send an Iris message for them. Fleecy gives them a "direct line" with the saying:

"Oh Fleecy, do me a solid. Show me (name and place of person)."

This is usually said aloud, though it works non-verbally as well. Then the caller says the name or location of the intended recipient. The way to end an Iris message is to wave one's hand through the mist, disrupting the signal.

They can also be sent to gods, such as when Percy contacted Mr. D. This is odd, because in The Titan's Curse, Percy wonders if it is even possible.

Variations
In The Battle of the Labyrinth, Percy receives a "collect" Iris message, asking him to deposit drachmas in the image for each five minutes of conversation. This happens only once, and the sender was dead, so it is not clear whether this is a unique event.

In The Lost Hero, Medea calls for an Iris message with a diamond instead of a coin. This probably means that an Iris message can be activated using any object of value.

Greek heroes use drachmas to activate Iris messages because this was the Ancient Greek currency. It is implied in The Son of Neptune that Roman heroes do not use Iris Messages (neither Frank nor Hazel had ever heard of this method of communication) since Iris is her Greek counterpart, and by then Romans used more advanced methods, like giant eagles.

Failed Iris Messages
In the The Son of Neptune, Percy tries to contact Annabeth via Iris Message but it is blocked because of Hera.