I just created a new character and archived the old one. After creating the new one I get a PC Key error popping up and telling me I will be sent back to the world just right after character creation but it has never happened. Additionally, I can't talk to Pickering because I don't have the items needed to finish the task from my archived character.

How do I resolve this?

did the new PC have the exact same name as the old one?

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Davion Telemos - Monk of the Four Winds
Korthan Isharnos - Dragon Shaman of Thunder Spirit Zamasham

Yes. However, it appears to have been solved now after a few hours. After a reset, the character has been taken back to the starting point and it had a new PC key.

Another question though, I read that you could change a deity before level 10. I accidentally put a different deity that is not in my alignment when I created the character so I am not sure if I can request this to be cleared by a DM or I can leave it as is until I can find the idol of the god that I intended to put in the first place and bind to it as the instructions say.

You can find the idol or ask a DM to help you out in game, no formal request needed since it was a creation mistake.

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Davion Telemos - Monk of the Four Winds
Korthan Isharnos - Dragon Shaman of Thunder Spirit Zamasham

Great! Thanks for the help.