Disastrous Sleuthing

> We see more of Directian and how it's not prosperous for everybody.
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## Summary

Hoshimi, Caius, Flint and Sybl Indrax head for the nearest apothecary which is in the poorest area of Directian, Brushtown. The group gets some attention especially from all the drow in the area. They arrive as Zelna's Apothecary where a thin old drow greets them. She mentions how ingredients that made drow poison have been missing but a bag of gold was left behind. The group is surprised that it was a business transaction without interaction. Flint gets details on what was stolen and how drow poison was made. Sybl ends up finding another shadowy wisp in the storage room. It's the best lead they have as Hoshimi leaves 5 gold for Zelna and Flint copies the formula for drow poison in his notebook.

They follow the trail of shadowy wisps using forensic dye to the temple of the Frozen Hearth. They find a couple of drow women fighting in the street. Hoshimi and Flint try to break up the fight but fail. Sybl talks about how he likes the two of them and would hate to interupt things which gets them to stop. The crowd disperses afterwards as the women were mentioning how thier children were being discriminated against. The first lady, Verimosa talks about how her daughter Jabina, had been studying to be a nurse but went missing. The other lady mentions how her son, Beryn doesn't have many friends. Beryn is revealed to be a pickpocket that only takes what he needs to survive. The party is sympathetic and offers to keep thier eyes open for them and even decide to check on a few leads.

As the drow women walk away from each other with death glares, Hoshimi hears from Yuuto that his team is back in the city. Hoshimi is uncomfortable with going into the temple but apparently it's closed because of threats made. Hoshimi remembers that the Frozen Hearth worships, Kinionne, the frostmother. The local drow mentions that the threats are about the church donated to the Delangue College despite it being named after a member of Venom. Caius is surprised that the bigotry runs this deep but neither Hoshimi nor Flint are surprised.

The group begins heading back to the palace. Hoshimi and Flint bond being people who both ran away from home. Flint reveals that he ran away from home because he didn't want to be tied to his parents and never made contact with them despite it. Hoshimi wishes she had Flint's problem and says Flint was being selfish before walking ahead. Flint cries saying he didn't want to be Terran Windstrummer but Hoshimi mentions that she wants to be in her own skin. Flint takes off his goggles revealing his mother's eyes and how comfortable he is around the party. The two of them share a hug as Caius is reminded of his adventuring days. As they walk to the palace, Hoshimi gets a message from Yuuto that Abigail's student is a member of the cult. She tells Caius and the group head for the castle right away.

## Notable events

* The group finds where the drow poison ingredients were taken
* The group break up a fight between two drow women and promise to look for thier kids
* The Frozen Hearth is revealed to be closed because of threats
* Hoshimi and Flint have a moment revealing Flint's true identity