Before an unconscionably long break in proceedings owing to their players (or DM) being away or otherwise occupied, the party investigated Fort Knucklebone. Here’s a summary:

• At the marketplace, met a kenku called Sarth with whom Pherria was just-barely able to communicate. Couldn’t get to to bottom of the “they speak in her [Lulu’s] memory” riddle, but learned from Sarth and from others that:
  • The kenku maintain a “tinker shed” (some kind of vehicle repair shop) next door, in the second kunckle.
  • They roost up in the cliffs above, clambering up a network of ropes and ladders, but they’re protective of their nests and it wouldn’t be advisable to visit them there uninvited.
  • The kenku have been resident here for longer than anybody can remember. They themselves say that they’ve lived here since before they were cursed by their god (who apparently took from them, as punishment for some sleight, their ability to fly, their ability to think creatively, and their own language: since then, they’ve used their talent for mimicry to assemble a pidgin of a variety of the languages around them, which explains why communication with them can be slightly painful).
• Trevick accepted a “lucky magic finger” as a gift from a redcap.
• A large group of devils, seemingly lead by one in fancy headgear, all wearing armour decorated with a figure-8 formed from welded chains, were carousing around their war machines (strange vehicles like armoured chariots but without horses, and two-wheeled carts suitable for only one or two riders) outside a bar called The Well.
• The party visited The Well where they met the proprietor, Natasha the Dark, and her impish staff Spit and Stirr. Goaded on by the troublemaking imps, Leofric downed a glass of demon ichor and almost killed himself with the toxic brew, much to the delight of the fiendish onlookers. This provided a vehicle for them to meet with Natasha the Dark, though, a strange boney wraith-like woman of innumerable years, who took the time to meet each of the party (and asked the magic users if any of them could cast “that laughter spell: you know the one I mean…”, because it “reminds her of her sister”).
• As well as general facts about how the fort operates: sitting between the warlords of Avernus, but allied to none, its potentate Mad Maggie sells supplies and services to all and sundry.
  • A century ago the fort was probably a front line fortification of the Blood War, before Zariel’s devils managed to push the demonic incursion back towards the Abyss, where the font lines can now be found.
  • The party asked about Mad Maggie, who would apparently be busy dealing with her guests from the “8th Remnant”, but instead opted to rest after their long day of travelling along the river and across the desert. The party aimed to spread a rumour that they owed Mad Maggie money, in the hope that this would then get her attention and they’d be able to meet her tomorrow.
• The party made camp in a shared campground in the fourth “knuckle”, which was also occupied at the time by two of the “8-shaped chain”-armoured spined devils, playing cards, a massive heavily tattooed orc setting up a tent, and a pair of redcaps.