Fort Knucklebones
Fort Knucklebones is an outpost in Avernus that is currently occupied by the hag warlord. The fort is notable for its enforced and obeyed rule banning conflict while inside of its walls that is followed by visitors, warlords, and devils alike, allowing Fort Knucklebones to serve as neutral ground in the otherwise inhospitable Avernus.
Architecture
Fort Knucklebones is so named for the hill that the fort's walls are built around, which contains five juts that resemble fingers.
The inside of the hill has been carved into and hallowed out, today serving as a repair garage for infernal warmachine, the home for a tribe of kenku that have lived in the fort for centuries, a kitchen, and the resting sport for the Dream Machine.
Outside of the hill, between the caverns and the walls, is designated for the visitors to the fort. The arcade, between the pinky and ring finger of the hill, contains a variety of markets in tents and Maggie's infernal bank, run by the imp Sarcasia, where soul coins, chits, and gold can be exchanged.
Between the thumb and the index finger is a space designated for visitors to rest, and they can either pitch their own tent for free or rent one of the preestablished tents.
Finally, near the index finger is the Well, a bar built around one of the very few springs of fresh water in all of Avernus. It is run by Natasha the Dark and is a favorite stop for extraplanar visitors craving an unspoilt drink.
History
Fort Knucklebones was established centuries upon centuries ago and has been owned by many different individuals since then, from devils to mortals to demons. While it is unknown if the fort was created to house the Dream Machine or the Dream Machine was installed in a preexisting fort, the two appear to be virtually interlinked. What is known is that a tribe of kenku settled in Knucklebones at some point before the 10th century and have remained there ever since, even as the fort changed hands, as their ability to repair and operate infernal warmachines was found useful by every owner.
In 920, Fort Knucklebones was visited by the human Yael and the hollyphant Lulu during their quest to flee Avernus with the Sword of Zariel. Though that quest ended in failure, their presence at the fort would live on through history, as the kenku adopted Lulu's vioice and pronunctiation of "love" as their definitive version of that word.
In the 15th century, the fort was taken over by a coven of hags, made up of Mad Maggie, Red Ruth, and Gaunt Gella. The coven made use of the fort's Dream Machine. Gella was placed into the device and Ruth entered her dreams, and whatever Ruth saw horrified her enough to murder Gella and escape before Maggie killed Ruth in turn. The coven broken, Maggie chose to remain at Fort Knucklebones, turning it into the nuetral ground it is known for today. Her will would be enforced in the fort through her flesh golem construct Mickey, a flaming skull named Barnabas, and a group of Red Caps and Mad Caps she recruited from the Feywild.
In 1497, the fort was visited by the Lost Star Detectives during their quest to save the city of Elturel. The Detectives included the hollyphant Lulu, now an amnesiac as a result of the waters of the Styx, and they arrived following a hint from the god Torm. At the fort, Maggie informed the Detectives that the Dream Machine could be used to return Lulu's memories to her, but that it was missing four of its components. The Detectives agreed to get the components and recieve a warmachine from Maggie in echange for letting the hag also view Lulu's dreams.
In 1498, the Detectives returned with the missing parts, and with the aid of the Dream Machine Lulu remembered the resting place of the Sword of Zariel.
Tourism
While a popular stop for visitors and travelers of all kind, everyone inside of Fort Knucklebones must adhere to the same one rule: no fighting allowed. Anyone caught breaking this rule is beset upon by Maggie's minions and the other guests. This rule is respected by all, in part because of Maggie's magical proficiency but also in part because a designated neutral space has proven useful to warlords and devils alike.
by Wizards of the Coast
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