Long rest of fine. 

Darvin prepares to cast his spell that would provide shelter for the group. He calls to Tibi and advises him he needs to be close because when the spell is completed if he is not within the dome when the spell is cast he will not be able to access it. The group gathers together and a minute later you can tell that a barrier has been erected. The sounds of those impaled on the nearby trees is suddenly cut off. You also notice that the oppressive heat and stench of the underworld subsides as the atmosphere inside the space is comfortable and dry. As you rest an occasional stirge lands on the dome but you are left unmolested for a period of time long enough to rest and tend to your equipment and injuries.

After your rest the dome disappears and the heat and stench and sounds return.

Having made the decision to head south you climb down Haruman's Hill.  You are hopeful that Clonk and Chukka have waited for you as the thought of covering the distance between where you are and the Spawning Trees seems daunting.  

Unfortunately they are nowhere in sight.  8 hours seems to have been too long for them to wait and they and their demon grinder are no longer in the area.  It seems you will need to cover the distance under your own power and not ride the machine that got you to Haruman's Hill so quickly.

Looking south you recall passing a huge volcano on the way to the hill and it seems closer than it did on your trip north.  It seems that distance and geography changes on this plane of existence.

As you head south this gargantuan volcano dominates the horizon to the east. Clouds of fire and ash spew from its caldera.  Along the west side of your path runs the river Styx. Its water red like blood.  In the distance you can see watchtowers along the river, some on your side and some on the far bank.

Do you follow the river, head towards the volcano or try and thread the needle between the two as you head south?

"Well I was never any good at sowing as a hatchling" Tibi comments "but I'm prepared to have another go? Lets head for the needle!"

"Yes, best to stay between the volcano and the river of blood," Kaelani agrees.

"If there's one useful thing my mother told me," Darvin says as the party begins their trek, "that's it."

Drabash settles inside the shelter and maintains his gear, before settling down for his rest. When he arises, "Aye," he says, "lets thread the needle."

Heading towards the volcano just doesn't seem to be a good idea.  The river, while possibly a faster way to travel if you could find a boat or raft, does have its downsides, watch towers.  So the party tries to head between the two, avoid the worst and try and not draw attention to themselves.  

You've traveled for what seems like a few hours but as there is no sun so no sunset or moonrise, you really are not certain. 

Ahead you see an elderly human male approach you, pathetically holding his worn hat in his hands. As he gets closer he stops and introduces himself

"Greetings, my name is Dante.  Could you help me please?  I was forced to play in a game of three-dragon ante to earn money to pay off my spouse’s drinking debt, but I lost everything I owned and am now stuck in Avernus in service to an “evil devil.” Could you help an old man by playing a rematch of three-dragon ante so I can buy my way out of service?"

"What are the stakes?" Kaelani asks, fairly certain he already knew but just to be sure...

"Oh, nothing too drastic, the ante is one soul coin.  Very simple." the old man replies.

“Are you nuts?” Tibi asks Kaelani

Darvin tries to get a read on whether this gentleman's intentions are genuine (Insight: 12)

Darvin 

"Just wondering is all. His ante is less than I expected, although still more than I have." Kaelani responds to Tibi.

"Hmm, pity, a pity.  The others may accept another payment if you speak with them, I could lead you there." he says on response.  "Just around the corner."

"And which others would those be, pray tell?" Darvin asks

"Obviously those you would play against." He laughs.  "Is one of you gonna play or not?"

Undecided Tibi says "lets let the lady decide for us!" He flips the Decisionist coin in the air (Heads = 1-2 and play / Tails = 3-4 and pass) {1}.  He turns to the party and says "as the famous bard Kenny Rogers once said 'you've got know when to hold and when to fold. Looks like the lady says if we play we can't rely on her. My advice is we pass?"

 "Who am I to go against the combined advice of a goddess of luck and a famous bard?" Darvin replies. "I'm sorry sir, but you'll need to find your marks.. er... saviors elsewhere."

Dante looks disappointed. "Alas then, I shall continue to suffer the fate of my past decisions then.  Good day to you."

You pass him by and continue towards your original goal hoping your destination will lead to information on where the Bleeding Citadel is.  The volcano recedes in the distance behind you.  The river Styx flow closer to you now as it meanders its way through Avernus.  As it again flows further away to the west you see a massive iron structure that appears to be a pair of docking arms straddles the River Styx and extends out over it.  Again the river protrudes to the east and you move further away to avoid the watchtowers that occasionally dot the banks of the river.  

Suddenly, you seem to have arrived at your destination.  It seemed so far away and then was closer.  

Treelike growths cluster along the shoreline of a lake of bubbling, black goo. Each growth is formed from the same ichor as the lake and has writhing, membranous sacs budding from its limbs.

Five [Tooltip Not Found] heap coals around the trunk of one of the trees. As they hurl more coals onto the pyre, four of their number cruelly poke and tease the fifth member of their group.

"C'mon Krikendolt, kill the little chickens." You hear one of the fiends.  "They are tasty."   Krikendolt shakes his head.  "They ain't so bad, let them be." You see that the one named Krikendolt has terrible scars. "Do it" another calls "or we'll kill you!"

You see a few tiny chicken like creatures running around the area.  One of them starts towards you and you get a better look at it.

As this one gets closer to you the fiends stop poking fun at Krikendolt as they now see you approach.

"Well, well, what do we have here?" on the the fiends ask when you are about 30 feet away.

Overhearing the fiends from a height of about 20 feet above them and 20 feet in front of the party - his usual position - Tibi says "chickens you reckon, strangest chickens I've ever seen. They're quacking like ducks, walking like ducks but I'm not sure of their swimming skills - still I reckon they're ducks!"