"She's a shy thing, and almost always hiding in a corner. She has a fondness for other people's fingers."[1]
"Two stokers explain that they nearly came to blows after one accused the other of stealing his wedding ring – after all, the accused party was wearing it at the time! It was only later that they realised the ring was on the correct finger, but that their fingers had been swapped. Dilly has been up to her tricks again."[2]
Dilly is a spider-like creature with large eyes, long legs, and a hairy snout.[3] She can be very shy and often hides out of sight,[4] but can be placated by singing, and may slowly grow to trust others.[5] Her name comes from the folk song Lavender's Blue.[6]
Dilly has a fondness for people's digits,[7] and possesses the ability to rearrange them however she pleases. Some of her tricks include removing fingertips,[8] manipulating knuckle bones,[9] switching around toes,[10] and swapping fingers between different people[11] - all done seamlessly with no apparent injury.[12] Despite her mischievousness,[13] she seems innocent and good-natured...[14] though those left unable to grasp or tripping over their toes may disagree.[15]
↑Sweet, sweet Dilly, Sunless Skies"Even for you, she rarely emerges. But if you sing softly, and no one else is around, she can be convinced to climb down onto your bunk."
↑Story description, Sunless Skies"Who told you so, dilly dilly, who told you so? It was my heart, dilly dilly, that told me so. [...] Dilly ain't hurtin' nobody."
↑crewcomplaint (3), Sunless Skies"The tip of their middle finger is missing. [...] The creature was found under their bed the next morning – it must be to blame."
↑crewcomplaint (4), Sunless Skies""The little swine's been switchin' my toes around. Thought I was losin' my mind when I woke up with a little toe twice the size of the others."
↑crewcomplaint (5), Sunless Skies"It was only later that they realised the ring was on the correct finger, but that their fingers had been swapped. Dilly has been up to her tricks again."
↑crewcomplaint (3), Sunless Skies"It's admirably neat work. No bite marks, no scabbing, no blood. It's just as if the fingertip had never existed."
↑Play with your mascot, Sunless Skies"She chitters, possibly fondly. [...] She takes such innocent delight in drawing your attention to one finger while she shifts the knuckles on another."
↑crewcomplaint (6), Sunless Skies"This time, Dilly is roughly bundled under somebody's arm. [...] The better part of his index and second fingers are missing. [...] If I can't hold my spanner [...] I can hardly put my boots on for all the extra knuckles I've got on my toes!"
