06/02/2023
The Bruisers met their bargeman, a man named Naukar, who claimed he was a simple servant of his queen, who the group took to mean the queen of the beholders, Quazix'ana
Naukar was very open about explaining the remnants they were gathering and delivering to Quazix'ana were requested by the very dread lord the group was hunting: Azalin
His intention was to rebuilt his home, Castle Avernus, on the material plane to be his seat of power for world domination
It soon became apparent Naukar could see the phantom of Elspeth that Bogul could see, and that there were also ghostly figures manning the oars of the barge
When Jezria claimed they didn't serve Azalin or the queen, Naukar offered them a chance to chat with his queen personally
The group was sent into a dreamlike state where they met with Naukar's queen, the Raven Queen
It was explained that the Raven Queen was double crossing Azalin, planning on allowing the dread lord to rebuild Avernus, but planning on taking it from him. Not for herself, but rather to offer it as a seat of power for her granddaughters. She claimed her granddaughters were the only ones capable of standing up to Eve Galdarion's formidable power, a power the Raven Queen found blasphemous.
Coming to an understanding with the Raven Queen, the group decided to help gather the remnants and kill Azalin, although his body would be necessary to keep Avernus from falling apart.
Upon waking, the group found themselves set upon by a flock of griffons from Roost. They fought them off, though Naukar sustained some injury.
The Bruisers eventually made it to a small island in the Kindred Sea called Quazi, a mass of living tentacles and meat that the queen of the beholders called home.