Ulmwin conveys the change of plans, and rewards his guard's willingness by singing him a song that has him gripping his spear with determination.
The guards of the squad looking after the two gnomes move up to be ready to support their fellows that had just retreated from the darkness. Ulmwin's guard runs forward and throws his spear before retreating (inspiration not needed).
As the glow fades, Ulmwin fires his crossbow at the tentacled crustacean creature, but the bolt deflects off of the hard plates.
Maji drops his lantern into the water and grabs hold of the arm and hauls the creature up, and they are now hugging tightly.
((What are you using in your off-hand? Was it lantern and shield, lantern and staff?))
With an easy escape not an option, his new dance partner thrashes and swings a bludgeoning claw at the dragonborn twice, before the tentacles creep their way up Maji's arm, throttling his neck as a few try to find their way into his nostrils.
The coral-shark surges out of the water to attack the lantern bearer beside Maji, the first swing of barnacled knuckles missing, but the second turning the guards head with a sickening snap as they slump, taking the lantern, and light with them.
The northern squad is getting nervous, with lights going out all over the place, but they fan out and hold their ground to watch for where Coljin said splashing came from the north eastern tunnel.
The squad in the middle of the water seems torn between going to help against the rider and mount, and helping get light to Anders and their companions to the north-west. In the end, that wins out, and they slosh forward as best they can, while staying ready for an attack.
The other middle squad dashes south to provide as much support as they can.
The guards near Maji try to get a good shot in against the creature wrapping up the dragonborn, but as tightly as the two are entwined, they don't manage to get a clean strike on the octo-creature, their spears glancing harmlessly off the cover Maji provides.
Anders swings at the shark-faced creature, but it ducks, and he misses badly splashing about before trying again. This time he connects on a two-handed swing, lopping the head from the creature and sending it splashing into the water.
There is a splash as the creature circles around to get at the Coljin's new friend David on the end of the formation at the south end of the cave. The guard sees it come out of the darkness in time to jab with his spear, managing to jab it right in the mouth.
His mount bringing him within range, mussel-mouth leans down to take a chomp of the David, but its flinch as it gets speared brings him up short.
His mount vents its frustration on the Davidt, swiping at him with a heavy pincer that grabs him around the waist before lifting him up in the air and applying force. The guard screams as he scrabbles in vain against the claw, calling to Coljin to help, but its only moments before the two chitinous halves snap together and both halves of the guard slap wetly to the floor.
It scuttles forward, its other pincer making short work of the guard in front of Coljin.
The tentacles at the front of its mouth wriggle tentatively, as if tasting the air, then more vigorously in the direction of the two gnomes.
On the other side of the cave, the northeast squad's patience has been rewarded, as the creature swimming towards them finally arrives and they are all in a position to get a good thrust in against it, although two of them miss.
It surges forward despite the spears, attacking the guard carrying the lantern, a large sea turtle like limb slapping him around before it jams the other arm, with waving, articulated quills into the guard, a few finding unprotected flesh and breaking off, the skin near the site turning purple and angry.
Turn Order:
Octo-head
Coral-Shark
Squad B
Mussel-Mouth
Squad D (spears readied)
Squad E
Squad C
Anders
Tentacle-Lobster-Dog
Turtle-Quill
Coljin (32/32) <<<------------------------------------------
Squad A
Squad F (spears readied)
Ulmwin (37/37)
Maji (9/31) (Raging, Grappled, grappling)