Lozak becomes very animated, even pulling the bizarre, two-necked lute-from-hell from his back and crossing it over his body.  He let's it hang suspended while one hand points at the puddle on the floor.  

"That is Urshnora!"  He says with as much venom in his tone as he can muster.  "That, you imbeciles!  Remember, one of the first things I told you about!  A Fathomer named Urshnora that can take on liquid form!  Gods of Galivanting Goblins, where were you during that conversation!?"

Lozak's fingers dance across the frets of one of the necks, and then he begins to strum a song.  When he sings, his voice is perfect; there is no sign of the strange vocal tones he uses when he talks.  His bloodshot eyes fall on Ankita.  

"Messenger of fear in sight; dark deception kills the light!"

Lots of confusing thoughts go through Shrek’s pea brain. Thinking to himself: Water?  What wrong with water?  My swamp home is…water. No get.

Then, memories of them walking under water to sneak into this fortress appear in his two brain cells. Wait?  Did we’s walk inside baddie to get here?  Gross!

After a moment of introspection, he finally shakes his head and comes back to reality when he realizes everyone is concerned enough to draw their weapons out, as if preparing for battle.  He pulls his umber hulk clawed appendage in front of him, clicks it nervously a few times, and starts to rapidly spin around, looking for the enemy.

Perception: 7

Quote from JFCapps >>

Lozak becomes very animated, even pulling the bizarre, two-necked lute-from-hell from his back and crossing it over his body.  He let's it hang suspended while one hand points at the puddle on the floor.  

"That is Urshnora!"  He says with as much venom in his tone as he can muster.  "That, you imbeciles!  Remember, one of the first things I told you about!  A Fathomer named Urshnora that can take on liquid form!  Gods of Galivanting Goblins, where were you during that conversation!?"

Lozak's fingers dance across the frets of one of the necks, and then he begins to strum a song.  When he sings, his voice is perfect; there is no sign of the strange vocal tones he uses when he talks.  His bloodshot eyes fall on Ankita.  

"Messenger of fear in sight; dark deception kills the light!"

“Do you always rhyme, all the time?  Hey Lozak, stop beating around the bush, what the hell am I looking for?  Speak plainly!”  Olaerys turns around, looking around at the water, expecting some dread creature to jump up and grab him, hand on his battle axe and shield.  His eyes are darting around the room.

Ankita watches with amusement as this new person gets more flustered about the water that is around them.  She reaches down and splashes Lozak, and some gets in his hair.  "Gods of Galivanting Goblins?  Ha, that's funny!"

She raises an eyebrow on his last comment, "Kills the light?  Well, let's prepare for that."  and with a flick of the wrist she produce flame and holds it in her palm.

Ankita/Shrek perception:

The water is clearly moving in non water type ways  flowing very quickly towards the door you all came in. As Lozak begins gesturing madly it coalesces into a serpent like form of water and speeds out the door (dashing)

The Tiefling prances out of the way, uttering a series of 'oohs!' and "ohws!" as he gets as far away from the serpentine water.  

"That water is a Fathomer named Urshnora!"  Lozak says, making it as plain as possible.  He stops strumming the axe-shaped two-necked instrument as the water gets past him, and steps off to the side where he feels safe.  Well.  Safe-ish.  "He.  Is.  A.  Bad.  Guy.  Who.  Works.  For.  Gar.  Skatterkeel.  You know what?  You'll figure it out."  

Lozak looks repulsed as the water entity tries to make its getaway.  

"Wut da heck?" Shrek whispers...

When he finally notices the water puddle reforming in the shape of a serpent, he suddenly becomes quite serious and whispers to Randall "Dat weird!  Should we'uns chase?"

“Maybe it’s going to tell Skatter Peel, I mean Shatterpeel, I mean, oh what the hell, dammit Shrek, it’s going to tell the big guy!”  Olaerys says, getting mixed up himself.  He dashes out of the room to chase the thing in the water, trying to keep an eye on it.  

It finally dawns on Ankita what they are looking at, "I've never seen water move like that!  Yes, Shrek, chase!"  and she dashes out as well, trying to overcome it.

Spurred on by Ankita, Shrek also follows the group out as they attempt to chase down the roving puddle monster. 

You follow the water back down the stairs you came up, seeing it enter the great hall and head for the back entrance where Jolly's body lays. 

As you enter the great hall in pursuit, you see 3 bugbears who have entered while you were uostairs, apparently getting ready to eat as they are sitting at the banquet table. You hear noise from up above. 4 of the crab shield warriors have rushed on to the balcony from a side room, drawn by the noise. At this moment the water suddenly stops and turns, prepared to fight now that it has allies.

2 servents emerge from the kitchen with trays that suddenly drop to the floor. "Randall? What are you doing here? Is...that the mail guy??". 

7

Initiative:

Ankita 3

Lozak 4

Shrek 17

Olaerys 17

Randall 12

Reavers (crab shield guys): 3

Bugbears 8

Urshnora 13

Reavers and Bugbears are surprised, do not act this round. 

Shrek/Ankita/Olaerys are down the stairs. Randall and Lozak are on them. Room is 40x40, stairs are single file. 

Skrek, then Urshnora, then rest of the heroes, then bugbears and Reavers 

[Does Randall recognize these servants?  Townfolk from Red Larch, most likely?]

Quote from Bartjeebus >>

[Does Randall recognize these servants?  Townfolk from Red Larch, most likely?]

Knew I was forgetting something. Hold please!

Randall is taken aback by the sight of his friends.  "Bero!  Nerise!  You're sights for sore eyes!  Hold on just a second.  We'll kill all of these degenerates in a few moments and then we'll get you both out of here, and home safely."

OOC: Just to keep things moving, let me know if the following move is okay, or if I should retcon it and do something else.

Bonus Action: Shrek rages

Shrek runs at full speed into the room, and shoves the banquet table with the three bugbears sitting behind it against the wall, effectively pinning the three against the wall:

Athletics: 19

You are able to pin 2 of the bugbears; the third was on the other side of the table.

Urshnora sees an opportunity at Randall's comments and the water serpent moves to Nerise and coils around Nerise:

 Attack: 13 Damage: 8

Despite being stunned, Nerise is narrowly able to escape the water attempting to constrict around her, pushing through it with a splash

Randall moves back up toward the top of the stairs, shield raised.  He turns to Lozak.  "Help the others destroy that water creature.  I'll hold these jokers."

He stakes out a position near the top of the stairs, facing the oncoming reavers.  He takes the dodge action this round until they get closer.  If any of them manage to push past him down the stairs he will attempt an AoO.