No Rest for the Dead in Avlor

Celric wordlessly pulls out his shield and warhammer

Flynt draws his two shortswords and smiles. "I have spells as well. Just say when you're ready." 

Squiggles casts light on a crossbow bolt and fires it into the room

For a moment as the illuminated bolt sails into the cavern, you see two other figures near the back of the chamber (the back half looks like the front half). On your left is a creature with the head and torso of a drow, but with the lower body of a giant spider (about ten feet across). On the right you see a medium biped with the head of a fish, webbed, clawed feet, and humanoid looking hands holding a metallic scepter.

Jarl:

When the bolt sails past the three figures, clattering into the back wall, the spider drow begins to step forward to attack, but the aboleth holds up a tentacle, and it stops. You hear a voice in your heads: "Come closer. Let us talk for a moment."

(Note: Squiggles ring would have blocked that. He'll have to be told that they are being talked to)

(Would Jarl think it odd that either were seemingly working with an aboleth? Does he recognize the scepter?)

"Of what would you speak?" Jarl asks aloud. "You will forgive me if I come no closer, as I have yet to meet an aboleth bearing good tidings."

Jarl:

 The voice again fills all of your heads except Squiggles, due to his mind shield ring. "Why, to discuss the terms of your service, of course."

     "Hmmm... Yeah. I think my plate is full on serving another power." 

“We will do no such thing.” 

“Stay as far from it as you can,” Jarl tells the others. “Lest it tries to overtake your mind as it may have done with these two. If they are controlled and break free, there is no telling whether they will consider us allies. And if they serve of their own free will, they deserve no mercy.”

"Jarl, Shale, have you gone batty? Who are you two talking to?"

     "Huh...? Oh. Apparently this thing has ideas that we should be serving it."

"Very well," (most of) you hear in your heads. "I would have preferred you serve willingly, but if coercion is what's needed, so be it."  The fish-man raises its staff and the drider pulls out a longbow.

Initiative:

Balian: 23

Celric: 2

Flynt: 17

Jarl: 5

Shale: 10

Squiggles: 18

Fluffy: 11

Round 1:

Drider
Celric/Squiggles/Fluffy (decide amongst yourselves if you care, otherwise we'll just go in order of posting)
Jarl (-11)
Balian
Kuo-Toa
Shale
Flynt
Aboleth

The drider steps in front of the aboleth, its lips curling into a small smile and fires its longbow three times at Jarl.

Attack 1: 19 Damage: 13

Attack 2: 23 Damage: 7

Attack 3: 22 Damage: 11

 Note: the second damage die on the longbow is poison damage, which you're immune to due to Heroes'  Feast, so subtract that off from the shots that hit (leaving 7 on the first and 4 on the second).

Dynamic Map

 Jarl is 75 ft from the edge of the grid

Balian

OOC -for when my turn comes round....

Squiggles drops some molasses on the ground and casts Slow at J9 (so, both Aboleth and drider should need DC17 wisdom saves)

Fluffy will use the help action on the next melee attack against the Drider by flying around it's face

(OOC: On my turn)

Realizing he is too far, Flynt will put away his swords and draw his bow. He casts Hunter's Mark on the drider and fires two arrows. 

Attack 1 - Attack: 20 Damage: 7 Hunter's Mark (if hits) 6

Attack 2 - Attack: 21 Damage: 8 Hunter's Mark (if hits) 4

Saves vs. Slow:

Drider: 17

Aboleth: 21

As Squiggles finishes his incantation, a wave spreads from a point near the drider, washing over both drider and aboleth. The drider closes its eyes for a moment, an expression of confusion appearing on its face, before shaking its head, seeming to resist the effects of the spell. The aboleth does not appear to react visibly, though it hasn't shown much expression up to this point, so it is difficult to say whether it has been affected or not.

I think Fluffy is too far to get to the drider in a turn to help on an attack this round, (30 ft fly speed, no?) unless I missed a post about them moving into the cavern? Should I assume a dash to get closer? (What are Fluffy's preferred pronouns, btw?)

Jarl:

Doh, right. Fluffy will stay where he is and Dodge for now

(How wide is the tunnel where we currently are? Single file, and it gets wider when we move up 75'?)