All the saves...

    Con
        7 + 3
        12 + 4
        9 + 1
        24 + 4
    Int
        17 + 4

In an unsurprising turn of events, Jorin fails the int save and his head is enveloped by the evil octopus lol

Quote from Guiltysparc >>

In an unsurprising turn of events, Jorin fails the int save and his head is enveloped by the evil octopus lol

(OOC: Aboleths are AC 17, so more sad trombone for the AoO.
And both Quillary and Drusk failed their INT saves by 1.
I'm glad that this fight is no longer a cakewalk, but not so good.

The illusion is that you are struggling against the darkmantles, but not getting damaged. So Moonbeam is still active, but floating in space.
You can choose to do any normal things with the blinded condition, but I think most would try to break the illusion.

Jorin can get to the water surface with Water Walking, so blindness won't disorient him for that.)

Drusk will use his action for another INT save: 17  (success)
Can use his BA to move the spiritual weapon 20' closer to the aboleth. (Still out of range.)
He moves next to the chuul, to try to limit its movement.

Hildigrim and Jorin are still up. (Will Hildigrim resist the illusion with his psionic training?)

(Ha, not only does Jorin think its a darkmantle, but guiltysparc also didn't realize it was an illusion)

Jorin believes he can dislodge the creature easier on the surface, surely this aquatic monstrosity will dive back into the water once taken out into the air!

• Move:  Engage positive buoyancy of water walk and rocket to the surface
• Action:  Int save? 5

Also, technically (i think) this would end Jorin's rage as he hasn't attacked or taken damage, but i'd like to lobby that, in this case, Jorin's rage would persist given the fact that he thinks a creature is eating is face and/or once/if he realizes its an illusion, he would be furious given his history with mind altering enemies...

(OOC: Let's keep the rage going.

But I should look up how other people use it. When I'm DM-ing and a paladin or a barbarian are annoying me, this might be an interesting tactic to use.)

INT save: 19

Yay for halfling luck!!!

Hildigrim knows what the creature is trying to do. He can feel the psionics bouncing around the cave. He can see the shadow of the imaginary creature meant to blind and deafen him. He notices his friends scrabbling to free themselves from nothing. The halfling narrows his eyes, takes a big breath, dives down into the water, and fires an arrow at it.

Hildi can swim 25 feet using his bonus action dash. I'm hoping that allow him to maneuver to where he has a clear shot (no cover).

Attack: 25 Damage: 11

(OOC: Underwater combat with a bow is with disadvantage, so Hildigrim needs to roll another to-hit. But since he dove down 20' and is at the same "height" as the aboleth, it does not have cover.)

Jorin to go (and another to-hit roll from Hildi, with Bless).

Quote from Quasimodal >>

(OOC: Underwater combat with a bow is with disadvantage, so Hildigrim needs to roll another to-hit. But since he dove down 20' and is at the same "height" as the aboleth, it does not have cover.)

Jorin to go (and another to-hit roll from Hildi, with Bless).

 My turn was to go to the surface and subsequently fail my int save, lol.  Post 4911

Quote from Guiltysparc >>

 My turn was to go to the surface and subsequently fail my int save, lol.  Post 4911

(OOC: Doh! Darn memory... I'll take care of Hildigrim's to-hit reroll later.)

The aboleth stays at the bottom of this pond, and swims 40' horizontally, to a spot 10' southwest of Quillary. It then tries to Enslave her to its will.
(WIS save vs. DC 14 charm... Low chance for this to work, but the reward is worth it.)

The chuul will dive 5' underwater and use both its pincers on Jorin (10' reach), with advantage since he is blinded by the illusion.

• Attack1: 18 Damage: 11  (hit, 5 damage)
• Attack2: 14 Damage: 12  (hit, 6 damage)

Pascal tries to break the illusion's effect on him (DC 14). INT save: 5  (fail)

At the beginning of a new combat round, the lair action is to keep this variant of phantasmal force going.

Everyone still has Bless on them.

Jorin, Quillary, and Pascal are still under the effect of the illusion, and are blinded by a darkmantle partly enveloping your head.
You can use an Action to try to end the spell on you with an INT save vs. DC 14.
(Starting this round, you can also try to "kill" the illusion, if you think that is easier, but you are attacking with disadvantage. AC 11, HP 22.)

Drusk still has a 3rd level slot for Dispel Magic, but he doesn't go until after Quillary and Jorin have gone.
It might be better to use the Action for Preserve Life, to heal Jorin and Hildigrim.

Hildigrim needs to roll another to-hit (for last rounds arrow shot, which had disadvantage underwater).

I think Jorin is down to 13 HP (correct me if I am wrong). He is grappled by the chuul (DC 14 to escape).

Quillary needs to roll a WIS save vs. DC 14 or switch sides to the aboleth.

Hildigrim, Jorin, and Quillary are up. (Then Drusk, and the enemies.)

Quillary does not like this one bit. She does her equivalent of Jorin's rage, screaming into the dark underbelly of this face-hugging octopus, and her spores explode around her, giving her strength and attacking the thing on her face. She slaps her cudgel on her head, and it sheds another layer of ash, becoming ensorcelled.

Then her breath hitches... (Wis Save vs DC 14 to resist Enslavement: 20)

...

Move: Nowhere
Action: Wild Shape into Symbiotic Entity. +28 temp hp, all kinds of extra necrotic damages
Bonus Action: Cast Shillelagh on cudgel
Reaction: Halo of spores attacks the "darkmantle"... Con Save vs DC 15 or takes 5 necrotic "damage"

Note: she would do this regardless of her enslavement status, I think? Taking on the party will require both getting rid of the darkmantle *and* beefing up to better attack them.

Jorin is bleeding heavily into the water and, feeling the pincers stab into him, lashes out at the thing on his face and the thing stabbing at him!

• Movement:  Wild thrashing in place
• Action: Battleaxe attacks!
  • First Attack: 16 Damage: 11
  • Second Attack: 21 Damage: 12
• Bonus Action: Reckless moonblade attack!
  • Attack: 18 Damage: 11
• +4 radiant damage to the first strike that lands

Jorin's attacks will target the illusory darkmantle first, with extra attacks going into the Chuul.  I put disadvantage on all the attacks, which I think is correct even if the first or second kills the darkmantle since the last would be chopping through the water at the chuul.

Edit - forgot bless.  The first attack should chunk the illusory darkmantle, so these two bless rolls are for the 2nd battle axe attack and the moonblade attack vs the Chuul.  Battleaxe: +4, Moonblade: +2

Edit Edit - misremembered the hp on the mantle, so the first two strikes on the mantle and the last one, via moonblade, on the chuul with the (unnecessary) +4 from bless.

Disadvantage roll: 28 + 2

Hildigrim's arrow from last round sliced through the water and hit the aboleth.

Quillary powers up with wild shape. In her mind, the halo of spores batters the dark mantle for 6 damage.

After 2 blows of his battle axe at the darkmantle, he sees it fade like a puff of smoke. Further enraged at being deceived by the illusion, he strikes the chuul with his moonblade for 17 damage. (Since the attack was with disadvantage, it wasn't Reckless.)

Hildigrim to go. (Then Drusk, the enemies, and then the still-blinded Pascal.)

Hildigrim fires another arrow at the submerged monster.

Attack: 15 Damage: 8

Hildigrim's aim is true once more.

Drusk will use Channel Divinity / Preserve Life to restore Hildigrim and Jorin to half heath (32 and 36 HP, respectively). The rest of the party is still over half health, so it doesn't affect them. His bonus action will move the spiritual weapon back to the chuul.

Attack: 25 Damage: 11  (hit)

The chuul drags Jorin 15' underwater, and lashes at him with its mouth tentacles.
Jorin rolls a CON save vs DC 13 poison. On a fail, he is paralyzed
It also attacks twice with its pincers.

• Attack1: 25 Damage: 13  (hit, 6 damage after rage)
• Attack2: 20 Damage: 11  (hit, 5 damage)

The aboleth swims underneath Pascal, and into the passage that the party came from. (Has partial cover for attacks against it, except for Pascal.)

Pascal WIS save vs DC 14: 5  (fail)
Pascal stops thrashing at the illusion darkmantle. He starts bobbing his head, like he is listening to someone talking.

Start of a new round...

Lair action: Quillary and Pascal are no longer affected by the illusion of darkmantles. The aboleth sends a surge of energy through the water at its foes.
Hildigrim, Jorin, Quillary, and Drusk roll WIS save vs. DC 14. Take 7 psychic damage on a fail.

Pascal uses his readied action to summon a fire elemental with his magic brazier. The elemental is 10' in front of Pascal.
Pascal looks at Drusk and Quillary at the surface. "You will die for trying to harm the rightful ruler of these caves."
(The elemental acts on his turn of initiative. It takes damage from being summoned onto water, but it will be active for at least a minute.)

Everyone has Bless for their saving throws, and during their turns.

Drusk WIS save vs lair effect: 21  (no damage, Bless still going)

Jorin has to roll a save against the paralyzing poison.

Hildigrim is at half health (32 HP). Jorin is at 25 HP (half health, then took 11 damage from chuul).

Hildigrim, Jorin, and Quillary are up. (Then Drusk, chuul, aboleth, Pascal + fire elemental.)

Quillary wis save vs DC 14: 13

Bless! Add 4

Quillary would like to chase the aboleth with her Moonbeam, which is still active since she has taken no damage so far… what restrictions are there on this? Does she have to move to get a clear view to target it? Can she do so without cozying up to the fire elemental?

WIS save: 20 — Another red 21. Weird.

As the aboleth swims away, Hildigrim notices Jorin now in a struggle with the chuul under water. He chides himself for being so short sided. He aims at the chuul and fires an arrow.

Attack at disadvantage: 22 Damage: 6

Sneak attack: 11

Con save vs poison! 18 + 3 from bless

edit: hurray, thank you bless!

now the wisdom save 19 + 2

edit edit:  drat!