This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Kei sees nothing of wards, symbols, or glyphs. Gerrard can only see a little of anything in this gloom.
But, approaching the pit, Kellen can see them clearly. The glowing marks that writhe around the pit are not religious at all, but uniquely arcane.
Kellen can see that the sigils are a unique magical channeling device. The pit has evidently been designed as a magical conduit, as a beacon for negative emotional energy generated within hundreds of miles of it, drawing wisps of all such energy from the dismal environment of the Styes and beyond. The sigils concentrate the energy in order to accelerate the kraken’s growth and fuel its hostility. Normally such a beast would take decades to reach maturity, but Sgothgah’s magic has probably reduced that time to mere months — and now the kraken will reach maturity in only a few weeks.
And that's when a massive tentacle suddenly whips out of the inky-dark waters of the pit at Kellen.
Roll initiative! ... at Disadvantage (due to surprise): Kraken: 19 Aboleths: 0
Kei does not see what has piqued Kellen's interest at the edge of the pit but the long thin shadow that appears behind him is all too familiar. As the tentacle lashes out Kei readies himself for a fight.
(Sorry: scratch post #10182. Got ahead of myself.)
Tentacle Attack #2 vs Kellen: 31(And Advantage attack roll24 if Kellen is already restrained.) Hit:19bludgeoning damage and Kellen is grappled and restrained if he isn't already.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Kei
The force and accuracy of the flailing tentacle shocks Kei. This creature, so young and yet so deadly. It must be stopped. He shouts ancient arcane words at the creature. Then, with extraordinary speed, he manages to complete another spell - this one ending with his hands appearing to be tied in a knot.
A - Mind Sliver DC17 INT for 11 psychic damage and subtract 1d4 from next saving throw.
Caught up in the slimy tentacles, Kellen yells out in pain. Suddenly, the creature is gripping nothing but bubbles and a quickly dissipating mist. He reappears 30 feet away, back towards the party, and flings a bright ball of light back towards the creature.
Attack: 17 Damage: 15
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Ready to DM and chew bubblegum. And I'm alllll outta bubblegum.
Kellen Rivian(Level 12 Lore Bard)- Ghosts of Saltmarsh (cbaer8)
Ruven Gilrel (Level 4 Bladesinger)- The Shattered Obelisk
Slimy of skin and worried at this fearsome beast, Gerrard nonetheless surges forward to protect his vulnerable friends—and incidentally some temporary Aboleth allies, but whatever.
Closing in with burning dagger and glowing rapier at the ready, the young noble with translucent skin feints and thrusts at the writhing tentacles, simultaneously trying to keep them occupied while avoiding getting wrapped up!
Move and Dodge, perhaps using Defensive Duelist or Parry to save him from the worst of the counterattack.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Kellen vanishes from its grip and reappears just north of the entrance to the chamber. Hurling an arcane ball of light back at the monster, he hits it, and it glows with light (allowing Gerrard to finally see it.) The Kraken shivers from the impact.
Gerrard pushes forward with a feint and a dodge...
Legendary Action: Tentacle Attack vs. Gerrard: 15. Hit: 14 bludgeoning damage, and Gerrard is grappled and restrained.
The aboleths approach to within about 25 feet of it.
The massive kraken fully exits the pit. Its tentacles rippling in frustration, it jolts forward toward (dodging) Gerrard and one of the aboleth.
You can see a glyph branded upon the creature – a blue-black mark resembling the spiral sign of Tharizdun. The flesh surrounding the spiral is scarred by ulcers and sores. It also has a perfectly circular scar upon its head.
Tentacle Attack vs Gerrard: 14. Hit: 23 bludgeoning damage, and Gerrard is grappled and restrained.
Tentacle Attack vs Aboleth #2: 25. Hit: 19 bludgeoning damage, and Aboleth #2 is grappled and restrained.
Kei, Kellen, and Gerrard may act next (in that order)
The baby kraken has Kei on edge. He'd heard stories of their power but had thought them mere tales to scare children. This baby was definitely no tall tale. He moves a little further away (near the doorway they entered from) and unleashes a volley of shadow energy. As the splinters of shadow streak across the room he summons his tentacle right beside the kraken. It whips its own suckered limb at the oversized octopus.
Watching his newfound companions moving in and using their own magic to distract the slimy thing, Kellen stretches out his hand, causing a large, floating, spectral hand to appear next to the kraken. He makes a fist and swings it, causing the ghostly hand to do the same.
6th level Bigby's hand attack: Attack: 15 Damage: 35 force damage
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Ready to DM and chew bubblegum. And I'm alllll outta bubblegum.
Kellen Rivian(Level 12 Lore Bard)- Ghosts of Saltmarsh (cbaer8)
Ruven Gilrel (Level 4 Bladesinger)- The Shattered Obelisk
Moving in even closer, Gerrard approaches the glyph branded on the Kraken. Letting go of his anger and fear, he focuses on destroying the glyph on the creature’s body—the embodiment of the evil poisoning the city!
(Attack action and action surge to carve up the glyph and underlying flesh with his superheated dagger, punctuated by a final stab with his rapier. 1d6 fire damage used instead of 2d6 fire damage due to fighting underwater).
Scalding Dagger: Attack: 12 Damage: 9
Scalding Dagger: Attack: 18 Damage: 10
Scalding Dagger: Attack: 14 Damage: 11
Scalding Dagger: Attack: 24 Damage: 12
Scalding Dagger: Attack: 17 Damage: 10
Scalding Dagger: Attack: 29 Damage: 18
Glowing Rapier: Attack: 12 Damage: 7
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
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Kellen
Trying to keep an eye on the forms above him, Kellen will also go check the sigils:
arcana 23
religion 19
Ready to DM and chew bubblegum. And I'm alllll outta bubblegum.
Kellen Rivian (Level 12 Lore Bard)- Ghosts of Saltmarsh (cbaer8)
Ruven Gilrel (Level 4 Bladesinger)- The Shattered Obelisk
Kei sees nothing of wards, symbols, or glyphs. Gerrard can only see a little of anything in this gloom.
But, approaching the pit, Kellen can see them clearly. The glowing marks that writhe around the pit are not religious at all, but uniquely arcane.
Kellen can see that the sigils are a unique magical channeling device. The pit has evidently been designed as a magical conduit, as a beacon for negative emotional energy generated within hundreds of miles of it, drawing wisps of all such energy from the dismal environment of the Styes and beyond. The sigils concentrate the energy in order to accelerate the kraken’s growth and fuel its hostility. Normally such a beast would take decades to reach maturity, but Sgothgah’s magic has probably reduced that time to mere months — and now the kraken will reach maturity in only a few weeks.
And that's when a massive tentacle suddenly whips out of the inky-dark waters of the pit at Kellen.
Roll initiative! ... at Disadvantage (due to surprise):

Kraken: 19
Aboleths: 0
Kellen
Kellen was just about to reveal the startling nature of the runes when the tentacle writhed up in front of him, so instead there’s a muttered Oh, shit
Initiative: 12
Ready to DM and chew bubblegum. And I'm alllll outta bubblegum.
Kellen Rivian (Level 12 Lore Bard)- Ghosts of Saltmarsh (cbaer8)
Ruven Gilrel (Level 4 Bladesinger)- The Shattered Obelisk
Kei
Kei does not see what has piqued Kellen's interest at the edge of the pit but the long thin shadow that appears behind him is all too familiar. As the tentacle lashes out Kei readies himself for a fight.
Initiative 17
Gerrard:
Still on edge and combat ready in case the aboleths betrayed them, Gerrard has his weapons ready (and hot) if not properly oriented to the new threat.
Initiative at Disadvantage: 13
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
A huge, suckered and spiny tentacle lashes out at Kellen:
Tentacle Attack #1 vs Kellen: 18. Hit: 20 bludgeoning damage and Kellen is grappled and restrained.
(Sorry: scratch post #10182. Got ahead of myself.)
Tentacle Attack #2 vs Kellen: 31 (And Advantage attack roll 24 if Kellen is already restrained.) Hit: 19 bludgeoning damage and Kellen is grappled and restrained if he isn't already.
Kei is up next!
Kei
The force and accuracy of the flailing tentacle shocks Kei. This creature, so young and yet so deadly. It must be stopped. He shouts ancient arcane words at the creature. Then, with extraordinary speed, he manages to complete another spell - this one ending with his hands appearing to be tied in a knot.
A - Mind Sliver DC17 INT for 11 psychic damage and subtract 1d4 from next saving throw.
Metamagic: Quickened Spell
BA - Hold Monster DC17 WIS save or be paralysed
Kei flings a disorienting spike of psychic energy at the massive horror emerging from the pit: DC17 INT Save: 26
It shrugs it off. It tries to do the same with Kei's second paralyzing spell: DC17 WIS save: 25
It easily succeeds. Kellen may act next!
Kellen
Caught up in the slimy tentacles, Kellen yells out in pain. Suddenly, the creature is gripping nothing but bubbles and a quickly dissipating mist. He reappears 30 feet away, back towards the party, and flings a bright ball of light back towards the creature.
Attack: 17 Damage: 15
Ready to DM and chew bubblegum. And I'm alllll outta bubblegum.
Kellen Rivian (Level 12 Lore Bard)- Ghosts of Saltmarsh (cbaer8)
Ruven Gilrel (Level 4 Bladesinger)- The Shattered Obelisk
Gerrard:
Slimy of skin and worried at this fearsome beast, Gerrard nonetheless surges forward to protect his vulnerable friends—and incidentally some temporary Aboleth allies, but whatever.
Closing in with burning dagger and glowing rapier at the ready, the young noble with translucent skin feints and thrusts at the writhing tentacles, simultaneously trying to keep them occupied while avoiding getting wrapped up!
Move and Dodge, perhaps using Defensive Duelist or Parry to save him from the worst of the counterattack.
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
Kellen vanishes from its grip and reappears just north of the entrance to the chamber. Hurling an arcane ball of light back at the monster, he hits it, and it glows with light (allowing Gerrard to finally see it.) The Kraken shivers from the impact.
Gerrard pushes forward with a feint and a dodge...
Legendary Action:
Tentacle Attack vs. Gerrard: 15. Hit: 14 bludgeoning damage, and Gerrard is grappled and restrained.
The aboleths approach to within about 25 feet of it.
The massive kraken fully exits the pit. Its tentacles rippling in frustration, it jolts forward toward (dodging) Gerrard and one of the aboleth.
You can see a glyph branded upon the creature – a blue-black mark resembling the spiral sign of Tharizdun. The flesh surrounding the spiral is scarred by ulcers and sores. It also has a perfectly circular scar upon its head.
Tentacle Attack vs Gerrard: 14. Hit: 23 bludgeoning damage, and Gerrard is grappled and restrained.
Tentacle Attack vs Aboleth #2: 25. Hit: 19 bludgeoning damage, and Aboleth #2 is grappled and restrained.
Kei, Kellen, and Gerrard may act next (in that order)

Kellen
Hey, you overgrown octopus, leave him the hell alone! Kellen laces these words with as much force as he can muster, directing them towards the kraken.
(Cutting words - subract 2 from the last attack roll on Gerrard)
Ready to DM and chew bubblegum. And I'm alllll outta bubblegum.
Kellen Rivian (Level 12 Lore Bard)- Ghosts of Saltmarsh (cbaer8)
Ruven Gilrel (Level 4 Bladesinger)- The Shattered Obelisk
(With Defensive Duelist and cutting words, Gerrard is spared the Kraken’s tentacle…this time).
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
Kei
The baby kraken has Kei on edge. He'd heard stories of their power but had thought them mere tales to scare children. This baby was definitely no tall tale. He moves a little further away (near the doorway they entered from) and unleashes a volley of shadow energy. As the splinters of shadow streak across the room he summons his tentacle right beside the kraken. It whips its own suckered limb at the oversized octopus.
Rolls in game log
Kellen
Watching his newfound companions moving in and using their own magic to distract the slimy thing, Kellen stretches out his hand, causing a large, floating, spectral hand to appear next to the kraken. He makes a fist and swings it, causing the ghostly hand to do the same.
6th level Bigby's hand attack: Attack: 15 Damage: 35 force damage
Ready to DM and chew bubblegum. And I'm alllll outta bubblegum.
Kellen Rivian (Level 12 Lore Bard)- Ghosts of Saltmarsh (cbaer8)
Ruven Gilrel (Level 4 Bladesinger)- The Shattered Obelisk
Gerrard:
Moving in even closer, Gerrard approaches the glyph branded on the Kraken. Letting go of his anger and fear, he focuses on destroying the glyph on the creature’s body—the embodiment of the evil poisoning the city!
(Attack action and action surge to carve up the glyph and underlying flesh with his superheated dagger, punctuated by a final stab with his rapier. 1d6 fire damage used instead of 2d6 fire damage due to fighting underwater).
Scalding Dagger: Attack: 12 Damage: 9
Scalding Dagger: Attack: 18 Damage: 10
Scalding Dagger: Attack: 14 Damage: 11
Scalding Dagger: Attack: 24 Damage: 12
Scalding Dagger: Attack: 17 Damage: 10
Scalding Dagger: Attack: 29 Damage: 18
Glowing Rapier: Attack: 12 Damage: 7
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"