I watched the healing with intense interest. Chum's magic certainly made the others look better. The night's rest had done me a lot of good, though I still bore the wounds of the previous few days. I wondered if I should request one of those spells for myself, but I wouldn't risk it if the others were in greater need. I desperately wished to get back to the task of rescuing our captive crewmen.
Lads, how are we? I'd like to assault the caverns at our earliest opportunity.
"Reple me."
"I am ready to go, unless someone needs more medical attention."
Owlbear's eyes finally flutter open after Chum casts his spell on the massive warrior. "Ow," he grunts, a bit plaintively. "Sea goblins bitey. We win?"
Conchobhar will burn two of his spells on Owlbear.
Chum casts his remaining healing on himself.
Eleuterio breathes a sigh of relief once Owlbear speaks. "Yes, Master Owlbear. We won." He grows silent as he contemplates the two missing crew members. "For now."
Crouching, Chum looks up at the paladin. "Their tribe has been reduced by a fair number and we know the nature of the first trap in their tunnel. It is progress. What would you have us do next time, knowing what we know?"
I twisted my face into quite the frown as I heard the uncertainty in Chum's voice. I had to lift our spirits further. We press on. We have recovered our strength substantially, and hopefully given our captive comrades hope. We shall return, striking again when the tides are at their lowest ebb, and reduce their numbers further and further until we win the day and Sandara and Crimson are returned to us.
I looked at each in turn straight in the eyes, and giving them a nod, pat on the back, or firm handshake. Chum, you know the ways of the sea best. When shall we strike out for low tide?
The druid looks back at the captain and nods.
Standing, he gets his bearings and looks at the sun's position in the sky.
Low tide hits shortly after noon, and again maybe two hours after midnight.
"I think if we descend the rope at or before noon, we will be in position when the tide is lowest. I don't fancy trying to enter at midnight, but it would be low then, too. "
"I'd agree, Master Chum,", Eleuterio responds. "The grindylow already have the advantage in the water. We don't need to cede vision to them as well. Again."
It was almost as if Eleuterio had made a joke. I smiled, though there was a hint of bitterness because of how badly we fared during the fracas.
I nodded to Chum's assessment of the tides, and agreed that noon would be the best time during which to assail the grindylows again. Thank you, Chum. We should best set out before noon then, so that by the time we reach the waters they will be at their lowest. As long as we confirm that the stirge nest has not taken up new residents, we should be able to return forthwith to that sinkhole and begin again.
At the appointed time, I had the crew set out to do just that; leave the barricade in which we had taken shelter and traversed the slopes to the sinkhole. Repeating our earlier foray into the depths, I took the lead this time, dropping the last few feet into the water and surfacing quickly, ready for any defenders.
The waters now are several feet lower than they were before, meaning you spend much of the time slipping and sliding over slick seaweed plastered to the cave floor rather than swimming. Very shortly you find yourselves back where you were yesterday, facing the choice of whether to take the right or left fork deeper into the cave. Yesterday you went left...
Whispering, "We seemed to come across a guarded tunnel yesterday. Do we want to try to see what they were guarding?"
I like the way you think, Chum. Let's do just that, I agreed to his sound idea. While it was possible the grindylows may have put more guards in that cave, it would be at least a familiar battleground.
Chum does find several of the hooked cords in amongst the seaweed - at low tide, they are more like caltrops than anything else. It seems the grindylows haven't been able to replace the ones you cut yesterday, as the path you opened along the cave wall is still present.
Evril spots the ambush just before the grindylows leap out of the water ahead of you.
"Vault it all, you squiggly sons of squid!"
As soon as the creatures leap out of the water Conchobhar opens his mouth and begins singing.
Chum takes a 5' step back and releases a lightning bolt before drawing his scimitar.
Another batch of grindylows splashed out of the water. I set my jaw and brandished my rapier to do battle once again with these foul creatures. That's right, Conchobar! Let's take them, lads! I extolled.
"With pleasure, Captain," Eleuterio replies, and the paladin slashes at the grindylow as they burst out of the water before him.
Six grindylows leap - there is a bolt of lightning - five grindylows leap from - Artevious' rapier flashes - four grindylows leap from the water, rushing forward to you, spears at the ready. One stabs at Artevious, who has moved up to attack, while the other three circle around him to attack Eleuterio, Evril and Owlbear.
Leu and Evril feel the bite of the spears, while the other two manage to avoid their attackers. Owlbear howls his fury and strikes back with his makeshift club. There is a sickening crunch, and now there are only three foes squaring off against you.
We weren't quite as outnumbered as we were last time. In fact, I believe we actually outnumbered our assailants and we whittled those numbers further. They drew blood against Eleuterio and Evril, however, and that simply would not stand. I moved into a flanking position against the one attacking Evril, and thrust again with my rapier.
"You got that one for free, beast," Eleuterio snarls, his free hand clasping his side where the grindylow drew blood. "Now you pay for the rest!" His sword slashed at the goblin-squid, and this time found purchase!
"..."
I have no words for my complete lack of competence as I flail feebly at my opponent.
Chum moves to engage the one that attacked the captain as he seemed more concerned for Evril's welfare than his own.
Eleuterio and Artevious strike down their chosen enemies with ease, although Evril and Chum working together can't manage to eliminate the last of the grindylow guards, which lashes out at the two of them.
Chum swings again before stepping back and letting his allies step in and watching for more grindylows.
I had thus far dispatches two of these creatures and the others were doing quite well with the rest of them. By the time I was finished, I looked around and saw only one left. Since it still fought on, I moved over to assist in the efforts of ending it.
Eleuterio swims over to the grindylow as well, slashing at the vicious little creature with his sword.
Not sure if I can get flank or not with my swimming - if I can, then my attack is at +2.