While Laurelata stands the rearguard and looks mainly in that direction and Jessica is mostly in awe at the site itself, this leaves only two people to look where this is going. Unfortunately, Tazmara does notice what's coming. Fortunately, Henri does. He notices some stones(?) moving deep under the swirly bubbly surface of the water. Then they move up. And up. And, taking some distinctive shape, straight at him. By now it is too late to run, so Henri shouts a warning to everyone and gets ready for the confrontation. A large wet-stone-colored lobster thingie with claws almost the size of Henri himself sort of emerges from the water trying to grab the half-orc. The claw attack is successful, grabbing the half-orc right in the middle for 16 and a solid-looking hold. And Henri knows what the thing is then going to do...


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Chuul stealth: (1d20+9)[18]
Chuul init: (1d20+7)[11]

Tazmara perception: (1d20+7)[16]
Tazmara init: (1d20+2)[9]

Chuul and Henri act in the surprise round. Chuul wins the initiative, is spotted while still underwarer, but then Henri has a surprise round worth of actions, which is not enough to evade Chuul's next round worth of actions.
Henri does recognize Chuul.

Chuul claw: (1d20+16)[24] for (2d6+7)[16] grab (1d20+19)[34]

Chuul and Henri are in Chuul-initiated grapple.

=> Party (everyone, any order, and Henri has a surprise round worth of actions before the thing is at him, a readied attack, total defense, movement, or any other kind)