Mini Turn
The Monster responds eagerly
"Spider-ELVES? I've had those before. Tricky to eat. Best comparison to one of you land dwellers...would be trying to eat a bar of chocolate with almonds in it-whatever those things are, I'm just the monster reading your mind-if you really, really hated Almonds and really, really loved Chocolate.
Problem is they know I like to hang out under this bridge. First time I got six of them, the next time they had someone who could cast magic with them-they tried to freeze the water and suffocate me, along with some of them who could shoot arrows made of ice, and I only just got away. I've been eager for revenge. You should know, Spider-Elves can't swim. Really funny.
I'll hide under the bridge and attack them as they go by. If they use the magic again, I won't be able to stick around long though-maybe just to get three or four...
Also, my tentacles only respond to smell and taste, and I keep my eye safe underwater, so I might try to grab accidentally. If I do so, feel free to chop at them-they regrow in an hour, if you remember."
Molten Heart surveys the battlefield, his rocky hands making harsh scraping noises as he strokes his crystal beard.
He notices the dock planks are high up enough from the mud that a man would have to lift himself up by his arms if he was trying to get to them from above-a bit misleading, since the mud sinks one down beyond what his height would be on normal land. The Spider Elves with their heavy, ungainly bodies likely can't move in the soup at all. A Kai might be able to jump it though, if he got a running start, or you could climb one of the support beams.
It's good to know your Kai cloaks can mimic a wide variety of different natural shades, mud included, to help you hide-it's not quite magic, but the weave of the cloth tends to reflect it's surroundings. They provide no defense against magic eyes that could perhaps detect you through some other way than sight, though. Pressing Tide mentions that the Green Scrying eyes move in a pattern that suggests they are paying more attention to possible attacks from directly under the bridge, or from the sky, rather than from the sides, in front, or behind, where they have more soldiers watching normally.
For hiding spots, the mud is only deep enough to dig yourself into and stay still. If you tried to move through it, you would almost certainly be spotted. If they don't see the Kai, it would be easier to rush them before they can react by hiding closer.
It seems most of the largest mushrooms nearest to the road have been cut down to deny ambushers cover, but the fungal jungle is thick beyond that. It might be dangerous to try rushing them directly that way-since you would be slogging in mud, and they would certainly have archers, but the Spider-Elves wouldn't find the Kai beforehand, if you choose to hide that way.
Across the river, the cover is better and the ground is a little bit more solid. The Kai wouldn't have to wait for the scrying eyes to pass before ambushing, but they would have to convince the monster to let you pass. Which he has no reason to, since then the Kai wouldn't have a reason to help him distract Spider-Elves to eat.
He estimates the bridge can hold at least three quarters of the Spider-Elf column in a line, meaning if they attack the rear guard, at least six would have reached the other end of the river and could possibly use ranged weaponry on you, if they have them-and if they even made it, being attacked by a monster beforehand.