Below deck and feeling sick, the panther doesn't give head to the sounds above deck.  She prefers to ignore them assuming the already fairly rowdy crew was just being loud.  If otherwise, she trusts the others to deal with it.  Synys is closer to the action and responds to the gathering crowd, sounds from the water, and harpoon spearing the first-mate.  Seems they already have a bit of a problem.  With the others doing their best to prepare and react, she hurries to get a better look at the scene.  After a brief moment of seeing what's going on and spotting the easily-visible lightning bolt renove the first-mate from harm's way she reacts as best she sees possible.  Black swirls around her arms until she points towards a spot in the water between as many of the mermaids as possible - including the one trying to swallow a sailor - at which point many black tentacles emerge from the water and attempt to wrap around any nearby mermaids.<br/>[grapple check applied to all targets: 1d20+12  29<br/>Damage to all grappled: 1d6+4  6]<br/><br/>Additionally, she calls out to Dusk to request help, though she hopes the mermaids may mistake the tentacles for those owned a giant squid or other huge predator and attempt to flee.