Quinn drops the lit torch and wildly throws a dart at one of the stirges and misses. 

6 (NAT 1 + 5) to hit. 

Boona mashes one of the stirges, smearing it down her leg. The other remains attached to her.

Quinn's dart clatters to the back of the dark cavern.

Syzygy, trailing from the previous room and only just becoming aware of the commotion, is up next (he is 50-55 from the nearest stirge.)

Ruven and Jurgen may also act.

Four stirges remain, including the one affixed to Boona. (The other three are now swarming around Bryony, Boona, and Jurgen.)

Realizing what they are, Ruven rushes forward to Boona and attempts to grab the stirge that's on her, dark swirling energy wreathes his hand as he reaches for the insect:

Attack: 26 Damage: 15

Jurgen strikes out at the last enemy (24 to hit with 9 damage)

Ruven's ghostly hand freezes the stirge still clinging to Boona, upon contact. It falls to the stone floor and shatters.

Jurgen kills one in the air with his sword.

Syzygy is up next! Two stirges remain, both flying around Bryony's head.

The two remaining stirges continue to circle Bryony. They try again:
Blood Drain Attack: 9. Hit: 6 piercing damage, and the stirge attaches to Bryony.
Blood Drain Attack: 16. Hit: 5 piercing damage, and the stirge attaches to Bryony.

Syzygy, Quinn, Bryony, and Boona may act next!

Quinn moves closer hoping to get a better shot. He flings another dart at the stirge still latched onto Bryony. 

Attack: 18 for 4 damage

Vex : Dart mastery gives Quinn adv on his next attack on the stirge. 

Boona reaches across to try and swat the stirge attached to Bryony, only after she has swung does she realise she may accidentally swat Bryony as well....

Attack: 20 Damage: 6

Quinn skewers the one clinging to Bryony, killing it instantly.

Boona swats at the same one, and catches nothing but air.

One stirge remains, still circling Bryony's head.

Syzygy and Bryony may act next!

The front of the party stands in a thirty-foot-high cavern, much of it naturally formed, as some of your members catch up from behind.

The walls here are carved with reliefs depicting miners at work. Nearly two dozen ancient skeletons are scattered across the cavern floor. Half a dozen large, unlit brass lanterns stand in niches or on ledges around the cavern.

A single stirge circles Bryony's head, urgently looking for a way to extract more blood from the injured halfling. (Five more lay crushed and killed on the floor.)

Syzygy, Bryony, Ruven, and Jurgen may act next, in any order.

Jurgen attacks 26 to hit for 16 damage 

Jurgen slays the last of the flying menaces with his sword. Clearly, the awful little creatures were ravenous.

Combat is over. Everyone may act. 

What next? Where to?

Boona picked up Bryony in her huge hands and inspected her wounds, " No good. No good."

Boonas hands began to grow slightly cool and a warm breeze blew across Bryonys face as moss crept over Boonas fingers and the flow of blood ceased.

( Lay on Hands- 20 hp)

As if there were no interruptions, Ruven shuffles through more papers, inspecting and sketching the walls, skeletons, and brass lanterns, of which he snaps his fingers and lights one.

investigation 12

history 25

medicine 22

Ruven only looks at the skeletons long enough to determine that they are, indeed, dead.

While Boona heals Bryony, Ruven goes to work examining the room.

The skeletons are indeed dead, and quite inert. It looks like they fell in some very old battle. The lanterns and the carvings of miners at work look like they were meant to welcome newcomers. This was once an entrance. The lanterns, while very dusty, seem functional, although they would need some oil to operate properly. (Gundren has some back at the supply depot in the first cave, but it would require a little backtracking.) While cleverly designed and of Dwarven make, they appear to be ordinary brass lanterns. For now, the arcanely-lit lantern soon fizzles out. (Fortunately, Boona, Quinn, and Bryony all carry lit torches, I believe,)

Bryony, dizzy from all the blood loss, barely notices Boona picking her up. Suddenly, she begins to feel much better. "Thank you, Boona!" she says.

Once Boona sets her back down, Bryony picks up her torch from where it fell on the ground. She looks around at all the skeletons lying on the ground and shivers.

(No need for the torches...Ruven was just testing them)

As he examines the room, Ruven seems to get more and more gleeful. Yes...yes...and here....he mutters as he moves around. His eyes shine with excitement as he finishes his examination. I do believe your dwarven benefactor has indeed found it! This looks to be the entrance, which means the  Forge must be near! Come now, this is no time to be resting! Ruven marches on down to the South tunnel.

Quinn picks up his torch and proceeds to check the area for signs of nests or droppings from the stirges, hoping better prepare himself for any future encounters with these annoying little creatures. 

Perception check: 4

He then goes to check on Bryony and he’s astonished to see Boona’s ability to heal Bryony’s wounds.

”Boona…that’s amazing. I never would’ve thought you could do that. You’re a cook, a healer, what other tricks do you have up your sleeve?”

Quinn sees no signs of anything that would help him identify stirge infestation in the future. Just an old, dusty cavern.

Ruven finds the way south blocked by an ancient cave-in. Two doors open on either side, however.