Quinn senses the end if near and pounces on the nugget. He slams down hard on the thing, with what he hopes to be the decisive blow. Quinn lands another hit just in case.

Attack 1: 20 to hit for 18 damage

Attack 2: 19 to hit for 12 damage

And with two massive blows from Quinn, the last of the encephalon gemmules are exterminated.

Combat is over; everyone may act.

Fergus:

”Well, that was horrifying,” says Fergus dryly, consoling himself by going over to the open book by the Dwarven skeleton and looking at it.

Quinn nods in agreement with Fergus.

"I must admit, I underestimated them. Perhaps it was the name 'flesh nugget'. Doesn't sound too tough, but boy those little things hit hard.

If those were larva, we better watch out for an adult!."

Quinn steps out into the entryway and calls out to Boona.

"Boona!..Carp!...Pip! You okay up there? We killed the 'flesh nuggets!' You can come down if you want!"

Quinn returns to the room to the south and looks over whats left of the nuggets. He moves around the bits of battered flesh with his dagger and then focuses his attention on the table and the items surrounding it.

Boona frowned, she thought they were taking the boys to safety....but she did as she was bid setting Karst on watch above as they descended.

Fergus takes a glance at the book on the floor next to the skeletal corpse. It appears to be a handwritten journal, written in what appears to be Dwarvish. From the position of the skeleton, the journal, and the quill, it appears that the dwarf was writing in it not long before his death. Fergus, however, cannot read Dwarvish.

Quinn examines what's left of the alien gemmules. They are largely unlike terrestrial life he has ever seen. The slimy little misshapen chunks almost resemble a bit of brain tissue, if anything. Turning his attention to the table and the trappings of the room, it appears that the room was dedicated to the devotion of Dumathoin, the dwarven deity of mining and underground exploration and the protector of the dwarven dead.

Boona climbs down the rope into the dwarven home. Followed immediately by the two boys, who eagerly eye the living room.

Jorzu 

"Indeed" Jorzu sighs in agreeance with Quinn. He quickly wraps his neck again once he realises that Adam is peeking a look out of his cloak.

As Boona and the boys descend into the living room they are joined by Laiti. She flies straight to Jorzu's side before spotting the gemmule carcasses on the floor. "What'd I miss?" She chirps. Jorzu gives a quick run down and finishes with "We don't know why or when the things arrived" to which she replies bluntly with; "Just crush one of your marbled balls on Mr Skinny over there and ask him". Jorzu does as he is instructed and walks over to the corpse and sprinkles the crushed bead dust over its inert form, the whole time a quizzical look on his face.

Fergus:

”Quinn, this looks like a journal—maybe you can read this and learn more about what happened here?” suggests Fergus as he moves to the skeletal body of the Dwarf itself.  He looks for indications of any mutations such as what he and his companions are starting to experience.

Medicine:  21

Quinn almost loses his stew from the tavern as he sorts through the fleshy brain-matter like substance. He snaps out of it when Fergus calls out to him.

"Ah, yes. I'll have a look. Thank you."

Before diving into the book, Quinn investigates the statue of Dumathoin. He leans in close looking at the eyes, arms, or any appendages looking for seams or joints that can be moved. He then looks down at the base of the statue and at the ground to see if there's any indication that this statue has been moved around, multiple times over the years in a particular direction.

Perception check: 19 (17 + 2 from the bardic inspiration die)

If nothing presents itself, Quinn will look through the book.

Fergus closely examines the corpse. It has been dead for decades, perhaps centuries; mostly skeletal, partially mummified in the dry conditions down here. He finds no mutations, and the dwarf was not killed violently. However, he does see evidence of unhealed injuries, and perhaps disease as well. His death was quiet, but premature. He did not die of old age.

Quinn examines the heavy stone statue of Dumathoin. It is neither articulated nor easily moved. There are no signs of tricks, traps, or hidden secrets. Tipping it, he can see the undisturbed floor beneath it. It is beautifully carved, but of no non-religious use. Nor would it have much resale value outside of another Dumathoin devotee.

Quinn next examines the journal. It was a diary of sorts. Marthungrim was evidently a paladin of Dumathoin who excavated this home more than 60 years ago, it seems. Dumathoin tasked Marthungrim with returning spirits to rest when a crypt for the god’s faithful was corrupted. Marthungrim learned that the crypt lies beneath a temple called Talhundereth, but the temple teemed with dangerous monsters. There's more - talk of puzzles, tentacles - but it'll take more time for Quinn to read it carefully.

Jorzu covers up his new, nervously-twitching eye and prepares his spell. (He may ask up to five questions...)

Jorzu 

Still perplexed at Laiti's instructions, Jorzu sprinkles his dust and watches intently. "H...he..hello" he says apprehensively. When, to him, the skeleton sits bolt upright he jumps back nearly 5ft. "Wow, how did you know i could do that?" he asks of Laiti who is hovering in place with a smirk on her face. "You really think They only give you your little tricks once? For some reason that's beyond me They think you can do great things. Brainiac!"

Jorzu turns back to the skeleton that's still staring at him. "Umm...How are you? Who are you? Umm...Do you know what these little creatures are, I mean were?" He spews out three questions in quick succession without waiting for a response.

The skeletal remains of the long-dead dwarven paladin sits upright, opening its dusty, sticky jaws to the sound of tearing leathery tissue still adhering to part of the skull. A barely-audible hiss, dry as the bones it emanates from, is heard: a quiet, sad sigh. After a long pause, it begins to answer Jorzu's questions in a thin whisper.

(How are you?)
"I.... I am dead," it rasps.

(Who are you?)
"I ...was Marthungrim. Marthungrim the Valiant, I was called. Servant of Dumathoin."

(Do you know what these little creatures are, I mean were?)
I know only what I knew in life... I cannot know what has happened since I died... ...I ...am dead."

(You have two more questions you may ask.)

Fergus:

"Whoa," says Fergus quietly, in awe of Jorzu's arcane power and the words of the long-dead Dwarf, "Ask him something about the journal..."

Quinn feverishly skims through the journal. He drifts between incoherent mumbling to reading aloud names and words that stand out like Marthungrim, Dumathoin and Talhundereth.

"His name is Marthungrim! He's a paladin of Durmathoin..." Quinn stops in astonishment as the long deceased Paladin speaks out and confirms the authenticity of the journals contents. "He writes of Talhundereth in his journal. He might have knowledge of the temple that can help us!"

Quinn rushes to Jorzu and grabs him by the arm.

"How long can you commune with the dead? We need to be strategic about what we ask of him!"

Boona tried to corral the two boys but was really not built for minding children.....they were too small and fast and she was too worried about breaking them.....

Jorzu 

"How intriguing, I didn't know I could do that" says jorzu incredulously. The sheer wonder of what he had just done overtook the immediate situation for a brief second until he feels the strong grip of Quinn's hand on his arm. "Yes, yes. Of Talhundereth..."

Jorzu looks the skeleton straight in the eyes (sockets?) and asks; "What can you share of the temple Talhundereth and its monstrous inhabitants? " He looks back at Quinn and nods enthusiastically as if asking for approval. 

"Talhundereth!" rasps the dead dwarf to Jorzu, "...Talhundereth was once a vibrant and populous temple... Built above the sacred Crypt of the Talhund, where the most ardent priests of Dumathoin were entombed... Miners, merchants, and priests came to Talhundereth seeking wisdom, political alliances, secret martial training, wealth.... Then the tentacled ones came... During the invasion, a collapse rocked the temple and the Crypt... The way is blocked now to the Crypt. You must go west, through the Residential Room, through the Common Room, through the Cleansing Chamber where we cleanse ourselves in the basins... In the Crypt of the Talhund are restless spirits now. They must be returned to rest... The psychic stain the tentacled ones left on this sacred place persists...  The crypt is... haunted... now. Purify the crypt... Earn the blessing of Dumathoin..." The dwarf goes quiet.

(You have one more question.)

Quinn continues to skim the journal. Marthungrim evidently planned to destroy the restless ghosts that haunt the crypt so they could rest in peace. Badly wounded, Marthungrim returned here. His last entry describes his wounds getting worse...